How to Salvage a Painting from Mold？

If you live in a damp and humid environment, then you must have seen the effects of the mold firsthand. It can become quite troublesome, as mold thrives in damp air, and destroys your walls. If you are fond of paintings, then you need to be extra careful. Mold is the enemy of everything made up of paper and canvas.  Your precious paintings can take the brunt of rapidly growing mold. Since a humid environment is a catalyst for mold, it can grow on paintings, causing irreparable damage to your paintings' pigment, canvas, and framing. Even in less severe cases, it can affect the artwork and visuals, dulling the colors and the appeal. While it might seem hopeless, you can still save your paintings. With the right tools and techniques, the mold on your painting can be easily thwarted. If you have been looking to get rid of mold in your art collection, this article is your perfect guide. You will learn how to use commercial dehumidifiers or industrial dehumidifiers to keep your paintings safe.   How Can You Tell If A Painting Has Mold? When you store your paintings in a damp environment, they are prone to mold growth. It becomes tough to notice when the mold has taken hold and is beginning to grow. That is because it often starts with specks of discoloration. They can be easily mistaken for age-related wear or simple dirt. However, as time passes, the mold continues to grow. If left unchecked, it can gradually eat away the canvas fibers, damage the paint, and even eat away the frames.  The judgment is whether the painting is different from the previous one. In general, mold-forming colonies usually appear as fluffy, velvety, or furry spots or patches of various colors. If you notice a few specks on a painting, check their color. Usually, mold spots are white, black, and dark green. Apart from these spots, you will also notice a musty odor emanating from the painting. These are the tell-tale signs that your mold is growing there. Especially if your paintings have been stored in a humid environment such as a crawl space, then it's time you take action. In such a situation, the first thing that you should do is get a dehumidifier. Usually, purchasing the best dehumidifier for a basement is an effective preventive measure. It is not necessarily for a basement but for all spaces which are enclosed and have humidity. A dehumidifier greatly reduces the moisture in the air and can halt the growth of mold.  How To Salvage The Painting From Mold？ If you have identified the mold growth on the painting, it’s time to act fast. By now, you should have gotten a dehumidifier for the basement/crawl space. Now, it’s time to take further action. First and foremost, remove the painting from the humid environment in which it was initially stored. Move it to a dry well-ventilated area where it can be safe. After that, make sure of two things. Make Sure That Your Painting Is Completely Dry If your painting was wet or had moisture, it’s absolutely essential to get it completely dry first. Avoid exposing it to sunlight as the sun can adversely bleach the canvas and the colors. Place it in a room with a dehumidifier for crawl space which will remove the excess moisture. This simple course of action can prevent the mold and kill it effectively.  Wear Protective Clothing Be very careful especially if you have allergies. Mold spores can be very troublesome, and even hazardous. Wear gloves and proper protective clothing to make sure that mold doesn’t come in direct contact with your skin. It’s toxic and can trigger all forms of skin allergies. Usually, safety goggles, a mask, and of course, gloves, can do the trick.  Cleaning the Mold from Painting  It’s time to take the final course of action. It’s a delicate task, so you should consider getting help from a professional if possible. Paintings are fragile and the last thing you would want is to destroy a precious artwork during the process of cleaning. So, be extra careful and be patient.  Gather These Materials To begin the cleaning process, first gather these materials.  A cleaning brush (get a soft and dry one, preferably the one designed for paintings) A vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter (set to lowest suction settings) Cotton swabs Rubbing alcohol or mold-killing solution, diluted for caution Begin The Cleaning Process The first step would be to gently brush away the mold. Be very careful while doing so as the canvas fabric might already be weakened. For best practice, use gentle strokes and avoid scrubbing it too hard.  Now, vacuum with a HEPA filter. Be careful to set it to the lowest suction setting. The reason for the HEPA filter is to ensure that mold spores are just trapped, and not released back into the air.  Now, use cotton swabs for detailed cleaning. These cotton swabs should be dipped in mold-killing solution or mild diluted alcoholic solution. Gently rub around the affected areas.  Preventing Future Mold Growth It is absolutely essential for you to take permanent measures. If you store the painting back in that same crawl space or basement, the mold will return. It is best to do the following things. Keep your basements dry. Just search “best home dehumidifiers” which will control the humidity around your basements. If your art pieces are stored there, they will be safe.  Keep your crawl spaces dry. If you store your paintings in crawl spaces, try purchasing a crawl space dehumidifier which is specifically designed for similar spaces. Storing your paintings in a crawl space will no longer be a challenge.  If you are storing your precious artwork in an industrial or commercial space, then there are special commercial dehumidifiers or industrial dehumidifiers that are designed specifically for such spaces. Purchase them and keep your artwork safe.  Final Thoughts Mold can effectively ruin and destroy precious paintings. It usually thrives in a damp and humid environment with poor ventilation. If you store your paintings in enclosed commercial spaces, crawl spaces, or basements, it’s best to install dehumidifiers there to prevent mold growth. If you spot mold growing on your art pieces, take preventive measures as soon as possible.  

