Dehumidifiers help us protect our home from unwanted moisture, mold, mildew, and dust mites.
But some people wonder: “can a dehumidifier dehydrate you?”
This post will comprehensively answer this question and go over other helpful topics on dehumidifiers and dehydration.
Can A Dehumidifier Dehydrate You?
You cannot get dehydrated by using a dehumidifier. People think that the heat from your unit will make you sweat and dehydrate, but this is not true. A dehumidifier will only removes moisture in the air, so it won’t affect how much water is in your body.
Even if you forgot to set the standard humidity levels (between 30%- 50%), and it runs at turbo speeds for hours while you are asleep, it will not dehydrate you.
While some people may feel a little dehydrated when they wake up and had a dehumidifier running, but this has nothing to do with the machine.
The problem is probably due to dry air, lack of water, food allergies, or other causes.
The idea that a dehumidifier can dehydrate you is false and has no scientific backing to it.
In fact, doctors use these machines in humid climates for their patients who have respiratory issues like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which makes them not breathe properly.
What Is Dehydration?
Dehydration is the condition of having insufficient water in your body.
It can be caused by many factors such as climate, illness, medications, and excessive sweating.
Signs to watch for include feeling thirsty all the time even after drinking plenty of fluids; passing less urine than usual; a fever that does not go away with medication; lightheadedness or dizziness when standing up suddenly.
These are only some illnesses related to dehydration, so if any symptoms start appearing, it’s best to consult your physician right away before going on more serious health problems like kidney failure or seizures.
What Are The Symptoms of Dehydration?
- Headache
Dehydration causes headaches because the brain needs water to work properly. Also, dehydration can lead to a lack of electrolytes which are important for the brain.
- Tiredness and Fatigue
The less water your body has, the more tired you will feel. This is because dehydration causes fatigue due to low levels of energy in muscles, as well as causing bad circulation that affects how oxygen and nutrients move around your body.
- Trouble Concentrating
Dehydration can also affect your concentration levels by making it difficult to stay focused. This is because dehydration affects how the brain and body function – they need water to work properly.
- Excessive Thirst
One of the most common symptoms of dehydration is excessive thirst. The lack of water in the body will make it more difficult to absorb water from food and drink, so you feel thirsty all the time.
- Dry Mouth
When your mouth becomes dry, you can get a sore throat very easily because there is less saliva flowing, and this makes it harder for throats to fight off bacteria that cause infection. Your tongue will become thick and sticky when dehydrated, which also leads to bad breath – particularly if sugar levels are high too.
- Muscle cramps and strains
If the muscles are not receiving enough water, they will cramp and strain. This can be dangerous if you are exercising because it could lead to injury.
- Dizziness when standing up (postural hypotension)
Postural hypotension is a condition where standing up quickly causes dizziness because the blood flow to your brain slows down. This happens when dehydration has reduced your fluid levels so that it is difficult for body organs, like kidneys and heart, to function properly without water.
Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, dark urine, and decreased urination.
Can A Dehumidifier Make Your Mouth Dry?
If the air is too dry because a dehumidifier is running, then your mouth may become dry.
Note, however, that this does not mean that you are dehydrated.
The air may be too dry because your house is not well ventilated or you have a severe dust allergy, for example.
According to Dr. Kathrin Nicolacakis, a pulmonologist, your skin, nasal passages, and mouth can get dry when the air is too dry, which leads to a dry cough.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends keeping your home humidity levels between 30% and 50%.
Can A Dehumidifier Dry The Air Too Much?
If the settings are not adjusted correctly, then a dehumidifier can dry the air too much. This may lead to problems like a dry nose, throat, or mouth.
There may also be such problems as illnesses spreading easily, issues with static electricity, and a lack of humidity in the air.
It is, therefore, important to always have the settings on the humidifier.
Make sure you always set the humidity to recommended levels. If you suspect your dehumidifier is defective, so it is drying the air too much, unplug it and call an electrician.
Are Dehumidifiers Good For You?
Dehumidifiers come with a lot of benefits which include:
- Keeping your home cool in the summer. Air conditioning is expensive, so having a dehumidifier can help keep your electricity bills down and make sure you are comfortable inside.
- Dehumidifiers clear out mold, which may be dangerous to people with breathing problems such as asthma or allergies. It also clears out dust mites that some people have an allergy to. This will reduce symptoms like sneezing, itchy skin, and red eyes. Mold should not be breathed in because it can lead to infections of the lungs, so removing mold by using a dehumidifier improves air quality indoors for everyone’s health.
- Dehumidifiers also help with mildew and dampness, which can be a problem in humid climates.
- If you have children or pets, then the dehumidifier will keep allergens like fur and dander from carpeting.
- They reduce dust mites and pollen that may make allergies worse and cause asthma problems too. Removing allergen such as pet hair can also improve hygiene by keeping clothes fresh for longer periods without needing washing more often.
- They also get rid of bad odors and dust
Side Effects Of Dehumidifier
As noted earlier, a dehumidifier can cause dry skin. This will, however, happen if you don’t get the settings on the humidifier right, so it ends up drying the air too much. If the air is too dry, your sinuses may start to feel irritated too.
Can A Dehumidifier Make You Sick?
When used properly, a dehumidifier won’t make you sick.
There may be problems such as a dry nose, throat, or mouth if it is not set correctly, and air quality starts to get worse with mold building up inside the machine.
You just need to ensure that the humidity is set correctly and that the air quality stays good.
Be sure to use the machine as advised by the manufacturer and also make sure to clean it regularly.
You also want to ensure that there is a filter in place to stop the air from getting too dry.
Summary- Can dehumidifiers dehydrate you
Dehumidifiers are important appliances that can help keep your home healthy and comfortable in a variety of ways. Contrary to what some people think, these machines cannot dehydrate you.
As discussed, the only thing they can cause is dry skin if you don’t keep the settings on your humidifier right.
Looking For Dehumidifier Guides?
If you’re looking for more dehumidifier resources, consider checking out our other posts on dehumidifiers.
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(Author)
Irene Batres is eager to help others create an indoor allergen-free home. She has years of experience testing out air purifiers, dehumidifiers, and other products designed to help with indoor air quality. Learn more about me.
