A dehumidifier is used to remove extra moisture from the air. It cools a hot and humid room by reducing the amount of moisture within the room. A dehumidifier consists of a number of hot and cold coils which are involved in the process of dehumidification.

The evaporation cycle of a dehumidifier works in the following way:

A built in fan draws air from the room over the cold coils of the dehumidifier. The saturation vapor of water decreases as the temperature decreases, causing the water in the air to condense, which then drips into a collecting bucket. The dry air then passes through the hot coils of the dehumidifier to attain the previous temperature.

Most dehumidifiers are able to be adapted to connect the drip output directly to your drain. Dehumidifiers may be priced solely on the size of the bucket which collects the water. Usually there are sensors which will detect when the bucket is full.

The usefulness of a dehumidifier depends on the amount of humidity and the distance you are from sea level. In areas near sea level, the humidity levels will be higher.

Water collected from any dehumidifier is not safe to drink. It is distilled water, as it does not contain minerals and other particulates that are removed in a true distillation process. However, a true distillation process will condense the steam of boiled water, and the boiling process will kill any microbes and fungi that may be present in the water beforehand. Since the surface coils in a dehumidifier are not kept to food-grade cleanliness, microbes and fungi can (and most likely do) exist in the collected water, which is why it is unsafe to drink. Furthermore, as the water may sit for quite some time in the collection bucket, it may be quite stale.

There are three prominent reasons that make it important for a home to have a dehumidifier. These are as follows:

• A dehumidifier proves helpful in reducing humidity, and consequently protects the building as well as personal belongings from being damaged due to dampness and mold.

• Reduced moisture results into a significant reduction of mold spores and house mites. Asthma gets aggravated due to the waste left by house mites that live in bedding. A dehumidifier helps to maintain humidity levels below 50 percent. Consequently, it leaves a positive effect on the respiratory system and allergies.

• More energy is consumed when heating up air that contains moisture, than what is needed to heat air that is dry. This is due to the fact that moist air is heavier. If the air inside the house is kept below 50 percent relative humidity, then the house can be kept several degrees warmer using the same amount of energy which was used prior to the use of a dehumidifier.

So, to summarize, a dehumidifier is a very beneficial piece of equipment to have in any home.