Discover How Having A Whole-Home Dehumidifier Can Benefit Everyone
Researchers at the University of Missouri have stated that the hot, humid air of summer creates the perfect conditions for mildew growth indoors. If your home has mildew, this can trigger a range of respiratory problems including wheezing and asthma. It’s also important to note that mildew is prone to leaving unattractive stains on many surfaces. As such, given that summer is fast on its way, it’s important to use preventative measures to improve your home’s indoor air quality and to keep problems with mildew at bay. One way you can do this is by purchasing a high-quality dehumidifier, or even a whole-home dehumidifier for better results. Here are a few important things to know about this subject.
The Benefits of Having a Whole-House Dehumidifier Installed
Contents
This article will discuss some of the impressive benefits that can be gained by putting a whole-home dehumidifier in.
A Quick Overview of Mildew
Mildew is a powder-like fungal growth that typically forms on damp surfaces and items including food, flooring, ceilings, and walls. It can range in color from yellow to gray, and some mildew is even white. It’s vital to note that mildew is different from mold in terms of its coloring and its texture. Mold has a more fuzzy or slimy texture and it’s usually green or black.
What a Dehumidifier Is
At its most basic, a dehumidifier is an electrically powered appliance that extracts moisture from the indoor air thereby making it both dryer and safer to inhale. You can use dehumidifiers in your home or in larger commercial buildings.
Dehumidifiers come in a variety of sizes and are usually chosen according to the dimensions of the space that requires humidity regulation. For example, according to the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, a moderately damp home that measures just 500 square feet will need 10-int per 24-hr dehumidifier.
Understand that while dehumidifiers are commonly sold separately by product manufacturers, installation of a whole-house dehumidifier is something that usually needs to be in tandem with a central HVAC system, or air conditioner. For a whole-house dehumidifier to work, it must be attached to a functioning HVAC system. Moreover, to ensure that your dehumidifier works exactly as it should, your dehumidifier installation should be handled by a seasoned HVAC technician.
How Do Whole-House Dehumidification Systems Work?
The primary parts of a dehumidifier are its fan, compressor, and storage tank. When a dehumidification system is turned on, hot humid air is drawn out of the atmosphere and then directed to the system’s compressor. Once there, this air contracts, and the moisture within it is condensed into water droplets. This water falls down into the dehumidifier’s storage tank, and the newly dried air flows back into the living environment.
However, if a dehumidifier is left running for far too long, it can extract all of the humidity out of the air and leave the living space overly dry. Understanding this, make sure that you only use your dehumidifier for approximately 12 hours each day according to how damp your home is. According to the United States Dept. of Energy (DOE), to keep things safe, the relative humidity or RH of your home should be maintained at 40 to 50 percent in the summer. If you have a hard time determining the RH levels for your home, ask a trusted HVAC company to help.
Advantages Gained by Using a Whole-House Dehumidifier
The primary function of dehumidifiers is to extract excess moisture from the air and this proves advantageous in the following ways:
- Greater Levels of Comfort: Excess humidity can make your skin feel sticky and clammy, and it can also diminish your comfort. By extracting excess humidity, your skill will feel far better and you’ll be more comfortable all-around.
- Lower Home Energy Costs: In humid homes, HVAC systems have to work harder than they’re meant to in order to get rid of extra moisture, and this invariably leads to extra, unnecessary energy use. In a drier living environment, energy consumption tends to be far lower.
- Keep Your Personal Items Protected: Humid air can form stains on walls, and window frames, warp your furnishings and cause paint bubbles to appear. You’ll wind up spending a fair amount of cash to replace or refurbish these things and more.
- Avoid Respiratory Distress: Mildew tends to thrive in humid environments and this leads to a number of respiratory issues. Thus, if you want to maintain good health, start by keeping indoor moisture levels down.
Things to Look for When Buying a Whole-House Dehumidifier
As stated above, dehumidifiers are available in a diverse range of capacities and sizes. This is why you should start by accurately assessing your needs for dehumidification before choosing and installing one of these systems. For example, if you live in a relatively small house with a fair amount of humidity, you should probably choose a low-capacity dehumidifier. In addition to capacity, however, there are a number of additional factors to consider including:
- The Cost of a Whole-House Dehumidifier: The priciest dehumidifiers aren’t necessarily the best. Understanding this, be mindful of your budget when shopping around for one.
- Warranty: With a warranty, you may be able to have a damaged dehumidifier replaced or repaired in the event that it doesn’t work as it should.
- Operational Noise: Given that a dehumidifier has an active fan, many older dehumidifier models make a considerable amount of noise when they’re own. Newer models tend to be far quieter and so, you may want to look for one of these if higher noise levels will impact your comfort.
- Special Features: This is a vital factor to consider as it can help you distinguish between models with the same capacity and prices. Currently, the most common special features to look for when buying a dehumidifier are auto-shutoff capabilities when the desired RH is reached, preset functions, defrosting, and an Energy Star label that denotes high levels of efficiency.
If you don’t have a lot of experience in dealing with dehumidifiers and don’t know how to effectively compare models, get in touch with a licensed HVAC company. With professional assistance, you can find a budget-friendly and high-quality whole-house dehumidifier that’s perfect for your home. There are even portable dehumidifiers to consider. However, portable options only have an impact on humidity levels in a single room and they do not provide the same expansive range of benefits that whole-house dehumidifiers do.
Conclusion
There are a number of benefits that you can enjoy when having a whole-house dehumidifier installed. Keep in mind, you can also purchase indoor plants that absorb moisture to control indoor humidity, take colder showers, and avoid hanging wet linens, clothing, or other items indoors. If you need help with the maintenance, replacement, repair, or installation of a dehumidifier, call a licensed HVAC company that understands this equipment.
Contact Lawes Company for Your Heating & Cooling Needs
You can turn to Lawes Company for first-rate dehumidification and HVAC services in Monmouth and Ocean Counties, New Jersey. Our technicians are the very best at what they do and will always provide expert repairs, replacements, installations, and tune-ups for your heating, cooling, and dehumidification equipment. They know how to correctly service systems from many top-rated brands.
Working with Lawes Company will additionally give you access to the most competitive rates in the region. You can use our maintenance services to lower your energy bills, reduce your carbon footprint, and boost the overall comfort that your home provides. When you’re ready to invest in a new heating, cooling, or dehumidification system, our team will help you find the right one for your budget and your current needs. We’ll also back our service up with a solid guarantee. Set up an appointment today by calling Lawes Company. Getting an in-home estimate from us won’t cost you a thing.
Contact us now at (732) 741-6300 to find out more!