When it’s muggy outside, it’s muggy inside. And excess humidity can make you miserable. Plus, daily activities such as cooking, cleaning and showering can add as much as 25 pounds of moisture to your home.
You can literally see, feel and smell it:
- Indoor condensation appears on windows, mirrors and cold drinks
- Your house becomes a breeding ground for insects
- Wood floors, trim and wood furniture warp or rot
- You experience uncomfortable sweating at normal indoor temperatures
- Skin feels sticky in summer/clammy in winter
- Rooms smell musty, especially basements
While these problems might be bad, the health issues that can arise from excess moisture are even worse.
Without controlling humidity in your home, excess moisture can cause:
- Mold and mildew to grow
- Dust mites to thrive
These contaminants can trigger asthma, allergies and other ailments in your family.
How to Control Humidity? A Whole-Home Dehumidifier
While your air conditioner primarily controls temperature in your home, you need full humidity control to maintain comfortable, healthy conditions. The best way to control humidity is a whole-home dehumidifier.
A whole-home dehumidifier is installed as part of your home’s heating and cooling system. It works in conjunction with your air conditioner, or independently as needed, to remove the ideal amount of moisture to solve the problems listed above.
This is done throughout your entire home, using a single, out-of-the-way source—unlike a portable noisy dehumidifier that requires daily emptying and only works in a single room.
Other advantages of a whole-home dehumidifier include:
- Automatic humidity sensing allows for better monitoring and control of humidity
- Convenient, quiet operation: away from your living space
- Low maintenance dehumidifier: simple annual filter cleaning
- Fresh air ventilation automatically removes or dilutes polluted air
Get a Free Estimate on the Best Dehumidifier For You
All homes need humidity control. And in our southern climate, you need it year-round. We offer a full line of Aprilaire whole home dehumidifiers that will meet your family’s needs and bring you great comfort. Enjoy an industry-leading 5-year warranty and all are manufactured proudly in the USA.
If you’re tired of damp air and a musty smell in your home, please contact us to schedule your free estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Best Way to Control Humidity in My Home?
The most effective approach depends on your home’s humidity levels, climate, HVAC system, and the source of excess moisture. Air conditioning, whole-home dehumidifiers, proper ventilation, exhaust fans, and moisture control can all help maintain comfortable indoor humidity levels.
What Should the Humidity Level Be in My Home?
Indoor relative humidity is generally most comfortable between 30% and 50%. A hygrometer can help you monitor humidity levels and determine whether your home may need additional humidity control.
How Can I Lower Humidity in My House?
You can lower indoor humidity by operating your air conditioner, using bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans, improving ventilation where appropriate, repairing plumbing leaks, and using a dehumidifier. If humidity remains high, an HVAC professional can evaluate your home and recommend an appropriate solution.
How Does an Air Conditioner Help Control Humidity?
An air conditioner removes moisture as warm indoor air passes over the system’s cold evaporator coil. The moisture condenses and drains away while the system cools the home. Proper system sizing and operation are important because an oversized AC may cool the home too quickly without running long enough to remove sufficient moisture.
What Is the Best Dehumidifier for a Home?
The right dehumidifier depends on the size of your home, humidity levels, and the amount of moisture that needs to be removed. Portable units can help address humidity in individual spaces, while whole-home dehumidifiers can provide more consistent moisture control throughout the house.
How Does a Whole-Home Dehumidifier Work?
A whole-home dehumidifier removes excess moisture from indoor air and distributes drier air throughout the home through the HVAC system or dedicated ductwork. This approach can provide more consistent humidity control than using portable units in individual rooms.
Why Is My House Humid Even When the AC Is Running?
High indoor humidity despite running the AC may result from an oversized system, inadequate cooling cycles, poor airflow, ductwork issues, air leaks, excessive outdoor air infiltration, or another source of moisture. An HVAC professional can inspect the system and help identify the underlying cause.
How Does an Oversized AC Affect Indoor Humidity?
An oversized air conditioner may cool a home quickly and shut off before completing sufficiently long cooling cycles. Because moisture removal occurs during the cooling process, shorter cycles can leave excess humidity in the air even when the indoor temperature feels comfortable.
How Can I Tell if My Home Has Too Much Humidity?
Common signs include condensation on windows, a damp or sticky feeling, musty odors, visible mold or mildew, and persistent moisture problems. A hygrometer provides a more accurate way to measure relative humidity and monitor changes inside your home.
How Does High Humidity Affect Indoor Comfort?
High humidity can make indoor temperatures feel warmer and less comfortable because moisture in the air reduces the body’s ability to cool itself through evaporation. Maintaining an appropriate humidity level can help create a more comfortable indoor environment.
Can a Smart Thermostat Help Manage Home Humidity?
Some smart thermostats can monitor indoor humidity and offer humidity-related controls when paired with compatible HVAC equipment. Available features vary by thermostat and system, so compatibility should be confirmed before choosing a smart thermostat for humidity management.
What Causes High Humidity Inside a House?
Common sources include outdoor air infiltration, poor ventilation, cooking, showering, plumbing leaks, damp basements or crawl spaces, and HVAC systems that are not properly sized or operating correctly. Identifying the source is an important step toward achieving long-term humidity control.
When Should I Consider Installing a Whole-Home Dehumidifier?
A whole-home dehumidifier may be worth considering when indoor humidity remains consistently high despite normal air conditioning operation or when portable dehumidifiers cannot adequately address moisture throughout the home. An HVAC professional can evaluate your home’s conditions and determine whether a whole-home solution is appropriate.
When Should I Call an HVAC Professional About High Humidity?
Professional assistance can be helpful when humidity remains consistently high, condensation continues to appear, your home develops persistent musty odors, or your AC does not seem to remove enough moisture. An HVAC professional can evaluate your equipment, airflow, ductwork, and potential moisture sources to recommend an appropriate solution.