Read full post

Do Dehumidifiers Heat a Room?

Dehumidifiers are designed to control humidity. But do they heat a room? Yes, a smart dehumidifier produces a barely noticeable amount of heat while operating. However, most users don’t feel it because the temperature change is too small to detect, or the room feels cooler as the moisture is removed. If the temperature change is significant, there might be other factors contributing to the heat. Therefore, you need to identify these factors to address the heating issues. Sometimes even the best dehumidifier can heat your room if you fail to use it correctly. Let’s explore how a typical dehumidifier works, why it heats a room, and how you can improve its efficiency. What Does a Dehumidifier Do? The primary function of a dehumidifier is to remove moisture from the air in any space. High humidity levels in your indoor air can lead to mold growth, discomfort, and structural damage. Such problems are common in spaces such as basements, bathrooms, and crawl spaces.   A dehumidifier removes excess moisture from the air, helping to maintain a healthier and more comfortable environment. There are different types of dehumidifiers, each designed to address specific conditions. A basement dehumidifier with a pump is designed to fix high humidity in basements.  Similarly, a whole-house dehumidifier works with the HVAC system to remove moisture from the entire house. How Does It Work? Here’s how a typical air dehumidifier works:  First, it pulls in warm air from the surroundings using a fan.  Next, the air passes over cold coils inside the dehumidifier.  As the warm air hits the cold coils, it condenses into water droplets.  These droplets are then collected in a water tank or drained through a system.  Finally, the dehumidified air is released back into the room.  This cycle repeats until the air is thoroughly dehumidified. Do Dehumidifiers Heat Up a Room? The short answer is yes. A dehumidifier can heat up a room but you can barely feel it. This is because the air is reheated after it’s dehumidified before it’s recirculated back into the surroundings.  The main primary purpose of a dehumidifier is to deal with moisture. But, it creates some heat as the byproduct of the dehumidification process. Generally, in large and well-ventilated spaces, you don't feel the heat at all. However, in small spaces, you may notice it, particularly after prolonged use.  To avoid potential inconveniences, homeowners are advised to choose a whole-home dehumidifier instead of a portable one. It is important to note that the heat is too minimal to notice. If there is a significant increase in heat, something unusual may have happened with your unit. You need to fix this to prevent potential damage. Why Does a Dehumidifier Heat Up a Room? Here are a few reasons why your dehumidifier heats your room: Choosing the wrong unit Choosing the right unit for the right space is extremely important. If you use a standard portable dehumidifier to fix humidity in a space with extremely challenging conditions, it may not produce the desired outcome. Rather it ends up heating up the space. For instance, you need a commercial-grade dehumidifier with a pump to remove moisture from a large basement. A regular unit won’t be sufficient to address the challenges of a large basement. Poor ventilation If you keep running the dehumidifier for an extended period in a space with very poor ventilation, it starts heating up the space.  Lack of regular maintenance Regular maintenance is key for your dehumidifier to function properly. Lack of proper maintenance not only reduces its efficiency but can also potentially damage the device. You should regularly change the dehumidifier filter and clean the coil and other parts of the unit. Otherwise, dirt and dust can accumulate inside the unit, especially around the coils, causing it to produce more heat. How to Improve the Efficiency of a Dehumidifier? It’s highly recommended to use your unit efficiently to get the most out of it. If you use it correctly, it will treat humidity effectively without heating your room. Here are some key ways to optimize the performance of your air dehumidifier... Choose the right size Choosing the right size is important for better performance. Choosing a dehumidifier that is either too small or too large for a specific space can result in additional heat in the room. For instance, if you use a strong commercial dehumidifier in your bedroom, you might feel more heat in the room. Clean your unit regularly You need to clean your unit both internally and externally regularly. Regularly check the dehumidifier coil and filter, and clean the coils to prevent dirt buildup. Otherwise, the unit will have to work harder, which can cause it to heat your room. Ventilate your space Ventilation is important. So, keep the windows or doors open for some time if possible. Position your unit properly Position your machine in an area that allows air to circulate freely without any obstructions. Use your unit moderately Don’t overuse the machine. Turn it off when it’s needed. Running a dehumidifier constantly for longer periods can lead to extra heat buildup in your space. Conclusion A dehumidifier can naturally add some heat to your room, but usually, you don’t feel it. This is because it makes the environment more comfortable and fresh. That said, you might notice an unusual increase in room temperature.  This can happen for various reasons, including malfunctioning or inappropriate use of the unit. Therefore you need to be careful when choosing a dehumidifier for your space. Need help finding the best air dehumidifier for your room? Don’t hesitate to contact us today. At Abestorm, our dedicated team helps our valued visitors and customers like yourself find the best solutions for their needs.

