Benefits of a Humidifier Dehumidifier Combo
To maintain proper humidity levels, homeowners use two machines: a dehumidifier, which pulls moisture from the air, and a humidifier, which adds moisture to the air. With these two appliances, you can have superior air quality all through the year.
But what if you could have better air quality with just one machine? This is the purpose behind a humidifier-dehumidifier combo.
The Problem of High Humidity
High humidity levels can cause a wide range of issues in your home. Whether the problem is caused by outdoor humidity or seepage in the basement, it can impact the quality of your air and quality of your indoor material.One of the most common problems related is mold. Mold is more likely to grow in areas where humidity is high. Standing water is commonly associated with mold, although the pesky fungus can grow off of high levels of air moisture as well.
In addition to the mold problems, high humidity levels can also increase the chances of insects in your home. Many household pests eat mold, so if your home has mold growth, you’re creating an open buffet for nasty pests such as mold beetles. Some insects, such as cockroaches, are simply more comfortable in damp environments.
High humidity can also lead to premature wear on your furniture and woodwork. It can cause paint to peel, reduce the quality of furniture, and warp wood products. It can also cause floorboards to warp, creating issues for your home’s overall integrity. Wood cabinets can be impacted by wetness, which causes premature decay and warping.
To reduce keep a home dry, many use a dehumidifier, which stores extracted moisture in a water tank.
The Harm of Low Humidity
Low relative humidity can be just as harmful as high. Similarly, it can cause problems with both your overall health, as well as problems with your home.From a health perspective, low humidity can cause issues with your skin, respiratory system, and even your eyes. When skin is exposed to prolonged dry conditions, it can become itchy, dry and flaky. It can aggravate skin diseases, such as eczema, psoriasis, and skin allergies.
Many people also experience respiratory issues when they are exposed to low humidity. If you breathe in dry air on a constant basis, your throat and lungs can become irritated and painful. It is also a major contributor to itchy eyes and other problems with your health.
Low relative humidity also impacts the quality of your home. If the air is too dry, you can have problems such as cracked or warped wood on the floors of your house, or caulk and glue in joints can begin to shrink and weaken. Static electricity is also higher.
Fortunately, you can prevent this with a humidifier, which expels water droplets from a water tank.
What is a Humidifier-Dehumidifier Combo?
So, what if you could control humidity, whether it’s too high or too low, with one single machine? You can if you have a humidifier dehumidifier combo. These appliances are simply a combination of the two, with all the technologies, features, and benefits of both appliances rolled into one unit.Best Location for a Humidifier Dehumidifier Combo
There are many locations where you can place your humidifier-dehumidifier combo, and it largely depends on that status of your air and what you want to achieve. When the air is dry, which usually occurs during the winter in most areas, you will likely want to keep the machine in a place where you spend most of your time.For example, many prefer to keep a humidifier in their bedrooms during the winter, which helps control dry skin, itchy eyes, and an irritated respiratory system. You could also place it in your living room or kitchen if you spend lots of time in these places.
If you need to dehumidify the air in your home, it’s common to keep the machine in a place that experiences the highest moisture levels. In many homes, this means the basement. Basements are often damp and wet, which can occur from seepage in the foundation or leaky pipes.
If you have had any water issues in the basement, it’s best to keep your dehumidifier downstairs to prevent mildew or mold and other issues that are caused by humidity.
You could also keep the combo unit in wet locations, such as the bathroom or kitchen. The bathroom is especially susceptible to mold, so having your dehumidifier in this room could help your home’s air quality.
What to Look for in a Humidifier Dehumidifier Machine
Internal Humidistat
One of the most important features you need from your device in an internal humidistat, preferably one that automatically adjusts the machine’s operation.A humidistat is a tool that measures the humidity in the air, and it can be used to determine whether or not you need to run the machine and in which mode. If you have one with an internal humidistat, the machine can usually turn itself off when the surrounding humidity is ideal.
Humidity Control
Not only should the machine have an internal humidistat, but it should be able to control the settings of the appliance based on the reading. With humidity controls, certain humidifier-dehumidifier combos can change the functions, reducing, for example, the dehumidification of the machine.
Usable Control Settings
Your unit has a very simple job: maintain ideal moisture levels in the air. Using it properly and setting it to do that job should not be complicated either. Look for a machine that offers simple, intuitive controls and you will be much happier with the long-term results of the machine.
Auto Shutoff When Full (Dehumidifier)
Most dehumidifiers use a reservoir container that stores the collected water. This container can only hold so much, and if the machine keeps running when the container is full, the water will begin to spill to the floor, making a mess and effectively negating the reason for having a dehumidifier in the first place. While you need to empty the reservoir on a routine basis, the best humidifier-dehumidifier combo will have an auto shut off when the reservoir is full.
Large Capacity Bucket
Both humidifiers and dehumidifiers need water reservoirs. For a dehumidifier, this is a place where the extracted water is stored until it can be emptied. With a humidifier, on the other hand, this is where water is stored before the machine expels it into the air. A large capacity is important in either situation.For a whole house dehumidifier, you want a large storage bucket so your don’t have to constantly empty the water. For a humidifier, you want a large capacity so you don’t have to refill it every day. For both machines, and combo machines, a large capacity bucket creates greater convenience.
Quiet Operation
Your combo machine should not be too loud, as it will be constantly running to help control the moisture levels in your home. Look for a machine that gives quiet operation and you will be far happier with the results.
What to Avoid in a Humidifier-Dehumidifier Combo
On the other hand, there are many things you should avoid in a humidifier-dehumidifier combo. In many cases, there are simply the opposite of what to look for when purchasing a unit.
Loud Motors
When running your humidifier-dehumidifier combo, you need to have a machine that is not loud and annoying. After all, if the unit is too loud, you may not run it, which completely negates the purpose of having one in the first place.
Overheating
Some units, when ran for too long, may overheat and become damaged. This could impact the efficiency and effectiveness of the machine, or it could render the unit completely useless. Before buying, look at reviews and avoid any machines that have a reputation for overheating.
Frequent Filter Replacements
Every system should have at least one filter that needs to be cleaned or replaced on a regular basis. Consider the replacement cycle and associated costs.
Low Moisture Output or Collection
Units will also have ratings for how much moisture they can expel and how much moisture they can collect. For the humidifiers, there is usually a rating of output per day. The same goes for dehumidifiers; they are measured by how much water (in gallons) they can collect per day. You’ll want a high output or collection, especially if you have a larger home or need to control humidity in a spacious commercial setting.Control the Air Quality in Your Home with Oransi
If you want to give your family clean, healthy air, make sure you have an air purifier from Oransi. Using advanced technologies and innovative designs, we create air purifiers that can control a large variety of indoor pollution, including pollen, dust, pet dander, dust mites, mold spores, and even VOCs.To learn more check out this air purifier guide.
