Details, Details! Humidity, Ice Cream & Friday

As we focus on providing you the tools and resources you need to take control of your indoor environment and reduce symptoms from allergies, asthma or MCS, there is often a focus on large products. This time of year, as pollen settles down but rain and humidity increase, a dehumidifier is common a tool you use to drive relative humidity down. This means making your home less hospitable to mold, insects and dust mites as well as eliminating that ‘sticky’ or ‘muggy’ feeling that can even accompany rooms where there is air conditioning.

Many dehumidifiers like the top rated Danby 70 pint come with a humidity gauge built right in, yet many do not, and if you’re like me, there may be some level of skepticism as to how reliable those gauges really are. There may also be instances where you are using a crawlspace or basement dehumidifier, and since they often lack digital humidity displays, you’re left in the dark as to what is really going on in those spaces. What humidity was it down there before you started using the dehumidifier? What is the humidity now?

One option is to wire a humidity gauge into your home. Some whole-home dehumidifiers like some of the Aprilaire models give you this option, but this can be more expense, time and hassle than you want. You could also pick up an inexpensive humidity gauge like a mini humidity gauge that can be left in the space. That way, each time you check on the dehumidifier you can get a better idea of what the humidity is and if any adjustments are necessary. Another alternative would be the new AcuRite wireless humidity gauge. Look Mom!  No wires!Similar to the original AcuRite, the newer version offers a wider array of features a larger, more visible display and most significantly, it’s wireless. This gauge provides temperature and humidity readings (both indoor and outdoor), as well as time, date, and daily high/low temps and humidity. There are a few other features, that can be considered more ‘take ’em or leave ’em’ like the current moon phase and a freeze warning, but the wireless sensor provides a lot of flexibility that other gauges and weather centers do not. You don’t have to drill any tiny holes, just place the sensor where you want your secondary readings, and you’re set! For those using a basement or crawlspace dehumidifier that lacks a humidity gauge, this sensor could be placed in those spaces and give you accurate readings without having to actually go down to the basement or spend a super fun time hunkered down in your crawlspace.

An Empty Ice Cream Cup Is A Sad Ice Cream CupIf you’re using a humidifier during the winter months, the wireless AcuRite again provides you with an accurate humidity reading. This is significant in that than most inexpensive humidifiers lack any type of humidity gauge and use a dial control with settings like ‘kinda damp’ and ‘super soaker’. So maybe I’m exaggerating a little, but you get the point.

If you want to read more about this nifty little device, you check it out here. And lastly, it’s Friday, so do what I did, and go have ice cream for lunch! (I’d post a better picture, but honestly, the ice cream never stood a chance.)

Author: Kevin Gilmore

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