At Dehumidifier Rental we are often asked if it’s safe to be in a room with a dehumidifier running.
Some of the many good reasons to use a dehumidifier include:

• Structural drying following water damage such as a leaking pipe or saturated wall / floors
• Humidity control during humid times of year
• Condensation & mould control during colder periods
• Laundry drying at a quicker rate

We would generally consider it safe to use dehumidifiers when living in a property, however it depends on the use of the room; noise level of the machine; humidity target for drying; and requirement for constant running or periodic running.

Humidity target

When using a dehumidifier for general humidity control, for example to mitigate condensation and mould, the humidity target would typically be a range of 40 – 60% relative humidity. It may be possible to achieve this without running the dehumidifier constantly, however for heavily used rooms, or wet rooms, longer running times may be needed.

We note that many dehumidifiers have a humidity setpoint (by way of humidistat), above which they turn on, and below which they would automatically cut out. This would help with achieving a constant cap on humidity in a room.

Structural drying of building materials requires stronger machines and more constant running of equipment, in order to achieve the low humidity level needed. This low humidity level could lead to adverse health effects such as respiratory issues from dry airways; possible skin irritation; and also headaches from dehydration.

Noise level

When undertaking structural drying, for example of wet walls or floors following a flood, it is likely that industrial strength drying equipment would be required, and for them to be used constantly. In this situation it can be uncomfortable to maintain use of rooms where equipment is deployed.

Industrial fans may often be used together with dehumidifiers, particularly when undertaking structural drying work. This helps distribute dry air more effectively and speed up evaporation. Typically the fans may make more noise than dehumidifiers. If occupiers are needing a quieter environment and want to turn off equipment, we would suggest first try turning off only the fans, so at least there is dry air being circulated from the dehumidifiers.

For general humidity control in rooms, a domestic dehumidifier may be sufficient. These domestic dehumidifiers tend to be quieter and therefore less disruptive to the use of the room.

Room use

‘Can I sleep in a room with the dehumidifier?’ we are often asked. We would suggest that if our industrial dehumidifiers are being deployed in a bedroom, the equipment be turned off when sleeping. This will help prevent adverse health effects and suffering from noise.

It’s possible that a domestic dehumidifier can be used in a bedroom when sleeping, however the ideal would be if this has a humidistat with which over-drying the air can be avoided.
Other rooms where constant use of dehumidifiers can be difficult, could be for example office spaces, or living areas being used for most of the day.

Dehumidifier Rental

If you are looking for commercial or industrial dehumidifiers for hire, we have a wide selection of products to choose from. Or, for more information on hiring industrial dehumidifiers or how to dry your property, feel free to contact us for free advice. We always welcome a photo of damp areas, so we can recommend suitable equipment!

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• Drying a floor void in North West London