|
Author: Donald Grummett Article source: http://www.glycoresource.com/. Used with author's permission.
Many parents are unknowingly putting their children at risk by allowing them to play in areas of the home where mildew may be present.
Being noisy, overly energetic creatures children 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 mildewed office, so why expect your children to play where mold lives.
What to do =======================
Therefore, if you find the basement damp a de-humidifier may be an inexpensive solution to this problem.
A de-humidifier 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 is 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 the room as it works. So at those times of the year when the room feels damp but the room temperature is already cool, the dehumidifier becomes king.
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.
Symptoms of excess humidity ===========
Too much moisture in a room can leave the air feeling uncomfortable. It can even cause wood to swell and crack, harming any furniture, tables, or wooden items. Irreplaceable family treasures such as stored clothing, photograph albums, pictures, and books can be permanently damaged. Walls and floors (including carpets) can take on too much moisture. Even metal is affected - primarily by rusting prematurely.
Without a de-humidifier there is an increased possibility of mold and mildew building up on the walls. Both have been linked to the increased incidence of asthma, especially in children. Adding a de-humidifier to the home may help your children in later years.
They do require some work on your part. That is, you have to empty the water collection bucket. Make sure the one you obtain has a light to indicate when the bucket is full. It is easy to forget that at certain times of the year this may have to be done every few days. The indicator light quickly reminds you.
Also make sure it comes with a spigot at the bottom of the drain pan. This is a threaded nozzle at the rear of the machine that empties into the water bucket. Some models have a hose connection attached to the water bucket itself - this works just as well. It allows a drain hose (an old piece of a lawn hose) to be attached. This eliminates the need for the bucket. It will drain the water into the hose, which can be directed into a floor drain.
Make it fully automatic ================
While most people leave them on the floor, some consumers install the de-humidifier above a sink to allow for easy draining. The over the sink method works but limits their usage to one area. Also regular maintenance such as cleaning the filter becomes difficult. Simply leaving the de-humidifier on the floor is usually more convenient. Plus it allows it to be quickly moved to others rooms, if required.
With a lawn hose added for draining, the distance between de-humidifier and drain hole becomes virtually unlimited. Remember water will always flow downhill. Therefore if the drain hole is lower than the drain spigot on the de-humidifier the water will run down the hose.
If unsure of spigot to floor drain levels, pour water into the de-humidifier end of hose while slowly raising hose into the air. Keep raising hose until water drains out the lower end. (This may take a couple of tries because the hose must be full of water for it to work). The level at which the water runs out is how high above floor level the de-humidifier end of the hose must be raised to ensure proper drainage. Once done the de-humidifier becomes fully automatic. You should never have to empty the machine again.
Limitations ======================
A de-humidifier will not operate efficiently if the room temperature is below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Below this temperature the cooling coils will begin to frost up and very little moisture will be removed from the air. This usually occurs at the same time of year as you begin to feel the need to turn on the furnace. Some de-humidifiers even have a sensor to turn them off when the room temperature is too low.
If the amount of water being removed by the de-humidifier drops off suddenly, suspect the room temperature. If this slowing of water production seems to occur earlier in the season than last year, then also suspect a dirty filter or a de-humidifier that requires maintenance.
Bonus ======================
As an aside to the above advantages of the de-humidifier there is one other. Free distilled water. That water you are emptying from the de-humidifier is valuable. All the time the machine operates you have access to an unlimited supply of distilled water. Some people have a hose attached to the outlet of the de-humidifier drain. This way it drains into a clean pan or bottle which they put to use later.
Distilled water can be used in items such as the steam iron, or other appliances that require de-mineralized water. Others use it for watering household plants. So don't buy distilled water for the house when you can get it for free. Copyright 2005 by Donald Grummett. All right reserved.
Donald Grummett is an appliance service manager in Ottawa, Canada. In the trade over 30 years as a technician, business owner, and technical trainer. Learn more valuable information about your household appliances by
visiting http://www.mgservices.ca
Nutritional Myths that Just Wont Die: Protein!
When it comes to the topic of sports nutrition there are many myths and fallacies that float around like some specter in the shadows. They pop up when you least...
How to Succeed in Business
Every one has their own definition of success. My definition of success is to be happy while working at something I believe in and am passionate about. Here are...
16 Tips to Looking + Feeling Great
Do you want to improve the quality of your life? Do you want to look and feel better than you have in years - maybe better than you ever have before? Do you wan...
Time for a Clean Out
Time has flown. It's been six months since you came back from your relaxing holiday over Xmas and New Year. Remember when you charged into the office that firs...
Diabetes May Lead to Erectile Dysfunction
Spread of lifestyle disease like diabetes has taken an alarming proportion. It has been posing a great threat to men's mental and physical health...
Fresh Pumpkin Recipes: 5 Great Ways to Use Fresh Pumpkin
It's autumn, and veggie shops are overflowing with beautiful golden pumpkins. Pumpkin is a highly nutritious vegetable, rich in antioxidants, fiber and vitamins...
10 Things Never to Say to A Guy
Ladies, if you want to have a successful dating life, certain phrases should never come out of your glossy lips. Here they are:
Investing in Your Sales Team
During times when both business and training budgets are tight, management often asks what can be done to improve the return on the company's investment of trai...
Creative Writing - business principles produce more quality work, faster
Maximization methodologies have long been used in business to produce quantities of quality ideas, faster. Creative writers who want to rapidly produce quantiti...
A Million Visitors
How to get a million visitors.
Too Much of a Good Thing
A candid look at artificial sweeteners and healthy alternatives.
How to Choose a Baby Swing
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 1,000 American infants are taken to emergency rooms every year for injuries sustained while using swin...
Sunless Sun Tanning
With more and more of us understanding the serious consequences of sun tanning, we are looking for alternatives. Remember the first self tanners that hit the s...
US Government Owes Martha Stewart 1 Billion Dollars
The prosecutors in the Martha Stewart Case used testimony from an FBI agent who lied under oath to secure a conviction. The prosecutors knowingly and willfully ...
Stress and the Learning Process
Everyone's thinking and abilty to learn, from University Chancellors to Kindergarten newbies, is affected by stress. It's the basis of freezing during exams, of...
Boost Your Productivity with 10 Minutes at the End of Your Day
Apply these 6 strategies at the end of your day and you will definitely boost your productivity.
The Formulas Freelance Copywriters Employ When Creating Web Content
Any writer needs to know the answers to at least these questions before he can meaningfully go to town on your content...
Get Right! Make a Difference
Want to make a difference ? What can one person do? The answer is everything! In its finest sense, the behavior of every one of us is central to the peace of t...
Wedding Shower Favors
Wedding shower favors are a way to extend gratitude from the bride-to-be and her maid of honor, to the guests of the wedding shower, for providing wedding gifts...
Sugars Mind Games
Discover how carbs can be causing your diet downfalls. Find out why it's not your fault.
Do It Yourself Bathroom Curtain
How to make your own bathroom curtains; How to decorate a roller shade; Decorating your bathroom...
Sick of the Traditional Publishing Path?
Avoid the myths of traditional marketing and get real information from a professional book coach of 20 plus years. As an author's advocate, I step out of the tr...
Herbs Vs. Synthetic Vitamins And Minerals
Self-Healing phenomena… You want it? You can have it… It is explained here: One Stop
Se...
Landice Treadmills - A Quick Review of the Landice Treadmill
Considering a Landice treadmill? Here's a quick review of Landice treadmills to help you with your buying decision.
|
Print this page