Is a Whole House Dehumidifier Right for Your Home?
The last thing any homeowner wants after returning from summer vacation is a home saturated with humidity, or worse, mold and mildew. Many homeowners
set their home thermostat to a higher temperature to cut down on energy costs while away for an extended period, and while setting your system to a higher temperature can lower your utility bill, it can also cause increased humidity levels in your home. One way to solve this problem is to install a whole house dehumidifier.
How does a dehumidifier work?
During the summer, a key function of your home comfort system is to remove excess humidity from your home. However, if your thermostat is set to a higher temperature for an extended period of time, your system won’t run long or often enough to eliminate all of the excess humidity in your home. Too much humidity in your home encourages the growth of mold and mildew, which can be hazardous to your health. Dehumidifiers prevent these issues by drawing excess moisture out of the air and either collecting the water in a bucket to be emptied manually or draining the water automatically.
Will a dehumidifier save me money?
A dehumidifier can save homeowners money by allowing them set to their thermostat at a higher temperature while not risking a significant increase in humidity levels. By setting your thermostat to a higher temperature, the unit will spend less time cooling your home and help you save money on your electric bill. Though the humidifier still relies on electricity to run, its needs are significantly less than that of a home comfort system. Installing a dehumidifier can also help save money by reducing stress on the system itself, which could result in fewer repairs and extend the system’s lifespan.
What factors should be considered when purchasing a dehumidifier?
Homeowners should take the following into account when purchasing a dehumidifier:
- Bucket size or drain of the unit. Different units have different ways of discarding the water that is collected. Some humidifiers collect water until they reach capacity and need to be drained manually (usually, the unit will shut off after capacity is reached and not turn on again until it has been drained, avoiding overflow). Some units drain automatically. If you tend to leave your home for extended periods of time, you might want to consider a unit that drains automatically. Make sure you find the humidifier that best suits your particular needs.
- How energy efficient the unit is. New units tend to be more energy efficient than older units, so make sure you do your research on when the unit was made.
- The temperature settings of the unit. Some humidifiers are made for colder climates, so make sure the humidifier is compatible with the North Florida humidity.
Which humidifier is best for Tallahassee?
To combat the extreme Tallahassee humidity, we recommend the TrueDRY™ DR120 Whole House Dehumidifier from Honeywell because of its quietness, energy-saving technology and efficiency. This system from Honeywell removes up to 120 pints of water per day, requires minimum maintenance, helps filter your home’s air and drains automatically, so you never have to worry about emptying it.
For a dehumidifier estimate, or any other questions about maintaining humidity levels in your home, contact Barineau Heating & Air Conditioning or give us a call at (850) 580-4029.
