As we learned in the Education Section, excessive humidity can create an environment where mold can thrive. So how do we get rid of the excess humidity? We have one of Healthy Air USA’s dehumidification units installed!

Knee Jerk Reactions

But before we get to the installation, we know that you want to head over to the store and pick up the little unit from Aisle 17 and hook it up in your basement or crawl space. We can see you trying to find the proper place to put it, is the unit large enough? We know that you don’t want to empty that bucket every few hours – and when you go to empty the bucket, the handle breaks or it doesn’t pour quite like you had hoped it would. So you are going to try the auto drain. Why not? They gave you the piece to hook up a garden hose. Well, Healthy Air USA also knows that a pump for drainage is rare in those units, so you’ll be looking for a chair or table to put the unit on for gravity to work. Now where do we place the unit? Maybe near the window – that area is relatively open- but do you want to leave the window partially open to let the drain work? Or should you put it in the bathroom next to the sink -; it would be easy to drain, but it’s not quite as open?

If you have a real humidity issue, don’t try to let one of the little units from the big box store do all the work. In the end you’ll likely have 2 or 3 of them and they will break down from overuse.

Unducted Dehumidifiers

Unducted dehumidification units that are designed to work in large open spaces – like unfinished basements and crawlspaces – to dry out unconditioned areas. As their name implies, there are no ducts associated with these units, they draw in the air at the input and release it from the output, similar to a box fan. These units are equipped with drain pans and pumps to move the water out of the unit. The water removal can often be done in conjunction with another part of the HVAC system. These dehumidifiers have internal controls that measure the relative humidity and operate automatically.

Ducted Dehumidifiers

Ducted dehumidification units that are designed to work in conjunction with your HVAC system. Ducts are used to attach these units to the plenums of your HVAC system and provide the conditioned spaces of your home with dry air. These units are equipped with drain pans and pumps to move the water out of the unit. The water removal can often be done in conjunction with another part of the HVAC system. The ducted dehumidifiers can have internal or external controls that measure the relative humidity and allow the unit to operate automatically. With drier air, client’s often tell us that they are able to keep comfortable at slightly higher temperatures in their homes – resulting in some energy savings on HVAC cost.

Back from shopping? Ready to call Healthy Air USA? Check out our service area and let us help you get the right balance of moisture in your home.