A whole home dehumidifier removes moisture from the air in your home. Unlike smaller, portable dehumidifiers that you manually move from room-to-room, a whole home dehumidifier is installed on the return duct of your HVAC unit to address the entire air volume of your home, not just one small area.
How does a whole house dehumidifier work?
Once installed on the return duct of your HVAC, the dehumidifier will remove moisture from all return air flowing back to your unit. As the air passes through the dehumidifier, a cooling coil will lower the air temperature. This causes water vapor in the air to condense into liquid form. The condensation will then drain out of the dehumidifier into a nearby drain. The remaining air exits the dehumidifier and enters your HVAC system for conditioning and then out into your home’s living areas via the HVAC blower fan.
Will a dehumidifier remove all the moisture from the air?
A dehumidistat on the unit will sense the air’s relative humidity level and remove moisture to decrease the airborne humidity to the desired levels indicated in your settings. We recommend the setting for this not be lower than 40% humidity. However, keep in mind that level may be hard to achieve in summer. Ideal humidity is 50%, but anything over 60% is going to be too high.
Do I need a whole home dehumidifier in Indiana?
Living in Indiana, the weather we have in the spring and early summer can be a bit unbalanced. It may only be 75 or 80 degrees outside, but the humidity can be at 80, 90, or 100%. So, while the air isn’t too hot, the humidity makes the air feel warmer than it is. This especially can be the case inside your home. Because it’s not as hot outside, your air conditioner may not be running as much as it would need to in order to remove all the humidity. So, the thermostat in your home may read 72 degrees, but if the humidity is high, it’s going to feel warmer than that. And many people think the answer to the high humidity is to turn the AC lower. But that’s not really going to help—a dehumidifier will.
A whole home dehumidifier is installed separate from your AC unit, so you don’t have to rely on the AC to run in order for the dehumidifier to do its job. Its sole purpose is to remove the sticky humidity from you home.
What are the benefits?
Better indoor air quality: High humidity levels can make your home feel muggy and uncomfortable. A dehumidifier can help create a more comfortable environment by reducing humidity levels and improving air quality. In addition to comfort disruption, high humidity levels can also lead to mold growth, dust mites, and other allergens. These can cause respiratory problems as well as potential damage to your home. Adding a whole home dehumidifier can make your more comfortable AND help you breathe easier!
Consistent climate control: Believe it or not, you may find you don’t need to run the AC as much when you eliminate excess humidity from your house. This is all thanks to the cooling effects of the assist from the dehumidifier! By alleviating the stress of dehumidification, your air conditioner is able to cool your home more efficiently, which can result in lower cooling bills!
Dehumidifiers in the Indianapolis Area
If you’re tired of your home feeling muggy in the springtime or summer, contact us to learn more about whole home dehumidifiers and to get a quote for installation!