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How an Attic Dehumidifier Can Prevent Mold

The level of humidity in your home can have a great impact on your health and comfort. This is mostly because most agents of disease, as well as allergies, thrive well in areas where the level of moisture in the air is high. Talk of mold, mildew and even pests, all these are nuisances that often lead to minor and major health issues that are often accompanied by symptoms like coughing, sneezing, eye irritation, skin dryness, and chest congestion.

Humid air is also a common cause of bad odors in indoor settings, which in turn affects your home’s comfort, especially when combined with that hot, sticky, and musty feeling that comes from an attic where there’s high humidity. But did you know that simply installing a dehumidifier in your attic could solve all these threats to your health and comfort? Well, due to the structural nature of crawl spaces, they are the most prone areas to the growth and manifestation of mold, mildew, viruses, bacteria, and pests. All this is caused by an improper balance between temperature and air circulating in the attic, which often leads to an increase in air moisture or humidity. Here are some pointers on how an attic dehumidifier can prevent mold and improve your health.

double bed in an attic room

Moisture Control

There are many reasons to install a dehumidifier in your crawl space and humidity control is one of them. The recommended relative humidity in indoor settings is between 30 and 50 percent and anything above 60 percent could trigger or worsen mold growth and reproduction. In other words, mold and mildew thrive better in areas where the moisture content in the air is above these levels. When the levels of attic humidity are high, a dehumidifier comes in handy to provide moisture control and reduce humidity in the air. But how exactly does is excess moisture built in the attic?

room in loft space

So what the attic dehumidifier does is suck all the excess humid air that forms water when it gets to the dehumidifier. When it can no longer absorb any more moisture, it has to be emptied often but this will also depend on the size of the dehumidifier.

But then again, air moisture levels can vary from one geographic region to the other. For this reason, the ideal indoor humidity levels will depend on the current season in that specific geographic area. In the UK for instance, the ideal winter humidity level is about 40-45 percent in winter, whereas in summer, it’s approximately 50-55 percent. And if you manage to get hold of a professional review that provides a list of the best dehumidifiers in the UK, you will definitely know that these units come in a wide variety of options that you can choose based not only on your geographical area, but also on your budget, the size of your attic, and your actual preferences. While a dehumidifier won’t necessarily eradicate mold that is already existing on your property, it will go a long way in preventing its regrowth after treatment, and this is essentially through moisture control.

Air Circulation

fresh attic room

Ever entered a home, only to be greeted by a smell that you can’t even explain, and all you know is that you don’t want to be there anymore. If this happens in your home when you bring guests over, it’s not only embarrassing, but it will also be uncomfortable for (you and) your visitors. As a matter of fact, it could also be a health hazard, since most foul odors are associated with toxins, pollutants, and other stuff that could be harmful to your health. They are also largely linked to poor airflow in concealed areas such as crawl spaces, which means that improving air circulation in the attic could solve your indoor air quality problems.

However, your regular air conditioner may not improve air circulation here and still manage to keep you comfortable during the tougher seasons. An attic dehumidifier can do a better job since it gets rid of the excess water moisture that affects free airflow in your crawlspace. In other words, improved airflow can help inhibit mold, mildew, dust mites, and other threats to your health in the attic. And if you guessed right, there’s no better way to achieve this than through an attic dehumidifier.

bedroom in a loft space

High humidity in the attic is a common threat of increased mold growth and unhealthiness in our homes; and this is becoming a matter of great concern. While mold treatment services are always available, it is always advisable to install a dehumidifier in your attic if your home has one to prevent the dire financial, esthetic, and health repercussions that could arise from poor air circulation and high humidity in the attic.

Clara Annesley

Clara Annesley is an interior design and construction content writer. She holds a BSc (Hons) in Architectural Design Technology from the University of West London. Clara specialises in residential construction for topics like health & safety, architectural design and writing cost guides for renovation and remodelling projects.