The Benefits of a Dehumidifier for the Summer
The summers in Chicago can often be sweltering, and much of it is due to the high levels of humidity that make a standard warm day into something far more unpleasant. You can’t change how humid the outdoors is, but you can change the humidity inside your home thanks to a special whole-house dehumidifier.
Doesn’t the air conditioner dehumidify my home?
To some extent, yes. As an air conditioner draws thermal energy from the indoor air, it also causes moisture in the air to condense along the evaporator coil. This water then drips down into a condensate pan, where it is drained away.
But unless an air conditioning system is specifically designed with a dehumidifier as part of it, it is inadequate to the task of effectively dehumidifying a household. In fact, it might make the air too dry. You need a dedicated dehumidifier for the job.
How you’ll benefit from a dehumidifier
- Better hot-weather comfort: The trouble with high humidity when it comes to comfort is that the moisture in the air makes it harder for your body to release heat through perspiration. The extra trapped heat makes the surrounding temperature feel With relative humidity lowered to between 30% and 50%, you’ll feel much cooler.
- Energy savings: When a 75°F feels like 85°F because of high humidity, you’ll run your air conditioner more often to compensate. With the humidity balanced, the AC will run less frequently and you’ll save money over the season.
- Reduced water damage: High humidity will negatively affect building material, causing water spots and mildew that will eat through drywall. It will also encourage wood rot in floorboards and the growth of molds that will lower air quality.
You must have professionals install a whole-house dehumidifier, since it’s integrated into the HVAC system and works with the air conditioner so that it doesn’t interfere with the AC’s job.
To arrange for professional dehumidifier installation, call Brilliant Home Services in Chicago, IL.