Whole house dehumidifiers are useful in the summer to combat high humidity levels that are common across Atlanta and all of Georgia.
With summer in full swing, learn the reasons why using a whole house dehumidifier is recommended this season. However, everything has its drawbacks, so consider both sides as you decide what is best for your household.
Pros of Whole Home Dehumidifier Use in the Summer
Indoor Air Quality Improvements
Since last year, the city of Atlanta has made some improvements in regards to pollution. The city ranked as the 25th most ozone-polluted city in the nation in 2019 and has fallen to 33rd in 2020. Atlanta’s particle pollution levels saw a significant reduction, and 2020 shows the metro area’s best recorded levels yet.
Even with these significant improvements, we still have room for improvement. While these reports measure outdoor pollution levels, residents must be mindful that indoor air is typically 2 to 5 times more polluted. Improving indoor air quality must be a concern for everyone in the Greater Atlanta area.
Running a dehumidifier in the summer months is one way to improve indoor air quality and help lower the occurrence of allergy symptoms and asthma attacks. By removing excess moisture from the home’s air supply, whole house dehumidifiers help reduce allergens such as mildew and mold growth in the home environment. Common allergens such as dust mites also thrive in high humidity areas – by dehumidifying the home, concentrations are greatly reduced.
Give Your Air Conditioner a Break
Air conditioners work around the clock during Atlanta summers. One reason we rely on them so much is because our bodies feel warmer due to the high humidity. When there is a high level of moisture in the air, the air is unable to absorb moisture from our skin as quickly, leaving us to feel hotter for longer. When we feel too hot, we turn up the AC – this uses more power though the temperature isn’t the real issue.
Using whole house dehumidifiers rids the home environment of excessive moisture from the air to help everyone inside feel cooler. When relative humidity levels stay balanced indoors, homeowners can back off the air conditioner use and feel just as comfortable at a temperature that’s a few degrees higher. It saves money, too, by helping the air conditioner perform more efficiently and helping us cut back on our dependence on it.
Air conditioners do provide some dehumidification to the home, but their capabilities are severely limited in the face of very hot, humid outdoor conditions. Whole house dehumidifiers are much better suited for the job and do so without expending excessive amounts of energy, such as a home’s air conditioning system does when tasked with performing this job in addition to home cooling.
Protect the Home
The high humidity levels of summer pose a risk to your home, not just its occupants. When there is an excessive amount of moisture in the air, the following issues can occur:
- Musty or mildew smells
- Constant condensation on windows
- Water stains on ceilings or walls
- Small black mold spores growing on walls or bathtubs and showers
Whole house dehumidifiers reduce indoor humidity levels, which does the following for your home:
- Eliminates odors
- Decreases risk of mold growth
- Decreases risk of water damage, corrosion and rust
Cons to Using Whole House Dehumidifiers in the Summer
Natural Ventilation Disrupts Performance
Many Atlanta residents enjoy opening windows and doors at home on summer days to take in the breeze and benefits of natural ventilation. However, opening windows and doors to allow the breeze in creates struggles for whole house dehumidifiers. It is difficult for these units to keep relative humidity levels consistent in the home with an open window and door, because the incoming breeze changes the humidity level of the home’s living spaces.
If you wish to enjoy the breeze on a summer day, it’s best to turn your home’s dehumidifier off as you do so.
Excess Heat
When whole home dehumidifiers run long hours, they generate more heat. The heat from the equipment impacts the surrounding areas and could make certain living areas in the home too hot for comfort. In turn, occupants increase air conditioning usage to offset the extra heat, which wastes energy.
Estes Has Whole House Dehumidifiers for Your Atlanta Home
There are always two sides to things – whole house dehumidifiers offer great benefits during the summer months, but they do have some distinct drawbacks. Even so, installing a whole home dehumidifier is a smart move that helps Atlanta families combat the heat and relative humidity indoors. Are you ready to install one?
Call Estes Services today to receive an estimate for installation from our team of indoor air quality professionals.
FAQs
If you want your home to remain as comfortable as possible during the summer months, you should consider using a dehumidifier to reduce the amount of moisture in the air. Using a dehumidifier during the summer also improves the air quality inside your home and can eliminate potential allergens like mold and mildew.
