In the middle of the warmer months, dehumidifiers usually is a gamechanger for enhancing air prime quality and luxurious. That could be very true in case you dwell in a moist native climate, or in case your own home has poor air movement. Nonetheless when it’s time to declutter your property for fall, it’s easy to slide the tools into storage and switch on—though it’s possible you’ll want to clear it first. Proper right here, consultants make clear why it’s an excellent suggestion to deep clear your dehumidifier sooner than stowing it away, along with solutions for doing it precisely.
- Forrest Webber is an skilled cleaner and the founding father of Bear Brothers Cleaning
- Sergey Nikolin is an HVAC technician, electrician, and the president of Product Air Heating and Cooling
Why You Must Clear Your Dehumidifier
Sooner than putting away your dehumidifier for the season, cleaning it could seem pointless. In the end, you acquired’t be using it for a while, so why do this you could clear it?
“Think about it like giving your dehumidifier a well-deserved break after a season of laborious work,” says Forrest Webber, expert cleaner. “And never utilizing an excellent clear, you’re inviting mould, mildew, and micro organism to throw a bit event inside your machine.” So, in case you don’t clear your dehumidifier now, you’ll be greeted with musty air the following time you flip it on. It’s moreover additional helpful to scrub a dehumidifier on the end of the season whilst you don’t need it versus whilst you really do.
Sergey Nikolin, HVAC technician and electrician, agrees: “Taking the time to scrub ensures your dehumidifier will perform simply and efficiently whilst you need it, making your [next] seasonal transition way more good.”
Clear a Dehumidifier
Step 1: Flip Off and Unplug Your Dehumidifier
Sooner than cleaning your dehumidifier (or any tools, for that matter), on a regular basis flip it off and unplug it. That’s important for safety and stopping electrical shocks, as you’ll be using water for the strategy. It moreover offers an opportunity to reset the unit, Nikolin says. “When it’s powered down, you’re not merely stopping shocks or malfunctions; you’re moreover allowing the internal components to sit back down, which could enhance your cleaning routine.”
Step 2: Take It Apart
After you’ve unplugged your dehumidifier, it’s time to remove the filter and tank. In case you’re undecided how to do this, confirm the proprietor’s handbook for instructions. You may too take a picture of the filter and tank sooner than taking them out. “Most dehumidifiers have an easy-access filter, so it’s solely a matter of sliding it out,” Webber says.
Evidently disassembling and cleaning totally different parts (similar to the coils) can void your producer’s assure, so it’s best to contact an skilled HVAC technician for the job.
Step 3: Clear the Filter
Start by gently vacuuming your filter with a brush attachment. “This method removes free filth with out water, which could usually be easier for efficient particles,” Nikolin explains. Subsequent, rinse the filter beneath lukewarm water. “If it’s filthy, slightly little bit of delicate cleansing cleaning soap will do the trick, nonetheless avoid one thing too harsh,” Webber notes.
In case your filter has additional stubborn grime, sprinkle it with a light-weight layer of baking soda sooner than rinsing, Nikolin suggests. Another choice is to utilize enzyme-based cleaners that are notably designed for HVAC filters. “These can break down pure supplies like mould and dust additional efficiently than regular substances,” Nikolin says. After you’ve cleaned the filter, let it air-dry totally sooner than altering it.
Step 4: Clear the Tank
Sooner than cleaning your dehumidifier’s tank, pour out any stale water. Fill it with various cups of current warmth water and delicate cleansing cleaning soap, then use a sponge or delicate materials to softly clear the within. Pour out the soapy water and rinse the tank.
Subsequent, put collectively a solution of 1 half 3% hydrogen peroxide and two parts water. Fill the tank with this decision, let it sit for about half-hour to penetrate any stubborn stains or buildup, then swirl it spherical. The reply will clear and disinfect the tank with out leaving sturdy odors, in accordance with Nikolin. Lastly, pour out the reply, rinse the tank, and let it air-dry sooner than returning it to the unit.
Step 5: Clear the Fan Blades
Sooner than cleaning the fan, confirm the blades for indicators of hurt, Nikolin says. If there are any chips or cracks, it may very well be time to modify it sooner than transferring forward. In another case, if the fan is in positive situation, start by eradicating free mud and particles with a vacuum and brush attachment. “For hard-to-reach areas, use a can of compressed air to blow out mud and filth,” Nikolin suggests.
From there, finish dusting off the fan blades with a brush or materials. “Within the occasion that they’re soiled, use a moist materials, nonetheless don’t get the motor moist,” Webber says. Make sure that to let the blades dry totally.
Step 6: Clear the Exterior
Use a moist materials and slightly little bit of cleansing cleaning soap to wipe down the pores and skin of your unit, “paying particular consideration to vents the place mud likes to assemble,” Webber notes.
Afterward, “dry the surfaces with a microfiber materials to cease water spots,” Nikolin says. As quickly because the dehumidifier’s exterior is dry, flip it on or retailer as wished.
How Often Must You Clear a Dehumidifier?
When it’s time to hold the dehumidifier once more out, clear it every few weeks, Webber recommends. Nonetheless, this doesn’t on a regular basis should include the deep cleaning course of outlined above. In its place, it’s possible you’ll merely “confirm the filter, give the tank a rinse, and dust off the surface,” Webber says.
As for deep cleans? It’s best to do them every three months or after heavy use, Nikolin says. The exception is in case you dwell in an house with extreme humidity or mud. On this case, “it’s possible you’ll take into consideration rising the frequency of every quick and deep cleans to keep up your air prime quality at its best,” Nikolin suggests.