Does Dehumidifiers Remove Mold & Mildew?

Until recently, dehumidifiers haven’t been used quite often as many individuals were not aware of their benefits. But thanks to growing awareness, property owners have discovered that dehumidifiers have the ability to protect personal contents and building materials from water damage. So along with keeping moisture levels reduced, they can improve the comfort (and occasionally breathability) of the home or building. 

After the humidity in your house is too much to bear, what can you do? If you have a leak in your roof or an appliance is faulty, then you fix the issue from its origin. But if you can’t repair the problem, mold begins growing and will turn your house into a fungi nightmare. When dealing with such a problem, you might ask yourself does a dehumidifier remove mold? Let’s find out below.

What is a dehumidifier?

Dehumidifiers are portable devices that pull moisture from the air, decreasing the dampness in a room. Ideally, you’d want your house to have a relative humidity between 30 and 60%. This improves comfort and reduces health risks. To track the humidity in your house, use a hygrometer, which is available at home improvement stores.

Can a dehumidifier remove mold?

Eliminating all mold spores from your home is nearly impossible. The mold remains “dormant” in the air or on surfaces when there’s no excess moisture to help it grow. If the humidity in a room increases, mold will start growing in patches on walls, clothing, and much more. So, to answer your query, dehumidifiers do NOT kill mold, however, they do prevent it by reducing humidity.

If you’ve got a mold problem in your house, don’t wait. Mold spreads provided that it has a water source. Remove the mold and stop the moisture supply (leak, condensation, high humidity, etc.) to prevent more damage and costly repairs. Call a professional restoration firm to effectively take care of the mold and the moisture issue. Check their water page here to learn more.

So what are the benefits?

Assessing the amount of moisture in your house has health benefits. Dust, mold, pet dander, and other allergens may overtake your house if indoor humidity is high. Dehumidifiers help reduce these indoor pollutants which could cause allergy triggers like stuffy nose, itching eyes, sneezing, or skin rashes. Dehumidifiers also reduce the musty odors linked to elevated humidity.

Besides health benefits, dehumidifiers protect wooden things from moisture. Too much moisture in your house can damage your furniture and hardwood.

How do I select a dehumidifier?

Deciding on the right dehumidifier depends on the humidity locally and how much moisture is released in your property. It’s generally a good idea to have installed from the cellar, bathroom, or kitchen where humidity levels are higher.

There are dehumidifiers created for small rooms, but versions that cover an entire home also exist. The smallest dehumidifiers absorb 30 pints per day and the largest, 90 pints per day.

So can you use a dehumidifier to kill the mold in your home? Regrettably, no. However, they do play an important role in preventing mold by reducing humidity. To get rid of mold in your house, it must be removed physically. For mold remediation service and water damage repair, contact your regional PuroClean office. You can find out more here.