If you’re looking for a low-pressure, low-cost waterproofing measure, a dehumidifier can serve you well. These machines are simple to install and can pull the moisture out of your basement or crawl space. They work best as mold preventatives, but they can also help you preserve materials that may otherwise warp when exposed to excess moisture.
If you want a dehumidifier to serve you well, you’ll need to regularly maintain yours. It’s easier than you may think to keep your dehumidifier working at 100 percent as long as you pick up a few basic care habits.
Where to Place Your Dehumidifier
Part of taking care of your dehumidifier is choosing where to put it in the first place. Your dehumidifier is more sensitive to its environment than you may initially believe.
You will want to make sure your dehumidifier is appropriately positioned to take in most of the moisture in your basement or crawl space. That said, you also need to keep its airflow obstacle-free if you want to keep it from overworking itself. It’s also a good idea to elevate your dehumidifier to keep it away from standing water.
If you don’t know where to put your dehumidifier, you can always talk to the professionals working in the Raleigh, NC, area. After a home inspection, a Tar Heel Basement Systems professional can tell you where your dehumidifier will serve you best while also hooking you up with additional waterproofing measures if they’re necessary.
Consider Bucket-Emptying
Given updates to modern dehumidifiers, you’re unlikely to have to deal with an overflowing bucket if you let your dehumidifier sit for a few days. That said, your dehumidifier will shut off and stop clearing out your basement if you leave the bucket full.
You’ll always want to keep an eye on your bucket when taking your dehumidifier’s health into account. Try to establish an emptying schedule to keep it empty and your home as moisture-free as possible. You’ll also want to clean out the bucket with gentle soap at least once a month to clear away any mold particles that might otherwise make themselves at home in your machine.
That said, there’s also an option that you can “set and forget.” Tar Heel Basement Systems offers energy-efficient dehumidifiers that also are self-draining. They can be directed to drain into a sump pump system, or be installed along with a condensate pump, and there are no buckets or reservoirs that you’ll have to worry about emptying.
Changing and Cleaning the Filter
You’ll also want to watch your filters to ensure that they’re still interacting with the rest of your dehumidifier appropriately. A dehumidifier’s filters can pull particles out of the air while also cleaning out the moisture that the machine takes in. These filters help keep the air in your home free of debris, thereby improving your health.
You’ll want to check your dehumidifier filters every other week, and at least once a month, if you want them to continue working properly. While you can find filters for most brands of dehumidifiers at your local hardware store, it’s best to work with a contractor like Tar Heel Basement Systems to ensure the correct size is used and properly replaced.
Keep an Eye on Your Humidistat
Your dehumidifier also comes equipped with a humidistat, which you’ll want to reference with relative frequency when maintaining it. Your humidistat lets you know when you’ve overclocked your dehumidifier by telling you how much moisture it’s been able to pull from the air in your home. When you run your dehumidifier at full force for an extended period of time, it can begin to overheat and work less effectively. In doing so, you can accidentally damage some of its inner workings past the point of easy repair.
To keep your dehumidifier functional, cycle it so it isn’t running at full force through an entire day.
Look Over Your Coils
Finally, be sure to keep a close eye on your dehumidifier’s coils. The coils of a dehumidifier are sensitive to dampness and to the cold. You’ll want to make sure your dehumidifier’s in a relatively warm spot, with temperatures in the area above at least 60°F. If you find yourself dealing with standing water in your basement or crawl space, you’ll also want to make sure your dehumidifier is elevated, or else you’ll risk drowning the coils.
Ask for Guidance When Things Seem Strange
Sometimes, your dehumidifier can malfunction in ways that even the most thorough home repair can’t help. If something’s gone amiss with your dehumidifier and you can’t identify the problem, you can always reach out to an industry professional working in Raleigh, NC, for guidance. An expert at Tar Heel
Basement Systems can come out to your home and help identify what’s gone wrong while also providing you with the avenues you may need to seek out a replacement.
To take the guesswork out of your dehumidifier service, you also can sign up for the company’s annual maintenance program. A technician will thoroughly inspect the dehumidifier and change the filters, as well as check the overall health of the area.
In the same vein, you can always rely on the contractors in your area for a home inspection, just in case you suspect that there may be more water damage than what you can see. The professionals at Tar Heel Basement Systems can provide you with a free services quote to help you determine what may need help in your home and how much you’ll need for repairs.
