Humidity in the summer can be a problem in our area, fostering an environment for the growth of mold and bacteria that harms the health of your home, as well as you and your loved ones. Whole-home dehumidification is one of the easiest and most energy-efficient ways to remedy the problem. If you notice condensation on water pipes or your home feels uncomfortably sticky, you have too much indoor humidity. Mold can become a serious problem if it goes undetected, and dust mites, which thrive in high humidity, may aggravate allergies.
One of the best ways to check your humidity levels is to use a humidity meter. These are available at most home-improvement centers or online. If your indoor humidity exceeds 50 percent with your air conditioner running, you might be setting the stage for unhealthy conditions for you and your home.
Relying on your air conditioner to remove excess humidity from the air can drive up your electric bill. Using a whole-home dehumidification system with your central air conditioner is the easiest approach, since the air that goes through your air handler will go through the dehumidifier. Therefore, as your HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system runs, your air is dried even more.
Installation of a whole-home dehumidification system typically is not a do-it-yourself project, and you may want to hire a professional HVAC contractor to help you choose and install the system. Your technician should account for the size of your home and how much humidity is present, and will help you select a system that’s compatible with your air conditioner.
Your HVAC contractor also will explain the maintenance involved and the length of the warranty. One of the most important ways to reduce costs and lower the amount of humidity indoors with whole-house systems is to keep your air handler’s filter clean, an easy and inexpensive chore.
If you’d like to learn more about whole-home dehumidification and the benefits of drier air in the summer, contact Paschal Heat, Air, Geothermal & Generators. We’ve provided HVAC services for Northwestern Arkansas residents for more than 40 years, and can provide you with solid advice and options for improving comfort inside your home.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Northwest Arkansas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about whole-house dehumidification and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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