When the humidity is high in your house or anywhere, the air feels very heavy. This can make it difficult to breathe for people with certain respiratory conditions like COPD or asthma. It’s also one of the main reasons dehumidifiers exist.

A dehumidifier is an appliance that pulls the humid air in, removes the pints of moisture, and redistributes it into the home. It has a fan, a cooling unit or coils, a reheater, and a reservoir bucket to catch the excess water. Once you turn your dehumidifier on, the fan starts sucking the surrounding air into the unit.

The air gets circulated inside dehumidifiers, and it gets passed through the internal cooling coils. These coils lower the air’s temperature, and this cooler temperature allows the coils to pull the excess moisture from the air. The air is then quickly reheated. This reheated air is pushed back out into the room without the added moisture and therefore reduces the relative humidity levels.

Cheaper dehumidifiers utilize a tray or bucket to collect the moisture from the air. More expensive dehumidifiers also use that method to remove the pints of moisture, but some may also come with a hose that allows you to drain the water into a floor drain or pump.

What are the Indirect Health Effects of High Humidity?

There are several indirect health effects that come with having high indoor humidity. [1] You’ve likely noticed that the hot, humid air feels heavy and makes it more difficult to catch your breath.

It’s uncomfortable because this type of air actually interferes with your body’s natural ability to cool down and regulate your body temperature. Having a high humidity level indoors makes it difficult to cool down.

Also, viruses and bacteria thrive better in humid environments.[2] These things are also able to stay in the air instead of settling on surfaces for much longer periods. This means that it will increase your risk of getting sick by inhaling microorganisms in high humidity level environments.

Mold, fungi, and allergens also run rampant with a higher humidity level. In fact, mold and fungi prefer moderately damp and humid environments to grow. They can grow anywhere in your home, and this includes your carpets, furniture, air vents, ducts, bathrooms, tiles, walls, and closets.

The ideal relative humidity level for indoors is 30 to 50%. Any higher, and you’ll likely experience the issues outlined above. A small dehumidifier is an excellent way to reduce the humidity level in select areas of your home to maintain proper moisture levels.

What are the Benefits of Owning a Cheap Dehumidifier?

The main benefit of owning one of the best dehumidifiers is that it lowers your home’s indoor humidity levels. Once these decrease, the allergens, mold, and fungi in your home should start to decrease because they won’t have an ideal environment to thrive.

They can also get rid of that musty smell that seems to cling to everything in your home when higher than normal moisture levels exist. These unpleasant smells are usually caused by mold and mildew growth, so reducing the humidity level can get rid of the mold and mildew. This will also improve your home’s air quality and make your home more comfortable.

You might also notice a decrease in skin irritation and respiratory problems. This is especially noticeable if you have respiratory issues like asthma, chronic bronchitis, or COPD.

Additionally, if you’ve ever noticed that your clothes feel moderately damp inside your closet, an inexpensive dehumidifier may be just one thing you need. The high humidity level inside a bedroom can leave your clothes feeling this way, and a dehumidifier will help them feel drier (and normal).

Finally, running a dehumidifier can help use your air conditioner more efficiently. Air conditioners reduce the humidity level in order to cool down a home.

If the air inside your house has less moisture in it from using a dehumidifier, then your air conditioner doesn’t have to run as hard or often to make the temperatures pleasant. In turn, you can see your overall energy costs reduced, and this can potentially save you money by investing in a cheap dehumidifier. Find out how you can save money on your air conditioning bill.

You can also reduce your energy bills by using z-wave thermostats or budget-friendly smart thermostats.