Are you experiencing higher-than-normal humidity in your home? A whole house dehumidifier can provide the perfect solution, but how do you decide which model is right for you?
This guide will give you everything you need to know to make a smart, informed decision. With expert advice and helpful tips, find the perfect dehumidifier for your home today!
Introduction
Humid air is not just uncomfortable, it can cause physical and material damage to your home. That’s why it’s important to consider investing in a whole house dehumidifier if you have troubles with humidity levels in your home. Although there are many efficient portable dehumidifiers available, they are only useful in relatively small rooms or confined spaces. For complete coverage throughout the house, you’ll need a whole house dehumidifier.
Before buying a unit, make sure you understand your humidity needs and are familiar with the different types of whole house dehumidifiers on the market so that you can select the best product for your needs. This guide will help you gain an understanding of these machines and what features to look for so that you can make an informed purchasing decision.
Explanation of Whole House Dehumidifiers
Whole house dehumidifiers provide a great way to regulate the humidity levels in your home, making it more comfortable for your family. There are some key factors to consider when purchasing a whole house dehumidifier, including size, energy efficiency, and cost.
Size: Whole house dehumidifiers come in various sizes and can range from 20 to 70 liters of moisture removal per day. The appropriate size of your unit depends on the type of climate you live in and the size of your home. If the area is humid or you have seen visible signs of mold or mildew growth, we recommend choosing one that is larger than what is featured on standard buying guides as it will usually offer better results.
Energy Efficiency: Selecting an energy efficient model will help reduce electricity costs over time as energy usage will be minimized. Look for UL-approved models with standard components such as variable fans and defrost cycles, or Energy Star units set with an ENERGY STAR certified control panel for greater savings.
Cost: Prices for these units tend to vary depending on the size and features offered but typically start somewhere around $600 USD. If cost is a major factor in your purchase decision then be sure to weigh the benefits each unit provides against its price tag before making a final selection.
Benefits of Whole House Dehumidifiers
Whole house dehumidifiers provide many benefits in terms of reducing humidity levels and improving the air quality in the home. Not only can they help keep moisture levels low, but they can also reduce allergies, asthma and other respiratory issues. Whole house dehumidifiers are a great investment for any homeowner who wants to increase the comfort level of their home as well as reduce any health problems caused by high humidity.
Whole house dehumidifiers also help to reduce mold and mildew, which can cause significant health issues. Mold and mildew can cause respiratory symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, sore throat, and watery eyes. A reduction in humidity also helps to reduce odors like musty smells caused by mold growth. Furthermore, with a whole house dehumidifier it’s easier to control temperature fluctuations so your house remains comfortable all year round.
In terms of energy savings, whole house dehumidifies are very efficient in controlling air quality and keeping the air free from airborne contaminants that can increase cooling or heating costs. Moreover, you don’t need to buy separate units for different rooms or open up walls or floors to install individual units—all you need is one whole house dehumidifier placed centrally into your ductwork system for it to take care of all parts of your home evenly.
Improved Indoor Air Quality
A whole house dehumidifier can be a great addition to your home’s HVAC system and help improve the overall indoor air quality. Reducing the humidity in your home can have numerous benefits, including fewer dust mites, reduced air pollutants and improved comfort. High levels of humidity can also cause problems such as mold or mildew growth or dust mite infestations due to moisture trapped in carpets, walls or furniture. Dehumidifiers are usually quite energy efficient, meaning they can help lower energy costs while providing better indoor air quality.
When selecting a dehumidifier for your home, it is important to consider a few key features: capacity, area coverage and energy efficiency. The capacity of the dehumidifier refers to how much water is removed from the air by the unit per day – usually measured in pints or gallons per day. You should look for a unit that is powerful enough to cover whatever space you need it for but not so big that it wastes energy when running at low levels of humidity. The area coverage of a specified model refers to its ability to handle square footage – with larger units being able to handle more square footage than their smaller counterparts though this varies from model to model so you should always check its spec sheet before making a purchase. Finally, consider the unit’s Energy Star rating as this will give you an indication of its level of efficiency — saving you money over time on your energy bills as well as helping protect our environment by reducing carbon emissions from inefficient appliances.
