What features should I consider when buying a dehumidifier?
Moisture can not only destroy the walls of our home, but excess humidity can also damage our health. Buying a dehumidifier is a good way of limiting the humidity in your home(it's recommended that it be between 40 and 60%). In this buying guide, we'll help you choose the ideal dehumidifier, with a careful selection of different models to suit your needs and budget.
Types of dehumidifier
The first choice to make is between fixed and portable dehumidifiers. While it's true that fixed dehumidifiers are generally more efficient, they are less comfortable, as we won't be able to move them to other rooms.
However, the main classification is linked to the way they extract air from water, refrigerants or desiccants. While the former dry and cool the air by means of a heat exchange circuit in which some of the water present in the incoming air condenses (and ends up in a reservoir), the latter extract moisture from the air using desiccant materials.
Because of the way they work, they require periodic maintenance. In the first case, you'll need to empty the reservoir periodically, while in the second, you'll need to replace the material (although there are others that regenerate on contact with air).
Moisture can not only destroy the walls of our home, but excess humidity can also damage our health. A good way to maintain humidity in the home(the recommended level is between 40% and 50%) is to use coolers.
Chillers are generally larger, noisier and more ambitious in their performance, better suited to high temperatures and humidity. The best performers can operate in low-temperature, medium-humidity environments. It's important to choose your dehumidifier carefully, because there are several qualities on the market, and you don't want to end up with one that doesn't do its job.
How to choose a dehumidifier
Volume of air to be treated (room size). First of all, you need to know if you need the dehumidifier for a specific room, for the whole house (perhaps if you live in an apartment, studio or loft) or if you'll be moving it around rooms on demand. From there, manufacturers provide this data in cubic meters or with the maximum surface area (in this case in square meters). Ceiling height provides the link between the two.
Extraction capacity measures the number of liters of water that can extract air over a 24-hour period. You'll find this figure in the manufacturer's data sheet. The higher the figure, the more power the unit requires.
Energy consumption and efficiency. Energy consumption is linked to the previous point: the greater the extraction capacity, the more power the device requires and the more energy it consumes, although this is not an exact correlation, as not all devices are equally efficient.
Tank capacity. As we explained in the previous point, the tank will need to be emptied from time to time to keep the appliance running. Keep this in mind, especially if there is a lot of humidity in your home, or if you are not present to empty it (some units have an extraction tube).
Maintenance. You'll also need to remove the air filters from time to time for cleaning and replacement. It's important that this can be done, but also that it's easy, that the filters are washable and that spare parts are available.
Extras: connectivity and programming. Although some people run their dehumidifiers continuously, it's a good idea to program them in time slots or to control them remotely, especially if you're not at home very often or if it's a second home.
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