I live in a warm, humid climate.
During the summer, my area can become incredibly humid.
Humidity can cause major problems for homes, as well as the people living inside them. Excess humidity can cause oily skin, respiratory issues, and a gross sticky feeling. Humidity can also damage your home itself. Too much humidity for long periods of time can cause damage to the wood in your home, as well as wooden furniture, causing it to swell and warp, causing potentially thousands of dollars in damage. The best way to manage the humidity in your home is with a dehumidifier. A dehumidifier works to remove the moisture from the air in your home by drawing warm air into a condenser with a fan, and collecting the moisture in a reservoir. There are two main types of dehumidifier. The less expensive option is a portable dehumidifier. Portable dehumidifiers can be plugged into any room, and will remove the humidity from that room. Portable dehumidifiers must have their reservoir removed and emptied regularly. The second type of dehumidifier, which is more expensive, is a permanent unit that is installed in-line with your HVAC system, in order to remove the humidity out of the entire house. Permanent dehumidifiers can draw moisture into a reservoir, or have it removed from the house entirely through a drain pipe. While permanent dehumidifiers require more of an initial investment, protecting your home with a dehumidifier can prolong the life of your home, and also help your HVAC system to operate more efficiently. If you live in a humid climate, call your local HVAC provider to see if a dehumidifier is right for you!