I work in an industry that is foreign to most people.
I own my own business and I manufacture natural soaps. I started this company around 14 years ago and it snowballed into a wholesale business. This means that I now service stores instead of selling at local markets and fairs. Although the many hours of sitting in a booth are gone, I am busier than ever trying to keep up with orders. The only obstacle I face each year is the weather. Making soap is a very scientific process. It requires the right combination of water, fats, and sodium hydroxide and is also dependent upon the humidity levels being within a specific range. If the humidity is too high, the soap takes twice as long to set and it also will not dry properly once it is cut into bars. If the levels are too low, it will dry too quickly on the outside and not allow it to cure properly on the inside for a longer period of time. For this reason I have purchased both and dehumidifier and a humidifier from my local HVAC dealer. I do not want an air conditioner for the whole house but do need to control my soap studio so this seemed to be the answer for me. My salesman was so helpful in setting up the units and explaining to me the best way to control the settings. In the summer, I use the dehumidifier and the middle of winter, the humidifier. Both of these are portable units and can be interchanged as needed. I was able to arrange for them to be checked out once a year but because they are portable units, I simply take them to the shop and they give them a tune up. I can not have them breaking down as it affects my productivity.