Is a Whole House Dehumidifier Worth It?

As a homeowner, you want to make the right choices about installations, additions, or other adjustments to make to your home as comfortable as possible. But when it comes to adverse weather conditions, such as strong humidity, you could be left sweaty and uncomfortable in your household. 

When these problems arise, you may want to consider installing a whole house dehumidifier.

What Does a Whole House Dehumidifier Do?

A dehumidifier’s job is to help control humidity levels inside of your household, hopefully decreasing it. Essentially, it takes the excess moisture out of the air in your home by collecting it and dumping it into a reservoir (in the case of smaller units) or piping it through a drainage system (whole house units). There are many different types of dehumidifiers, from ducted to portable, but all have the end goal of having your home obtain a humidity level below 50%. 

Many people choose to install whole house dehumidifiers for varying reasons, from allergies to general comfort. If you are thinking about purchasing one, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of them while giving you our top picks below.

Whole House Dehumidifier Pros and Cons

Whole house dehumidifiers work really well to reduce the percentage of humidity in the air in your home.

As with the installation of any major appliance, you want to be sure you are aware of not only the advantages, but any drawbacks or obstacles that come with it. It’s often recommended that the average indoor humidity level for a home be somewhere between 40%-60%, but various factors could cause that percentage to go up or down.

Pros

There are many reasons why you might like to have a dehumidifier for your whole home, and most of them relate to the environment inside your living space.

1. More Efficient Cooling – In a way, your dehumidifier works similarly to an air conditioner, as it processes the air in your home, and in so doing filters out dust, allergens, and the like. Essentially, adding a dehumidifier will keep your home cool because it’ll suck out the humidity and create air that is easier to breathe.
2. Better Air, Better Environment – Too much moisture in the air can cause serious issues for your home, such as mold. Dehumidifiers help reduce the incidence of this problem by removing moisture particles that can cause mold to grow. Other issues with your home can include problems with wood flooring or furniture, and possible odor from humidity. Thus, installing a whole house dehumidifier can help make the air a little more enjoyable, by improving your overall indoor air quality.

These are just a few of ways that your dehumidifier can help make your home’s air more enjoyable.

Cons

Of course, whole house dehumidifiers do have a minor drawback when it comes to upfront installation.

1. Cost – One of the biggest deterrence for many people when considering buying a whole house dehumidifier is the upfront cost. Installation can run you from hundreds up to a few thousand dollars depending upon the size of your home and your particular needs. You must also consider the cost of running the dehumidifier, which can add to your energy bill. Dehumidifier costs range from $1,200 to $2,800 for bigger houses, and $1,000 to $2,000 for smaller or average-sized homes. Even with such costs, you need to ensure you choose the right dehumidifier that can remove at least 70 pints/day of moisture. Thus, not only is it a costly investment, you need to consider which dehumidifier unit is right for you.

Best Whole House Dehumidifiers

Now that you understand the advantages and disadvantages of whole house dehumidifiers, which ones should you be eyeing on the market? 

Here are a couple of our favorite whole house dehumidifiers and why:

The Aprilaire E080 80 Pint E-Series Professional Grade-Whole House Dehumidifier is an essential addition to make your home a healthy living environment. This Energy Star-rated dehumidifier helps fight viruses, bacteria and mold as well as other airborne pollutants. It can be installed in your existing heating and cooling system, and the on-board air filter only requires cleaning once a year. 

The Aprilaire E100 Whole House Dehumidifier is another great choice for reducing particles in your home to breathe better air. Like its smaller cousin, it can be installed in the house’s existing HVAC and only requires yearly filter cleaning. It has built-in digital Controls with top and front mounting options for easy access, and it automatically starts dehumidification when humidity above the programmed level is reached.

End Takeaways

Ultimately, it will be up to you to decide if it is worth it to get a whole house dehumidifier. If you aren’t sure, it can be a great idea to have a consultation with a professional to talk it over first.

This system can be a great addition to your home. Not only can it purify the air, giving you better breathing room, reduced allergy flare-ups, and increased overall comfort, but it can also help your cooling process be more efficient.

However, if your issues with excess moisture in the air are minimal, or you have the opposite problem (your air is too dry!), then it may not be for you.

Ready to start shopping around for your whole house dehumidifier? Total Home Supply carries many different types of dehumidifiers so that you can find the one that’s most suitable for your home or living space. Start protecting your home from moisture, making your air cleaner to breathe, and creating a living space that’s more comfortable to be in.

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