Drying out

Portable room dehumidifiers can improve indoor air quality and prevent mould

A room that feels damp or smells musty is likely caused by excess humidity—a problem that may be quickly remedied with a portable dehumidifier to improve indoor air quality and prevent mould.

A must-have for a healthier home

“Any room in your house or office where humidity levels hover at 65% or more requires one of these devices,” says Costco member Temitope Afolabi, category manager for Danby Products, a dehumidifier manufacturer.

He notes that most dehumidifiers come with a humidistat, which measures the relative humidity in the room, or you can get a hygrometer or humidity monitoring device to check humidity levels.

“Reduced humidity ensures that the room is less hospitable to allergens like mildew, moulds, mites and dust, all of which can be particularly harmful to children and contribute to asthma,” he adds.

The right unit for the right results

Costco member Matt Daigle, CEO and founder of Rise, a sustainable home improvement authority, says it’s important to choose the right dehumidifier based on the size of your room. “Start by measuring out the size of the room it addresses,” he says. “The wetter and bigger the space, the higher the capacity [of the] unit you’ll need.”

For example, a 1,000-square-foot space that is mildly damp or musty may need only a 6.6-litre (14-pint) unit; if it is damper, the room may need a 10.8-litre (23-pint) device.

“It’s often better to purchase a higher- capacity unit that will consistently bring humidity levels down,” Daigle says, noting that these devices collect water into an integrated pan that can be emptied manually or via a hose fed into a sink or drain.

Keep in mind the placement of the unit as well. For example, you’ll get the best results by placing your dehumidifier in the centre of the room, clear of furniture and walls, to allow air to circulate more efficiently around it.

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