One of the biggest mistakes that people make after purchasing an electrical device is to start using it without knowing it. This often results in poor performance or technical difficulties. Knowing how to operate a dehumidifier is immensely important if you want to see the perfect results without wasting time and effort.
In this write-up, you will see a step-by-step guide to operating your equipment.
Carefully read the User Manual
Every dehumidifier comes with a user manual in which all the instructions and precautions are mentioned for users. People don’t bother reading the information given in such user guides and try using their intellect instead. Remember, the maker of the machine can tell you everything that you must know to operate the device correctly. Ignoring this fact can result in further damage that you would never like to bear at any cost.
For instance, the Hisense dehumidifier manual explains all the procedures that one needs to follow for operating the machine correctly. Read the entire user manual to see specific instructions that you may not find elsewhere. Five minutes spent reading through the guide can save you hundreds of dollars that you invested in buying a dehumidifier for your home.
Keep the manual at an approachable location once you have read all the information. This will help you troubleshoot problems in the future. These devices are manufactured by different companies. So, they are likely to have slightly different operating guidelines. That’s why you should not skip reading the manual at any cost.
Use Hygrometer to Measure Moisture
The hygrometer is well-known equipment, designed to correctly measure the moisture level of air. According to researches, a humidity level between 45 to 50% is considered ideal for hygienic living conditions.
If the relative humidity level at your home is below 30%, then it can cause damage to the building structure. You are likely to witness cracked wooden floors, broken ceilings, and other similar structural issues inside your home.
On the contrary side, a relative humidity level above 50% can give rise to unwanted mold growth. Mold can be destructive for people with weak immunity. Studies have shown that the abundance of mold causes allergic reactions in human beings. You’d never like to see symptoms such as a runny nose, itchy skin, and chest tightening.
What’s the solution? The solution is to measure the relative humidity level using a hygrometer that usually comes with a dehumidifier. If the RH level is already between 45 to 50%, then you don’t need to turn on the machine as the air quality is in the comfort zone. Otherwise, set up your dehumidifier whole house machine to maintain the humidity level at 45%.
Avoid Using Extension Cord to Plug the Unit
Now plug the device into a grounded outlet to let the process begin. Never try to use an extension cord as it can be dangerous for pets and kids. They are susceptible to get an electric shock when wires and extensions are laying on the floor.
If you do not have a grounded outlet in the room, ask an electrician to install a new one near the spot where you want to place the dehumidifier. Make sure the cord of the plug is not pinched. Try pulling the cord instead of pulling the plug whenever you need to unplug the machine.
Switch On the Device
Turn on the device and ensure proper adjustments of settings. Features could be different depending upon the model you choose. However, the basic mechanism of all humidifiers is almost the same. The best dehumidifier for crawl space might have slightly different settings as compared to a regular machine. After you have set the ideal RH level, keep the machine running until the air inside the room reaches the desired humidity level.
Use the user manual for reference if you come across features that you don’t understand. Do not use your sixth sense. Use proper guidance given in the manual instead. Wrong settings will never help you achieve desired moisture level. Therefore, make sure the settings are exactly the way they should be.
Run Several Rounds if Required
You are not supposed to extract all the moisture from the air in just one cycle. Sometimes, you need to run the machine frequently after regular intervals. Usually, the first round is the most productive one. You should be able to achieve a good moisture level after running the machine for the first time.
The air quality gets deteriorated after windows and doors are opened. That’s the reason you have to use the dehumidifier every day, especially in the summer. It becomes harder for a unit to achieve the ideal RH level if air circulates from outside in. Moist air enters the room and makes it challenging for the humidifier to deal with a lot of humidity. Whenever you feel water vapors moving around in the air, use the hygrometer to confirm the relative humidity level. If you see contradictions to the ideal RH level, turn on the dehumidifier to make the atmosphere hygienic for home residents. Don’t expect the machine to extract all the moisture within seconds. Let it keep running for several hours until the ideal RH level is achieved successfully. The machine will turn off automatically after hitting the desired humidity level.
Frequently Remove Water from the Tank
The water tray can be filled frequently if you run a dehumidifier in the basement or a room filled with moisture. Make sure you check the water tray time and again to remove the water already extracted from the air. You don’t need to frequently check the water tank if the humidity level is within safe limits.
Most of the advanced dehumidifiers are designed to turn off automatically when the water tray is full. This is done deliberately by the machine to avoid overflow of water. Don’t forget to unplug the dehumidifier before emptying the water tray. You can take help from the user manual to see how frequently you should visit the water tank to dump out excess water.