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
