Will This Kill Mold?
Is a dehumidifier really effective against mold?
Mold is a type of fungal growth which can be stealthily thriving anywhere in your home. Mold growth may look like unpleasant specks or obscure spots on the surfaces in your home. And while it is not life-threatening, harmful mold spores can get into the air and cause a number of health conditions in otherwise healthy people – from mere inflammation to severe skin sensitivities and breathing difficulties.
Some other common symptoms of mold allergies may include tingling and watery eyes, flowing nose, congestion and sinus concerns, breathing problems, migraines, and chronic cold.
How does mold infiltrate your home?
What makes mold dangerous is their ability to spread and grow anywhere when the circumstances are right for it. Any place that is damp and has inadequate ventilation, such as bathrooms or basements can be a breeding ground for mold. Humidity plays a key role in causing any surface to feel moist, providing it the potential to foster mold.
Can a dehumidifier kill mold?
Prolonged exposure to mold can put you and your family at risk for very severe health issues. For this reason, it’s necessary to keep them out of your home. Getting rid of mold or inhibiting further growth is rather easy if you can maintain a decent ventilation and insulation in your home. A dehumidifier can do all of that, and more.
A dehumidifier, as the name implies, reduces humidity levels in the air. It works by absorbing moisture from the conditioned air and transferring it over refrigerated coils. The excess moisture settles in a detachable container inside the dehumidifier until it is drained. When moisture from the air is reduced and the humidity levels are regulated, the mold spores are incapable to grow.
How to choose the right dehumidifier?
When choosing a dehumidifier, you must ensure that it has the appropriate size for the space it needs to dehumidify. Too small and it won’t be able to extract enough condensation from the air, too big and it will needlessly drain more power. Humidity in your room should also be a deciding factor.
While some higher-end dehumidifiers may seem costly, but they’re worth the expense as you will be able to save more money in the long-term by hindering mold outbreaks, preventing the need for structural restoration and exorbitant medical bills due to health complications. So if you’re trying to enhance your indoor air quality and make your living space more comfortable, an air dehumidifier would be greatly beneficial for you.
