Whole-house dehumidifiers remove moisture all year long in some parts of the country and during the summer months in other parts of the country to help the existing air conditioner control the humidity better.
Whole-house dehumidifiers work the same way as air conditioners and use many of the same internal components.
This picture was taken by an Acculevel crew member after installation. And that humidity will spread, funneling moisture downstairs in an endless flow. Keep Your Home Cool, Dry, and Energy-Efficient With a Dehumidifier, 16 Home Improvements That Are Best Not to DIY, Lower initial cost than a whole-house dehumidifier, Good for one-time use, such as drying out after a flood, Overall, less energy efficient than whole-house models, Collected water must be manually emptiedonce per day or every other day, depending on the size of the unit and how much water is being removed from the air, Removes humidity from only one room, leaving other rooms humid, Requires routine maintenance to prevent mold growth, Whisper-quiet operation because the unit is installed in a basement or utility room away from the living area, Settings adjustedat a wall-mounted control panel located in your homes living area, Controls humidity throughout the entire house, More energy efficient than portable models, Best long-term solution to humidity problems, Requires only one annual maintenance checkup, Collected water can be routed directly to a floor drain in a utility room or a basement, so theres no need to manually empty water reservoirs. Warmer air can hold more water vapor than cooler air; the amount of water vapor it can hold is relative to the air temperature (hence the name relative humidity). Another allergen that can cause unhealthy environments in our homes is mold. Reduce dust mites, and in turn, it means no food for spiders. A properly sized whole-home dehumidifier can be a beneficial product to control harmful high humidity issues. If a machine is pulling humidity from your basement, its not going to get rid of the humidity on the first floor. The air inlets and outlets of the dehumidifier would be directly ducted to the ductwork of those pieces of equipment. [].
They seemed to work ok, but I noticed that they seemed to run all the time during humid months. They sit near your central AC unit and furnace (or heat pump) and drain outdoors or in a sump pit. It connects to your central HVAC system, which means all the air that blows through your ductwork passes through the whole house dehumidifier first. However, they have one BIG difference. If you dont remember it and dont want to run the numbers, square footage should be clearly indicated in your homes realty paperwork. 
But if you notice moisture building up on the inside of your windows, you might need a dehumidifier. Its most common for condensation to occur on interior windows during cold weather, when moist indoor air comes into contact with a cold glass window. A whole-house dehumidifier is yet another appliance that you will have to maintain. On the other hand, portable dehumidifiers only remove moisture from the air immediately around it. But they are convenient to use since you can quickly move them between rooms. Air conditioners and heat pumps are capable of dehumidifying the air, but they have limitations.
Drier air is easier for your HVAC unit to process. This form requires javascript to be enabled to function properly. Please let us know any details you can give about the problem. The price varies mostly depending on the size of your home and the local labor rates. Arlington, Preservation of valuable items in your home.
Glenda Taylor, Honeywells TruDRY DR65 3000 Series Whole-House Dehumidifier, 11 Ways to Make the Most of Your Towns Curbside Cleanup Day. This can be bad news for that old acoustic guitar hanging on your wall, for example. 
Your HVAC units primary function is not to remove humidity; using it to do so is going to cause it to work harder (and differently) than it was intended to do. If youre on the fence on whether or not you need a dehumidifier, purchase a hygrometer and monitor the RH levels in your home. We all know that dampness is a Very Bad Thing when mixed with electronics- but its not good for your furniture or textiles, either. However, most air conditioners in these regions with moderate humidity can remove enough moisture to keep your home comfortable without the help of a supplemental dehumidifier. Lastly, to fit your needs and lifestyle, you can control your dehumidifier using the onboard control panel, a remote dehumidifier control, or a digital thermostat. 
Like a dehumidifier, an air conditioner removes moisture from the air as it is chilled overthe coils, creating a comfortably cool atmosphere. Residential HVAC Contractor, Cost of an Air Conditioner Replacement in 2022, a Complete Breakdown. This is NOT a feeling you want in your house. As mentioned, I opted for the non-ducted version, but its important to note that this version still serves as a dehumidifier for the whole home, given the power of the unit and the way air travels through a home. In fact, symptomslike a stuffy nose, watery eyes, difficulty breathing (wheezing), and other respiratory problems may be early tip-offs to the presence of a mold colony. The cooled air blows throughout your home. The biggest benefit to a portable dehumidifier is that it costs less than a house-sized unit. Whole-house units prevent mold growth, wood rot, and warping. Taken together, these can drastically improve the health of your family. During humid weather, the air feels clammy and has musty odors, Always feels clammy, with odors and some moist patches in the basement/crawl space, Moisture is collecting or beading on surfaces in basement/crawl space. The investment in a whole-home dehumidifier is an investment in your homes protection and longevity. You can experience energy savings up to $100 or more depending on where in the country you live, as well as a reduction in the daily run time needed. If you are trying to remove humidity from a house at the height of summer, and youre only using a portable unit, its going to run all the time. Receive our newsletter which Jonathon is a mechanical engineer with over ten years of experience in the HVAC industry. Heights, Grove Whole-house dehumidifiers are permanent installs that connect directly to the ducts of your HVAC system. Whole-house dehumidifiers collect water. , contact Acculevel. The outdoor unit, or condenser, expels the heat to the outdoors. We can help control this growth with the installation of a whole-home dehumidifier, again by lowering the moisture levels below the 50% relative humidity range. If youre consistently over 50 or 60% RH, youll definitely benefit from a whole-house dehumidifier. It also allows the air conditioner to extend its life expectancy. For more info see ourdisclosure statement. Correcting your HVAC mistakes by connecting a dehumidifier to your ductwork is less expensive than replacing your air conditioner before the end of its lifespan. Please enter the city of the address you need service at. A dehumidifier running constantly costs a significant amount of energy- and not just electricity.
