Don't Allow A Moist Basement Get The Best Of You - Basement Dehumidifiers

By Frank Froggatt

Basements should be dry if the have the proper ventilation and air conditioning elements added into them. Dampness is a problem that affects a lot of basements though because they are both poorly designed and lack the needed elements to keep them dry. These places are an optimum breeding ground for all kinds of mildew and fungus varieties, especially if you are storing things like clothing, old books, furniture, or materials of this nature.

Your basement will start to grow fungus, and your furniture will begin to warp after the humidity level has raised to around 50% or more. You will also develop a lot of condensation on your walls when this happens. It will also accelerate wood rot. If you have any family members that suffer from allergies, having a basement dehumidifier is something that is crucial for reducing their health risks linked to the toxic fungus's and molds present in these situations. It is important that you try to find out what the underlying cause of these high humidity is before you go out and purchase a basement dehumidifier. Ideally your basement should be right around the same temperature as the rest of your house, and not atmospheric climate. Try adding weather-stripping to any basement doors and windows. If in the unfortunate situation that the basement doesn't have any insulation, you have to consider the cost of adding insulation against the price of running a basement dehumidifier constantly.

Buying a basement dehumidifier will require a little planning. Know the cubic footage of the basement space that it will be going into. Also you will need to decide on getting a permanently installed unit versus a portable dehumidifier. Another thing that you want to take into consideration is the size of the dehumidifier, and whether or not it will fit into your allotted space. You also need to take into consideration the noise levels that dehumidifiers make, as some are quite noisier than others. Either ask for a demonstration if buying in the store, or read the reviews of them if buying online.

Air conditioners and refrigerators work on the same principles as a dehumidifier. They pass the humid air over a bank of cold coils and in the process extract a good portion of the moisture via condensation. This condensation drips off the coils into collection pockets inside the dehumidifier. Meanwhile the dry air flow, heated somewhat by the extraction of humidity, is directed out of the unit back into the room.

A lot of people forget to maintain their basement dehumidifier as it is out of sight and out of mind. The buckets inside of these can be prone to developing a bacterial growth if you do not keep them clean periodically. Some of the different manufacturers of basement dehumidifiers actually came up with a way to do away with the collection bucket by using a hose which could be run to a drain in the basement thereby making them virtually maintenance free. - 31822

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