Dehumidifiers are one of the most hardworking appliances around the house. Thus, they need some caring to maintain optimum performance even under extreme conditions.
Many people think that maintenance simply refers to proper cleaning, no more no less. However, the truth is, cleaning is just one part of proper maintenance for dehumidifiers. Maintenance as a whole aims to maximize a unit’s durability and extend its lifespan not just by removing dirt and stain but by preventing dirt and damages as much as possible to begin with.
Here are two important maintenance tips for dehumidifiers so you can enjoy your hard-earned bucks much longer.
1. Buy a new filter as often as necessary.
You can clean filters of dehumidifiers as often as necessary to save some money, but when that no longer works well, you may just have to spend more in the end.
Cleaning the air filter requires basic cleaning to ensure maximum moisture absorption and prevent dirt and dust from getting in the motor and coils. However, manufacturers of dehumidifiers also have standard filter lifespan and they should be replaced accordingly, regardless if the filter is clean or damaged.
The first thing you should know is if the filter is washable in the first place or not. Washable filters are meant to be cleaned repeatedly within certain duration while non-washable types are meant to be replaced as directed by manufacturing companies of dehumidifiers due to toxicity concerns (some chemicals used in manufacturing the filter may leak after quite some time), among others.
Second, when dirt is already hard to remove from the filters of dehumidifiers, it means that the filters have already lost half of their effectiveness permanently.
Lastly, damaged filters or those that no longer fit perfectly should no longer be used because loose filters, no matter how slight that may be, can increase vibration, which as a result can damage the motor after a while.
2. Adjust humidistat to a level that will not overwork the unit.
Dehumidifiers that absorb moist excessively do not really work better than dehumidifiers that absorb at a level that is just perfect to prevent mold growth and other humidity problems. Actually, you are just overworking the motor which can shorten its lifespan.
The ideal humidistat level of dehumidifiers is anywhere from 30% to 50% absorption rate during summer and 45% to 50% during autumn. If the humidity is too much, you can always put it in 50%. Remember that putting the humidistat at a lower level when there is too much humidity can force your dehumidifiers to work overtime, heating up the coils faster than what they can handle. When you sense that overheating is already happening, let them rest for at least 15 minutes.
During colder days, icicle formation should also be melted naturally before turning the unit back on. It is also worthy to mention that dehumidifiers do not work optimally when the temperature is below 18 degrees Celsius.
