When Should You Use a Whole House Dehumidifier? | Thiele
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When Should You Use a Whole House Dehumidifier?

When Should You Use a Whole House Dehumidifier?

Your home should be comfortable and an oasis for your family. Better indoor air quality can be achieved using your HVAC system. Ventilation plays a crucial role in improving indoor air quality. Proper ventilation helps to exchange stale air from inside your home and circulate it through your standard air cleaner. The consistent movement of air helps to capture dust and debris.

Conventional HVAC systems can only provide so much help, and the truth is indoor air quality is typically worse than outdoor air. Fortunately, you can add accessories to your HVAC system to improve indoor air quality and eliminate contaminants such as dust, debris, pet dander, allergens, viruses and bacteria. As a local HVAC contractor, the team at Thiele Heating & Air Conditioning helps many of our homeowners with air cleaners, air purifiers, humidifiers and dehumidifiers to improve indoor air quality.

In the case of whole home air purifiers, these devices help to treat all of the air circulating in your house and relieve seasonal allergies and can even help during cold and flu season. During the winter when cold air settles around your home, the air inside your home can become dry. Whole home humidifiers help moisturize wood surfaces, help relieve dry noses and improve the performance of your furnace by maintaining an ideal relative humidity in your home. The opposite problem occurs in the spring and summer when high humidity levels can increase the humidity inside your home.

If your home has excessive indoor humidity, you may consider a whole home dehumidifier.

What is a Whole House Dehumidifier?

A whole house dehumidifier, sometimes called a whole home dehumidifier, is designed to reduce the level of moisture in the air. The device helps to remove excess moisture from the air and improve indoor air quality. When the relative humidity of your home is too high, the air is uncomfortable and hard to breathe. For family members that are prone to respiratory issues like asthma, a dehumidifier is recommended.

Portable dehumidifiers and single-room dehumidifiers are often used to treat basements, crawl spaces and other areas of your home where excessive humidity can lead to mold growth. During the spring and other times of the year when humidity impacts your entire home’s air, a whole home dehumidifier maintains the relative humidity levels throughout the entire house.

Along with helping to improve the air you breathe and ease allergy symptoms, whole house dehumidifiers reduce dust, bacteria and excessive moisture from harming your property and causing health issues. Too much moisture can damage your living space. Carpets, rugs and other fabrics can become havens for mold and bacteria growth. Dust mites, peeling paint, warped hardwood, damaged drywall and musty basement smells are common symptoms of high moisture content.

How Does a Dehumidifier Work?

Whole house dehumidifiers are typically installed as part of the HVAC system. As air passes through the system, the device removes moisture before the air circulates into your air handler. By treating all of the air as it flows into the air handler, a whole home dehumidifier protects your existing ductwork. Moisture problems can impact your HVAC equipment, and mold can grow in your air ducts.

The designs of whole house dehumidifiers work using refrigeration, desiccant technology or a combination of both. These systems are all very energy efficient, working alongside each cycle of your HVAC unit. Refrigeration-based dehumidifiers work by drawing moist air over a cooled surface, causing the moisture to condense and collect in a reservoir. The dry air is then circulated back into the house. Desiccant-based dehumidifiers use a material such as silica gel to absorb moisture from the air, and the dry air is then circulated back into the house.

How do I Know if I Need a Whole House Dehumidifier?

Whole house dehumidifiers can be a great investment for homeowners dealing with excess humidity. Since excess moisture can cause a variety of problems, including mold growth, musty odors, and damage to furniture and other household items, the value of whole home dehumidifiers is great. Once humid air is treated, your air conditioner temperature settings often can be turned back. High humidity feels uncomfortable so the right dehumidifier can help to reduce energy costs. Another one of the several benefits of installing a dehumidifier is reducing wear on your air conditioning system. Whole home dehumidifiers allow your cooling system to work more efficiently and often help to reduce the length of each cycle.

When choosing a whole house dehumidifier, it is important to consider factors such as the size of the unit, its energy efficiency rating, and the humidity levels in your area. It is also important to have the unit installed by a professional HVAC technician to ensure that it is installed correctly and functions properly. Dehumidifier installation is a simple process that does not require excessive time or modification to your HVAC system. At Thiele, our certified technicians take the time to match the ideal system to your home and explain the installation process so you can feel comfortable.

Moisture levels are usually restored quickly and the dehumidifier unit becomes a durable and valuable accessory within your HVAC system. There are several signs that you may need a whole house dehumidifier. Here are some common indications that excess moisture may be present in your home:

  1. Musty odors: If you notice a musty smell in your home, this could be a sign of excess moisture. Mold and mildew thrive in humid environments, and their spores can cause unpleasant odors.
  2. Condensation: This typically appears on windows, storm doors and glass doors. This is especially common on spring mornings and in the winter, when the temperature difference between indoor and outdoor air can cause moisture to accumulate on windows.
  3. Water stains: Stains and marks on your walls or ceilings are a sign of excess moisture. Yellow or brown stains may indicate that mold or mildew is growing behind your walls.
  4. Allergies or respiratory problems: Seasonal allergies and asthma symptoms can be aggravated by high moisture levels. When you remove humidity, the aggravation can be reduced.

Who Installs a Whole House Dehumidifier?

Whole house dehumidifiers are installed by professional HVAC technicians. It is important to match the right whole house dehumidifier to suit your needs and function within your heating and air conditioner system. Many air handlers and furnaces are designed for additional accessories like whole house dehumidifiers.

When hiring an HVAC technician to install your whole house dehumidifier, it is important to choose a reputable and experienced professional. At Thiele, our team provides a local perspective and honest approach to meeting our customer’s needs. We take the time to focus on your concerns, address the problem and provide clear solutions.

During the installation process, our HVAC technician will evaluate your home’s specific needs and determine the best location for the dehumidifier. We will also ensure that the dehumidifier is properly sized and installed to work efficiently with your HVAC system. We test your system after installing it and help you understand how the device works. The whole house dehumidifiers we offer are very user-friendly, durable and easy to maintain. In fact, most units can be inspected annually during your spring HVAC maintenance.

Just like indoor air becoming too humid, winter air can quickly become dry. Thiele offers professional solutions for indoor air quality including humidifiers, air cleaners, air purifiers and more. As a local HVAC expert, our team helps to optimize the indoor air to alleviate health problems and protect your property. So no matter what questions you may have about your home’s air, Thiele is eager to help.