More often than not, when someone decides to buy a dehumidifier for his or her home, it is usually they like to experience the perks that such units offer.
As most of you know, dehumidifiers can get rid of excess humidity in any space, which reduces water and mold damage.
It also clears the air, making it easier to breathe and enjoy a more comfortable living in your home or office space.
But, are dehumidifiers completely advantageous? Do they have side effects? Can dehumidifiers make you sick? Well, a dehumidifier has side effects if you don’t know how to use it properly and its main purpose.
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What’s the Deal with Dehumidifiers?
Dehumidifiers are an absolutely a much-needed machine.
These can turn any uncomfortable environment to a more comfortable one.
Those who are in climates with high humidity levels frequently become irritable and lethargic due to the living conditions.
Proper use of dehumidifiers may turn one’s life around and can make the environment clean.
Dehumidifiers are also proven to relieve some allergy symptoms and respiratory as well as lung symptoms.
They will get rid of moisture from the air and stop the growth of fungus and mold. It is definitely advantageous to your home’s inhabitants who had been breathing some toxic air.
All of these can be done achieved by dehumidifiers, yet, only if you are using dehumidifiers correctly.
If a dehumidifier isn’t being used the way it should be, it can have some side effects on the ones using it.
There are several ways on how a dehumidifier can make anyone sick.
Cleaning the Dehumidifier
Many people believe that the water bucket of a dehumidifier is the only thing that should be emptied and cleaned.
But, what you should know is that dehumidifiers have many parts and all of these must be cleaned on a regular basis.
The reason behind it is that moisture from the air would start accumulating inside of them.
Exhaust grills, filters, and coils must be routinely checked to ensure that they’re clean as well as working properly.
If you fail to do this, it could result in mold buildup inside the dehumidifier. It will start to affect your health negatively.
There is another reason why you should check the parts of your dehumidifiers.
If you check them regularly, you can be assured that it will do its work properly and efficiently. If one of the parts is not working, dehumidifiers can’t clean the air in your house.
It means that mold may start accumulating and hurt the inhabitants of your home.
If it is already too late and you have mold problems in your house, I strongly recommend you to use a mold control cleaner.
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If the problem with dehumidifiers goes unnoticed, mold growth might be a big problem that you might have to remove professionally.
Using Dehumidifiers Very Often
There is a system to use a dehumidifier properly. If you are not sure about it, you might leave it running all night and all day.
If you forget to open windows to let stagnant air out, your house will get very humid. By leaving all your windows closed, the air can’t flow freely and would become damp again.
It will also affect your health as you might start sniffling and sneezing. It could be because of the growth of mold in your home.
Another mistake that homeowners might make would be not emptying the dehumidifier once the bucket is already full.
Many dehumidifiers have an auto-shutdown feature, which can prevent the unit from overflowing. It’s good since you don’t need to worry about the water damage to all your belongings.
But, if the water was left in the bucket for a long time, it might cause black mold to start growing on the dehumidifier.
It may induce a wide variety of health issues including irritation, lung problems, and allergic reactions.
Not Enough Level of Humidity
If you’re running a dehumidifier throughout the wintertime, it might be providing you with the benefits you want to enjoy.
During wintertime, there is less humidity. If the air in your home is dry with low humidity level, it can result in health issues.
Low humidity levels may cause problems with your skin, eyes, and sinuses. All of these could result in an uncomfortable environment and must be addressed as soon as possible.
Low humidity can dry out the natural barriers that humans have in the respiratory tract. It just means that you’re more likely to be infected with flu and colds.
Other viruses also thrive in conditions of a low level of humidity, which means that they’ll stay active for a long period of time compared to they’d have normally.
If you’re living in a home that has very low humidity, it’s likely that you will get sick often compared to others.
Flu and colds are harmful due to the possibility that these can develop into something that is worse.
When eyes lose that necessary moisture, it’ll be uncomfortable and dry.
The same may be said for the skin. Eyes and skin require natural moisture so they can stay healthy. If there’s not enough water vapor in the air, the eyes will start to be irritated and itchy.
Skin will be very cracked and itchy. With the use of natural, quality, and scent-free lotion, it can help.
The Bottom Line
As with any kind of machine or appliance, dehumidifiers must be understood before they’re used.
The season and climate in which they’re being used is a crucial variable that would help homeowners decide how frequent to use it.
If you’re in doubt about the exact condition that you must be using dehumidifiers, try getting a second opinion.
Some trained professionals would be willing to help you and can visit your place to give you some instructions on how to use dehumidifiers properly.
In terms of deciding whether dehumidifiers are efficient or safe, one should consider maintenance costs, energy consumption, health effects on people, and environmental pollution.
Humidity in rooms or any space may cause some health problems including difficulty in breathing, the growth of dust mites, and so on. These can greatly affect people with asthma.
So, to avoid the effects of high humidity, learn how to use dehumidifiers properly.
This will not only help you enjoy many benefits but also you will be able to avoid the possible side effects of dehumidifiers once not used correctly.
