Humidifier or Dehumidifier?

4/22/2020 (Permalink)

Knowing the best way to condition your home's air will make you safer and more comfortable.

Comfort in a home requires every bit of the home to work perfectly with our body, the acoustic value, the circulation, temperature, humidity and a lot more.  When these factors are being altered or not proven to be normal, it can affect our health and make our house totally uncomfortable.

Meanwhile, there have been various machines/tools that measure, control and regulate these factors to suit our body temperature, machines such as “dehumidifier” and “humidifier”. Humidity is an important factor in a space that determines how comfortable a person is in that space.

It is the amount of water vapor present in the air and when it is low which causes dry air, static electricity, dry skin and hair, increased susceptibility to colds and respiratory illness, but having a humidifier in your house can regulate these problems and when it is high it causes coastal air. 

Humidifier vs Dehumidifier: Both devices humidifier and dehumidifier help to improve indoor humidity level. The difference is that the humidifier increase humidity level in case of dry indoor air and the dehumidifier decrease it in case of high moisture level.

Both units can help in eliminating respiratory ailment like asthma and chest congestion.

HUMIDIFIER AND DEHUMIDIFIER FOR COLD

A humidifier may be used to moisture the nasal passage and airways when you have chest and sinus congestions due to a cold while the the dehumidifiers basically remove moisture from the air and may be useful in treating asthma which may be triggered by humid air.

They regulate our body system to function in a way that suits us during the cold. Since cold air is denser than warm air, there is less room for water vapour in the cold winter air. So during cold winter air humidifier is most likely to be used often in a room.

HUMIDIFIER AND DEHUMIDIFIER FOR WINTER

Humidification improves air quality, measures the humidity level in your home its type of device to keep the humidity level of about 30 percentage in winter. Winter air is dry air and a humidifier put more moisture in the air to reduce the effect of dry air and ability of airborne viruses to cause flu infection.

Viruses are easily transmitted during winter because of the dry air but humidifier reduces the risk of being infected. Getting a humidifier during winter may help you avoid getting sick this winter, but it can also give you softer, more glowing skin, and even help preserve your real wood furniture.

It is not advisable to keep a dehumidifier running during winter since the primary function of a dehumidifier is to reduce moisture in the air therefore in times where we have dry air, the dehumidifier might not be necessary.

HUMIDIFIER AND DEHUMIDIFIER FOR BASEMENT

Basements can often be a problem room in regards to mold growth because they have little exposure to heat and sunlight from outside and by this they tend to gather more moisture which results to high humidity and the need of a dehumidifier might be introduced to reduce the moisture in the basement therefore only on rare occasion are humidifier used in a basement.

HUMIDIFIER AND DEHUMIDIFIER FOR MOLD

Mold grow more when there is excess moisture in the air in a room and can only be killed when the level of moisture in that room reduces, so introducing a dehumidifier in this care is appropriate to reduce the effect.

The two instrument of humidity plays a good role in making humans comfortable in their homes but work in a various condition which has been highlighted above.

Maintaining the right humidity level in your home is crucial, not only for the safety of the home’s structure but also for your own health. If the level is too high, the excess moisture in the air can damage floorboards and ruin walls.

It creates the perfect environment for mold and mildew to grow. If the level is too low, the dry air can cause floors and ceilings to crack. It can also cause dry skin and irritated bronchial passageways.

The optimal humidity level is between forty and fifty percent. You can purchase a hygrometer to check the level of your home.

If it is anything but within the optimal range, it may be time to consider purchasing either a commercial dehumidifier or humidifier.

DEHUMIDIFIER

If the humidity level is above fifty percent, you are going to want a dehumidifier. This is an in-room machine that works by taking in the moist air, passing it over an evaporator coil and then a condenser coil and releasing the dehumidified air back into the room.

The moisture is either collected in a bucket that needs to be emptied or disposed of through a drainage hose. A compact dehumidifier is also a great tool to have during water damage restoration. Used along with an air mover water damaged areas can be dried quickly and effectively, reducing the risk for later issues.

HUMIDIFIER

If the humidity is too low, a humidifier will help. These machines release moisture into the air from a water reservoir. Warm air humidifiers release moisture in the form of steam. Cool air humidifiers essentially mist the room. Humidifiers are often used in children’s, especially babies’, rooms to aid in their breathing during the night.

Warm air humidifiers are not typically recommended for use around children as they could suffer burns. It is important that you keep the humidifier clean, especially the water tank, to avoid mold growth, or else more harm than good can be done.

If the humidity level of your home is off, you can be faced with a myriad of issues. Once you check the level with a hygrometer, you will be able to assess if either a dehumidifier or humidifier will be right for you.

If you have questions about your indoor air quality please call the experts at SERVPRO of Salem/Peabody/Marblehead...978.744.4545.