Dehumidifiers 101: Types of Units and Their Benefits

How can dehumidifiers keep you healthier and more comfortable at home? Find out with a little help from the pros at Gross Heating & Air Conditioning.

The Benefits Dehumidifiers Bring

As it removes excess moisture from the air, a dehumidifier provides many perks:

• Improves indoor air quality—maintaining proper humidity levels promotes better health and comfort. Aim for the ideal range of 35 to 55 percent year-round.
• Reduces dust mites, mold, and mildew—these microorganisms thrive in humid conditions. A dehumidifier helps eliminate these tiny nuisances and the unpleasant, musty odors that come with them.
• Alleviates respiratory conditions—the microbes listed above also aggravate allergies and asthma. A dehumidifier inhibits their growth and adds an additional filtering step to minimize dust for healthier air quality.
• Reduces condensation—water beads that form on windows indicate that your home’s humidity level is too high. Reduce air moisture to prevent these small drops from doing big damage over time, like rotting wood frames, staining or disintegrating walls, growing mold, and more.
• Makes air more comfortable—moisture retains heat, so removing excess humidity makes rooms feel cooler naturally. This means your air conditioner won’t run as often or as long, which ultimately saves on cooling costs.

Size Matters When It Comes to Controlling Humidity

The capacity at which a dehumidifier works is based on how many pints of water it removes every 24 hours:

• In small spaces like closets, where there’s no circulation or electrical service, a chemical desiccant—like silica gel or charcoal—can effectively remove some humidity. An added bonus: desiccant absorbs moisture, so there’s no need to worry about a water collection pan.
• For small spots that are damp occasionally because of rain or a plumbing problem, a medium-capacity portable dehumidifier is a good choice.
• For big areas like a basement or an addition not serviced by your cooling system—or a smaller space that needs quick drying—a large-capacity dehumidifier can control humidity and improve your comfort. Just make sure you empty the water pan regularly and use a surge protector to accommodate the added energy draw.
• For wall-to-wall, multi-level humidity control, nothing beats a high-capacity whole-home dehumidifier. These units work with your heating and cooling system to continually treat indoor air for ideal comfort. Most new models are programmable and conveniently connect directly to a discharge drain.

Sound Advice for Choosing a Dehumidifier

The noise of running a dehumidifier is a concern for many homeowners, as the sound of each system varies in decibels. Some are “white noise” quiet at 55 decibels, while others sound like an irritatingly loud conversation at 67 decibels. Whole-home units are typically the quietest, and therefore the most popular option.

Less Humidity With More Efficiency

Thanks to recent technical advancements, virtually all new dehumidifiers are energy efficient. Most are also designed to restart automatically if there’s a power outage, and have a frost-control feature that’s activated if temperatures drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

For Dehumidifying and More

Not sure which dehumidifier is right for you? Contact our comfort specialists to pinpoint the moisture problem and recommend the best solution. As an authorized Carrier® dealer, we provide efficient products and energy saving options every day for families throughout the Greater Milwaukee area.