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 Many
parents are unknowingly putting their children at risk. Because
children are noisy, overly energetic creatures they are often relegated
to the basement. Many a weary mother thinks of the basement playroom as
the next best thing to a nanny. But, by doing this you may be placing
them in the part of the home that is the dampest. You wouldn't work in a
damp office, so why expect your children to play where the moisture
content is too high.
Symptoms
of excess humidity
Too
much moisture in a room can leave the air feeling uncomfortable and
smelly. So if the basement has a slightly odd smell suspect dampness.
When objects such as books smell musty, or begin to swell, suspect dampness.
In worst cases wooden furniture may swell or crack. Stored
clothing, photograph albums, pictures, or books can
be permanently damaged. Walls and floors may feel colder than expected. Even metal is affected - primarily by rusting
prematurely.
Excess
moisture increases the possibility of mold and mildew building up on the
rooms surfaces. Both have been linked to the increased incidence of asthma,
especially in children. Therefore, anything you do to alleviate this
problem in your home may help your children in later years.
So
if you find the basement has begun to feel damp the simple addition of a dehumidifier may
be a quick and inexpensive means of combating this problem.
What
to do
A
dehumidifier is somewhat of a crossbreed. It is a mixture of a
refrigerator and an air conditioner. It is designed to do only one thing
-- remove moisture from the air. No other appliance can do this as well.
It's similar to an air conditioner because both will remove moisture from
the room air. But while an air conditioner cools the room, a
dehumidifier will actually add heat to the room as it works. It is
somewhat of a niche product. But, for anyone with a damp room or
basement it can be an appliance worth its weight in gold.
What
to look for before purchasing
You will have to empty the water
collection bucket, and at certain times of the year this may have to be done
every few days. Therefore, make sure the one you purchase has a light
that indicates when the bucket is full. The indicator light quickly
reminds you. Without one most people will simple forget this chore.
Also
make sure your dehumidifier comes with a threaded drain connection.
This allows a drain hose
(or an old piece of a lawn hose) to be attached to the rear of the
machine. This can eliminate the need to empty the bucket. Once a hose is
attached the water drains into the hose, which can be directed into a
floor drain or sump.
Limitations
A dehumidifier is not meant to operate all year
long. It's primarily a machine that does its best work between the
heating and cooling seasons. You will find it works mainly in the spring
and fall. If yours works all year long, you have
more serious moisture problems. One that will have to be addressed by a
company that seals basement walls against water leakage.
It's
important to know that a dehumidifier will not operate efficiently if the room temperature is below 60 degrees
Fahrenheit. Below this temperature the cooling coils begin to frost
up and very little moisture will be removed from the air. This often occurs at the same time of year.
Usually at about the time of year you will begin to feel the need to turn on
the furnace. Some dehumidifiers counteract this problem by the
installation of a temperature sensor that turns them off
when the room temperature is too low. When purchasing look
for a model that has this feature.
Maintenance
If
the amount of water being removed drops off
suddenly, suspect the room temperature first. Water output should be fairly regular unless there has been a drastic
change in the weather. If the water production seems erratic check
the filter at the rear of the machine. Anything that impedes the
air flow through the dehumidifier will affect its operation. This also includes other items around or beside it.
So don't be tempted to pile
objects such as clothing, toys, or other basement paraphernalia against
this appliance. If
this slowing of water production seems to occur earlier in the season
than last year, then also suspect that the dehumidifier requires
maintenance. This can be done by the homeowner as long as you use
caution. See also our article, 'How to Clean your
Dehumidifier like a Pro'. If unsure call your appliance service
company for help.
By
Donald Grummett
Copyright © 2005 Donald
Grummett. All rights reserved
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