Humid atmospheres can affect us in a variety of ways. Many insects prefer high humidity, so if your home is damp, you might see more moths, fleas, and cockroaches. Drying clothes is harder in an environment that’s not properly dry, and many people struggle to sleep in high levels of humidity.
A good dehumidifier should be able to monitor the current level of humidity and adjust this until it reaches your chosen level. During summer, the ideal value is about 40%; during winter, aim for more like 30%.
Remember that all the moisture a dehumidifier removes from the air is collected in a tank, which will need to be emptied fairly often. The larger the tank, the longer you can leave it between emptying.
You can also buy dehumidifiers that use filters to protect their condensing coils from dirt. Try to buy a dehumidifier with washable filters; this way, you won’t need to replace them as often.
Since dehumidifiers tend to run continuously, there are two important factors to consider: noise and energy efficiency. If you’re going to be working or sleeping near the appliance, you’ll need it to be quiet. Probably the only way to check this properly is to try before you buy. Energy efficiency is easier to guarantee: Look for dehumidifiers bearing the Energy Star logo, which the U.S. Department of Energy issues to appliances that offer significant reductions in power consumption.