Read full post

Why Does a Dehumidifier Ice Up?

It’s a common issue among many users that their dehumidifiers ice up. Different factors can cause a dehumidifier to freeze. If you’re facing a similar issue, don’t try to run your unit before addressing it. Otherwise, it may completely damage even high-quality industrial-grade dehumidifiers. Trying to run your dehumidifier while it's frozen can potentially break it altogether. Don’t worry—you can correct it. But before knowing how to fix this problem, you need to figure out why it happens.  Let’s find out why a dehumidifier ices up. Why Does a Dehumidifier Ice Up? As you know, a dehumidifier removes moisture from the air by controlling the temperature. It pulls in warm air, cools it down, condenses the moisture into water droplets, reheats the air, and then releases the dehumidified air back into the room. Whether it’s a crawl space dehumidifier or a small portable one, the basic function is the same. So, the room temperature, airflow, and components involved in this process all play a key role. A problem with any of these factors can lead to issues such as ice forming around the coils, which can affect the dehumidifier's performance. Low Room Temperature Low room temperature is one of the most common factors that cause a dehumidifier to freeze up. As you know, the coils condense moisture into water droplets that are collected in a tank or pass through the drainage system. This process continues as long as the surrounding temperature is favorable.  If the room temperature drops due to reasons such as running an air conditioner (AC) or cold weather, the water droplets won’t drip into the tank or drain and will start to freeze around the coils. So, you need to make sure the room temperature is favorable for the dehumidifier to function properly. Insufficient Airflow Another reason that leads to ice formation in your dehumidifier is insufficient airflow. If the fan is unable to pull in a sufficient amount of air, it can cause your machine to freeze up. This happens if the fan is malfunctioning or if the machine is positioned in the wrong place. Lack of Regular Maintenance Regular maintenance is highly important for your dehumidifier to work efficiently. Failing to do so can cause problems that include icing up of your machine. If dirt accumulates around the coils, it can cause the water droplets to freeze. Besides, other factors can also cause a dehumidifier to freeze up. For instance, using a large commercial dehumidifier in a small space with cold conditions can lead to freezing. In such cases, you need to choose a machine that is properly sized for the space and designed to operate in lower temperatures, such as one with an auto-defrost feature. How to Stop a Dehumidifier from Icing Up? If your dehumidifier freezes up, here are a few things you need to do: Maintain proper temperature The surrounding temperature of the space where the dehumidifier is placed should be close to the recommended temperature level for your unit. Most dehumidifiers are designed to operate above 65°F. If your room temperature is too low, your unit may ice up. Therefore, you need to ensure the room temperature is favorable for your dehumidifier. Ensure good airflow Your machine won’t function well without proper airflow. Place your dehumidifier in a location where there is no blockage at either the intake or the exhaust. If you’re using a portable dehumidifier, it’s easy to move. However, if you’re using a whole-home dehumidifier, you need to be careful during installation. Regular maintenance Regular maintenance is key to preventing your dehumidifier from icing up. Clean the dehumidifier filter and coils regularly. Make sure to clean each part thoroughly to prevent dirt from accumulating on the coils or restricting airflow, which can cause the unit to freeze up.       4.Choose the right unit It’s important to choose a dehumidifier that best suits your space. Using a standard portable dehumidifier in harsh, cold conditions, such as crawl spaces or basements, can lead to the unit freezing up. For these conditions, an automatic defrost dehumidifier would be more suitable.  For a standard space like a bedroom, a regular portable dehumidifier will work well. If you need to dehumidify your entire house, consider using a whole-house dehumidifier as part of your HVAC system. Defrost your unit If your unit is frozen, turn it off and unplug it before performing any maintenance. Place it in a warmer space and let it thaw. Leave it for a while until the ice has completely melted. Once the ice has melted, check the coils for any dust buildup. Use a soft brush to clean the coils if needed, as dust can cause your unit to freeze up again. Conclusion It is a common issue for dehumidifiers to freeze up due to various reasons. You need to address this problem promptly to avoid any major damage. Don’t run your unit while it’s iced up, as this could potentially break the machine.  The best practice is to unplug it and leave it in a warmer place for some time to allow the ice to melt. Afterward, clean your dehumidifier before running it again. Ensure that you are using a unit that is appropriate for the conditions of your space.  If you need help finding the best dehumidifier for your space, feel free to contact us anytime. At Abestorm, our dedicated team helps our valued visitors and customers like yourself find the best solutions for their needs.

Read full post