The same air temperatures at different relative humidities feeling hotter or cooler is the reason many weather forecasts have a real feel, feels like, or heat index temperature in their forecasts. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Ductless Mini-Splits: A Comprehensive Cost Breakdown, Dedicated to Customer Feedback and Reviews. This reduces or eliminates bacteria, viruses, fungi, mites, allergens, and reduces your chances of a respiratory infection. I had always kept a portable dehumidifier in my home. As such, if you keep condensation at bay, your homes windows will stay clean.
High humidity is just uncomfortable, says Daniel OBrian, a technical specialist withonline plumbing and HVAC retailerSupplyHouse.com. This dust gets embedded in carpets, mattresses, bedding, and upholstered furniture. For our example, well use a 2500 square foot home: We suggest that you buy a model a level above what you need. Read More: How often to service your HVAC system. Its easy to notice an uptick in your seasonal allergies, but maintaining proper humidity levels in your home has several benefits: Whole-house dehumidifiers can reduce dust mite growth, mold, and other contaminants that can trigger allergy and asthma symptoms. This is where your homes humidity level matters.
If your drainage system fails or develops a clog, your home can quickly get water damage. When the refrigerant-filled cooling coils inside AC units remove heat from the air, moisture in the air condenses onto the coils. It wont last as long. Typically whole-house dehumidifiers are great additions to homes experiencing high levels of humidity. Youll save money, because this will take less energy. Everyone has a budget, and we recognize that a higher initial cost can be unpleasant. Dehumidifiers for larger homes above 2,200 square feet have average costs of around $2,750. This model comes with a 5 year warranty, is made in America, and has an average life span of about 15 years. If you were to rely solely on your AC unit to dehumidify your home, youd face a substantial energy bill every month and an increased risk of equipment failure. The result?
Copyright 2021 by Fire & Ice Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc. All Rights Reserved. In short, whole-house dehumidifiers have the benefit of addressing the humidity evenly throughout the home, OBrian says. Whole-House Dehumidifiers Are They Really Needed? This cannot be done with the ducted unit since it is permanently attached to the heating and cooling system as a fixture. Before you sign a contract for any service, you should always verify the company is reputable, insured, and accredited by the Better Business Bureau. Deciding which brand of whole-house dehumidifier is suitable for your home can be overwhelming. according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), How to kill bacteria and mold spores in your HVAC system, Air conditioners remove heat and dehumidify, Dehumidifiers dehumidify but dont lower the temperature in the home, Find an HVAC installer with a competitive rate. Condensation can cause streaks and smudges, and when dust settles onto the wet drops, it will become dirty fast. But we dont recommend this as a practical solution. Sure, it might have seemed like a good idea at the time to install a larger HVAC unit than necessaryyou might have planned to have a home addition in place by now or assumed that a smaller model would perform worse. Can you choose a room-size, or portable, dehumidifier? Hydrometers measure and display the air temperature and relative humidity of the air around them. You may be tempted to use your HVAC system to do the work of a dehumidifier. We recommend that you consider this an investment that protects your entire home and its furnishings. You need to know two things to calculate the necessary capacity: condition and square footage. We have a, If you are interested in waterproofing, having a dehumidifier installed in your home, or other foundation repairs: locate an experienced local foundation company, and make an appointment. Your HVAC units primary function is. . Its facts and opinions are those of BobVila.com. The results were immediate.
Energy efficiency compared to the alternatives. Related Article: How to kill bacteria and mold spores in your HVAC system. Copyright 2022 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved. The capacity refers to the amount of moisture that the model can remove in a single day.
In the course of our HVAC training at Fire & Ice, I attended a training course on whole-home dehumidifiers. If youve ever been in the Midwest just before a thunderstorm, you know how intense humidity can be. While an oversize unit will indeed lower the indoor temperature, it doesnt need to take as much time to do so, which means that it will spendless time removing the moisture. directly to the sump pump system, so there is no tank to empty. For the most part, dehumidifiers require minimal maintenance. This isnt good for any motor, no matter how well built it may be.
