Hot, sticky weather has arrived in Buford, GA, and the humid air outside may be making your house damp and musty. Fortunately, a dehumidifier can remove the moisture from your home’s air, making it fresh and comfortable again. Here are three signs you need a dehumidifier this summer.
Damp, Musty-Smelling Air
A musty-smelling room is unpleasant, and it can mean that you have poor indoor air quality. The damp smell could be caused by spores or pathogens growing in the room’s humid air.
A dehumidifier uses a cooled metal coil to take excess moisture out of the air. Water condenses onto the coil and is collected below. If the musty smell was caused by spores, then the dehumidifier will prevent new spores from growing, but you may need an air filter or purifier to remove the spores that are already there.
Condensation on Windows
When warm, humid air is cooled by an air conditioner, the amount of water that it can hold decreases. This water then settles on cooler surfaces, like windows and patio doors. A dehumidifier can solve a window condensation problem by taking the water out of the air before it settles on the window.
Window condensation is not a benign problem. If left uncorrected, the water can rot your window frame or sill, which can then become a breeding ground for biological contaminants that can make you sick.
Water Stains on Walls
Sometimes, excess water condenses on your walls as well as windows. When the water evaporates, it can leave unsightly stains. Over time, these stains can become pocked with black spots.
Water stains often appear in bathrooms where the steam from baths and showers is not adequately vented or on walls with ducts carrying cooled air behind them. In either situation, a dehumidifier can help to keep the water off your walls.
If your home is damp and musty, call Pruitt Heating & Air, Inc. Our HVAC maintenance professionals will explain your options to fix the problem.
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