Latest news with #mildew
CTV News
17 hours ago
- Health
- CTV News
How To Choose A Dehumidifier
If your home's air is exceptionally moist during summer and you want an easy, efficient method of drying the air, a dehumidifier is the best way to go. Musty air feels gross on our skin, and high humidity levels can cause issues for people with asthma and other respiratory conditions, especially if it leads to mildew and mould growth in your home. No matter your square footage, desired humidity levels, and budget, there is a perfect dehumidifier out there for you. If you think about all of the features and considerations below, you'll be working with the best dehumidifier in no time. What Is a Dehumidifier? A dehumidifier is a portable appliance that removes excess moisture from the air. While some models work with your air conditioner, most are portable dehumidifiers that you can move around your home as you see fit. They work by using refrigerated coils to rapidly cool air that is sucked into the machine. The cold creates condensation that is collected in a basin at the base of the machine or hosed directly outside, depending on your model. Then, the drier, cooler air is released back into your home. Some humidifiers use speed settings to control the process, while others have something called a humidistat that allows users to set a specific humidity setting, such as 50%, and the machine will automatically maintain that setting. Questions to Ask Yourself Before Buying a Dehumidifier How Large is My Room? Humidifiers are not a one-size-fits-all appliance. Each one has a different square footage rating, meaning they can only cover a room up to a certain size. You'll need to measure your room to obtain the total square feet of the area before choosing a dehumidifier to make sure it can handle your room size. How Much Do I Want To Spend? A key consideration when making this type of purchase is how much you're willing to spend. While the cost of the actual dehumidifier is the biggest concern, you should also consider the cost of running the machine. Some energy-efficient models boast a higher energy efficiency rating than standard dehumidifiers, but they are most likely a little more expensive upfront. If cost isn't as much of a concern, you could also consider a whole-house dehumidifier that is installed with your HVAC system. How Many People Live in The Home? Choosing a dehumidifier is not only about the size of the home, but also the capacity of the home. A house with just one person will tend to be less humid than a home with a family of six since fewer people are sweating, breathing, and heating the space. Larger families may need a larger size dehumidifier than an individual or couple, since the average humidity will be higher. Features to Consider When Purchasing a Dehumidifier Before you make your purchase decision, there are a few things that you must consider. Dehumidifiers have many different features and characteristics that may make them the wrong choice for your unique circumstances. When shopping for dehumidifiers, make sure to consider all of the following features carefully to avoid bringing home a dehumidifier that isn't right for you. Type of Dehumidifier There are two types of dehumidifiers that you can consider for your home: desiccant and refrigerant. Compressor Dehumidifier/Refrigerant Dehumidifier This is the standard type of dehumidifier. This type of dehumidifier uses a compressor to draw in air from your space and pull it over the refrigerated coils to create condensation. These models are efficient and can handle high levels of humidity. One flaw of these dehumidifiers is their noise level. They average between 50 and 60 decibels when running. Compressor dehumidifiers are also best used in warmer climates. The coils could freeze if the room temperature is below about 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Desiccant Dehumidifier Desiccant dehumidifiers are the ideal choice if you're in a colder climate since they can be used at any temperature above freezing. They are also more energy efficient since they don't need to cool down the air. Instead, the air is pulled through the desiccant, which acts like a sponge to remove excess moisture from the air. These models are also much quieter to operate than a compressor-based model, so they can be used in work environments and bedrooms without disturbing anyone. However, desiccant dehumidifiers expel air that is roughly 10-15 degrees warmer than the ambient air temperature, so this may be an issue for some people who like to keep their home at a low temperature. These humidifiers can handle the same relative humidity levels as a compressor, but they can cost a bit more to run in warmer temperatures. These models are effectively used in areas like crawl spaces and basements that may be cooler, wetter spaces. Fan Settings Most dehumidifiers have a low speed and a high-speed setting that enable a bit of extra control over how the machine operates. A high setting can be used for quickly drying out the air in a space, while a low setting can keep the noise disturbance to a minimum while maintaining proper humidity levels. Some models will also have a middle setting, but not all do. Most dehumidifiers will also offer a fan-only setting, which can help encourage airflow without affecting moisture levels. Energy Efficiency Though dehumidifiers