Whole House Dehumidifiers

What You Need To Know About Home Dehumidifiers

Controlling the amount of moisture in your home is critical. Without proper humidity control, you can have moisture problems in your home, which can lead to thick heavy air, create an environment for pests, and possibly lead to the growth of mold or mildew.  You may need a home dehumidifier. 

If you feel sticky, you find the air hard to breathe, or you notice the telltale signs of moisture buildup in your home, such as mustiness, your cooling system may need assistance controlling the humidity in your home.

A dehumidifier for your home is the perfect solution, and Superior Home Supplies has the whole-house dehumidifiers you need to maintain the perfect level of humidity during the hot summer months, with options from brands like Goodman and Amana dehumidifiers. Check out our available dehumidifier options, or read on to learn more about how a whole-home dehumidifier can make your home more comfortable.

What is a whole-house dehumidifier?

Whole-house dehumidifiers work to keep consistent humidity levels in your home by removing moisture during the hot and humid summer months. Once it draws the humidity out of the air, it pipes the excess moisture through a drainage system and out of your home. While Goodman air conditioner systems are designed to have the evaporator help draw humidity out of the air, in very humid areas, it may not remove moisture as effectively.

Types of home dehumidifiers

If you are tired of fighting with high humidity levels, there are three types of dehumidifiers you can choose from. Refrigerant and desiccant are portable options, while a whole-house dehumidifier is affixed to your HVAC heat pump system. The primary difference between the three is how each option performs the dehumidification process and collects the water.

• Refrigerant: Refrigerant dehumidifiers use a refrigeration process to reduce the relative humidity levels to normal in the room or area of your home. They work with the use of a fan that will draw in the moisture from the room and over a cool plate. During the process, the moisture will condense onto the cool metal plate and drip into the tank. Once the correct humidity levels have been reached, digital controls will shut the system off until it is needed again.

• Desiccant: A desiccant system absorbs moisture from the air using a desiccant, a material designed for moisture absorption. In the system, a wheel that consists of a large desiccant will slowly turn as the air comes in, absorbing the moisture from the room. The desiccant is reactivated during this process, and the moisture is condensed and then collected in the tank. These systems can operate at a lower temperature than refrigerant options, making them ideal for a crawl space dehumidifier or basement where temperatures may be cooler.

• Whole-house: Whole-home dehumidifiers are an effective way to regulate humidity levels in your entire home. They are more energy efficient and attach to your central air conditioning and furnace system. They work by pulling in air through the return air ducts in your home. Once drawn into the system, the refrigerant will be directed through an AC evaporator coil, and the humidity will condense on the coil, where the liquid will then route into a collection pan.

Are whole-house dehumidifiers worth it?

Whole-house dehumidifiers are a great option, even if you are just looking to improve the comfort of your home. Aside from creating more comfortable environments, dehumidifiers can inhibit dust mite growth. These tiny pests can leave behind residue that can trigger allergies and respiratory illness. They don't drink water but live off the humidity in the air. When you reduce this humidity, you reduce part of their nourishment.

What are the benefits of a central air conditioning dehumidifier?

Whole-house dehumidifiers are a great option to control the indoor humidity level for many homes. With this regulation of humidity comes many benefits, such as:

• Greater cooling efficiency: A dehumidifier helps to filter the allergens in the air in your home and remove moisture in similar ways to your air conditioner. Since it assists your central air conditioning system, it can take some of the stress off it, allowing it to cool your home more efficiently. This will help to save you money on your seasonal energy bills.

• Improved indoor air quality: When there is too much moisture in the area, it provides a better breeding ground for dust mites and can promote mildew and mold growth. This can lead to increased asthma and allergy symptoms and respiratory issues.

• Protection for your furniture and flooring: High levels of humidity can cause wood to swell and warp, which can lead to buckling of wood flooring and damage to wood furniture.

• Improved home smell: High moisture levels can cause a musty odor in your home, which can absorb into wood flooring and furnishings and stay around well past the warm season.

• Protection from moisture in your crawl space: Humidity and dampness under your home can cause significant structural problems. When you combine moisture with the dust collected in a crawl space, that can create the perfect environment for mold and mildew to cultivate. Installing a crawl space dehumidifier protects from all these problems.

How much does it cost for whole-house dehumidifier installation?

Having a whole-home dehumidifier installed in your home can be a significant cost upfront, but low maintenance costs and the ability to reduce your energy costs can make the investment well worth it.

One of the most significant expenses is the system, which can run between $1,100 to $2,900 depending on the size and the models. Higher efficiency models tend to run at the higher end of the spectrum. The cost of a professional HVAC installation for a whole-house dehumidifier runs almost the same as the unit cost and typically costs between $1,000 and $2,000.

Where should a whole-house dehumidifier be installed?

A dedicated return will need to be installed to bring the air into your whole-house dehumidifier. The supply side of your new dehumidifier will then be connected to your HVAC systems supply plenum. While there are other ways and places to install a whole-house dehumidifier, this is considered the best option as the dry air will go directly into your HVAC supply instead of going through the air handler.

How big of a whole-house dehumidifier do I need?

The size of your whole-house dehumidifier will depend on the number of square feet in your home and the pints of moisture that will need to be removed for it to be effective. The factors that will come into play when determining the size include:

• Relative humidity rates: Most homes have relative humidity rates between 50% to 100%. You will need a size that can get your home down to 30% to 50%.

• Square feet: Smaller areas need to remove fewer pints than a larger home.

• Average temperature: The temperature and humidity levels in the area you live in will also affect the chosen size.

Charts are available based on your home's relative humidity level and total sq. ft. For example, if your home is 1,200 sq. ft. and you have 50% to 60% humidity, you will need a 50-pint system. If humidity levels in your 1,200 sq. ft. home are 80% to 100%, you will need a 60-pint system.

How do you determine the relative humidity in your home?

Homeowners can determine the exact humidity level and amount of excess humidity in their homes through a hygrometer. If you don't have one available, you can estimate it by how the humidity feels in your home.

• Slightly heavy air: 50%-60%

• Occasional musty smell: 60% to 70%

• Wet spots around the home: 70% to 80%

• Seepage on walls or the presence of mold: 80% to 100%

Can I use an HVAC house dehumidifier with a whole-house humidifier?

When humidity levels are out of whack in your home, it can have ill effects on your health, your flooring and furniture, and your overall comfort. You can ensure your home is comfortable and at the ideal humidity level all year long by installing a whole-house humidifier and a whole-house dehumidifier. With both systems in place, you can remove excess moisture in the summer and reduce the dry air in the winter.

What is the best way to know if a whole-house dehumidifier is working?

When you have a whole-house dehumidifier in your home, you will want to know if it is working properly so that you can identify when it needs to be repaired. The humidistat system on your system should keep the humidity at a specific level, but you can test that level with a hygrometer. If the results on the hygrometer are off what the humidistat is set at, it could signal a problem.

Other signs that your dehumidifier is not working properly include the air feeling thick and heavy, moisture buildup inside your home, a musty smell, and swelling or buckling of wood surfaces.

Superior Home Supplies has the best whole-house dehumidifiers

Superior Home Supplies knows how important having the proper humidity levels is to the comfort of your home and your family's health. That is why we offer a wide range of HVAC solutions to improve the comfort of your home and keep your family healthy and happy. We have what you are looking for, from air purifiers to whole-house humidifiers. We offer a wide range of Energy star options to help keep your home as efficient as possible. We also offer products that have a warranty to protect your investment. Find the right solutions for your home's humidity by contacting Superior Home Supplies today.