Dehumidifiers

Throughout the South and Southeast, Hurricane Isaac is having a two-fold effect. In some areas, the heavy rains are providing much needed relief from drought conditions. Though in other areas, the rains are so intense that they are causing severe flooding of homes and businesses. When storms like Isaac hit, there is little you can do to prevent severe flooding from causing damage, and often you are simply left cleaning up after the fact. Take precautions when cleaning up after a flood and avoid the hidden dangers that floodwaters can often hold.

• Mold - Mold spores are ever-present, and unless you live or work in a highly specialized area where the filtration is exceptional, there are mold spores around you every day. Air purifiers can lessen the mold spores in the air but because they so ubiquitous, they are difficult to completely eliminate. Severe flooding can cut power and put homes under several inches to several feet of water. The warmth of summer and introduction of this excess moisture makes flooded homes ripe for mold growth.
• Cholera - Though instances of Cholera are rare in the United States, severe flooding can cause major problems as water treatment plants and other infrastructure that handle waste waters can back up and contaminate flood waters. Hurricane Isaac has raised worries of a flare up in cases of Cholera in Haiti.
• West Nile - Standing water is the perfect breeding grounds for mosquitoes, and with mosquitoes come a host of problems. In recent years, cases of West Nile, spread through mosquito bites, have risen throughout the South. This year in particular has seen a spike in West Nile cases and fatalities. Receding flood waters can leave pools of water where mosquitoes lay eggs and further the spread of diseases like West Nile. While spraying efforts can dampen the effect, wearing loose fitting clothing and using repellents can do much to alleviate this hazard.

Other mosquito-borne illnesses (like malaria) as well as other bacteria and viruses can also use flood waters as a breeding ground and means of dissemination.

Though weather caused flooding is not often preventable, there is much you can do to limit the damage and health problems that can arise from flood waters. Using proper protection during clean up, like gloves, HEPA masks, and rubber boots can limit exposure to harmful viruses, while heavy duty air purifiers and water damage dehumidifiers can inhibit mold growth and filter out airborne contaminants.

If you have weathered summer storms, take care while cleaning up after the fact and don't let one major problem spiral in to several others.

For more information on flood water clean up or the health effects of excess moisture.

Author: Kevin Gilmore

I began noticing it a few days ago, but a quick run through the Weather Channel or flipping through a few webpages confirms it. July is here, and for the 4th, he brought friends - heat and humidity. While most of us weather these conditions with varying degrees of sweatiness, high humidity can present a unique set of challenges throughout the summer, and if not properly managed can lead to insects and mold throughout your home.

Relative humidity levels across the country are starting to spike into the 65-78% range, and typically you will notice high humidity in the mornings. This is a perfect example of how temperature can effect relatively humidity. If the moisture is constant but the temperature sinks, that same amount of moisture represents a larger portion of the overall moisture that the air can hold at that particular temperature. (Who said Bill Ney the Science Guy wasn't educational?)

During warm summer months, the moisture levels in your home can increase. As the moisture in the outside air increases, so too does it in your home. Many of us run air conditioning throughout the summer months, and while this does wonders to alleviate higher temps, it can actually cause the relatively humidity in a home to increase. This is why you can sometimes be indoors but still feel "sticky" during the summer.

Air conditioners use refrigerant to cool the air while a fan or blower pushes it throughout your home. As the air passes over refrigerated coils, the temperature is driven down and moisture will precipitate out, which is why you almost always have condensate lines running from any style of refrigerant air conditioner.

Where the air conditioner can falter a bit is in the moisture removal process. While some moisture precipitates out, the lower temperature in the home means that the remaining water in the air makes up a higher percentage of the relative humidity. This where a dehumidifier, working in conjunction with your air conditioner can help.

Refrigerant style dehumidifiers, work on the same principles as an air conditioner EXCEPT, instead of putting cold air back into the room, the air is warmed before it exits. This warmed air acts like a magnet for moisture and as it recirculates through the dehumidifier, makes the drying process more efficient.

In specific areas of the home, like your basement, ground floor or even crawlspace, the air can feel particularly damp, though cool. In these spaces a dehumidifier can remove excess moisture and actually make the cooling process of the air conditioner more efficient.

