Is your Glen Carbon or Alton home too humid? Controlling humidity levels can prove a challenge for any household. However, having balanced humidity not only provides a more comfortable living space, but also prevents moisture build-up, which can lead to major homeowner problems such as mold growth and damage to carpets, wooden furniture and leather items. One effective homeowner solution is installation of a whole-house dehumidifier.
Wondering whether you could use a whole-house dehumidifier? Here are some questions to ask yourself:
- Does your home frequently smelly musty?
- Is your home too humid? Meaning, does the inside air feel damp and heavy?
- Do walls ever appear to be “sweating”?
- Have you found visible mold growth?
- Do inside pipes have condensation?
- Do walls or ceilings have water stains?
- Do you, or any family members, seem to have constant allergy symptoms indoors?
If you answered yes to one or more of the above questions, you should consider a whole-house humidity solution.
How a Whole-House Dehumidifier Works
A whole-house dehumidifier is usually attached to your central A/C or heat pump system. The dehumidifier removes moisture from indoor air as its pulled through your air ducts by the home cooling equipment. Once excess moisture is removed, the same system pushes the dry air back into your home’s living spaces. Dehumidifiers can also help you save on energy costs. This is because a less humid home will feel cooler, allowing you to program your thermostat a few degrees higher without sacrificing comfort. This whole-house solution will allow you to control the humidity levels in your home. Remember, a level below 50 percent is recommended to prevent mold growth.
Installing a Whole-House Dehumidifier
A whole-house solution can make a much greater impact than the use of portable or room dehumidifiers. However, because a whole-house dehumidifier is more complex and must be connected to an existing forced-air system, you’ll want to hire a professional HVAC technician for proper installation and maintenance.
Is your home too humid? To learn more about HVAC products and solutions that can help, contact our Metro-East experts at Ernst Heating & Cooling today.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Hamel, Alton, Glen Carbon, Highland, Greenville, Bethalto, Edwardsville, Collinsville, Maryville, Staunton and Troy, Illinois about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about whole-house dehumidifiers and other HVAC topics, visit our blog.
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