Now that the cooling season is nearly upon us in Indiana, humidity will increasingly become an issue for homeowners. Though air conditioners and heat pumps can control humidity levels to some extent, many homes need an added level of protection from muggy indoor air, a whole-house dehumidifier. They're also handy during humid weather when the outside temperatures are cooler, and running your air conditioning isn't a viable option.
Since a whole-home dehumidifier works independently of your A/C, it gives you a lower-cost tool against humidity for those times when you don't need the temperature lowered. The considerable outlays required to run your A/C can be put to more effective use on hot and humid summer days.
Unlike portable units, whole-home dehumidifiers integrate with existing heating and cooling equipment. If you opted for portable dehumidifiers, you'd need to have one in each room in order to provide the same level of humidity control as a whole-house system will provide. Whole-home dehumidifiers run quietly, and since they're installed away from primary living spaces, are much less obtrusive than portable units. They also require much less maintenance than room dehumidifiers, which have to be emptied of water regularly.
The humidity level in your home should fall between 30 and 60 percent. While tools exist that can measure the humidity level for you, you don't really need them. You'll be able to tell when your home is too humid. Air will feel sticky and unpleasant, and temperatures will seem higher than they actually are. Unpleasant musty odors may develop, especially in your basement, closets or in other poorly ventilated areas.
If you have noticed that your windows sometimes sweat or that condensation forms on their panes, your indoor humidity levels almost certainly exceed recommended levels. High humidity can damage fine furniture and hardwood floors and can also give mold and dust mites a prime environment to thrive.
Hartman Brothers Heating & Air Conditioning has answers to your questions about installing and using dehumidifiers in your Fort Wayne area home. Contact us today for prompt attention from our friendly and knowledgeable specialists.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about dehumidifiers and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Hartman Brothers services New Haven, IN and the surrounding Fort Wayne area. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!