It’s no secret that the metro-Atlanta area gets a little bit sticky in the summertime. But even when it’s not hot outside, this part of Georgia stays pretty damp – Atlanta keeps an average relatively humidity of over 55% year round according to the Southeast Regional Climate Center.

While a humid outside environment is manageable, when the humidity makes its way into your home, it can cause serious problems. In fact, the EPA recommends that homes keep a relative humidity level between 30 and 50%. Indoor humidity levels over 60% can lead to any of the following:

• Mold and mildew growth
• Active dust mite populations
• Health complications for those with asthma, allergies or compromised immune system
• Ruined furniture and clothing due to mold and mildew
• Feeling stuffy and clammy, despite running the air conditioner

Often, people manage high home humidity either with room dehumidifiers or with their central air system. While these can both be effective means of controlling humidity, they have their limitations.

Room dehumidifiers can be costly to run and require frequent emptying. Air conditioners dehumidify air as they cool, but often people have to turn down the air cooler than they like or need just to take moisture out of the air. Furthermore, air conditioners can’t help lower humidity when it’s damp but cool outside.

If you’re looking for another way to dehumidify your home regardless of the time of year, you might want to consider a whole house dehumidifier.  Whole house dehumidifiers have number of advantages, including:

• You Only Need One Dehumidifier For Your Entire House.  These dehumidifiers tie into your existing heating and cooling system ductwork, allowing dehumidification in every room of your house with one unit. While they can run alongside your air conditioner, they can also run independently of the air. This means two things: you may have to run your AC less because air with lower humidity feels cooler. When you do have to run AC, it will run more efficiently because it only has to cool the air rather than cool and dehumidify it.

• There’s a Size for Every Home. Whole house dehumidifiers come in a variety of sizes, from units sized for apartments, condos and small house to units that can dehumidify up to 5,000 square feet. And since these units have their own drainage line, you never have to empty out a water pan, nor do you have to jockey room dehumidifiers from one part of your house to another.

• Whole House Dehumidifiers are Efficient. These units can be up to four more times more efficient than room dehumidifiers.  Purchase an Energy Star whole dehumidifier, and you’ll maximize your energy savings.

• Whole House Dehumidifiers Can Also Serve as Air Purifiers.  If you talk to an HVAC technician with experience in whole house dehumidifiers, he or she can point you to a dehumidifier that can also serve as an excellent air filtration system for your home.

It’s hard to put a price on your family’s health, comfort, and the peace of mind you’ll have knowing that your possessions are safe from the harmful effects of high indoor humidity. If you’re having trouble with humidity issues in your home, whole house dehumidifiers can be worth the investment.

They aren’t a do-it-yourself kind of project. Instead, you should contact a dehumidifier professional like metro-Atlanta’s Gagne Heating and Air. We’re here to help you find the right size whole house dehumidifier that will most efficiently and effectively dehumidify your home, and also to provide excellent installation and troubleshooting services.

Also, visit our blog for seasonal tips on how to keep your Georgia home comfortable all throughout the year.