Many people have experienced their fair share of dehumidifier problems. Basements are notorious for having mold, mildew and bacteria caused by high humidity. A basement dehumidifier will eliminate water vapor in the area and control the growth of these potentially hazardous conditions. The conditions of the basement as well as the temperature can cause problems, but they can be fixed in some cases. What should the humidity be ?
A dehumidifier has many of the same components as an air conditioner, but with a few extra features. The humid air is drawn into the machine, where it passes through coils that are ice cold and the water vapor condenses onto the coils. The water droplets are deposited in a basin that slowly fills, or is drained into a floor drain or sump. The dry air is either circulated back into the air or passed by heated coils to warm it before being sent back out into the room. Many problems are caused by the fans inability to draw sufficient air flow through the machine to actually lower humidity. See a model with 360 CFM capable of removing 12.5 gallons per day.
Most dehumidifiers will run as long as long as there is room in the water basin. Once it has reached a certain level, the machine will shut off and not run again until the basin is emptied. The basin is easy to forget about as it may take several days to fill, especially if there isn't a significant amount of moisture in the air. The remedy is to regularly empty the bucket to guarantee uninterrupted service, or route the drain water to a floor drain or sump pit.
When the temperature of the basement goes below 65 degrees, it can cause the coils to freeze or get too cold. Instead of condensating and dropping into the basin, the water vapor will actually freeze onto the coils, creating ice. You must turn the unit off and allow the ice to melt and hope it doesn't happen again, or adjust the temperature of the basement so that it doesn't get too cold. See a model that eliminates freeze up down to 33 degrees F
In order to keep particulates from passing over the coils, the unit has an air filter that eliminates the dust and allows only the water vapor to pass through. If you notice the unit is running but there isn't any water in the basin, then the dust and particulates may be clogging up the filter, restricting airflow and blocking the water vapor. You should remove the filter and either replace or clean it.
Are you looking for a better solution ? End your dehumidifer problems and check out the Horizon line. You simply won't find a better machine. Horizon offers low temp operation, high capacity, high efficiency, rugged, reliable performance.
Horizon is made for ACE , in Broadway NC.
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