While the outdoor environment may thrive on high moisture levels that occur naturally in high humidity areas, the homes we live in aren’t as appreciative. Like plants and other foliage that grow strong with steady moisture, so does mold and mildew grow when moisture is present in our basement or crawl space.
Fortunately, your local waterproofing service here at Barrier Waterproofing Systems has developed several systems for sealing moisture out of your home’s foundation to keep it protected.
For even further protection, we will install a dehumidifier to ensure that any crawl space encapsulation or basement waterproofing servicing will work at maximum effectiveness by maintaining a thoroughly dry climate. If you have a dehumidifier installed in your basement or crawl space, take a look at the dehumidifier maintenance tips below for keeping it running at optimal performance:
- Be sure to change out the filter after a steady amount of runtime. About 18 months would be a good interval to check.
- Be sure your fan mode is set to “auto”. This extends filter and fan life by ensuring the fan only runs when the dehumidifier is on. Homeowners with poor air quality in their crawl space may want to keep their fan running continuously instead.
- The condensation line accumulates slimy buildup as the machine runs. This can eventually clog up the condensate line if left too long. Disinfecting with a vinegar or bleach solution will keep the unit clean as well as slow regrowth.
After installation, many people forget about their dehumidifier until when it has broken down or begins working inefficiently. Keeping it clean will prevent the growth of mold or mildew that reduces its efficiency. Sticking to a simple routine to clean things like the condensate bucket, air intakes, and exhaust grilles will do wonders in the long run. You can do this on a monthly basis or as late as the start of each season to make sure it is working optimally at all times.
Avoiding short cycling will elongate the service period of your dehumidifier. Waiting at least 10 minutes between turning your humidifier on and off will allow the dehumidifier time to repressurize and balance pressure to avoid overheating or tripping the circuit breaker. Furthermore, this allows the dehumidifier enough time to evaporate any excess moisture, increasing overall efficiency.
Managing the levels of water in the condensate bucket will reduce the potential for mold growth that could affect the dehumidifier’s performance as well as your home’s air quality. Dehumidifiers can temporarily relieve indoor humidity, but they can become a permanent solution to your humidity issues with the proper care.
A properly functioning dehumidifier not only improves air quality but also reduces preventable allergy causes, like dust mites. It also reduces the likelihood of developing other health hazards that result from high humidity living conditions. In addition to improving living spaces, dehumidifiers can also solve high humidity in a basement or crawl space. You can combine a dehumidifier with other systems, like a ventilation system or exhaust fan, to improve home dehumidification efficiency.
Barrier Waterproofing Systems provides other dehumidifier maintenance tips and resources on crawl space ventilation and using a dehumidifier to find the best solution for your home. You can check them out here.
These dehumidifier maintenance tips will help your dehumidifier run a little more effectively. If your machine stops working, is making strange noises, or is performing strangely, give Barrier Waterproofing Systems a call at (615) 257-1060 | (931) 536-1168. Our team of dedicated professionals will fix it up and get it back to working order.
This post was originally published on 10/20/2020 and updated on 8/4/2021 for accuracy and a larger scope of information.
