Use dehumidifiers and air conditioners, especially in hot, humid climates, to reduce moisture in the air, but be sure that the appliances themselves don't become sources of biological pollutants. Raise the temperature of cold surfaces where moisture condenses. Use insulation or storm windows.
Opening up the windows and doors is one of the easiest ways to dehumidify rooms. This will not only let in the fresh air but it will also improve the air circulation in the room. You should turn the ceiling fans on as the breeze from the fans remove excess moisture in the air and bring down the humidity levels.
Condensation occurs when moist air comes into contact with a colder surface like a wall, window, mirror etc. The air can't hold the moisture and tiny drops of water appear.
The size of the room, the humidity level, and the extent of the water damage are some of the variables that affect how long a dehumidifier takes to dry out a room. A dehumidifier typically needs between 24 and 72 hours to completely dry out a room.
When you first operate your dehumidifier, it would be good practise to run it continuously until the RH falls below the 60% mark or fills up the water tank, which ever comes first. Once RH is below 60% you can then use the dehumidifier during day and off during the night.
Can I leave the dehumidifier running at night? Yes, we recommend using a dehumidifier 24hrs, however, be aware that there will always be a noise generated from the machine when it is operating.
During the winter, if you open the window when the outside air is colder than the air indoors, the cold air will come into contact with the warmer air and the level of humidity will fall automatically.
Rock Salt. The most popular DIY dehumidifier is the one that works the best—rock salt. Rock salt naturally absorbs moisture out of the air, making it a great choice to use as a dehumidifier.
High humidity can cause problems in your home if relative humidity regularly exceeds 60%. When the air contains water vapor above that level, mold and mildew start to grow, while excess moisture can cause rot, damaging your belongings. Let's look at some potential problems.
According to the Sleep Foundation, adults sleeping in damp-ridden conditions are more likely to encounter sleep disturbances. One of their recent studies revealed that bedroom mould correlated with high levels of snoring, insomnia and tiredness.
Rock salt is another great (and cheap) option for removing moisture from the air. To make a no frills rock salt dehumidifier, you're going to need rock salt and two buckets. Pop some holes in the first bucket and place it inside your second bucket.
Contrary to popular belief, heating the air actually lowers the relative humidity. This is because, as the temperature of the air increases, the air can hold more molecules, and its relative humidity goes down.
Put some salt in a bowl and place it on the desired windowsill and then leave it overnight. You can buy table salt from ASDA for as low as 65p, although it's more likely you'll already have some in your pantry. The result should be a more or less condensation-free window.
Mokler recommends even opening the windows for just 20 minutes a day as this can be enough to drastically reduce the effects of condensation and dampness in homes.
Keeping humidity out
One of the best ways to keep humidity from entering your home in the summer is to keep the doors and windows tightly closed. You don't want to waste energy cooling the entire neighborhood, so when your AC is running you should always have all windows and doors in the house closed.
The reason it gets so much drier in the winter is because cold air isn't able to hold in as much moisture as warm air can. This makes it more likely for any moisture on your skin to quickly evaporate back into the air, which leaves your skin feeling drier during the winter months.
However, it's important to know when to turn the unit off. Once temperatures drop to around 65 degrees, it's best to turn the dehumidifier off.
No, your dehumidifier should not have to run constantly to regulate the air humidity. An optimal humidity level to shoot for is between 30 and 50 percent.
Make sure that the windows and doors are closed while the dehumidifier is operating. If you are operating the dehumidifier in a particularly large space, it should be placed in close proximity to the moisture source to maximise the potential of the unit.
A dehumidifier should collect around 10-20 pints a day. However, factors such as relative humidity levels, size of the appliance, location, and temperature can affect how much it collects.
We do not recommend placing a dehumidifier directly against a wall or piece of furniture. Instead, put it at least six inches away from these vent-blocking surfaces. For dehumidifiers that cover large areas, it's a good idea to place them somewhere central such as a hallway or landing.
For now, we leave you with this simple one: use a dehumidifier during the spring, summer and early fall to keep moisture at bay, but unplug and stow it away during the winter to prevent damage to your unit.