NEWS & UPDATES

Devoe Rentals requires all home renters to supply and maintain a dehumidifier in the basement of their new home. These units are not cheap and you may wonder why you have to go through the expense and trouble. You may not even know what a dehumidifier is or where to get one. In this article I’m going to talk about what a dehumidifier is, the cost, and most importantly discuss why its in your best interest to have one. Many of you may be familiar with a humidifier which is something people may use to add humidity to their home. Dehumidifiers are less well known and just like the name suggests, removes humidity from a space. Basements are generally damp, musty, high humidity areas that tend to produce mold, smell, and allergens. Not only is this unhealthy to breathe, but untreated will lead to mold which ruins anything and everything it touches. Damp environments and allergens are unhealthy, but breathing mold spores is much worse. Some of you may have a bedroom or somehow use the basement of your home as extended living space. Many people choose to store things in the basement. If either of these things apply to you it is imperative to have a Dehumidifier or the space will smell and anything in it will eventually become ruined from mold/mildew. Cost: Units will cost anywhere from $50-300 depending on where you get them. Amazon lists a mini unit for $79.00 good for 2200 cubic feet so cost will somewhat depend on the size of your home. Operation can cost anywhere from $15-35(monthly) normally, but up to $50 if used 24-7. Energy Star Rated units will reduce cost considerably as will using an appropriate setting. Set the dehumidifier for 50-55 percent humidity and the unit will automatically turn on and off as needed, keeping costs down. Its important to properly install the unit to ensure the unit operates efficiently and effectively. The instructions will tell you that when the tank fills up the unit will automatically shut off until you empty it manually. That said, most units come with a hose that can be installed onto the tank which will automatically drain into the basement floor drain. You can either empty container whenever full or run a hose from the unit into the floor drain. It’s important that you do the latter or trust me you will not be able to keep up with emptying the container. There you have it, all you need to know to satisfy your lease’s requirement to maintain a dehumidifier in your new home. If you have any questions please call the office and ask for Shawn the Property Manager.

If you have noticed that you have a high heat bill or your just want some way to reduce your monthly heat bill, Devoe Rentals encourages you to change your furnace filter on a monthly basis. In accordance with your lease, you are required to purchase and replace your furnace filter once a month. These filters are cheap at around $2-4 per filter. Look at the brand and size of your furnace filter and purchase one that fits your furnace. If you do not change your filter dust and lint builds up causing your furnace to work twice as hard to heat your home. This can raise your heat bill significantly. Stay Warm!

If you have a heating or plumbing emergency please call our HVAC guy right away! His name is Luis and his number is 414-588-0933. It is important that if your heat stops working in the winter that you immediately contact Luis. Pipes will be damaged if they become frozen and you could be responsible for damages if you do not report it. Thank you