Do I need a whole house dehumidifier?

Balancing moisture levels in your Ocean Isle Beach or Shallotte home can be a challenge, especially in the midst of a hot, humid North Carolina summer. While air conditioners offer some assistance, you may be wondering, “Do I need a whole-house dehumidifier?” Our most recent blog, A+ Heating & Cooling – Electrical explains what these home dehumidifiers do, and how they benefit homeowners throughout the summer season and beyond.

What is a whole-house dehumidifier?

A whole-house dehumidifier is a piece of indoor air quality equipment that removes moisture from the air. Unlike a portable dehumidifier that sits in a room, a home dehumidifier is of a much higher capacity and treats the home’s entire air volume rather than just a small area. These whole-home dehumidifiers are installed on the return duct of the HVAC unit and work alongside the heating and cooling unit.

How does a whole-house dehumidifier work?

Because they are installed within the return duct, all return air flowing back to your home’s heating or cooling unit will first pass through the dehumidifier for moisture removal. A dehumidistat on the unit senses the air’s relative humidity level and removes moisture to lower airborne humidity to the desired settings.

The dehumidifier’s fan pulls warm, humid air from the return duct into the unit for treatment.
Air passes over a cooling coil within the dehumidifier which lowers air temperature, causing water vapor in the air to condense into liquid form.
Condensation is drained out of the dehumidifier and deposited into a nearby drain.
Dehumidified air exits the dehumidifier and enters the HVAC system for conditioning.
Once air is heated or cooled, the conditioned, dehumidified air is circulated back into the home’s living areas by the HVAC system’s blower fan.

Do I need a home dehumidifier in North Carolina?

North Carolina’s summer climate is hot and humid, which can lead to indoor humidity problems inside the home. When outdoor relative humidity levels are high, conditions indoors are naturally influenced by the climate. With an average relative humidity level of around 70 percent throughout the year, it’s likely a home can use a little help bringing indoor moisture levels down into a balanced range between 30 and 50 percent.

Let’s take a look at the ways a whole-home dehumidifier benefits your home and household:

1. Better indoor air quality

Do you need a whole-house dehumidifier? Absolutely, if you want cleaner, healthier air inside your home! A whole-home dehumidifier’s goal for removing excess airborne moisture is to deliver better indoor air quality for the family.

By keeping relative humidity levels within the ideal range between 30 and 50 percent, indoor conditions are kept under control to prevent the likelihood of mold growth and exposure to spores throughout the house.
Dust mites and other allergens reproduce and thrive in excess humidity when the air is exceedingly moist. Maintaining relative humidity for long periods causes dust mites to die and reduces allergen concentrations inside the home so sensitive family members are less likely to be exposed and suffer bothersome allergy symptoms.
Whole-house dehumidifiers also reduce dampness in the home, which has been linked to health issues such as nasal congestion, rhinitis, sneezing, coughing, wheezing, and worsening of asthma.

2. Consistent, affordable comfort control

If you want to lower summer cooling costs and keep your home feeling more comfortable, you should definitely consider having a home dehumidifier installed. A whole-house dehumidifier provides the moisture removal power your air conditioning system is unable to deliver. While some dehumidification results from the air conditioner’s cooling process, that’s not the primary purpose of an AC unit.

When relative humidity levels are high, the excess moisture in the air places more strain on the air conditioner or heat pump. The additional heat trapped in the air plus the need for moisture removal can cause an air conditioner to struggle as it works to achieve comfortable temperatures, wasting energy in the process.

The body naturally feels warmer when the air is humid, as the high moisture content slows down the evaporation of sweat from the skin. Humid air also retains heat more efficiently than dry air so the air temperature feels hotter when the moisture content is high.

Operating a whole-house dehumidifier alongside your cooling system this summer keeps air feeling cooler by removing moisture that retains heat. Plus, whole-house dehumidifiers require far less energy to run – your air conditioner would eat up a great deal of energy trying to provide the same dehumidification results. By alleviating the stress of dehumidification, your air conditioner is able to cool the home more efficiently, resulting in lower cooling bills.

Home dehumidifier installation in Ocean Isle Beach and Wilmington

If your home has high humidity levels, and you’re interested in a whole-house dehumidifier, A+ Heating & Cooling – Electrical is ready to help you create a cool, comfortable, and cost-effective summer oasis right inside your home! Trust our licensed indoor air quality technicians to install your new whole-house dehumidifier and say goodbye to muggy, polluted indoor air today!