You may wonder if you need a dehumidifier if your home already has air conditioning. However, most homeowners in Florida will have to combat relentless heat and humidity.
Therefore, it’s best to have as many weapons as possible to prevent the negative impact they can have on a home. While an air conditioner can remove some moisture from your house, a whole-home dehumidifier can remove almost all of the moisture that makes its way inside.
Quick Takeaways
- Air conditioners remove humidity, but humidity control isn’t their primary job.
- A whole-home dehumidifier removes excess moisture even when your AC isn’t running.
- High indoor humidity can make your home feel warmer than it actually is.
- Ideal indoor humidity is generally between 30% and 50%.
- A dehumidifier can improve comfort, indoor air quality, and HVAC efficiency.
Doesn’t Your Air Conditioner Already Remove Humidity?
Air conditioners are primarily designed to cool the air in your home. Although they do this by removing humid air, the amount of moisture that is removed depends largely on the size of your cooling system and how long it runs. Generally speaking, you have to run your air conditioner for many hours to get the full benefit it can provide.
Signs Your Home May Need a Whole-Home Dehumidifier
If your home feels sticky or has a musty smell to it, you may be dealing with excess moisture in the house. The same is true if humidity levels remain above 50% on a consistent basis. Other signs of high humidity include constantly lowering the temperature to achieve greater comfort or the presence of condensation on windows or walls.
Why Your AC May Not Be Removing Enough Humidity
Your Air Conditioner Is Oversized
An air conditioner that is oversized will cool a room or other given area too quickly. Therefore, it won’t run long enough to remove the moisture that is causing humid air or other issues. It may be necessary to resize your cooling system or take other steps to ensure that it runs effectively in the future.
Mild but Humid Weather
The temperature itself may not justify turning on the cooling system. However, it may still be humid enough to cause moisture issues without causing significant discomfort. In such a scenario, a dehumidifier would be necessary to get rid of mild yet moist air in your home.
Air Leaks Around the Home
Gaps in windows, walls or your HVAC system allow humid air to enter and linger in your home. This air can be hard for a cooling system to remove because more humid air will simply filter back in. Caulking, weatherstripping or other options may be available to prevent air leaks in or within your property.
High Humidity Is Common in Florida
High levels of humidity are tough for an air conditioner to battle on its own. In Florida, humid weather can persist both day and night for extended periods, meaning that you would have to run your cooling system almost nonstop to battle both the heat and the humidity that leads to excess moisture.
Benefits of Installing a Whole-Home Dehumidifier
Perhaps the biggest benefit of a whole-home dehumidifier is the reduced strain on your AC. In addition to reduced wear on your system, you may also save money because you can keep the thermostat at a higher temperature setting. Reduced risk of mold or mildew as well as improved comfort throughout the home are other key benefits of a dehumidifier.
Whole-Home Dehumidifier vs. Portable Dehumidifier
A whole-home system is generally preferable to a portable system because it can be integrated into your overall HVAC system. This generally means that it covers a larger area with less maintenance and noise, which results in greater comfort with less effort. Whole-home units may pay for themselves over time because of reduced cooling bills.
How Do You Know If You Need One?
You may want to acquire a dehumidifier if you’re constantly dealing with muggy indoor air or condensation on windows or other surfaces. If you smell musty odors likely caused by mildew or mold, a dehumidifier can help to dry out your home and create a more hostile environment for spores to grow and thrive in. A dehumidifier can also be a good tool if your air conditioner is constantly running.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an air conditioner remove enough humidity by itself?
An air conditioner generally won’t remove enough humid air by itself. Instead, get a dehumidifier that is designed to get rid of moisture and dry out your home.
What humidity level should my home be?
Ideally, your home will remain at between 35% and 45% humidity depending on your preferences. If it gets any higher than that, you could be at risk of mold growth and other issues. Humidity levels below 35% may result in dry skin, damage to property or other negative impacts.
Will a whole-home dehumidifier lower my electric bill?
It can if using it reduces the amount of time your cooling system runs. It may be a good idea to have a home energy audit done to determine if air leaks or other issues may be contributing to significant energy use.
Is a whole-home dehumidifier worth it in Florida?
For many homes, it will certainly be worth the time and money to buy and install a whole-home unit. It will generally be easier to maintain and provide the convenience of whole house coverage with a single product.
Improve Comfort With Better Humidity Control
At One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning, we’re always on time or you don’t pay a dime. Jacksonville homeowners have come to rely on us for professional, timely and courteous service and expertise. Don’t hesitate to schedule an indoor air quality evaluation to determine how a whole-home dehumidifier can help you.