Will Dehumidifier Dry Out Damp Walls? How To Dry Them Effectively?

One of the common issues every homeowner dread to get rid of is dampness. Dampness can lead to various problems later on if left untreated.

Damp is a quiet villain that can cause havoc at home. It can spread throughout the walls, carpets, floors, furniture, and disintegrating all the paint, plasters and moldings.

Due to this bothering issue, I decided to make a post about it since I found an interesting solution on how to get rid of dampness.

Using a dehumidifier alone can actually dry out damp walls at home by extracting excess moisture in the air. It works by sucking in the air moisture and process it inside and releasing dry, warm air to balance the humidity level.

Dehumidifier like other ventilation systems helps balance out moisture at home and make sure that there is proper air circulation.

Types of Dampness

In my search on how to effectively get rid of dampness at home, I found out that there are actually different types of dampness according to its causes.

Among these, the condensation is the most common type which affects almost every wall of homeowners.

Like what I mentioned earlier, condensation is happening when there is too much air moisture at home. And, walls are their main favorite victims.

It is actually best to learn the different types of dampness so you get to understand what kind of solution or treatment is suitable for you.

We’ll talk more about condensation since this is the most common type. A dehumidifier can effectively get rid of dampness at home when used properly.

What Causes Wall Dampness

The very first thing we have to know before we can solve the issue is understanding the root cause. Dampness and condensation can be caused by a lot of contributing factors.

The two main culprits are heat and humidity. When there is high humidity and there is no way for it to exit, it will spread out to your walls and creep in the rest of the house.

Usually, the excess air moisture is caused by:

When the excess moisture cannot escape, it will accumulate and form condensation. Condensation occurs when the warm air moisture gets into contact with a cold wall or surface.

Basically, water has to come out somewhere and you will see it leaking through roofs, pipes, and other fixtures.

Signs of Wall Dampness

You cannot visibly see the signs of dampness during its first stages. You will only get surprised when you notice tide markings on the walls and your wallpapers start peeling off.

Luckily, you can easily recognize the signs of dampness at home by smelling. When there is an unpleasant smell around your house, start searching to get rid of dampness right away.

Some people say that damp smells close to wet socks, or moist wood or papers. Here are some ways to check the signs of wall dampness:

Can Damp Walls Make You Sick?

Having damp walls at home can trigger people suffering from asthma and allergies. This is because molds can induce nasal congestion, coughing, wheezing, throat irritation, and eye irritability.

In some cases, you might also get some skin irritation due to the reaction of mold towards wall paints.

How to Avoid Getting Damp Walls

There are many ways to get rid of wall dampness at home and if you practice it regularly, you can be certain that you don’t have any problems with dampness at all.

Keep Your Home Warm

Maintaining a steady temperature inside your home by fixing your thermostat to a lower temperature over a period of time on a daily basis will improve and remove excess moisture.

Also, if you have central heating installed, check if there is a need to upgrade or replace some essential parts to keep the device at its optimum performance.

Ensure Proper Ventilation

The best way you can get rid of excess moisture until eternity is by installing proper ventilation systems.

If you want the cheapest way possible, you can open the windows every day at a certain amount of time just to let all the excess moisture out.

It greatly helps by letting the cool wind go inside the house and circulate. Another option is to install vents and extractor fans.

Extractor fans should be installed in areas like the bathroom and kitchen where it can run and clear the moisture thoroughly.

Use Clothes Dryer

Drying your clothes indoors imposes serious threats to your walls, ceilings, and the rest of the home furnishings. To protect your home from condensation caused by wet clothes, you can opt to hang it outdoors and let the sun naturally dry it.

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Regular Home Maintenance

Make it a habit to check any leaking fixtures at home to ensure that there is no water stuck. Repair any leaks in your roof, walls, and even pipelines so mold won’t have any moisture to grow.

If there had been flooding in your area and your house was affected, clean up and dry out your home completely at least within 24–48 hours.

You should include your carpets and upholstery in drying out. As much as possible, try not to use carpet in basements and bathrooms so moisture cannot grow and breed.

Use a Dehumidifier

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For a practical way to get rid of dampness, use a dehumidifier at home. You can use a central dehumidifier installed in your AC unit or you can use a room dehumidifier which you can easily transport when necessary.

This is where dehumidifiers perform best, sucking in the excess moisture in the air and process it inside and then release warm, dry air. Search for humidifiers with automatic humidity control.

