Why Do I Need A Dehumidifier?

September 28th, 2014 Posted in Dehumidifiers
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Basements are not only the only place in the home where excessive levels of humidity can exist.  Often excessive humidity exists throughout the home and should be removed, as it can be a health hazard to the home’s occupants.  In addition, it can cause damage to the home and contents of the home as well.  

There are a number of visible clues for which may mean the presence of excessive humidity including dampness on the home’s walls and ceilings, musty odors throughout the home, condensation on the insides of windows, flare ups of allergies and the presence of mold and mildew in the bathrooms.  While these visual clues are effective, the best way to determine the humidity levels is to measure the humidity level with a hygrometer. 

If excessive humidity exists, the best solution is to add a whole house dehumidifier, which will maintain the humidity at a constant level.  The key is to remove the excessive humidity, while maintaining enough moisture to make the home comfortable and keeping wood joints from gapping.  While air conditioning units reduce the humidity in the home, a whole house humidifier works even when the air conditioning is not being used. 

Whole house dehumidifiers are preferred over portable dehumidifiers due to their ability to provide whole house coverage, while portable units only provide localized coverage.  In addition, portable dehumidifiers require the units to be plugged into existing outlets, as well as a periodic emptying of the water collected in the pan.  A whole house unit is a part of the HVAC system and all of the moisture collected during dehumidification is piped out of the home.

Posted on behalf of Find Local HVAC

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Is Summer Humidity Getting You Hot Under The Collar?

July 10th, 2014 Posted in Dehumidifiers
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It’s not just the summer heat that can make some days unbearable. Even with an excellent air conditioner in your home, you can still feel too warm when the humidity is high. In addition to detracting from your comfort, there are many other good reasons to control the humidity in your home. Humid conditions can lead to mold, insect problems and even moisture damage in your home. 

Controlling Humidity In Your Home

If you notice that you are still hot, sweaty and sticky even when the temperature is cool in your home, you may have a humidity problem. Other signs may be a musty smell, condensation on windows and even warping of walls or floorboards. Humidity in homes should be ideally about 45%, ranging between 30-50%. If you levels are higher than 50%, it is time to get a whole house dehumidifier. 

There are two primary options when it comes to adding a whole house dehumidifier to your home. You can either opt for a dehumidifier which works with your air conditioning unit, or you can have a separate system just for humidity. These systems are quiet and work efficiently, with sensors to keep your entire home at a comfortable and safe humidity level all year round. Most units are easy to maintain, only needing a filter change once a year to keep your air clean and at the right moisture level. 

If you are ready to experience the difference a whole house dehumidifier can make, call your local HVAC professional to discuss installing a new unit in your home. You will be surprised at the level of comfort it can provide while keeping excess moisture from damaging your home.

Posted on behalf of James Smith, ClimateSmith LLC

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Importance Of Moisture Levels In Your Home

December 3rd, 2013 Posted in Dehumidifiers
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Your HVAC system may keep your home at the right temperature, but it may not be keeping your home’s air the right level of moisture. Depending on the season and area in which you live, your home may become too high in moisture or too low, both which can have effects on your family’s health. By adding a humidifier or dehumidifier, you can keep the air in your home at a healthy moisture level. 

Humidifiers

Many homes can become low in air moisture, especially during the winter months. Furnaces and other heat can add to the dry air, causing sore throats, dry skin and drying out the respiratory system. There are portable humidifiers that can be used to control moisture in a room, but there are also full house humidifiers that can be added to your HVAC system. 

Dehumidifiers

In homes that retain moisture, there is a danger of mold and mildew in some cases. Mold spores can cause many health problems, especially in small children. A dehumidifier reduces the moisture in the air and can eliminate the danger of mold growing in a home. These can also be bought in smaller, portable options or a whole house dehumidification system can be added as an option to your HVAC system to control moisture in the whole house. 

To find out the moisture level in your home, a professional HVAC technician may use a hygrometer to measure the humidity in your home. For most homes, a level of 20-40% during the winter and less than 60% during the summer is ideal to keep your home comfortable and healthy. Your local professional can offer options to ensure that your home’s air is always kept at the right moisture level.

Posted on behalf of James Smith, ClimateSmith LLC

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Home Dehumidification Systems

August 10th, 2013 Posted in Dehumidifiers
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Humidity, which is water vapor found in the air, can be damaging to the occupants of the home, as well as the home itself, if found in excessive amounts.  High humidity levels promote the growth of certain types of mold, as well as dust mites, both of which are allergens that impact indoor air quality.  Often homeowners living in homes with high humidity levels suffer from respiratory issues including rhinitis and asthma.  The home itself can be damaged by rot, as well as pests, which are attracted by the moisture.  Relief from high humidity levels is available with the installation of a whole house dehumidification system, which is easily added onto an existing HVAC by a licensed HVAC contractor. 

