Are you allergic to dust mites or mould? Can you smell a musty and mildew-like odour in your home? Can you see condensation on windows, walls, or floors? If yes to any of these, then using a dehumidifier to improve the indoor air quality would be ideal for you.

Dehumidifiers are used to keep humidity levels low and control dust mite populations, as dust mites thrive in warm, damp environments, such as bedrooms and modern poorly ventilated homes. Dust mites can't live at humidities below 50%. Using air conditioners and dehumidifiers to keep humidity between 40% and 50% is often recommended. Dehumidifiers will enable you to control your homes' humidity to the optimum level, without the air becoming too dry.

A dehumidifier draws the air in from the room over a filter and passes it over some cold coils similar
to the coils on a fridge. As the coils are cold water condenses and drips into a bucket. The air is then reheated to room temperature and blown back out of the dehumidifier . Once you use a dehumidifier
you will notice the condensation reduce and windows become less steamy.

This selection of dehumidifiers will enable you to control your homes humidity to the optimum level, without the air becoming too dry. Dehumidifiers also solve condensation problems on windows, conservatories, bathrooms and kitchens and make your central heating more efficient.

Area
It is important to consider the size of your house or the area you wish to dehumidify when selecting a dehumidifier. For larger houses or larger cleaning tasks, you will need to choose a dehumidifier with that has a high extraction amount and a large tank capacity.

Dehumidification
The dehumidification amount is how much water the dehumidifier is able to extract. If you feel that the area you need to treat is full of moisture then you will need a dehumidifier that is able to extract a larger amount of water. The common indications that there is too much moisture in the air are:

• Wet stains on walls and ceilings
• Stuffy feeling in a room
• Stuffy feeling in a room
• Rotting wood
• Condensation on windows
• Musty smells
• Allergies

Tank Capacity
The tank capacity is the amount of water that can be stored in the tank. If you feel that the area you need to treat is full of moisture then you will need a dehumidifier that has a large tank capacity so that you are not constantly emptying the dehumidifier.

Weight
The weights shown refer to the weight of the machine before the water has been added to the tank. If you live in a multi-floor home or will be cleaning on different floor levels it is worth considering how easy it will be to carry the machine.

Timer
It is indicated whether or not each dehumidifier has a timer function. The timer function is there for efficiency. You can set the timer to start the dehumidification at any time you wish. You can also set the timer to switch off the dehumidifier after a certain amount of time. This is beneficial if you are not always in the house; enabling the dehumidification to still be done.

Allergy Filter
All dehumidifiers available from allergymatters include an allergy filter. Any type of device that draws in air usually has just a standard dust filter. However, the dehumidifiers we have selected all have a super filter which draws in dust, bacteria and mould spores; making the dehumidifiers allergy friendly!

Humidistat
The humidistat function is extremely efficient as it allows you to adjust the humidity levels. If you feel that the humidity in the area is higher then you can adjust the humidity level on the dehumidifier. This enables the dehumidifier to work harder when the humidity is high.

Heater
The dehumidifiers with a heater function are able to keep the air dry. If the room is kept dry then it helps prevent mould from growing, as mould insists on growing in cold and damp conditions. Also, the heater is an added feature to keep the area warm and snug!

Indoor allergy is very common at this time of year, particularly as the air is not circulating so well and our homes become air bound and damp. Mould allergy is very common, though many people don't recognise that they have it.

The main symptoms for mould allergies are hay fever like symptoms- often mistaken for a cold as you do not expect to have hay fever in the winter! Symptoms can include:

• Irritation of the eyes, nose and throat
• Dry mucous membranes
• Dry skin, headaches
• Frequent nasal symptoms
• Breathing difficulties (insert pic of itchy eyes and
• Abnormal taste sensation hayfever symptoms)
• Distorted sense of smell
• Tiredness
• Dizziness
• Lack of concentration
• Nausea

Mould is often found in areas that have high humidity levels. Mould spores are carried through the air and can cause severe allergic reactions. Allergymatters highly recommend the use of a dehumidifier to help prevent your mould allergy. Dehumidifiers dry out the air and maintain humidity levels at about 50% relative humidity which will prevent mould and mildew growth.