A dehumidifier can do a lot for the comfort in your home

I moved south a couple of years ago. I was anxious to get away from the snow and cold of long northern winters. I’d had enough of shoveling snow, scraping ice and relying on the furnace for eight months of the year. I looked forward to the heat and sunshine further south. I didn’t realize that heat and humidity can be as problematic as sub zero temperatures. I now rely on the air conditioner for eight months of the year. I stress over the cost of electricity and am often trapped inside due to the severity of the weather. Within the first six months of living in my new home, I realized that I needed to do something about the humidity. Turning down the thermostat simply put more strain on the air conditioner, over-cooled the space and cost me a fortune in utility bills. The air still felt sticky, and there was condensate running down the window panes. I struggled with mold and mildew growth and found it difficult to sleep at night. Initially, I purchased a portable dehumidifier. That didn’t solve the problem and simply created more work. I needed to empty the reservoir constantly, and I worried about the standing water breeding contaminants. I finally consulted with a local HVAC contractor and invested into a whole-home dehumidifier. The dehumidifier is installed into the cooling system where it pulls moisture out of the air as it passes through. Since adding the dehumidifier, I’ve been able to raise the temperature setting on the thermostat several degrees. The house feels cooler and more comfortable and even smells fresher.