Amazingly, even if the structure or the subfloor is not exposed, dehumidifiers will be able to draw out the moisture from inside the walls and underneath the flooring to dry out the materials.
In summary, while a dehumidifier is beneficial in drying a wet floor, certain prerequisites, such as removing excess water and using drying equipment, must be completed beforehand to prevent the reabsorption of moisture into the floor.
Dry the Wood Flooring
Moisture can and will find its way into the cracks and crevices of your hardwood flooring. An easy way to remove moisture from your wood floors is to use a dehumidifier. Set the dehumidifier at the highest setting possible and leave it in the center of the room for at least 24 hours.
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.
Most dehumidifiers will remove between 30 and 70 pints of water per day.
There is a chance of dehumidifying your home too much with a dehumidifier, especially if you are leaving your dehumidifier running for several hours on a timer unattended.
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.
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.
How often you should use a dehumidifier will depend on your home, climate and other factors. To achieve the highest energy efficiency, run a dehumidifier for at least 12 hours a day. This will allow you to remove moisture from the air without racking up the energy costs.
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.
Use a dehumidifier placed at the highest setting possible to dry the floors. Place it in the center of the room and leave it on for at least 24 hours. Next, place fans around the room so the entire surface receives the blowing air. Place the fans at the highest settings possible.
One easy preventative step is using a dehumidifier inside spaces during the wetter months of the year. This, especially when paired with the use of a vapor-barrier flooring underlayment, can help keep moisture problems at bay.
Why Is My Concrete Floor Always Wet? Subfloor moisture problems have two sources: humidity from the air and dampness from the ground. In both cases, the issues are exacerbated by warm air, which is why people in warmer climates may notice this problem more often.
It is important to know what is causing the problem as using a dehumidifier to solve damp caused by a structural defect will only make the situation worse.
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.
The water is drained by gravity alone so for effective continuous drainage the dehumidifier needs to be raised a foot or two above the floor and the hose run to a floor level drain.
If you're concerned about spending too much on your electricity bill, you can try calling your energy company and asking about the “best times.” Usually, the best times to run your unit, that will save you money, is between 10 pm and 7 am — this is when less people are consuming energy, which drives down the rates.
Where to Place Dehumidifier in Your House. You want to place your machine in an area where there is good air circulation so the unit can efficiently work. 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.
Depending on the size of the dehumidifier, some can cost as little as 8p an hour to run, according to Chris Michael, managing director of Meaco.
Yes it is perfectly safe to sleep in the same room as a dehumidifier. If you are particularly interested in a dehumidifier for the bedroom the noise level will be particularly important to you.
However, many people wonder if their dehumidifier should run in the winter. The answer is that, in most cases, dehumidifiers typically do not need to run during the winter months in most areas because the air is naturally dry due to low humidity and the use of heating systems.
Simply put, dehumidifiers cannot remove mold. The machine is designed to remove moisture in the air. This means that if there is already a presence of mildew in a home or building, it will not be removed just by working to reduce the moisture after the fact.
If your dehumidifier's water basin is filling up too quickly, you probably have extra water in the air due to an issue like a cracked pipe, water leak or open crawl space. If you're hardly getting any water in the basin, you may need to simply turn the control to a drier setting.
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.