How could she not buy a dehumidifier?
Kelli

Defined Tag: Air Dehumidifiers.
I went over to my grandmother’s house recently and things did not look, smell, or feel right. It was a hot, humid, summer day. Inside the house, was very sticky and uncomfortable. I asked my grandmother if she had a dehumidifier. She is old and easily confused. She could not remember if she owned one or not. I could tell by the way it felt inside her house that she did not have one on at the time. The air felt thick. It was sticky. My hair was sticking to the back of my neck and my skin was sticky and clammy. I told my grandmother that if she turned on her dehumidifier along with her air conditioner then the air in the house would be much more comfortable. I told her that a humidity level of forty percent or higher will make the air extremely uncomfortable. The humidity level that day was around eighty five percent. I went down to the basement to see if I could find a dehumidifier.

When I got down to the basement, I knew right away that she did not have a dehumidifier. I could smell the mold and mildew when I got to the bottom of the stairs. I knew then that she did not have a dehumidifier. If she did have one, there would have been no mildew smells. As I got to the bottom of the stairs, I saw the source of the smell as well as the proof that my grandmother did not own a dehumidifier. There was a pile of boxes in the corner of the basement. The boxes contained old clothes, blankets, and books. The boxes were covered in mold. I told her that everything in those boxes would have to be thrown away. She was upset but she was also willing to purchase a dehumidifier. As I looked around the basement, I checked on the carpeting. The carpet was moist and it had that same smell of mildew that I had smelled near the boxes. I regretfully informed my grandmother that the carpet could not be saved. The carpet, along with the pad underneath would have to be pulled out and replaced. I told her if she had a dehumidifier, she would not have this problem now. I also told her that she may have to call in professionals to check for mold behind the walls. Without a dehumidifier running in the basement that could happen.

When my grandmother and I went back upstairs, I noticed that her eyes were watering and she was wheezing. She told me that she has noticed these symptoms quite often. I told her that it is probably an allergy to mold. I explained to her that mold allergies could show symptoms of allergies to dander, pollen, or dust. I explained to her that mold allergies can cause such severe symptoms as respiratory problems. Respiratory problems in an elderly woman can be very dangerous.

I talked my grandmother into purchasing a dehumidifier that day. After that, mold was no longer a problem in her home.