The first step in determining if a whole house dehumidification system is necessary is to have a professional HVAC company perform an inspection.  During the inspection, the technician will use a hygrometer to measure the relative humidity in the home.  In addition, they will be looking for other signs of excessive humidity including wet stains on the walls and ceilings, musty smells, condensation on windows and mold growth in areas such as the bathrooms.  In addition, they will discuss any breathing issues that the homeowner may be experiencing. 

In the event that excessive humidity is found, the technician will recommend the installation of a whole house dehumidification system, which will remove the humidity from the air inside of the home.  The dehumidification system is easily and cost effectively retrofitted to the existing HVAC system and will provide constant dehumidification, which will improve the indoor air quality of the home.  Speak with a qualified HVAC contractor and determine if a whole house dehumidification system is the right choice for your home!

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Advantages of a Whole House Dehumidifier

April 23rd, 2013 Posted in Dehumidifiers
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The best option to control the humidity levels in your home during the cooling season is a whole house dehumidifier. When your air conditioner cools your home, it also helps dehumidify the air but only when your air conditioner is actually running. However, in humid areas even a central air conditioner cannot keep up with the humidity. This could be especially important when the temperature is relatively mild but the humidity is high, because the air conditioner unit doesn’t run long enough to remove the humidity from the indoor air. Conversely, a whole house dehumidifier also works when the air conditioner is off, continuing to improve your indoor comfort.

The extra moisture in your home, if the humidity is too high for too long, can actually cause water damage to your ceilings, walls, flooring and furniture. Of course, all that moisture can have a “hot-house” effect in allowing and, indeed, promoting the growth of household allergens like dust mites, mildew and mold. This can be prevented by maintaining the indoor humidity of your home at an ideal level. Drier air will also reduce condensation on the inside of your windows.

Best of all, the humidity in your entire home can be controlled by just a singular unit that is also hidden from view. You’d use much more energy installing multiple portable dehumidifiers throughout your home. Additionally, you will save on energy costs because with moderate controlled humidity, your house will actually feel cooler at higher temperatures. With a whole house dehumidifier, keeping cool in the summer months is much easier and more cost efficient.  Consult your local HVAC professional to have your whole house humidifier installed inside your air handler to operate automatically.

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How to Control Moisture at Home

March 11th, 2013 Posted in Dehumidifiers
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Moisture is a problem regardless of what area of the country you live in, and solving the problem of excess moisture differs depending on the climate of the area where you live. How you handle problems in these different regions varies, but everyone can learn how to control moisture at their home. Your local home heating and cooling professional can share tips on cutting down on excess moisture and humidity in your home. 

Make sure to fix any leaks in or around your home. If water is getting into the house from outside, fixing the problem might range from simple plumbing solutions to expensive fixes like excavation or landscaping. If you find any water in your basement, check if the gutters on your house are leaking, or that any excess rainwater isn’t being channeled to your house’s foundation. 

Water leaking from pipes in your house, and any standing water around tubs and sinks can offer somewhere for pollutants, mold or other hazards to grow. Make sure to clean up standing or excess water immediately. If you have exhaust fans in your bathroom or kitchen, use them to remove any excess moisture in your homes. 

Turn off appliances like humidifiers if you notice any moisture on windows and other interior surfaces like walls or tile floors. At the same time, use a dehumidifier to cut down on moisture in the air, but make sure that these appliances don’t cause or create any kind of airborne irritants. 

Open doors between the rooms in your home to help increase circulation; this allows heat and warm air to contact any standing cold surfaces. You can help to increase circulation in the air by moving around your furniture and using fans.

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Things That Everyone Should Know About Mold

March 11th, 2013 Posted in Dehumidifiers
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There are potential health risks and symptoms associated with exposure to mold, such as allergic reactions, asthma, and other respiratory problems. Mold is a common problem in some households, but unfortunately there’s no practical method for eliminating all mold and mold spores in an indoor environment. The best way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture. 

If there is a mold problem in your home, you should see that the mold is cleaned up immediately, and try to eliminate any possible sources of excess moisture. Any sources of unwanted water or problems with leaks should be addressed  to prevent the growth of mold. Try to reduce indoor humidity to a level between 30 to 60% if possible.  Installing a dehumidifier can help control indoor humidity year round, even when your central air conditioning system.  There are numerous ways to decrease mold growth: venting bathrooms, as well as other moisture generating sources from outside your home; use air conditioners and dehumidifiers; open doors to increase ventilation; use exhaust fans while cooking, washing dishes, and cleaning your home. 