III. Factors to Consider Before Buying a Whole House Dehumidifier
Before you select a whole house dehumidifier, there are several factors to consider. You should keep in mind the size of the space you’re dehumidifying, the amount of moisture that needs to be removed on a daily basis, energy efficiency and noise levels. Taking into account these four factors can help you make an informed decision about which model is best for your particular needs.
Size: The size of your home or basement affects the size of the dehumidifier you will need. A unit rated for more square footage than your home needs may not reach ideal humidity levels. Consider both capacity (how much water can it hold?) and water removal rate (how often does it need to drain?).
Moisture: The higher the relative humidity, or RH, in your home or basement, the more powerful a dehumidifying system you will need. Measuring RH requires an indoor weather station that is designed to measure humidity levels (these are readily available online). This ensures that a unit with enough power is selected to address your home’s moisture levels.
Energy efficiency: Many modern models have high Energy Star ratings and use up to 40 percent less energy than traditional units. Check out the wattage rating on any model you’re considering so you can factor in long-term cost savings when making a decision.
Noise level: Modern models have well-insulated motors that reduce noise output significantly compared with their predecessors; however some systems do require airflow through hoses or venting systems which could still be relatively noisy depending on how much sound dampening material is used as well as overall placement within your home or basement.
Size and Capacity
When looking for a whole-house dehumidifier, it’s important to consider the size and capacity. The right size unit will be able to effectively handle your house’s humidity level without struggling and running too often. To determine the correct size or capacity of a dehumidifier, you will need to calculate the square footage of your home and do a bit of math.
The first step is to calculate the volume of your home. To do this, multiply the length by the width and height of each room in feet, adding them all together for total volume. The key is that if you have a two-story house, factor in an additional 50% for air circulation space on the second floor when doing calculations for rooms upstairs. Once you have calculated the overall volume of your home in cubic feet, you can then determine what capacity dehumidifier will work best.
Typically, most homes require anywhere from 18 to 25 pints per day for adequate humidity control; so take your total volume number (in cubic feet) and divide it by 15-20 gallons per day (or roughly 45 – 60 pints). This number should give you an idea as to what range of size/capacity you should be considering when selecting a dehumidifier model. Finally it is always best practice to double check with manufacturer recommendations as sizes can vary between brands due to design differences like airflow configurations or coil types used within their machines.
Types of Whole House Dehumidifiers
Whole house dehumidifiers come in several types and sizes, and the one you choose will depend on the application for the unit. This section will discuss the five most popular types of whole house dehumidifiers – from single-room units to commercial-grade systems – to help you determine which is best for your needs.
Single-Room Dehumidifier: Single-room units are small, compact units that can be used to dehumidify a single room or area in your home. These are great options for small spaces such as bathrooms, laundry rooms, basements, and crawl spaces. They are typically more affordable than their larger counterparts and are easy to maintain.
Multi-Room Dehumidifier: Multi-room units have more powerful motors than single-room dehumidifiers, allowing them to effectively dehumidify a large area such as an entire basement or multiple rooms at once. This makes them convenient for controlling humidity levels throughout a home or apartment building with fewer machines than smaller ones.
Split System Dehumidifiers: Split system dehumidifiers use two separate units connected by ducts that allow one unit to exhaust humid air from a room or area while bringing in cooler, dryer air from another room. This type of system is often used in very large areas like warehouses or office buildings where centralized humidity control is necessary but whole house solutions may not be practical due to space constraints.
Desiccant Dehumidifier: Desiccant systems use desiccants (chemicals that absorb moisture) instead of condensers (which transfer heat)to remove moisture from the air. These systems work very well in cold environments because they can extract moisture without adding additional heat into the space they are in (as opposed to condenser models). These tend to be more expensive solutions and take up quite a bit of floor space compared with other types of whole house dehumidifiers, but if you need reliable humidity control even during cold months they may be worth considering.
