Summer is officially here, bringing with it long, sunny days and hot, humid weather. That damp, muggy feeling is one of the more uncomfortable summer sensations, so having a home where the air inside feels cool and crisp can make it all bearable. But if you’re starting to feel like you’re swimming through the air in your own home, you may want to consider getting a whole-house dehumidifier.
A whole-house dehumidifier connects to your HVAC’s existing ductwork and takes the air that comes through your return vents and cools it off slightly. This causes the water vapor from the air to condense into a liquid, which the dehumidifier then collects and drains automatically. This way, the air that blows through the rest of your home is less humid, making everyone more comfortable. Still not sure if a whole-house humidifier is the right choice for your home? We’ve listed out the pros and cons below.
As a quick disclaimer, if you read our article about whether or not to get a whole-house humidifier, you’ll find that installing a whole-house dehumidifier has a lot of the same pros. In general, keeping your home at the right humidity level throughout the year can do a world of good for you and your house.
The Pros of a Whole-House Dehumidifier
Health Benefits
Having a whole-house dehumidifier can help prevent a range of potential health concerns by keeping the humidity in check. When the temperature is warm, the body sweats to cool down. But if the air is too humid, then sweat can’t evaporate, which prevents the body from cooling down like it wants to. As the body overworks, over time, this can lead to someone overheating and fainting or developing heat rash as sweat collects under the skin. Individuals who have a harder time breathing can struggle if it’s too humid due to narrowing airways, as well. In addition, humid air can cause mold and mildew growth and also holds allergens and pollutants more easily, all of which can cause discomfort or potential illness if breathed in over time. Getting a whole-house dehumidifier will ensure that the air throughout your entire home is clear to breathe and will help your body regulate properly in the heat.
More Efficient Than Using AC Alone
While current air conditioning systems also work to bring humidity levels down in your home, they only do so while running, while whole-house dehumidifiers work even while your AC is on pause until the temperature heats up again. Without this tag-team effort, your air conditioner has to work harder to both cool the air and try to remove the moisture. And since the air feels warmer when it’s more humid, you might be tempted to set the thermostat a few degrees cooler, leading to higher energy bills all around. With a whole-house dehumidifier, the air in your home feels consistently cool day in and day out, giving your air conditioner a much-needed break while keeping you away from the thermostat.
Increased Comfort
Another huge perk of a whole-house dehumidifier is the fact that your home feels infinitely more comfortable. Excessive humidity can make everything feel sticky and stuffy and can also trap unpleasant odors in the air. It can even disrupt sleeping patterns by making it harder to get comfortable and stay comfortable throughout the night. By making sure the air in your home is within the optimal 30–50% humidity threshold, a whole-house dehumidifier can help make your day-to-day much more comfortable and manageable.
Protected Furniture
In addition to helping keep the humans and animals in your home happy and healthy, a whole-house dehumidifier can also keep your furniture and flooring happy. Anything made of wood tends to swell and warp in the damp air while metal tends to rust. Electronics are also particularly sensitive to moisture and can malfunction with prolonged exposure to humidity. Mold and mildew can easily grow in muggy conditions, which can be difficult to remove. Making sure that the humidity is under control in your home can help prevent potential damage throughout your home and save you from costly repairs and cleanup.
Easier Maintenance than Portable Dehumidifiers
Finally, whole-house dehumidifiers tend to be a more convenient solution than using portable ones. While portable dehumidifiers only remove the moisture from a specific room or space, a whole-house system removes the moisture throughout your entire home, which makes it easier for you to set it and forget it. Whole-house dehumidifiers also drain themselves, while portable units require you to manually drain them, and don’t make background noise, while portable ones can make a constant buzzing sound. You will have to change out the filter for your whole-house dehumidifier once every few months, but this is easy enough to manage on your own, or you can have our team switch it out for you during one of our service calls.
The Cons of a Whole-House Dehumidifier
Upfront Costs
Whole-house dehumidifiers connect to your air ducts and air conditioning system, which means that, while providing much less hassle overall, they can be significantly more expensive to buy and install than portable units. If you’re looking for a more temporary solution or something to help with one or two specific spots in your home, you might consider portable dehumidifiers instead.
Regular Maintenance Is Required
While whole-house dehumidifiers don’t require as much maintenance as portable units, they do still require regular maintenance. You’ll need to clean and/or replace the filters once every few months to prevent any dust from building up and blocking the air flow. You’ll also want to have your HVAC technician check your dehumidifier at least once a year to make sure that the condensate line isn’t clogged and that everything is draining correctly. They’ll also help catch any problem spots before they become bigger (and more costly) issues and overall make sure your dehumidifier and air conditioning system is running as efficiently as possible. Our Platinum Maintenance Plans are a great option to ensure you get at least two HVAC maintenance visits a year with the added benefit that you don’t have to remember to schedule them—we’ll call you instead!
Not Great for Targeting Specific Areas of Your Home
Finally, because whole-house humidifiers are connected to your air conditioning system, they’re not able to target one specific room or spot in your home. If most of your house is at the optimal 30–50% humidity, then consider using a portable dehumidifier for that one problem area (like your basement after a flood or a room after fixing a water leak) instead. These are much smaller and can easily be moved room to room or stored away if and when you no longer need them.
Hopefully you have a better sense of whether or not a whole-house dehumidifier is right for your household this summer. If you have any additional questions or want to learn more about the purchasing and installation process, just give us a call! We’re always happy to talk through your options and find the best fit for you and your home.