Dehumidifier mainThe air quality in your home is so important, especially since your home is typically the place where you spend the most time. Dehumidifiers first and foremost remove moisture from the air, but by doing this, they can also help create a better environment overall. There are a few reasons why you may want to consider a dehumidifier for your home and finding the right one to meet your needs will ensure you’re maximizing its benefits.

Benefits of a dehumidifier

Insignia dehumidifierBesides removing moisture from the air, dehumidifiers can be beneficial for anyone who suffers from asthma and allergies. Many allergy sufferers experience symptoms from common allergens such as dust mites, pollen, and animal dander and drying out the air helps minimize these triggers.

Another common household allergen is mold, and mold growth of any kind can negatively impact the air quality in your home. You may notice a musty smell over time and the air becomes heavier, these are signs you may have mold growing somewhere and you may even find your breathing being affected. Warmth and moisture together are the perfect breeding ground for mold, and the effects are horrible to deal with.

Dehumidifier varieties

Costaway portable The first thing to think about after deciding you need a dehumidifier is what size you’ll need. They come in a variety of sizes both in the physical sense and by how much square footage they can cover. For a dehumidifier to be as beneficial in your home as possible, you want to choose the right size for sufficiently dehumidifying the air based on the square footage of the room you’re placing it in, like a basement or bedroom.

Another consideration is a dehumidifier with a HEPA filter. While the dehumidifier is removing the moisture in the air, the HEPA filter is working to remove airborne toxins and bacteria. This dual option is great for allergy sufferers or pet owners.

If you live in a home without central air, you may want to go for a combo air conditioner with dehumidifier. These units typically have multiple options and work as an air conditioner, fan, and dehumidifier, usually with HEPA filtration as well. This is a great way to get the most out of one unit. Find one with rolling castors, and they’re easy to move from room to room if need be.

The best place for a dehumidifier

Pro Breeze Mini DehumidifierEvery homeowner will have to think about where in their home they’d like to place a dehumidifier. If you’re already looking to purchase one, most likely you know exactly where in your home it’s needed. The most common rooms are laundry rooms, the basement, bedrooms and crawl spaces, but if you’re buying a multi-purpose unit, they can be beneficial anywhere in the home. Because dehumidifiers capture the moisture before it can creep into other rooms, you want to be sure to place it in the correct spot with good air flow, making sure the air can flow easily in and out. They’ll also need to be near an electrical outlet.

Extra options

Dehumidifier portableDehumidifiers obviously need somewhere to collect all the moisture they remove which means they have a water collection bucket. They will vary in size according to the dehumidifier capacity and some will also have a drainpipe option for continuous drainage. If you use this feature, it means you’ll never have to worry about overflowing or empty a bucket. To avoid worry about the bucket overflowing, check to make sure the dehumidifier has an automatic shut off feature when it reaches full.

For the most part, dehumidifiers are not especially quiet. If you like a white noise machine, you may like the sound of a dehumidifier. I have a combo unit with a HEPA filter in my bedroom and I have grown so accustomed to the white noise that I can’t sleep without it on now. If this would be bothersome to you, you’ll want to find one that runs particularly quietly.

The style and design of a dehumidifier may be important to you as well, especially if it’s going to be in an open area. Luckily there are some modern and stylish designs available. Chose from different shapes, colours, and sizes of units, some even with colourful LED feature lights. You’ll easily be able to find one that fits with your home décor.

You can find a variety of dehumidifiers at Best Buy online.

Lindsey Reed
I am a mom of two boys who loves reading and trail runs. I am passionate about health, fitness and food and write about these topics and more on my personal blog www.organicfitnesstips.net.