ThisEnergy Star-rated dehumidifier can remove up to 65 pints of moisture from the air every day, and it comes with an integrated set-and-forget humidistat (think thermostat for humidity)that can also be controlled remotely. It also costs less to install, starting at approximately $2,975. Since dehumidifiers keep the humidity in your home at adequate levels, it is very unlikely youll have condensation on your windows. The ideal indoor relative humidity levels are between 30% to 50% RH, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It will also reduce the wear and tear on the machine, allowing it to last longer. They dont drink water like we do but absorb moisture into their bodies.
A good example is water condensing on the outside of a cold beverage. Additionally, most of the midwest and the northeast states have mild humidity levels that dont require extra dehumidification. A dehumidifier is an important component in waterproofing your basement or crawl space, and they are an absolute, You may be tempted to use your HVAC system to do the work of a dehumidifier. The wood will expand with high moisture levels and shrink with very low moisture levels. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Essential Home and Garden is a one-stop guide for homeowners.
$100 may not seem like a whole lot over the course of a year or even a month, but consider that it comes with better humidity control as well compared to portable dehumidifiers. Some HVAC systems even offer these as add-on options. This guide covers the basics of whole house dehumidifiers, when you would need one, how much they cost, and much more. Whole House Dehumidifiers Should You Buy One and How Much Do They Cost, The Pros and Cons of Whole House Dehumidifiers. Please enter your phone number including the area code. The last step is to make the call that starts your journey to proper humidity control. By using the dehumidifier along with the air conditioner, the air conditioners run time can be lowered, making it more efficient by saving on the electricity the air conditioner uses. In my own home, we were able to turn the thermostat up during the cooling cycle a few degrees because of lower RH and felt as comfortable as we did at the lower thermostat setting. The water drips from the coils into the condensate drip pan and drains outdoors or into a sump pit. Besides decreasing your humidity, dehumidifiers also filter out some dust and pollen too. includes special deals, news, and more. They supplement your air conditioners dehumidification process and are very useful in climates with high humidity. Phone: (614) 454-3260. Theyre the most convenient option for lowering the humidity in your entire house. The reason is humid air transfers heat to you better, plus it inhibits your bodys evaporative cooling process. Its hard to breathe, youre sweaty and uncomfortable, and every moment spent in this haze lasts three times as long as it should. all resources, Grandview Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. We now know that high moisture levels in your home can affect your health, comfort level, the preservation of your home and possessions, and the energy efficiency of your air conditioner operation. Then, as the perspiration dries, your skin feels cooler. This is a non-ducted installation. So Im proud to say that I dont just sell these products, I own one myself. This level of humidity is not healthy for you or your home. And when the air temperature drops, the extra water vapor drops back into a liquid state on the cooler surface. Additionally, the lower humidity level inhibits the growth of mildew and mold in your home. Disclosure: BobVila.com participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for publishers to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Anything made of wood can be affected by moisture. Yes, there is a higher upfront cost to a whole-home dehumidifier. Information taken from a study performed by ASHRAE (the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.). Excess humidity levels of 50% or more in our homes can make us feel clammy and warmer than it is. I understood the principles of how a dehumidifier removes moisture from its surrounding area, but the whole-home system seemed to go above and beyond what I was used to. The combined savings can be hundreds of dollars per year, as well as increasing the lifespan of your air conditioning system. Oh, did I not mention spiders until now? Here at Acculevel, we install dehumidifiers with a capacity of 95 pints (45 liters) for $2100-$2300 (cost includes installation).
A recent study demonstrates dehumidifiers are efficient at removing viruses from the air.
Does your bread seem to go stale after a day or two? As the condensation accumulates, its stored in a tank that must be emptied, or drained through a water line that connects to your sump pump. At the same time, the refrigerant within the cooling coils (which removed heat from your air) travels to the outdoor unit of the air conditioning system. A properly sized Whole House Dehumidifier can be a beneficial product to control harmful high humidity issues. . About 3 Reasons French Drains Are Not A Good Basement Waterproofing Option. These arent just minorquirks that homeowners learn to live with, they are also signs that you may have a problem with high humidity in your home. I have been in heating and air conditioning trade for 44 years. Comparing Repair Methods to a Typical Basement. They also provide better indoor air quality and take some strain off of your air conditioner. You should, however, have to empty its water reservoir frequently (especially in very humid conditions). And as you might suspect, it is because of condensation. The other thing they need to survive is water. Some HVAC systems even offer these as add-on options. This means you may have excessive indoor humidity levels in the summer as your air conditioner or heat pump cools down hot, humid air.
For average-sized homes (about 1,500 to 2,200 square feet), dehumidifiers cost $1,750 on average. The drainage line connects directly to the sump pump system, so there is no tank to empty. This type of installation typically has a higher cost for the initial install, ~$3,445 and up.
Also, there are different ways to effectively use a dehumidifier. Youll still feel sticky and uncomfortable, even though the air is cool. What do they have to do with dehumidifiers?! Yes, you can. Crawl Space Repairs: Ultimate Homeowners Guide, blog that explains how a wet crawl space can damage your home. This made me curious enough to try it out myself.
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