Can A Dehumidifier Get Rid Of Dust Mites?

A dehumidifier can help you get rid of dust mites by producing dry air and keeping control of the humidity level.

Dust mites are a common allergen and thrive in homes, especially in frequently used rooms and bedrooms. You will find these in stuffed animals, clothing, towels, upholstered furniture, drapes, carpets, and mattresses. Their waste product will then cause the allergy.

There are different ways you can reduce dust mite exposure. By reducing the exposure, you may diminish the symptoms. As a matter of fact, a lot of people find that they can eliminate or reduce their reliance on the medication by taking some steps to avoid exposing to dust mites.

Dust Mites and Humidity

In order for dust mites to survive, they need humidity because they absorb moisture from the air. As relative humidity increases, the dust mites flourish. They eat more, reproduce more, and generate sneeze-inducing fecal pellets.

Because of this, they also lose moisture through their skin and vulnerable to dehydration.

In a study, the optimum condition for dust-mite development and growth is around 75 to 80 degrees and 70 percent to 80 percent relative humidity. Dust mites can’t survive well once the level of relative humidity is below 50%.

The relative humidity in your house, especially in your bedroom, would have a particular effect on the population of dust mites in your home. A dehumidifier can help you get rid of moisture and eliminate the source of drink and food that dust mites depend upon.

The best humidity level is between 40% and 60%. If you are allergic to mold and dust mites, it is recommended that you should keep the level of humidity between 40 percent and 50 percent.

Deal with the moisture sources so leaks are fixed. You must also control the humidity you generate through your activities like drying washing on the radiators. 

Just bear in mind that dehumidifiers aren’t a treatment for dust-mite allergies.

However, they can lessen the humidity that is necessary for the dust mites to reproduce and survive. Dehumidifiers are an essential part of dust mite control measures with a thorough dust mite-proofing and cleaning regime.

Things to Keep in Mind When Buying a Dehumidifier to Eliminate Dust Mites

There are many things that you should take into consideration when buying dehumidifiers to get rid of dust mites. Some of these include the following:

1. The capacity of Water Tank

The dehumidifier’s capacity is one of the things that you should consider. A dehumidifier with a big capacity should be emptied less, but it will cost you more. So, depending on your budget, choose a dehumidifier with the right capacity.

2. Size of Your Living Space

Small dehumidifiers are not effective in clearing your whole house. Smaller ones are ideal for a room only. However, if you want to cover more rooms, you should consider buying a bigger one. Select a dehumidifier based on how big your space is.

Check the description of the product first before you purchase it. If you think it can handle dehumidifying your space, then don’t hesitate to buy it.

3. Efficiency vs Cost

Purchasing the most expensive dehumidifier out there isn’t always a wise choice. If you think buying a separate dehumidifier for each room in your house a cost-effective option, you are wrong.

Consider if your decision is cost-effective. If you want to purchase a dehumidifier for 1 or 2 rooms, go with a great unit for that kind of size. If you want to dehumidify your entire house, you can go for whole-house dehumidifiers, which may keep rooms free from moisture.

4. Special Features

Several dehumidifiers come with special features. One of the useful features is ducting. Dehumidifiers with ducting can dehumidify some rooms at once and may be hidden in a closet for space-saving purposes.

You may also get a dehumidifier with remote or digital control, timer, and condensate pump. However, before you make your final decision, make sure to ask yourself if you really require additional features and do not pay for something that you will not use in the long run.

This will not only save your money but also you can be assured that all of the built-in features of a dehumidifier will do the job even without the need to purchase extra features.

5. Levels of Temperature and Moisture

Dehumidifiers are used for getting rid of humidity, which can eliminate the moisture that dust mites love. If you need to eliminate more moisture, you should choose more powerful dehumidifiers.

If you do not mind splashing your money, you may consider commercial dehumidifiers or specialty machines made for a particular space like crawl space or basement.

The levels of temperature are also crucial in terms of using dehumidifiers since temperatures may affect the machine’s operating ability. A dehumidifier is less effective once placed in areas with low temperatures like garage and basement. If you want to dehumidify cold rooms, you should look for dehumidifiers that will not freeze you up.

6. Power Consumption and Noise

Several dehumidifiers can make awful noises. These also consume lots of power. Such problems may go hand in hand because if a dehumidifier consumes more power, it will produce louder noise.

The thing about dehumidifiers is such portable and small models made to eliminate moisture are the ones, which consume the most power and make noises.

If you like to use dehumidifiers a lot, you would want to stick with a bigger unit. These are ideal in some air conditioning systems, which tend to be silent. There are also silent models of dehumidifiers, which boost effectiveness without making lots of noise.

The Bottom Line

There are lots of options in terms of finding quality dehumidifiers. If you want to choose the best one, always determine your needs and your budget first. Remember that not all dehumidifiers are designed to suit your needs.

So, although the choice is yours, you must still stick with the dehumidifier that is engineered with high-quality materials and comes at a reasonable price.