The Heat Behind Dehumidifiers

Because a dehumidifier is powered by electricity, heat or energy must be released. Basically, your HVAC system disposes of heat through the exterior condenser and compressor and then your dehumidifier channels the heat back into the space in need of drying.

Dehumidifiers run a tough balance managing humidity and temperature within your home. When your home’s dehumidifier is set properly, you should not notice a significant temperature difference (no more than 2-4 degrees) in your home when your dehumidifier is running despite the temperature of your supply air increasing around 15 degrees. Your dehumidifier utilizes your HVAC’s existing ductwork to mix the supply air with the rest of your home’s air. The result is controlling moisture and keeping your relative humidity level at the recommended 45%.

A dehumidifier’s main job is to get rid of moisture that your HVAC system is not designed to handle. Spring and fall are the most common seasons when dehumidifiers are most necessary. Although dehumidifiers are generally not needed at the warmest parts of the day if your HVAC system is appropriately sized, they can be quite necessary in the morning and at night to manage humidity. Since your HVAC system and dehumidifier work together for your comfort, if the dehumidifier does raise your home’s temperature, the AC will begin working to regain the ideal temperature for your home and assist in moisture removal.

Not all dehumidifiers are created equally. The ideal system will release only a small amount of heat in your home while being energy efficient in its moisture removal process. Our Ferguson Heating and Air Conditioning Company team prefers Ultra-Aire dehumidifiers because they have the most energy efficient humidifiers on the market. If you are interested in learning more about how dehumidifiers can help control your moisture and boost your comfort, contact Ferguson today!