A dehumidifier, as the name suggests, is an appliance the lowers the amount of humidity in the air. The water in the air is condensed into water, collected and then discarded as it is unfit for consumption.
Methodology:
There are various ways in which dehumidifiers can perform said tasks.
A standard air conditioner basically functions as a dehumidifier when it’s cooling the air.
A mechanical dehumidifier relies on a similar process; passing the humid air through a cold surface, thereby condensing the water. The cold surface is created with the help of an evaporator coil.
The primary difference between the two is that in the latter one a condenser coil is used to reheat the air and it is circulated back into the room while in an air conditioner the heat is released outside. In effect a mechanical or refrigeration dehumidifier heats up the room while reducing humidity at the same time.
An air conditioner is obviously not as good as removing the moisture from the environment since the appliance was designed simply to chill the air
Spray dehumidifiers are sometimes used to condense the excess water in the atmosphere.
Typical running time for dehumidifier would be at least half a day or more, depending upon the type and the level of moisture in the air and the overall space of the area.
Benefits
High levels of humidity in the air can cause a lot of discomfort, especially if it rises above sixty percent. There is a general feeling of suffocation and intense heat, even though the temperature may be relatively mild.
This is because the high amount of water vapor present in the air lowers the osmotic gradient and thus prevents the formation and evaporation of sweat from your skin. Sweating is an essential mechanism that the body employs to keep cool and get rid of excess heat.
High humidity further contributes to the formation of mold in your house because it provides the right kind of environment for the fungus to develop. This, combined with the musty air, can lead to uncomfortable odors in the interior of your house.
A dehumidifier will get rid of the stale air, the suffocative environment, effectively prevent the formation of mold, mildew and the accumulation of excess dust indoors. It will remove any foul smells as well although you have to make sure that any existing sources of allergens or mold are removed.
Energy Consumed
Dehumidifiers do not consume a lot of energy. At the very maximum, even with some of the least efficient models, it won’t cost you more than a hundred bucks a month.
However, it’s best to pick a dehumidifier with a high energy factor as they are the most efficient and will help you save up those extra bucks.
However, if you have a whole house to dehumidify and you wish to do it right, the initial installation costs may run slightly high, somewhere around half a grand or more, depending upon the quality.