don't cost more than a few cents per hour to operate, choosing an Energy Star-rated model is the best for your budget and the environment because it works more efficiently and operates at a lower cost. An energy-efficient dehumidifier will more quickly achieve the desired level of dehumidification you need, stopping musty odours, water damage, and allergens in their tracks. Built-In Hygrometer/Humidistat A built-in humidistat is the most convenient feature available on a dehumidifier. Rather than set a speed setting and walk away, you can set a precise humidity level that the machine should maintain. Not only does this feature enable energy savings since the machine only runs when the humidity rises above your desired setting, but you also won't have to manually turn on or shut off the dehumidifier. Since dry air can also be bad for your health, this feature can be a lifesaver if you forget to turn off the dehumidifier. Basin Pint Capacity The pint capacity of your dehumidifier is a key factor to consider since your room size and characteristics will influence the moisture level of your air. If your room houses your washer and dryer, has multiple windows and doors, or your home is in a more humid climate, you'll need a dehumidifier that can handle more pints of water per hour since there is a larger amount of water in your air. If your machine doesn't have the right pint capacity, your air quality will suffer. Aside from the efficiency of the appliance, you should also consider the reservoir's capacity since this will control how often you'll need to empty the reservoir. Most models only need to be emptied once or twice a day, but a smaller tank will require more frequent emptying or a hose connection. Room Coverage People buying a dehumidifier do need to double-check that their room size is within the appliance's capacity. To purchase the right size dehumidifier for your space, you'll first need to calculate the room's square footage. The larger it is, the higher capacity your dehumidifier will need to have. The general rule is that a small dehumidifier collects less than 20 pints of moisture per day, medium dehumidifiers collect between 30 and 40 pints per day, and large dehumidifiers collect more than 40 pints per day. Drainage Type There are two choices you have when draining the water from your reservoir. The first is manually emptying the bin. This is usually a simple, quick process, but it can become tedious if you need to empty the tank two or more times per day, especially if you work full time or want to go away for a weekend and keep your home's humidity in check. Though some models only need to be emptied once a day if they aren't being used in rooms with excessively humid air, this is still a less convenient option. If you have a small dehumidifier capacity for dehumidifier water or have a large amount of moisture in your air, a drain hose is the way to go. A hose can drain directly into a floor drain and can handle any number of pints of moisture per hour or day that you need. If you don't have a floor drain, a dehumidifier with a pump can be used to send the water up to a higher-level drainage spot like a sink. Our Top Picks:
Washington Post
13-06-2025
- General
- Washington Post
My front door looks terrible. Is there a way to rescue it?
Q: The exterior side of our front door looks like it's spotted with mildew. I asked two house painters if they could fix it but they were not interested. What should we do? A: A front door should smile at all who enter. But a door with worn or peeling finish and patches of mildew is not smiling. If mildew were the only issue, you could probably just wipe it off. The finish on exterior wooden doors is usually slick and washable. It needs to stand up to rain, after all. But, judging from the picture you sent, the finish on your door appears to have flaked off in areas. UV rays from the sun could be the main culprit. UV degrades wood fibers near the surface enough so that they lose their hold on the wood underneath. The fibers slough off, carrying the finish with them. This gives moisture an easy path in, causing further damage. At this point, the only solution is to remove the finish, smooth the wood and start over. You could opt for a door that looks like natural wood enhanced with a stain to add a little color. Or you could go for an opaque stain or even paint. You could tackle the job yourself or hire a pro. Some house painters might be happy to do the work, but you're more likely to get a commitment from a company that specializes in restoring woodwork. In the Washington metro area, one option is the D.C. location of Doorstain, a company that started in Atlanta seven years ago. Russ Rol, a supervisor at the D.C. Doorstain, looked at the picture you sent and gave an estimate: $1,530. That would include chemically stripping the old finish, sanding down to bare wood, applying a wood conditioner to ensure that the wood absorbs stain evenly, multiple coats of an oil-based stain, a sanding sealer and one or two coats of an oil-based marine varnish that protects against UV damage. The work would be done in one day, at your house. The crew would start by taking off the door and covering the opening with plastic, then they would do all the prep and staining steps with the door horizontal. Typically, that's done by 4 p.m., Rol said, leaving enough time to reinstall the