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Humidifiers & Dehumidifiers
BETHKE Heating & Air Conditioning installs both humidifiers and dehumidifiers to enhance your indoor air comfort. Call us today to discuss your needs!
Humidifiers
Humidifiers add humidity to indoor air in the winter, when outdoor air is dry. For many people, dry winter air causes annoying dry skin, cracked finger tips, scratchy throats, static shocks, and even nosebleeds. Dry air also impacts wood flooring and furniture, as well as some musical instruments.
Whole house humidifiers attach to the ductwork above a forced air furnace, or are engineered to operate with a boiler system. Moisture is added to the air distributed throughout the house. Whole house humidifiers are much more effective than individual room humidifiers.
Clients often ask “what is the ideal moisture level for my house?” Every house is different, but generally humidity levels ranging between 30% and 50% are desirable. Too little humidity can be uncomfortable. Too much humidity can lead to excessive condensation on your windows, and promote the growth of mold and mildew. If anyone in your family suffers from allergies, check with your doctor for advice about an appropriate indoor humidity level.
Dehumidifiers
Whole house dehumidifiers combat summertime humidity. A dehumidifier works in tandem with your air conditioner to eliminate humidity more efficiently than the air conditioner can alone. A dehumidifier can also be used independently when outside temperatures are moderate, but humidity is uncomfortably high.
Freestanding dehumidifiers plug into a regular 115 volt outlet.
Ducted dehumidifiers connect either to your existing air duct system or to new ductwork custom fabricated for your home. There are three advantages to a ducted dehumidifier, compared to a freestanding model:
- In a finished basement, the dehumidifier can often be installed out of sight in an unfinished area.
- You can target more precisely the room(s) where you want moisture removed.
- Ductwork reduces the noise of the dehumidifier.
Please note that if you have winter moisture problems (e.g., if you observe excessive condensation on the inside of your windows), running a dehumidifier is not necessarily the answer. Winter moisture problems may be caused by inadequate ventilation. If this is the case, there are more appropriate solutions. To learn more, go to our section on VENTILATION solutions.