Is your dehumidifier running, but mold keeps growing in your house? While dehumidifiers are designed to reduce the water content in the air, sometimes, they do not function as expected in controlling mould. Here, we will describe common causes of a dehumidifier's ineffectiveness in preventing mold and detailed solutions to help optimise its performance.
The Purpose of a Dehumidifier
A dehumidifier removes moisture from the air, making an environment less favorable to mold growth. However, due to the presence of moisture on damp surfaces, a dehumidifier is not always enough to halt mould growth. Factors such as ventilation, the existence of mould colonies, and the size of the room will affect the efficacy of a dehumidifier, and humidity will help lower it.
Suppose you have mould in the moisture-rich areas of your house. In that case, you can buy a specific model like the Abestorm Crawl Space Dehumidifier, which can control the humidity in cramped, damp spaces, which are most likely to promote mould development.
Common Reasons Why Your Dehumidifier May Not Be Helping
Incorrect Dehumidifier Size for the Room
Most times, the error is that you are using a small dehumidifier for the space. Dehumidifiers have various capacities and are rated for size, so a unit designed for a small room will easily get flustered while trying to handle the moisture in an ample space, leaving the moisture levels high enough to provide the right environment for mould growth. Make sure to learn the capacity of your dehumidifier, and then make sure to match its size with the space you are trying to keep under control.
Larger areas or spaces with persistent humidity issues require a higher capacity model, such as this Abestorm Basement Dehumidifier, to reduce moisture effectively.
Humidity Level Not Set Low Enough
Most dehumidifiers allow you to set a target humidity level, often 30-50%. Mould prefers humid environments above 60%, so keeping your dehumidifier set on a high enough setting to drive the humidity level down to 50% or below is critical. A dehumidifier set too low may not be able to drop the humidity low enough to stop mould growth. Often, minor differences in humidity level determine whether you can control mould.
If you need a device that controls humidity precisely, ensure that it includes a humidistat that works properly. In this respect, the Abestorm Commercial Dehumidifier can be ideal for preventing conditions in your premises that are unfavourable to mold growth.
External Factors Affecting Dehumidifier Effectiveness
Poor Ventilation in the Room
Even with the dehumidifier running, poor air circulation may retain moisture in specific rooms, which provides a habitat for mould to continue to grow. If there is minimal air circulation, water disappears through evaporation to surfaces and wallboards, particularly in places such as bathrooms and basements. Improve ventilation, which in some cases may mean opening windows or installing exhaust fans, to help the dehumidifier function more efficiently in suppressing humidity levels.
Existing Mold on Surfaces
Only a dehumidifier is of little use when mold is already present on walls, ceilings, and other surfaces. While dehumidifiers themselves cannot kill the mold, they do not allow it to grow from the inside as they combat the humidity inside. However, killing or removing established mold requires cleaning and treating obvious mold with proper products.
To further prevent mould from developing, consider using mould-resistant paints or sealants in areas that tend to get moldy, especially after cleaning.
High Humidity Levels in Adjacent Rooms
High humidity in adjacent rooms can bleed into the space where your dehumidifier works, making it hard to maintain the space at low humidity. This is an issue when using a dehumidifier in open-plan spaces or rooms divided by hallways. When other rooms are humid, consider placing supplementary dehumidifiers or closing doors to exclude excessive moisture in specific spaces.
Placement and Maintenance Issues
Improper Dehumidifier Placement
Positioning Location Even location can influence your dehumidifier's performance. Positioning it too close to walls or furniture could cause obstructions that may disrupt airflow into and out of the appliance. Position the dehumidifier in an open area with at least 6-12 inches on all sides. Thus, air is circulated freely, and it can pull moist air from any part of the room.
Lack of Regular Maintenance
Like every other household appliance, dehumidifiers need regular servicing to work efficiently. A dirty filter may lower air intake, making the unit less efficient. Most dehumidifiers have water tanks, which one needs to drain or empty regularly. Once the tank is complete, the unit might switch off until emptied, and humidity keeps creeping in.
Check and clean the filter every month, and descal the tank when needed. For those who are not bothered by frequent tank emptying, there is enough among the many Abestorm dehumidifiers that have a continuous drainage system.
Climate and Environmental Factors
Very High Initial Humidity
If a room's starting humidity is high, it can take days for a dehumidifier to bring it down to a livable level. You would have to run the unit permanently for at least two weeks to bring it down to an acceptable humidity set point. From there, you just set the dehumidifier to hold it, but it does take patience enough for this initial period to bring the humidity within control.
External Sources of Moisture
In some areas, leaks or water are coming from the ground, another source of continuous moisture that the dehumidifier can never fix. Whether there is a leak in the basement or rainwater is seeping in through the foundation, the issue's root causes need to be corrected. Leaks should be repaired, the insulation increased, and waterproofing added to control the moisture level to complement the work of the dehumidifier.
Seasonal Climate Conditions
During the wet seasons, spring and summer, your dehumidifier must be a more effective humidistat to ensure low humidity. It will get very moist, and just a little help from fans or air conditioning can level that moisture. Winter is usually relatively dry, making it easier for a dehumidifier to prevent mould.
How to Maximize Your Dehumidifier's Impact on Mold
Ensure your dehumidifier works effectively by applying combined strategies for thoroughly cleaning existing mold, optimal ventilation, and stopping sources of moisture. Position the dehumidifier to keep a humidity level below 50% and in an open center area without impediments around it. However, if you have rooms that experience constant high humidity throughout the year, the best bet would be to invest in heavy-duty dehumidifiers with advanced controls like Abestorm Commercial Dehumidifier.
Conclusion
If your dehumidifier does not even effectively regulate mould, it may be due to several factors, including incorrect settings and placement and possibly external sources of humidity beyond the unit. Adjusting the unit, cleaning up the mould, and making sure theensuringtion in that room will do the trick. Selecting the suitable model designed for your space, which you can find such options on this Abestorm, would allow you to have a comfortable, mould-resistant home environment.
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