door and brush on the varnish. With all these steps, how long does the finish last? Maybe four or five years, Rol said, but he noted that there can be great variation depending on whether the door gets direct sun or is sheltered by a porch roof. If a customer pays attention and has the door refinished when the old varnish is just beginning to show a few cracks or dullness, it's possible to spruce up the finish without sanding down to bare wood. Doorstain offers a basic refinishing package — including a light sanding, an application of stain and new varnish — for $1,310. Homeowners who can't find someone willing to tackle a door refinishing project, who are on a tight budget, or who enjoy DIY projects can redo a door on their own at far less cost. A trusted handyman service might also be an option. The biggest challenge is removing the old finish and sanding down to bare wood. Switching to a painted door would minimize the work because the surface just needs to be smooth and devoid of loose bits of finish and wood fibers; stained wood fibers and even intact areas of finish can remain as long as edges of the remaining paint are rounded over and the entire surface is at least scuff-sanded. And a painted door will stay in good shape much longer — probably 10 years or more — than one with stain and varnish. Whether you are aiming to stain or to paint, to get off the old finish and the loose wood fibers you could use a sharp paint scraper followed by sandpaper, starting with a coarse grit, maybe 80, then a medium grit, maybe 150, and finishing with 220 grit. Sanding sponges in the various grits would be helpful around edges of the panels. Pay attention as you sand, though: Some doors have a thin veneer, and you don't want to sand through it. If you see that happening, use a chemical stripper to get off the old finish and just lightly hand-sand. If you're painting, Sherwin-Williams has a good online guide about the steps involved. They suggest leaving the door in place and covering hardware with tape or, in the case of the knob, aluminum foil. But when there is a lot of old finish to remove, as on your door, you might find it easier to work on the door when it's off its hinges and resting on sawhorses. Front doors are heavy, though, so have someone assist. Don't try to unscrew the hinges while the door is vertical; instead, tap up on the hinge pins and remove them. To minimize the time with the door down and the entry to your home covered with plywood or another temporary fix, try prepping the lower part of the door while it's in place and tackling only the higher sections when it is down. If you want to keep the natural wood look enhanced by stain, Sherwin-Williams recommends using Minwax Gel Stain. Gel stain is an oil-based product with a thick consistency that is designed to be rubbed, rather than brushed, on. The color sits on the surface of the wood, so there's less risk of the blotchiness that can occur with standard oil-based stains, which penetrate into the wood. Over the gel stain, the company recommends Minwax Helmsman Spar Urethane, which comes in an oil-based formula or in a water-based formula. Between the two coats, lightly hand-sand with 320-grit sandpaper. Other paint companies also offer gel stains and clear coatings that have UV resistance built in. Generally, it's smart to stick to one brand to avoid possible incompatibilities in the products. Whether you hire someone to stain and finish the door or do it yourself, remember that you will need to do frequent maintenance to keep it looking great. Asked whether an oil-based urethane would last longer than a water-based one, a customer-service representative for Sherwin-Williams wouldn't say. 'It's a maintenance application no matter which one you use,' she said. 'In three to five years, it's going to need attention.' But if you do give the door the care it needs then, you can skip all the hard work of removing the finish and starting over. Washing the door and lightly hand-sanding just to dull the surface is enough. You don't need to take down the door for this. Then brush on a coat or two of the same finish you used initially and you're good to go for another three to five years. Have a problem in your home? Send questions to localliving@ Put 'How To' in the subject line, tell us where you live and try to include a photo.
CTV News
06-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- CTV News
16 Products That'll Help You Clean Your Shower From Top To Bottom
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. Keeping your shower clean can feel like a never-ending task — especially when soap scum, mildew, and calcium buildup seem to reappear as quickly as you can scrub them away. The right tools for the job make all the difference, though, and can turn bathroom cleaning from tremendously tedious to just one more fast and effective chore. Stubborn grout stains, foggy glass doors, and a slow-draining tub don't stand a chance thanks to the clever solutions on this list. Here, you'll find everything from daily sprays and pastes to hardworking scrubbers that ensure the most-used room in your home always feels fresh. Get rid of grime with these game-changing cleaning products for your shower: Disclaimer: The prices displayed are accurate at the time of publication. We'll do our best to keep them as up-to-date as possible, but you may see slight changes.
