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May 10, 2019 by perfectpoint

How to Choose a Commercial or Industrial Dehumidifier

The level of humidity in your home should hover around 35%, but if you live in a more humid climate, you may experience higher humidity levels of up to 60%. The higher the humidity, the more uncomfortable your home will be during warmer months. When you deploy a dehumidifier in the area, it will dry up the excess moisture to prevent water damage to walls and ceilings, and will also inhibit mold growth. The problem most people face is choosing the right dehumidifier for their home. A great deal of humidity inside the house creates a conducive environment for the growth of allergens, including mold or spores, that can potentially pose a very serious health risk for your family.

Placing standalone dehumidifiers around the house would help, but it would be costly to purchase a high-quality dehumidifier for each room. The most economical choice is to install a whole-house dehumidifier in your home to keep it dry, safe, and comfortable.

The cost

A whole-house dehumidifier will certainly come with a higher upfront cost. Understanding this beforehand will help you avoid sticker shock, and prevent you from making a decision that is not best suited for your home or family.

Although the upfront cost is higher, once the initial installation is complete, you will enjoy countless benefits in the long-run. Some of the key benefits to consider include:

  • More efficiency than running numerous standalone dehumidifiers.
  • Smart design that shuts off the unit once optimal humidity levels are reached.
  • Less maintenance.
  • Optimal performance.
  • Only requires cleaning and maintenance once a year.
The Scope of the Problem

When choosing a whole-house dehumidifier, it is important to consider the scope of the problem. Is the humidity confined to one particular room, or is it the entire house?  The scope of the problem will determine which model is best suited for your needs. If the entire house is affected by high humidity, a larger whole-house dehumidifier would be the best option, while a smaller unit is best for more isolated issues. The dehumidifier can be connected to your HVAC system, where the water that is collected can drain outside.

Look at the Amount of Water They Can Remove

Dehumidifiers are typically rated based on the amount of water they can remove from an area in a 24 hour period. If your house is large and situated in a humid area, you will need a whole-house dehumidifier that can quickly and effectively remove humidity from the home. The air flow volume of the unit will tell you whether or not it will be capable of processing enough air per hour. A dehumidifier with a higher air processing capacity is considered to be the best, as the higher the units of air it can process, the more effective it is in dehumidifying your home. It is important to note that basements or rooms with standing water may require higher levels of ACH than other spaces throughout the home.

Types of Whole-house Dehumidifiers
Bypass Humidifiers

Bypass humidifiers add moisture to warm the air from a furnace. They draw warmer air from the duct, which is then passed through a water panel. They then absorb moisture and deliver purified air back into the air. These types of dehumidifiers can be installed with a return plenum, and are suitable in cases where a floor drain is missing , since they can re-circulate their own water and minimize water usage.

Fan-Powered Dehumidifier

Fan-powered dehumidifiers work just as bypass humidifiers do, but come with a fan that is used to blow air across the pad to allow for increased evaporation. They are more powerful compared to the bypass dehumidifier, and can reduce more humidity per day. The units do not require a bypass duct, making it easy to install the units, even in small spaces. They are best suited for homes constructed on concrete slabs.

The 3 Stem Humidifier

A 3 steam humidifier heats water until it boils and creates steam. The steam is then picked up and pushed through the vents throughout the home. The steam humidifier can help increase humidity in the home, since they deliver a pure and natural form of humidity. Since many homes get too dry during the winter months, a 3 steam humidifier ensures that your house has an optimal level of humidity all year round.