Improving your Indoor Comfort this Summer

February is a hot steamy month, not only because it’s full of love-struck people professing their undying love on Valentine’s Day, but also because it’s on average the hottest month of the year.

In South Africa’s coastal regions, heat often goes hand in hand with increased humidity levels as the warm, moist air from the ocean rises and cools, contributing to an increase in humidity levels. The average annual percentage of humidity in Cape Town is said to be around 76% while Durban is 77% and Johannesburg is a mild 59%.

Feeling hot and sticky?

Humidity is the amount of water vapour present in the air. As temperatures rise, the amount of moisture that air can hold increases which leads to higher humidity levels that result in the air feeling oppressive and muggy. You start to feel hot and sticky because it affects the evaporation of sweat from your skin, which is the body's natural cooling mechanism. When the air is humid, there is less evaporation of sweat, which means your body cannot cool down effectively which is why you can’t seem to get comfortable.

High humidity levels can cause a host of problem. It can cause an increase in the growth of mould, mildew, bacteria, and other allergens, which can cause health problems for some people. It can make it more difficult to breathe as the air feels thicker and heavier. It can also cause some electronics to malfunction as the humid air condenses on the components causing a loss of power.

Using a Dehumidifier to save the day

In general, a relative humidity of 30% to 50% is considered comfortable and healthy for most people, although individual preferences and tolerance levels can vary. By reducing the humidity levels in a room, a dehumidifier can make the air feel more comfortable and improve the overall indoor air quality.

How does a dehumidifier work?

A compressor dehumidifier works by removing moisture from the air in a room. Air is drawn into the dehumidifier by a fan. As the air passes over the unit's cooling coils, moisture condenses and drips into a collection basin. The moisture collected in the basin is drained out of the unit, either through the continuous drainage option via a hose that can be attached to a drain, or into a tank that needs to be emptied manually.

By removing moisture from the air, the dehumidifier reduces the humidity levels in the room, making it feel more comfortable and reducing the risk of mould and mildew growth. The effectiveness of a dehumidifier depends on factors such as the unit's size, the humidity levels in the room, and the temperature of the room. The MeacoDry Arete One range of dehumidifiers can extract between 1 to 25 litres of water a day depending on the model.

Operating during a Power Outage

Fortunately, with the current energy crisis causing havoc around the country, dehumidifiers can help to reduce humidity levels even when there is a power outage. Due to their low energy consumption, the MeacoDry Arete One range of low energy dehumidifier/air purifiers are able to run on a backup energy supply, such as a generator or an inverter. An air conditioner, on the other hand, typically requires a continuous supply of electricity to function, so it may not be as effective in reducing humidity during a power outage.

By using a low energy dehumidifier that can run off a backup power supply, it's possible to maintain comfortable indoor humidity levels even during periods of high humidity or power outages, which can help to prevent the growth of mould and other allergens and reduce discomfort and health problems.

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Chat with our team if you would like to learn more about the MeacoDry Arete One range of dehumidifiers/air purifiers.