Dehumidifiers vs Humidifiers: Which Does Your Home Need?
When you live in Florida, you’ve likely used the phrase “it’s not the heat, it’s the humidity” more than a few times in your life. While our sunny state provides for lots of warm days, being closer to the shoreline also means that moisture can ramp up the humidity levels in the air.
At first glance, it might seem like every home needs dehumidifiers to reduce moisture in the air. But, this isn’t always necessarily true. Many factors influence the air quality in local homes, and finding the right humidity-regulating option for your house might not be so cut and dry.
Fortunately, you can rely on this advice from the Indoor Air Quality Experts at Lakeland One Hour Air Conditioning and Heating to pick the ideal appliance for improving your indoor comfort.
What’s the Difference Between Humidifiers and Dehumidifiers?
The first thing you’ll need to know about improving indoor air quality is that humidifying units work by adding moisture to the air. Dehumidifying appliances do the opposite by decreasing humidity levels in your home.
While they both regulate humidity in the air, they do it by adding or subtracting moisture. Figuring out if your home’s air has too much or too little moisture can help you choose between the two.
What Exactly Does a Humidifier Do?
If you’ve ever used a mister or vaporizer in a room to help ease a cough, then you might already have an idea of how humidifying systems work. This option draws dry air into the system and adds moisture before it dispenses it back into your home. The effects are less obvious compared to a tabletop mister, but you’ll notice the benefits as you breathe the air.
Watch for the Signs Your Home Might Need a Humidifier
When we visit your home for an air quality check, we may recommend this option when we find that the humidity levels are below 30%.
At this point, you run the risk of experiencing issues such as the following:
- dry skin and sinus irritation
- increased static electricity shocks
- damage to wood furniture and flooring
- frequent illnesses
Know the Different Types of Humidifiers
Once you know that you need to add more moisture to the air, you still have some decisions to make. But, don’t worry. We’ll help you walk through these options for a whole home humidifier to identify the one that matches your needs.
- Bypass humidifiers: Use your home’s heating ducts to pull dry air into the furnace, where it can pick up water vapor before being redistributed through the house
- Fan-powered humidifying systems: Use a fan to bring heated air to a water panel from the furnace to allow it to pick up moisture before blowing back out to the rest of your home
- Steam humidifying system: Produces steam by boiling water and allows for direct installation to the HVAC system or the option of being a standalone unit.
What Does a Dehumidifier Do?
Instead of adding moisture to the air, dehumidifying systems remove the humidity to create a dryer climate. Our technicians may recommend this option when we detect humidity levels in the air that are over 55%.
Look for These Signs You Need a Dehumidifier
Sometimes, too much humidity shows up in obvious moisture buildup around your house, such as condensation on the windows. You’ll also want to watch for these signs that humidity is impacting the indoor air quality.
- experiencing allergy or asthma symptoms
- feeling excessive heat-related health symptoms
- finding mold and mildew growth
- noticing staining on the walls
Consider the Benefits of Dehumidifiers
Removing excess moisture from the air provides several important benefits that you’ll begin to enjoy soon after we install the new system.
- Increased energy efficiency try reducing the HVAC system’s workload
- Lower utility costs from using less energy
- Reduced mold and mildew concerns
- Enhance your overall health and well-being
Humidifier or Dehumidifier: Which One Do You Need?
To truly find out which option works for improving your home’s air quality, we recommend having one of our expert technicians perform a personalized assessment. But, this quick guide can help you know what to expect from our recommendations.
If you experience any of the following, then a dehumidifier is likely your best option:
- noticing damp, musty smells
- finding mildew or mold on the walls
- feeling clammy or like the air is sticky
- seeing condensation on the windows
On the flip side, you’ll want a humidifier if any of the following apply to your current experience:
- dealing with dry, itchy skin or sore throats
- having frequent nosebleeds or dry sinuses
- feeling annoying static electricity shocks
Understanding Why Indoor Humidity Matters in Florida
In Florida, the air is typically already filled with moisture. When the humidity builds up, you can become overheated more easily and it can affect your health. We make sure to also inspect your ducts for cleaning. You might also find yourself dealing with moisture-related damage that contributes to mold and pest problems. Regulating the humidity levels in your home helps you feel your best by breathing better quality air.
How We Can Help: Check Out Our Indoor Air Quality Services
Our indoor air quality services start with an inspection of your home’s HVAC system along with testing to determine the current humidity levels. On top of offering solutions for heating and cooling your home, we can also help you select the right system for dehumidifying or humidifying your home.
Combining humidifiers or a dehumidifier with air purification strategies and temperature regulation gives you a multi-pronged approach to increasing your home’s indoor comfort.
Let’s Get Your Home’s Humidity Just Right
Are you dealing with dry skin or upset about finding mold or mildew on the walls? If so, then we have indoor air quality solutions to ease your concerns. At Lakeland One Hour Air Conditioning and Heating, we always tell our neighbors and clients that we’ll be on time or you won’t pay a dime.
Our commitment to timely service also extends to taking our time to give you the information you need to make decisions for improving air quality. Reach out to our team today to find the answer to which humidity-regulating option works best for your household’s needs.