A general rule of thumb is that if you're experiencing condensation on your windows, wet stains on your walls or windows, moldy bathrooms, musty smells or recurring allergies, then you may have a problem with excessive moisture in your home.
Since an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, it might be a good idea to isolate and correct the source of excess moisture first. Sources that lead to high relative humidity include non-insulated windows, poor weatherproofing -- such as below-standard weather stripping around doors and windows -- house plants that release moisture from their soil, and poorly insulated crawl spaces and attics.
An easy way to check the humidity levels in your home is to use a hygrometer, which is inexpensive to purchase and easy to use. Place the hygrometer in the most obviously humid space in your home, or in the place(s) your family occupies the most. A thorough reading requires several hours.
If the results of your readings reveal higher-than-normal humidity levels -- safe ranges generally fall between 30 and 50 percent -- you should consider purchasing a whole-house home dehumidification system, as they offer the following key advantages:
- Whole-house units offer extended benefits that portable units don't. A portable device will only dehumidify one room of your house at time and, depending on the size of the room, will vary in its capacity to do the job.
- On the other hand, a whole -house system will extend the benefits of home dehumidification equally throughout your home.
- These types of systems are also easy to maintain and can be installed so that excess water can be drained away so you won't have to empty it on a daily basis, like some portable units require.
The friendly professionals at Rodenhiser Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning have been serving the Massachusetts Route 495/128 area since 1928. We'll gladly answer any questions you may have and are fully qualified to offer you the best solution to all your HVAC and plumbing needs.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Solutions Guide.