How a dehumidifier works

Dehumidifiers are essential in New England to keep humidity in check. They work by using two components. A blower or fan is the first piece. It draws air into the machine through filters and across cooling coils. The coils are cooled by a compressor. The air drawn across the coils cools rapidly. Cold air cannot hold as much water as warm air. Moisture condenses on the cool surface of the coils and drips into the collection pan. Dehumidification of space keeps fungus and insects at bay.

The water flows from the collection pan into a pump to be removed to the outside. Small machines have buckets instead of pumps that shut off the machine when they get full. In a home, warm air that enters will condense on cool surfaces. That is why your basement tile, pipes, or toilets may sweat when humidity is high. They aren’t actually sweating, but the air next to the cooler surface is humid. The cool surface is acting the same way a coil in a dehumidifier does and the moisture condenses. The filter is important to keep the coils clean. If your condensate drain line gets filled with a fungus, spray Lysol or another disinfectant on the coils when you clean or change the filter.

High humidity in the air leads to fungus and insects. Fungi and insects need moisture to survive and thrive. When your home and basement is humid, you set up a perfect environment. The stack effect is what leads to smells in the living space that emanate from your basement and crawl space. If you need help dehumidifying your space, give us a call.