Yes, dehumidifiers effectively remove excess moisture from the air, significantly reducing dampness, condensation, and the musty smells associated with it, thereby preventing mould and mildew growth, making your home healthier and more comfortable, especially in humid conditions or after leaks. While they control the symptoms, they don't fix the root cause of severe damp, so they're best used with ventilation and to manage humidity levels in humid climates or during water damage recovery.
If your property is suffering from a damp problem, the use of a dehumidifier will only help to contain the problem as opposed to damp proofing your home - the more permanent solution. Sadly, there is no quick fix or instant, magic solution when it comes to damp.
Penetrating damp can occur when water leaks into a property through cracks or gaps in the walls or roof. A dehumidifier may be useful in helping to dry out affected areas and prevent the growth of mould, but it is important to address the underlying cause of the leak to address the issue fully.
Even if your child doesn't have issues or your baby isn't born yet, it's a good idea to have a dehumidifier in their room to keep the air comfortable and to prevent issues with dampness leading to problems for your child later on down the track.
Control your indoor environment
Dehumidifiers can also help you maintain a mold-free environment, and if you have one with a filter, it can also reduce allergens in your air. A healthier overall environment can be an effective part of managing migraine episodes.
Avoid running a dehumidifier if indoor humidity is already within the ideal 30%–50% range, as lowering it further can dry the air excessively. Don't use it in extremely cold spaces below the unit's operating temperature, and avoid areas with very little moisture where it won't make a meaningful difference.
While the benefits of the best dehumidifiers are undeniable, it is possible to have too much of a good thing. If you use more than you need, your indoor air could become overly dry, leading to damage in your home and irritation to your body.
A bedroom dehumidifier can transform your sleep quality by pulling excess moisture from the air. Studies show that keeping bedroom humidity between 45-50% creates the perfect environment for deep, restful sleep.
Symptoms of excess home moisture include window condensation, mildew, mold, peeling paint and excessive dust mites. To control a moisture problem, first identify the source and remove it. If not possible, use ventilation or a dehumidifier.
Noticeable signs of damp include the following:
Do You Need a Dehumidifier? 5 Signs Your Home Has Too Much Humidity
When setting up a portable dehumidifier in your basement, placement is key. If you're using a single dehumidifier for the entire basement, it should be located in the largest open area and properly sized for the total square footage it's intended to serve.
Is 70% humidity comfortable? No. It's too high for most homes and encourages mold/dust mites; bring it down toward 40–50% RH.
Dehumidifiers can make indoor air too dry
"Running a dehumidifier continuously may lead to overly dry air, which can cause issues like dry skin, respiratory irritation, and even damage to wooden furniture or floors," cautions Glenn Wiseman, Sales Manager at Top Hat Home Comfort Services.
How do you treat penetrating damp? By finding the source of dampness and protecting it from moisture ingress. This could be fixing faulty guttering or waterproofing external brick walls with a water repellent treatment like Stormdry Masonry Protection Cream.
High humidity in a house can be caused by many things, but the biggest reason is poor ventilation—in other words, air isn't being circulated properly, which causes the air in your house to become stagnant and humid. The other major reason? Too much air exchange with the outside.
Opening windows promotes more airflow, which enhances ventilation inside the building. This guides in eliminating sticky, humid air and supplanting it with drier external air. Ventilation is essential in regions like kitchens, showers, pantries, and other rooms where dampness is delivered.
This 'Hygrometer' app will tell you the outside humidity at your current location. - 'Easy to read' Design - Universal app (iPhone/iPad) - Support Apple Watch if you need help please contact us at [email protected] and give us a chance to help you.
5 places to never put a dehumidifier – experts urge you to avoid these spots or risk making your damp problems worse
Keep windows closed
It's good practice to open a window to ventilate the house and reduce humidity levels after cooking or showering. But running a dehumidifier with the windows open will undo all its hard work.
To further help with evaporation, warmth helps, so the addition of heaters particularly at colder times of year is often beneficial.
It's important to consider a position in the room where it will be exposed to good air circulation - that is, ideally not in a corner or an alcove. This will ensure a consistent flow of air through the system so the tablets can absorb excess humidity, and the dehumidifier operates at its optimal level.
The volume will vary depending on the humidity level and the capacity of the collection tank, but an average home dehumidifier may collect from 1 to 5 gallons of water per day! With this volume, it's easy to see how quickly your unit can reach capacity—and how essential it is to empty it regularly.