Residing in Arlington, we are not unfamiliar with the muggy summer heat or the unexpected dampness of a fall afternoon. This local humidity is not just uncomfortable; it also brings along unwelcome friends like mold and mildew that will invade your home. When you think of a dehumidifier, picture a quiet, little ally in the corner of your room, sipping away the excess humidity. It's crucial to find one that matches the unique needs of your home, though; not just any unit can get the job done. For small spaces, like your cozy home office, a compact dehumidifier might be your best friend. These units are easy to move and fit snugly in corners and other nooks, making them a perfect choice for targeted moisture control.
If you have a basement that could serve as a sauna or a large common living area, you're shopping for something with enough horsepower to get the job done. Large-capacity dehumidifiers can handle the size and moisture problem reasonably well. They process a lot of water in a day (or in some cases, a lot of water over time) and in doing so, create a much drier space. If you're using one of these monsters, you should really notice a difference in how humid or "sweaty" the air feels in your space. If you're not using one, well: maybe you need to might consider investing in one.
Humidity levels might make you wonder, and there's a sweet spot to aim for and hit. Ideally, keeping indoor humidity between 30% and 50% is what you want. That range is, of course, where we landed on the last major reset, but really, whatever range keeps you and your family in a climate that allows for structural weight-bearing (as in, no mold or mildew forming on your walls or beams) should be fine. Most people wouldn't let their indoor humidity hit either extreme for long (no one wants an indoor sauna), so failure conditions aren't really the best way to think about it, but maybe the life of a car engine: too little oil is bad, but so is too much.