Basement Dehumidifiers

Did you know that your wet basement could be hosting millions and millions of dust mites? That’s right. Damp, wet basements caused by humidity problems and that don’t have basement dehumidifiers provide a perfect environment for dust mites. Just like mold and mildew, dust mites enjoy the inviting home a wet basement provides. Dust mites flourish in warm temperatures (above 75F) and high humidity levels (above 70%).

The North American house dust mite (dermatophagoides farinae) is a microscopic pest that feeds on dead human skin cells, hair and pet dander. If dust mites find the right climate to live in, food is certainly not a problem. The average person loses approximately 30,000-40,000 dead skin cells every minute. Skin is the largest organ in the human body. The outside layer of skin is called epidermis and this is the layer that sheds. The outermost layer of skin consists of 25-30 layers of dead cells. That is quite a banquet we humans provide for dust mites.

We would probably never be aware of dust mites in our homes if it wasn’t for the allergy problems they can cause. The waste droppings from millions of these tiny creatures is what causes allergy symptoms. They have translucent bodies and are only 250-300 microns long. Each dust mite can produce about 20 waste dropping per day. That’s a lot of mite poop! It’s the proteins in the waste material that cause allergic reactions. Reactions can range from itchy eyes to asthma attacks. Allergic reactions are usually respiratory and include:

• Runny nose
• Watery/itchy eyes
• Sneezing
• Difficulty breathing

Other allergic reactions from dust mites are headache and fatigue. There is also a genetic predisposition to dust mite allergies that may develop over time. Allergens from dust mite waste adversely affects approximately 20 million Americans each year according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. A physician can conduct skin and/or blood tests to confirm a dust mite allergy.

If dust mites are living in your wet basement they will be upstairs to visit you soon. Dust mites live in house dust (hence the name) and are inhaled. They travel upward from the basement with natural airflow. High humidity and poor ventilation will make allergy symptoms even worse. Allergy symptoms worsen during summer months when the indoor temperature and humidity levels are highest and this is also when you will find the largest population of dust mites.

If you can’t see them how do you get rid of them? By making their environment uninhabitable. Using a high quality basement dehumidifier will dry out a wet basement and force dust mites to search for another home. Studies show that dust mite population stops growing and eventually dies out when humidity is 60% or lower. The Dri-Basement dehumidifier is designed and engineered to do that and more. This powerful basement dehumidifier can remove 105 pints of water per day from a 3,000 square foot basement. Say goodbye to dust mites and wet basements with a Dri-Basement dehumidifier.