Manage Water Damage with a Dehumidifier

Dramatic water damage problems can result from using the wrong soap in the dishwasher: a tidal wave of foam fills the kitchen. Or a faucet can break off in your hand, spraying you in the face. However, water damage can also result from the accumulation of water vapor in the air in your Charleston home. 

If you have consistently humid air in the home, opening the window occasionally will most likely be enough. For more consistent humidity control, we at Clean Masters recommend using a separate appliance to manage the moisture. A dehumidifier pulls in surrounding air, strips moisture from it, then circulates it back into the room. Not only does it dry the air for comfort, it can help protect your home from water damage.

Assists the A/C

A dehumidifier can lower energy costs; it helps your air conditioner run more efficiently. When the air in your home is more humid, the A/C must do the function of cooling the air and removing moisture, which means it has to work harder. As an added bonus, running a dehumidifier helps reduce dust in your home, so you won’t have to clean as often.

Decreases Mold

When your home’s humidity level reaches above 50%, it encourages mold. These fungi reproduce by tiny spores, invisible to the naked eye, that float through outdoor and indoor air and start growing when they land on warm, moist surfaces. Drier air helps reduce the possibility that you will develop mold on your clothing, furniture, curtains, towels or bed sheets.

Improve Air Quality

Not only can mold and mildew cause damage to whatever it’s growing on, they can also pollute your home’s air and increase the occurrence of colds, allergies and other illnesses. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, molds produce allergens, irritants, and in some cases, potentially toxic substances. A well maintained dehumidifier can help clean the indoor air. 

Makes You More Comfortable

According to the Heat Index Chart [PDF] published by the NOAA, humidity during warm and hot weather can make you feel 3 to 18 degrees hotter (when comparing 50 to 80 percent humidity). In Charleston, managing indoor humidity is the key to staying comfortable indoors without excessive electricity bills.

Signs You Need a Dehumidifier

In addition to suffering from constant symptoms of allergies, consider a dehumidifier if you have some obvious signs of high humidity in certain rooms or areas of your home, including: 

• Water stains on the walls or ceilings of your home
• High humidity rooms with poor ventilation or no ventilation (especially in areas like bathrooms that have no windows)
• Frequent condensation on the windows in certain areas of your home
• Small black spots (mold spores) growing on the walls or in areas with high humidity, such as the bathtub or shower
• Must or mildew smell

Water Damage Restoration in Charleston

If excess humidity is causing water damage problems, Clean Masters has sophisticated equipment that is used to locate and track moisture that may be difficult to locate. By combining this equipment with trained technicians, Clean Masters has developed a detailed and comprehensive process that successfully eliminates all moisture from a structure and its contents.

For any water damage help in Charleston, Summerville, Harleyville, Reevesville, Ridgeville, Saint George or surrounding cities, contact Clean Masters today.