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Those living in Greater St. Louis know summer humidity too well. That warm, sticky air doesn’t always stay outside, and it can make your home feel muggy and affect indoor air quality. But don’t worry, you don’t have to put up with the humidity all season. A whole-home dehumidifier is a simple way to reduce moisture, so your living space feels fresher and more comfortable.
Do You Need a Whole-Home Dehumidifier?
Many locals crank up the air conditioning when summer temperatures start to climb. But temperature isn’t the only factor that affects how your home feels. High humidity can make indoor spaces feel warmer than the temperature suggests, and everyday activities such as showering and cooking can add even more dampness. This can result in more humidity than your cooling system is meant to handle on its own.
How High Humidity Affects Indoor Air Quality
Most homes should maintain a relative humidity (RH) between 30% and 50% during the year. When RH gets above 60%, conditions become more favorable for mold and dust mites. These allergens can become airborne, contributing to indoor air quality concerns and potentially affecting people with allergies and asthma. Mold may also cause upper respiratory symptoms in otherwise healthy people.
Air conditioners naturally remove some humidity as they cool indoor air. While the water that drains from your AC unit is condensed moisture, it’s just a side effect of cooling — air conditioners aren’t meant to manage high RH levels. In humid areas, such as Missouri and Illinois, a built-in dehumidifier complements air conditioning, providing more effective moisture control and helping maintain your home’s air quality.
Benefits of a Whole-Home Dehumidification System
A whole-home system is designed to work alongside your HVAC to reduce indoor humidity. As air flows through your ductwork, it passes through the dehumidifier, where the excess moisture is removed. The drier air is returned to your living space. A whole-house dehumidifier installation offers many benefits.
Provides Consistent Humidity Control
A built-in system helps manage moisture throughout your home, unlike portable units that treat only a single room or area. This provides balanced humidity without the need for separate units in different rooms.
Enhances Comfort
When it’s humid, moisture makes the air feel heavy and stuffy. The dampness can also make it hard for your body to cool down, as sweat lingers on the skin and creates an uncomfortable, clammy feeling. By reducing moisture, a dehumidifier helps you and your home stay cooler during stifling St. Louis heat waves.
Improves Indoor Air Quality
Keeping your home within the ideal humidity range helps discourage the growth of mold, mildew and dust mites. That means fewer mold spores and allergens in the air you breathe and better air quality.
Reduces Musty Odors
Stale, musty odors are often caused by excess moisture that leads to mold and mildew. Damp spaces, such as basements, are often prone to these smells. While it’s important to remove the mold, a whole-home dehumidifier can help keep humidity in check and reduce the chances of creating environments where these smells can develop.
Protects Your Home From Moisture-Related Damage
Over time, high RH levels can cause physical damage to your home. Moisture can settle into furniture and floors, causing wood to warp. You might notice wet spots forming on walls and ceilings or paint that bubbles as moisture seeps underneath. Maintaining an ideal humidity level can help protect your home and cut down on preventable repairs.
Helps Your Cooling System Work More Effectively
Your HVAC system can struggle to keep your home cool when RH levels are high. Moisture removal can help reduce the strain on your cooling system, making it easier for your AC to maintain the desired temperature without working as hard.
Choosing, Installing and Maintaining a Whole-Home Dehumidifier
A small device called a hygrometer can measure your home’s RH and help you determine whether your house might benefit from a dehumidifier. If you notice humidity levels consistently rising above the recommended 30% to 50% range, consider a dehumidification system to manage moisture and boost indoor air quality.
Since whole-home dehumidifiers are integrated into your heating and cooling system, a licensed HVAC company in the Greater St. Louis area, such as Anton’s, can help you choose the best solution and ensure proper installation. Dehumidifiers are sized based on factors such as your home’s square footage and the amount of humidity they can remove, typically measured in pints per 24 hours.
Once your unit is up and running, schedule regular dehumidifier service to keep the system clean and operating at its peak. If your home still feels humid or you notice performance issues, the experts at Anton’s can also provide dehumidifier repairs.
Don’t let summer humidity take over your St. Louis home. Contact Anton’s today for expert guidance and friendly, reliable service.