I got here the 3 eminent room dehumidifiers you can consider to use at home to avoid dampness:

Ivation IVADM45 Dehumidifier – For Small Spaces of Up to 100 Square Feet

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Ivation IVADM45 portable dehumidifier is perfect for small to medium-sized rooms or houses of up to 100 sqft. You can essentially use this in bathrooms, laundry rooms, bedrooms, and kitchen.

This mid-sized device can get rid of mustiness and unpleasant damp smell by quietly drawing in excess moisture at a rate of up to 25 oz. per day at 86° Fahrenheit, and at 80% relative humidity level.

What I like best about this room dehumidifier is the auto humidistat function where it shuts on and off by itself upon checking the relative humidity (RH) at home.

Unlike other brands which do not have this feature, they work nonstop until the RH level drops to as low as 20%. These kinds of devices consume a lot of energy and will be an added cost to your expenses.

Cleaning is also a breeze since it has a removable water tank which you can wash and rinse easily.

Although this brand has all the efficient features you can use to dry out damp walls and then the entire home, it is too small to be used in the basements particularly. Otherwise, it is a good device at a reasonable cost.

Hysure Electric Dehumidifier-For Personal Desk and Medium-Sized Rooms

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Breathing clean, fresh air is convenient with Hysure portable dehumidifier. This device is small enough to comfortably fit on your desk or small rooms at home.

It works with ultra-quiet Peltier technology (noise is below 33dB) which you can use in bedrooms and conveniently place anywhere because it has a spill-proof water tank capabilities.

I like the one-push and easy setup operation because it means doing business right away! The tank is about 2L in capacity which can run overnight.

This mid-sized dehumidifier is also a perfect device for drying out damp walls since it covers up to 269 sq.ft.

It also has an easy to clean removable tank and carry-on handle for quick transfers. The only con to this product is the way it extracts water which is lesser compared to other brands of the same.

Nevertheless, this brand is a perfect fit for small to medium-sized rooms.

Frigidaire 30-Pint Dehumidifier 

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Frigidaire is the most trusted name when it comes to quality and sophistication. Its dehumidifier is top-of-the-line where it can protect your home from molds, mildew, and dust mite allergy.

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Its sleek and modern design suits any parts of the house, thus, design and functionality really meet.

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This model has a top carry-on handle for easy transfer and equipped with caster wheels for smooth transport. You can simply transport this dehumidifier to any room that needs dehumidification.

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You can set your desired humidity level through its ready-select digital control panel, 24hr on and off timer, plus a control lock feature.

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This specific model operates with a standard 7.6-pint capacity but can run for continuous usage by attaching a hose.

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One of the best features of this brand is the ability to quickly remove excess humidity in your house. Ideal for drying out walls especially for an enclosed one-bedroom condo unit or single home.

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The only con I noticed with Frigidaire is the annoying beep sound when the tank is full.

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How to Repair Wall Damages Caused by Dampness

Damp walls are not good to see and smell. And the longer you act on it, the worse the issue becomes.

It could further lead to structural damages and your home maintenance will be more than what you expect. Good thing you can rescue your walls and other fixtures at home.

I have here a few tips on how to repair damages caused by dampness.

File an Insurance Claim

The very first thing you have to do as a homeowner is to verify if you got insurance and if dampness is covered.

Some policies actually include a claim for water damage caused by accidental leaking, plumbing discharges, HVAC, or from a refrigeration system. Other causes would be rain, ice, or snow.

Replace or Repair Internal Walls

You need to carefully examine the damaged wall area if a simple repair can fix it or a wall replacement is needed.

For plasterboards, repairing dampness is also pretty simple to do:

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Conclusion

Wall dampness is a common household issue which can be resolved quickly. Making sure that your home is well ventilated and does not hold too much air moisture, then you can be assured that you don’t have any dampness issue.

If you reside in states or areas with dry weather, you can also take advantage of naturally ventilating your homes by opening windows during the day. It’s one of nature’s wonderful gifts after all!

However, if in any case, that you are left without any choices but to leave the windows closed at all times.

Or if you are living in apartments and condominium units, you can opt for dehumidifier or extractor fans to avoid building up molds.

Dehumidifiers play a great role in making sure that excessive moisture is taken out and maintain dry, room-temperature air. If you own one, simply place it in affected rooms in the house.

However, if you are still looking for dehumidifier options, you can take a look at the three choices I gave above.

Don’t let wall dampness get into your way and enjoy every nook of your home. Take action, clean and dehumidify your homes.