The Metro East Illinois area rates slightly worse than the national average for indoor comfort when it’s hot and humid out. As you know, things can get awfully muggy around here. If you’re shopping for a dehumidifier, you also probably know that you can choose between portable and whole-house units. When the humidity is confined to a small, enclosed space, a portable dehumidifier will work, though in most cases, a whole-house dehumidifier will be your best bet.
Disadvantages of Portable Dehumidifiers
Portable dehumidifiers remove the moisture from the area immediately around the unit, and are great in spaces like half and full basements. They are noisy and can take up a lot of space, and to dehumidify your whole home you would need a portable unit in every room. You usually also have to clean them frequently to avoid health hazards. The water collects in a bucket, so you have to empty it often, and if you’re away and the bucket fills, your dehumidifier won’t be running.
Benefits of Installing a Whole-House Dehumidifier
A whole-house dehumidifier requires an initial setup, but after that you never have to do much maintenance. The whole-house unit is integrated into your HVAC system and simply pulls the excess moisture from the air in every room in your home, returning drier air of the appropriate humidity level. It does so quietly and automatically, without requiring a bulky unit in each room, so you actually save electricity. You also don’t have to worry about having the dehumidifier stop running because you haven’t emptied the bucket.
What is the Right Level of Humidity Indoors?
The appropriate level of humidity you want to maintain is between 35 and 50 percent. This is the range that will help you avoid the mold, mildew, dust mite and bacteria growth that high humidity can cause, which can trigger asthma and allergies. This will also help prevent humidity from causing structural damage like rotted wood in your home, and will help you avoid over-cooling your indoors to deal with humidity, making you home more comfortable.
For more advice on shopping for a dehumidifier or other home comfort issues, contact the experts at Ernst Heating & Cooling.We’ve been serving the Metro-East area since 1951.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).
Ernst Heating & Cooling services Hamel, Illinois and the surrounding areas. Check out our special offers and get started today!