Clean mold off hard surfaces with water and detergent within 24-48 hours of getting damp or west to prevent mold from growing, and allow to dry completely. Any absorbent materials like ceiling tiles which show signs of mold will need to be replaced if all traces of mold aren’t eliminated. Reduce the potential for condensation on any cold or wet surfaces like windows, pipes, exterior walls, or floors. Consider adding insulation to cut down on condensation. In areas where there could be a moisture problem, do not install any carpeting (e.g., on concrete floors with leaks or frequent condensation). 

Mold can be found almost anywhere. If your home has a problem with mold, contact a licensed HVAC professional immediate.

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Control Humidity With a Dehumidifer

July 12th, 2012 Posted in Dehumidifiers
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Controlling the humidity in your home is almost as important as controlling the temperature level.  Experts vary on the optimal humidity level, but the general consensus is that keeping the humidity between 40-50% is best for both comfort and health.

Depending on where your home is located and the season, you may need to increase the humidity by adding moisture to the air with a humidifier or decrease the humidity level with a dehumidifier.  In hot, dry climates the humidity levels are usually too low.  In warm, moist climates the challenge is reducing the humidity levels.

Humid air feels warmer than dry air.  In the winter, maintaining the humidity level at the higher end of the optimal level will make your home feel warmer.  You can keep the temperature a few degrees lower and save on your heating costs.

The opposite is true in summer months.  Keeping humidity levels at the low end of the optimal range will help you feel cooler and allow you to set your thermostat a little higher and cut your electricity bills.

Too much humidity promotes the growth of mold and mildew that can aggravate allergies and causes condensation problems on toilet tanks and windows.  If the air in your home is too dry, it can cause respiratory problems, itchy skin, and static electricity.

Whether you need a humidifier, a dehumidifier, or both, the most efficient and effective solution is to have them integrated into your HVAC system.  Portable units don’t provide uniform humidity levels throughout your home and are usually noisy and intrusive.  Your HVAC technician can help you select and install a humidifier or dehumidifier that will keep your home comfortable.

 

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Beat the Heat With a Dehumidifier

July 12th, 2012 Posted in Dehumidifiers
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Record summertime temperatures have many homeowners reaching for the thermostat. Lowering the temperature a few degrees can help keep you cooler, but with the cost of running your central air conditioning system around the clock, having a dehumidification system installed in your home may be a better solution.

As anyone who lives in the steamy south knows, “it’s not the heat, it’s the humidity.”  Actually, this saying is only partially true.  The fact is that it’s the heat and the humidity that makes us miserable in the summer months.  Maintaining a comfortable indoor environment in a hot, humid climate requires reducing both the heat and the humidity.

A central air conditioner or heat pump cools and dehumidifies the air inside your home, but they are not designed or sized to handle the very high levels of humidity commonly found throughout the southeastern U.S. In addition, there is no way to control the humidity level and temperature separately.  To make matters worse, they are often oversized which means they don’t run as much as they should to minimize humidity levels.

A great solution for homeowners in humid climates is installing a dehumidification system that works in conjunction with your existing central air conditioning system. Your HVAC professional can install a dedicated dehumidifier that uses your existing ducts and has a separate controller called a humidistat.  Similar to a thermostat, the humidistat can be set to the desired level and it will automatically maintain that level of humidity whether your central air conditioning system is running or not.

Installing a dehumidifier allows you to set your thermostat a few degrees higher which saves you money on your energy bill while keeping your home cool and comfortable.

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Be Comfortable This Summer With A Whole House Dehumidifier

April 23rd, 2012 Posted in Dehumidifiers
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Don’t suffer through another hot, humid summer without a whole house dehumidifier installed by your local HVAC contractor.  When it comes to staying comfortable in your home, cooling the air is only half of the equation. Dehumidification to keep the humidity level below 50% makes the conditioned air feel several degrees cooler and keeps you and your family dry and comfortable.

If you’ve ever heard the saying “It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity” you probably understand the importance of drying air along with cooling it.  The reality is that it’s both the heat and the humidity – addressing one without the other will leave you feeling uncomfortably warm and sticky.

Your central air conditioning system dehumidifies as it cools the air, but dehumidification is only a secondary function of a central air conditioning system and many systems cannot keep up with high levels of humidity.  A whole house dehumidifier works with your central air conditioning system to provide increased dehumidification.

Your HVAC technician will install the system directly into your existing ductwork to allow cool, dry air to be distributed throughout your home.  Whole house dehumidifiers use a “humidistat” similar to a thermostat to keep the humidity in your home at a preset level.

A whole house dehumidifier can save you money on your energy bills by allowing you to set your thermostat a few degrees higher without sacrificing comfort.  Since the air is drier, it feels cooler and your air conditioner will not have to work as hard to cool your home.  If increased comfort with lower utility bills sounds good to you, talk to your local HVAC contractor today about installation of a whole house dehumidifier.

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