Whether you use a room dehumidifier like a Danby or opt for a unit that ties directly into the HVAC like an Aprilaire whole home dehumidifier, both can increase cooling efficiency in the home and better reduce humidity than an air conditioner alone. This is important because not only can mold thrive in conditions of 50% relatively humidity or higher, but insects LOVE moist air. When they're thirsty they cannot simply saunter up to the faucet and pour themselves a refreshing glass of water. Instead, they are constantly absorbing moisture through their skin. So by reducing the humidity in any given space you make that space less hospitable for insects.

So as the 4th of July approaches, don't let heat and humidity invite even more friends to the party (mold and insects). Unwanted guests are simply that, unwanted, and these two in particular can tend to linger well after the festivities end. If excess moisture is a problem in your home or your home feels cool but still sticky, consider a dehumidifier to help remedy the problem.

Author: Kevin Gilmore

Since spring came early, we all fully expect summer to come early too! In anticipation of a hot and humid summer, our Danby dehumidifiers have arrived!

Consistently a top rated model by consumer ratings agencies, the Danby 70 pint is by far our most popular dehumidifier. Not only is the water removal impressive, the auto-restart, timer, and direct drain option are all valuable features that provide convenience without needless expense.

During the warm, humid summer months, the indoor humidity levels can soar. Even with a central air conditioner running, the temperature can be cool yet the humidity high. To keep humidity levels low enough to prevent dust mite and mold growth, a room dehumidifier is a handy solution.

With the included hose and direct drain option, they are a convenient way to lower the humidity level in your basement without having to empty a condensate tank. Overall, they are one of the easiest ways to prevent mold from growing in your home. Currently only the 70 pint models are in stock, but 50 pints dehumidifiers will be arriving soon!

In addition to Danby's, we offer a wide selection of dehumidifiers to fit nearly any space in your home, from a small cupboard to industrial warehouses!

Shop Dehumidifiers or Check out the Danby 70 pint dehumidifier.

* Editor's Note: We apologize, but there seems to have been a glitch with the comments section on our blog. It's fixed now, but we’ve missed out on some really interesting comments from our readers! So keep it up, and you should start seeing your comments appear. Enjoy today’s post!

While it is only March but, Spring is well upon us. The trees and flowers are in bloom; pollen’s in the air, and it seems like it might be a good time to pull the dehumidifier out of winter hibernation to prep for this spring and summer. Maintenance is not extensive, but it is important in keeping your dehumidifier running properly throughout the wettest part of the year.

Depending on where you have been storing the unit, it’s always a good idea to do a visual inspection, and for good reason. One spring I pulled my dehumidifier out of an out-building I had been storing it in, only to find the power cord had been chewed into thirds. You will also want to check the tank, and while many have smaller openings, it never hurts to inspect for… critters or things that might be nesting.

A cloth dampened with warm water or a mild soapy mix will remove most markings, dirt or debris on the exterior, and it never hurts to spray parts of the dehumidifier tank that touch water with Vital Oxide. I have found this to be an indispensible tool when sanitizing or removing mold around the house.

Most modern dehumidifiers come with an air filter. Some, like Aprilaire dehumidifiers are styled similar to your HVAC filter, and work well at trapping large and medium sized particles that can accumulate and damage the motor and fan. Others are simply a mesh type filter meant to really only keep dust bunnies and hair out of the unit. Replace the filter if needed or simply use compressed air to blow the filter out.

For larger dehumidifiers, you may have easy access to the coils or motor. If so, now is the perfect time to again use compressed air to blow out debris, dust or dirt that may be accumulating around the coils or motor. Take care to use a lower pressure air as not to damage the soft copper or aluminum coils.

After you’ve reassembled the dehumidifier, you’re all set to try it out. Before you start the machine, be sure that is has sat in the normal, upright, operating position for 24 hours (particularly if it has been stored on its side or for some reason, upside down.... don't ask).

With all the complete, plug it in, and turn it on. If you have any problems, check the tank. An improperly seated water tank is the most frequent and easily remidied problem. Next, take a look at the troubleshooting section in the user manual. If you don’t have the manual, check the product page on our site, as each will have a copy. If all else fails, contact us or the manufacturer to try and resolve any issues.

A dehumidifier is an important part of many households across the country. So when the humidity goes up and the rain falls down, keep mold growth and dust mite levels in check by maintaining the proper relative humidity with a home dehumidifier.