Is it worth using a dehumidifier in the summer? ›
Running a dehumidifier in the summer months is one way to improve indoor air quality and help lower the occurrence of allergy symptoms and asthma attacks. By removing excess moisture from the home's air supply, whole house dehumidifiers help reduce allergens such as mildew and mold growth in the home environment.
Do dehumidifiers work when it's hot? ›
During the summer months, many homeowners rely on their air conditioning (AC) system to cool down the home and remove the humidity from the air. While for many homes, the AC will be sufficient, for those in hot and humid climates, a dehumidifier can help carry some of the workload.
What should I set my dehumidifier at in summer? ›
Use your dehumidifier in damp, stuffy rooms.
A relative humidity of 40 to 50 percent is ideal. More than that can lead to mildew and mold, and below 30 percent can cause structural issues.
How does a dehumidifier work in summer? ›
Energy Star Dehumidifiers can keep you cool and comfortable by lowering the RH of your spaces, thereby helping to regulate your body temperature. Running your dehumidifier can help you feel cooler. However, this is because it lowers your room's relative humidity level, not because it changes the room temperature.
At what temperature should you stop using a dehumidifier? ›
Most dehumidifiers should not be operated in temperatures below 60° F, since the moisture removed from the indoor air can freeze when it condenses on the cooling coils, which can damage the unit.
When not to use a dehumidifier? ›
Once temperatures drop to around 65 degrees, it's best to turn the dehumidifier off.
Is it better to use a dehumidifier in the summer or winter? ›
For now, we leave you with this simple one: use a dehumidifier during the spring, summer and early fall to keep moisture at bay, but unplug and stow it away during the winter to prevent damage to your unit.
Do dehumidifiers push out hot air? ›
Dehumidifiers with compressors blow hot air even when they are working correctly. This is because a small quantity of heat is generated as a byproduct of the dehumidification process by compressor dehumidifiers. Compressor dehumidifiers always expel air that is hotter than the air in your room because of this.
Does a dehumidifier make a room hotter? ›
Depending on the size of your room and how often you run the dehumidifier, the temperature around the dehumidifier will increase by a few degrees F at the most. But again, the comfort of your room will not suffer because dry air makes your space feel cooler even at a slightly higher temperature.
It's true! A dehumidifier helps your cooling system work more efficiently day-after-day. By removing excess moisture from the air, your air conditioner isn't required to work harder to maintain ideal temperatures in your home.
Will mold grow at 55 humidity? ›
That's why experts recommend you keep humidity levels in your home at 55% or lower. Mold needs 55% or higher humidity in order to grow. Also, remember that reducing humidity below 30% isn't a good idea, either. This can cause health problems, making your eyes nose and skin dry, and exasperate lung and skin conditions.
Should you run a dehumidifier in your basem*nt in the summer? ›
With unfinished basem*nt homes, we recommend homeowners to keep a dehumidifier running in the basem*nt at all times. Even after finishing your basem*nt, it is still a good idea and highly recommended to keep a dehumidifier running due to the humid environment surrounding the home outdoors.
How to use a dehumidifier in hot weather? ›
Most dehumidifiers have top-mounted air discharge and can be placed against walls, but side-discharge units should be operated away from walls and furniture so that air can circulate freely, notes Energy Star. To increase efficiency, make sure to close doors and windows to the room while it's running.
Should I let my dehumidifier run all the time? ›
Should a Dehumidifier Run Constantly? No, your dehumidifier should not have to run constantly to regulate the air humidity. An optimal humidity level to shoot for is between 30 and 50 percent. Your dehumidifier should reach this in 8 to 12 hours.
Is a dehumidifier better than an air conditioner in the summer? ›
Many customers wonder if running an AC unit is a sufficient way to reduce moisture in a room. The answer is: while running an AC unit does help reduce humidity, dehumidifiers are much more efficient at removing excess moisture.
Is it bad to leave dehumidifier on all the time? ›
In the winter, as the temperatures get colder, the air becomes dryer. You don't want to have your dehumidifier constantly running and make the air too dry. To get the best performance out of your system, only run your dehumidifier in the warmer months like the spring and summer.
At what temperature is a dehumidifier most efficient? ›
Ideal Dehumidifier Operating Temperatures. The ideal operating temperature for standard refrigerant dehumidifiers is between about 60 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit, and between 60% - 80% relative humidity.