Centralized Commercial Grade Dehumidifier: If you need extremely reliable humidity control throughout a large building then commercial grade systems could be just what you need. These centralized systems consist of multiple individual components within an integrated unit which makes maintenance much easier on larger properties than traditional whole house solutions do on their own!
Refrigerant-Based Dehumidifiers
Refrigerant-based dehumidifiers are some of the most commonly found in homes and businesses due to their efficient design and simple operation. They work by drawing warm, humid air through a filter, then cooling it over a series of coils located inside the unit. As the air cools, moisture is drawn out of it in the form of liquid water which then accumulates at the base of the machine.
This type of dehumidifier can help reduce overall humidity levels in an area quickly and effectively however they do require more energy to operate than other types. This can cause higher electricity bills over time in comparison to other models available. Additionally, refrigerant-based models tend to be on the noisy side due to their internal fans and compressors which can be bothersome for users who may need a quieter environment.
How to Choose the Best Whole House Dehumidifier for Your Home
When it comes to selecting the right whole house dehumidifier for your home, there are several factors to take into consideration. Understanding the size of your space and what type of environment you live in is key. Larger spaces may require more powerful models with higher capacity, while more temperate climates may require less powerful lower capacity machines. Here are some of the key considerations when selecting a whole house dehumidifier for your home:
-Size: The box size of a dehumidifier should be appropriate for the square footage it will need to cover so that it can adequately circulate air and condition the moisture levels in your space. Generally, you should look for units that can cover an area from 1000-3000 square feet depending on the climate and type of environment.
-Humidity and Temperature Setting: The humidity setting on a unit needs to be able to reach a specified relative humidity (RH) level in order to properly reduce moisture levels in your space; this is typically set by measuring wet bulb temperature or relative humidity levels in a room. Additionally, units offering auto shutoff or adjustable temperature functions help reduce energy consumption by only running when necessary.
-Capacity: You’ll want to look at how much water (in pints) the unit can pull out within 24 hours based on 80°F/60% RH conditions as recommended by AHAM (Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers). This rating determines how much water vapor your model can remove over time; those with large capacities are often suitable for larger area humidification needs.
-Filters & Maintenance: Look at whether or not there is an air filter included with the model as this helps collect dust particles before they reach other parts of your home’s ventilation system leading to potential repairs down the line; filters should also be changed on a regular basis. Finally, consider any additional maintenance steps such as refilling water tanks or emptying drip trays which may be required on some models depending on their design features.
Assess Your Home’s Needs
When looking for the best whole house dehumidifier for your home, you need to consider the size and environment of your home. The size of the unit needs to be appropriate for the space you are trying to dehumidify – smaller homes can generally get away with a single, large capacity unit, while larger homes may need two or more smaller units in order to obtain optimal results. Additionally, certain environments have higher humidity levels that require stronger dehumidification systems. Kitchens, basements and garages are often prone to excess moisture, as well as some climates like coastal regions that are subject to year-round high humidity.
When looking at a particular unit’s capacity ratings, you will typically find that they are rated by deciding which pint capacity it requires to remove 30 pints of moisture over a 24-hour period. Using this criterion, it is easy to determine which machine is best suited for your specific needs – if your home has an area particularly prone to condensation or dampness due to its construction or location (i.e., near a body of water), then you might look into purchasing an extra powerful model.
While assessing your home’s environment and moisture levels can give some clue as to which whole house dehumidifier will be most effective on your property; ultimately it is important that you read user reviews from other purchasers before making a final decision so that you can make sure it not only has enough power but also meets all of your expectations in terms of noise level and ease of use/maintenance.
Conclusion
When selecting the right dehumidifier for your home, it’s important to consider all of the factors discussed above. Size, maximum extraction rate, energy consumption and features are all key considerations that should be taken into account when determining which device best suits your needs.
Ultimately, a whole house dehumidifier can provide numerous benefits and help maintain comfortable living conditions in any space. To make sure you make an educated choice when selecting the right dehumidifier for your home, it’s recommended to do thorough research and check out multiple comparison reviews.
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