No, if you’ve already got mold present in areas of your home then using a dehumidifier will not be effective at getting rid of it. However, a dehumidifier can be used for preventative measures as they decrease the humidity levels in a room.
Mold spores stay dormant in the air when there is no excess moisture either from the air or a water source to help them grow. So, if the humidity in the room was to increase then mold will begin to grow on the walls, floor, or furniture.
You’ll need to use a treatment method to kill this existing mold and then also continue to use the dehumidifier to keep the moisture levels in the room down.
Will a Dehumidifier Help with Mold in the Bathroom?
Yes, you can use a dehumidifier to help to prevent mold in your bathroom, however, it shouldn’t be used to kill any present mold.
If you don’t have an exhaust fan in your bathroom, open windows, or maybe your exhaust fan isn’t working efficiently then you should definitely consider getting a dehumidifier to help reduce the moisture levels whilst you’re showering and after you’ve showered.
You should check that your exhaust fan (if you have one) is filtered outside your home and not into your attic, otherwise, that will build the humidity levels up in your attic and will be a breeding ground for mold.
If you do have windows in your bathroom then you should keep them open slightly whilst you shower and leave them open for 15 minutes after you’ve showered to help the air circulate and to reduce the moisture in the air.
You should also keep the exhaust fan running if you have one to help the humidity levels decrease quicker.
Leaving the door open slightly whilst you shower and after you shower will boost air circulation and will reduce the moisture in the bathroom.
However, if you’ve already got a mold issue in your bathroom then you’ll need to take action against it immediately by using homemade remedies or by calling a professional to deal with it.
You should still use a dehumidifier alongside it as it’ll prevent the spread of mold spores in the room.
What's better for mold: Air Purifiers or Dehumidifiers?
A dehumidifier is the best choice for helping with mold, although an air purifier can be useful as it cleans the air of mold spores and any other bacteria, whilst the dehumidifier reduces the spread of mold growth.
The dehumidifier is used to reduce the excess moisture in the air which decreases the mold’s ability to grow and spread. An air purifier will not be able to fix the root of the problem of the mold and will only be able to remove the mold spores from the air.
If you have problems with mold in your house, then you should consider using both an air purifier and a dehumidifier to ensure that your air conditions are healthy.
Air purifiers are a little less obnoxious in size and can be placed discreetly onto side tables, kitchen counters or behind doors and still be able to work effectively.
Dehumidifiers (or the best ones) are a little less discrete and will have to be placed as near to the center of the room as possible so they can draw out the moisture from all areas of the room.
What dehumidifier should I get?
The dehumidifier you need will depend on the moisture levels in your home and also the size of the room that you’re looking to keep the dehumidifier in (the place where moisture is prevalent).
Factors like if you live in a humid climate, if lots of people spend time in that particular room, if there’s a washer/dryer machine near the room that will increase the size of the dehumidifier that you need.
Ultimately, even if your moisture problem is not too bad, getting a larger dehumidifier (bigger capacity) than you need is not a negative thing as it’ll still work effectively and you may be able to use it on a lower setting.
Should I turn my dehumidifier off in the winter?
If you live in an area that experiences significant decreases in temperature and humidity levels in the winter, then you should reduce the use of your dehumidifier when humidity levels are less than 50% or you can even turn it off.
You can cause damage to your dehumidifier if you still use it in the winter when humidity levels are too low, the moisture absorbed from the indoor air can freeze when it condenses on the coils inside the dehumidifier.
