Why You Should Consider a Dehumidifier
This newsletter covers dehumidifiers, how they work, what to look for in a unit, and how they can play an important role in your home's indoor air quality and comfort.
The Ideal Humidity Level is 50%
The ideal humidity level in a home is around 50%. It is recommended to keep the level between 40% and 60% throughout the year.
In the winter, relative humidity can easily fall below 40%, causing the air to feel dry. However, in the summer months, the outdoor humidity can reach levels over 90%, and that humidity creeps into your home.
What if the Humidity Goes over 60%?
When the humidity inside our homes rises over 60%, we may find that the air feels heavy, stuffy, or even clammy. You may feel congested, get a cough, or your asthma may act up. There could even be a musty smell in the house, as things like an older carpet may start to smell. Mold, bacteria, odors, pests, termites, and wood rot are all associated issues when high humidity levels are found inside a home. Turning down your A/C will help, but you will also be making it colder than you would like and put extra stress on your A/C unit.
How to Choose the Best DeHumidifier?
Dehumidifiers, on the other hand, only remove moisture in the air without cooling your home.
Four variables determine the size of the unit:
the location of the dehumidifier,
the square footage of the space,
the relative humidity in the area,
the amount of moisture the unit can remove in 24 hours (measured in pints).
If the unit is too small, it will struggle to reach 50% relative humidity and run continuously, which is not good for your electricity bill. Therefore, I recommend choosing a dehumidifier that is a little bigger.
There are two main types of dehumidifiers: small portable units and whole-home units.
Portable Dehumidifiers
Small portable units are sold in retail stores. They are ideal for reducing humidity in a specific room in your home, removing anywhere from 22 pints to 50 pints of moisture a day. However, these units are only equipped with a 12-14 pint tank to collect the water. When it is full, the unit shuts off, and you will need to empty the tank before it can run again.
Whole-Home Dehumidifiers
Whole-home units are professionally installed and are meant to reduce the humidity in a larger space, such as a crawlspace or basement. They range from a crawlspace dehumidifier (2,800 square feet with 70 pints) to whole-home units (7,200 square feet with 130 pints). Most can be integrated into your home's HVAC system, allowing you to cut back on running your A/C.
And here is the best part. These whole-home dehumidifiers also have a drain port through which the water is removed and then pumped to the outside, just like your A/C.
With the desired humidity level set, these professional dehumidifiers monitor and keep your indoor air humidity at a healthy level.
Give us a call today. We are happy to answer any questions you may have.
