Dehumidify for Allergy Relief

With the arrival of spring, many of us look forward to getting out of the house, spending time outdoors, and taking advantage of the warm weather. Unfortunately, along with more daylight hours and warmer temperatures comes one of the pesky draw backs of the season….spring allergies. Many are left suffering from stuffy noses, sore throats, and dry eyes.  Allergy sufferers try a number of different ways to combat these symptoms but one of the easiest is to focus on maintaining an ideal humidity level in your home.

EdgeStar 40 Pint Dehumidifier

Ideal humidity? What is that you might ask and what does that have to do with allergies? The humidity level of your home can greatly impact your allergy symptoms. A high level of water vapor in the air, or 50-60% humidity, causes mold spores, dust mites, and even pests to thrive. A dehumidifier pulls water out of the air which will in turn decreases the humidity level to prevent mold and mildew growth. You can use a digital hygrometer, like this P3 digital thermo-hygrometer, to allow you to monitor the humidity level. You should shoot for 40-50% humidity, an ideal level that will dramatically reduce air pollutants. 

Before purchasing your dehumidifier, think about the areas of you home that have the most moisture, many times this may be basements, crawl spaces, bathrooms, indoor pool areas. For those that live in exceptionally humid environments the best place to use a dehumidifier might be in your kitchen or bedroom. Once you have identified which area or room you want to use your dehumidifier you can select the best unit based on the size of the room. Use the chart below as a guide to help choose the right dehumidifier. Compare with your room size and moisture level.

Many dehumidifiers are portable and easy to move allowing you to easily test where you would like to use it. You can use the unit in multiple rooms to achieve the desired humidity level. Ridding your home environment of harmful allergy triggers like mold, mildew, and dust mites can help you dramatically improve your allergy symptoms this spring season. Happy spring!