Call Us TodayCan Dehumidifiers Help With Mold?
Hoff Heating & AC is committed to making families more comfortable with reliable whole-home dehumidifiers in O’Fallon, MO. As the name suggests, a dehumidifier is a device that reduces or controls humidity in a certain area, home, or space. Missouri is a beautiful state but is known for being humid, with average levels at 82.25%, making it the 13th most humid state in the US.
Having a whole-home dehumidifier is one of the best ways to beat the heat while also making sure you and your family breathe clean air. Worry no more about mold and mildew growth with a quality humidifier that you can lean on when you often deal with comfort and allergy issues, as well as damp, musty odors and visible signs of moisture in your house.
The Mold and Humidity Link
There are many reasons why you do not want mold in your home. The spores are unpleasant to look at, and they stink. Not only that, but they also cause a variety of health problems. If you have breathing problems or allergies, mold is not your friend. If left untreated, it can cause destruction, such as wood rotting and warping. Thankfully, there are a few practical and easy ways to prevent mold. One way is to have a dehumidifier installed in your home.
Mold develops when there are high levels of dampness and humidity in a given area. The key is to ensure that your home’s humidity level is lower than 50%. With a dehumidifier, you can keep it between 30% and 50%.
What is the connection between mold and humidity? High humidity means high levels of moisture. Mold is like any other life form here on Earth. It requires food to thrive, along with water and proper conditions. It mainly consumes organic materials, such as decaying plants and leaves, wood, linen, wool, and other natural fabrics to continue multiplying.
Much like any other living organism, bacterial growth has a temperature range that it prefers. Usually, mold prefers anywhere from 50 to 70 degrees. If puddles of water or any damp materials lie around your home, mold will cling to them. That includes your leaky pipes, wet sinks, and old basement foundations. The last thing you want is to provide food, water, and shelter for mold; otherwise, it will keep thriving.
Can Dehumidifiers Help With Mold?
Yes, dehumidifiers do help with mold issues in your home. However, you should remember that the device is not capable of killing mold. Therefore, it should not be used for that specific purpose. Instead, it prevents mold spores from multiplying. Without the ideal environment for these organisms, they will eventually reduce in numbers and disappear.
Dehumidifiers reduce relative humidity levels in the air. To understand better, let us briefly explain what humidity is. It is simply the measurement of the gaseous water that air holds. As for relative humidity, it is the amount of moisture air carries compared to the amount it can actually hold and is expressed as a percentage. Therefore, if you say that the relative humidity is 50%, the air contains half of its moisture capacity.
A dehumidifier will remove moisture from the air, effectively reducing and combating mold growth. A drier environment keeps the spores from multiplying and spreading. It also prevents condensation on various surfaces like walls and windows, a result of high humidity. The damp environment encourages mold growth, which a dehumidifier can easily combat.
A dehumidifier can come in different types, the most popular being electronic, mechanical, and absorption. An electronic dehumidifier uses a heat pump to get rid of the warmth from a particular surface. This action prompts condensation to occur, removing water from the air.
Meanwhile, a mechanical or refrigerant dehumidifier works like a reverse-cycle air conditioner. It pulls damp air over a cold coil, which leads to the creation of condensation. Moisture drips off the coil, gathering it in a reservoir. In some models, moisture passes directly through a hose, draining it entirely.
Finally, absorption dehumidifiers generally make use of desiccant, which is a chemical substance that creates dryness around it. That’s why it is an effective method for removing water from the air. In the case of dehumidifiers, it is mostly in the form of silica gel.
Here are more reasons why you may want to have a dehumidifier in your O’Fallon home today:
- Prevent the growth of mold and mildew
- Protect books, electronics, wooden furniture, and other valuables from deterioration
- Breathe clean and improved indoor air
- Enhance your home’s comfort, particularly during warmer months
- Help to prevent water damage
A dehumidifier can be a single portable or a whole-house system. Picking the suitable option depends on many factors, including the size of your space and the seriousness of your humidity problems. Portable dehumidifiers are ideal for smaller, individual rooms, while a whole-home dehumidifier system is better for larger homes. If you deal with widespread humidity throughout the entire house, then a whole-house system is recommended for you. You can also integrate it with your HVAC system to enhance its efficiency.
Dehumidify Your O’Fallon Home Today
You surely want a more comfortable home, especially when the days get warmer. At Hoff Heating & AC, we can take care of your dehumidifier needs. From installation to maintenance and repair, we can provide all these services so that you can enjoy a healthier home with cleaner air.
Our professional technicians can install the best type of dehumidifier that you will truly benefit from. The newer models of whole-house systems now come with sensors that allow you to measure humidity levels in different areas of your house. That means there is no guesswork involved. The dehumidifier can automatically change the operation for you to provide the appropriate humidity level.
We have a reliable team that will assess your home’s humidity, conducting a thorough assessment to determine the extent of moisture. From there, we can assist you in choosing the best size and capacity, along with the available units, features, and technology. In many cases, if you prefer a whole-home dehumidifier system, it will be integrated with your existing HVAC system. Our professional installers are capable of this type of installation. However, it should be noted that not all homes are suited for this system. Our team will talk to you after the assessment to give you recommendations and other information regarding compatibility and integration.
Hoff Heating & AC has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. We take pride in this high score, indicating that we meet trustworthiness standards, along with transparency and ethical practices.
Do you want a team of professionals with a proven commitment to service excellence? Hoff Heating & AC is here to give you not just the best dehumidifier but the right one for your home. Whether it is a single portable or a whole-home system, we have the top choices for you. In addition to improving air quality, we can provide a full range of HVAC services for your home. Call us for inquiries or book a dehumidifier installation or repair service in O’Fallon today.
