Whole-House Dehumidifiers and Dehumidifier Services

Choosing the right dehumidifier for your home is important to maintaining good air quality. If you select a portable dehumidifier that’s too small, the basin will fill quickly, requiring you to empty it frequently. Choosing a portable dehumidifier that’s too big will waste energy and may be too noisy. Choosing carefully between investing in multiple portable dehumidifiers or a single whole-home dehumidifier to address your humidity issue is important.

Whole-house dehumidifiers are ideal for homes in humid climates and homeowners who want a “set it and forget it” system. If you live in a relatively dry climate where a dehumidifier is only necessary a couple of times a year, a whole-home dehumidifier may be unnecessary.

Dehumidifiers use less energy than you might expect. A small 30-pint dehumidifier uses about 300W of power, while a large 70-pint version uses about 700W of energy. These systems draw much less electricity than your average hair dryer. The majority of the energy used by dehumidifiers goes to compressing refrigerant gas. If you are concerned about energy use, you can install a more energy-efficient option.

Choosing the right size dehumidifier depends on the size of the space and relative humidity within the area. Dehumidifier units are typically measured in the pints of water pulled from the air daily. Portable dehumidifiers come in a wide range of sizes and are smaller than whole-home dehumidifiers designed to accommodate an entire property.

We use a hygrometer to take humidity readings. This reading, along with the square footage of your home, will help us determine what size, make, and model humidifier is best for your needs.

Most homes don’t need to run a dehumidifier year-round. Typically, a dehumidifier is used primarily during warm, rainy weather and humid summer months.

If any part of your home has a humidity reading over 50%, we recommend installing a dehumidifier. Your local Aire Serv professional can take moisture and other readings throughout your home to determine the air quality.

Here are some signs that it might be time to invest in a dehumidifier:

• Mold and mildew growth on walls, ceilings, or other surfaces.
• A musty smell throughout or in specific areas of the home.
• Condensation on the interior side of windows.
• Warping wood floors or furniture.
• Rotting wood on window sills and baseboards.
• Water stains on ceilings and walls.
• Insect infestation inside the home.
• ‘Stuffy’ or ‘clammy’ feeling in some rooms.
• Increase of allergy symptoms, colds, and sickness.

Basements are known for being humid and damp. Leaking groundwater, moist air, improperly vented appliances, and poor insulation are frequent culprits. A permanent basement dehumidifier is an excellent solution because it can help protect your basement from developing mold, mildew, and harboring pests and insects.

Your bathroom is likely the most humid room in your house—and for a good reason. Hot baths and steamy showers create humidity. While a whole-home dehumidifier will help reduce the overall moisture of the bathroom, it’s important to properly vent each bathroom in your home with a fan that draws moist air outside. A vent fan will help protect your bathroom and attic from mold and mildew.