Owning a home on the Coastal Bend has its perks. You live by the Gulf of Mexico and enjoy a comfortable climate most of the year, but there is a downside: humidity. While it’s merely inconvenient and uncomfortable while you’re outside, too much humidity on the inside of your home can cause damage and health issues. And it’s not just our humid subtropical climate; normal activities like cooking and bathing increase your home’s humidity even more. Thankfully, you can do something about it by installing a whole-house dehumidification system.
Signs of too much humidity:
- You have your thermostat set to a normally comfortable temperature of 75 or so, but you’re still sweating and your skin is sticky and uncomfortable.
- A musty, damp smell permeates your home.
- Your home’s windows and mirrors have condensation on them at times, and your cold drinks leave puddles on your furniture within seconds.
Negative effects of too much humidity in your home:
- Wood floors and trim warp when they absorb too much water from the air.
- A humid home is the perfect place for termites, dust mites and other pests to populate and reproduce.
- Mold and mildew will discolor your walls, floors and ceilings, which damages your home and releases allergens into the air.
- Dust mites and the fungi responsible for mold and mildew exacerbate asthma symptoms and can cause allergic reactions.
If you’re still suffering from the humidity after trying a portable or single-room dehumidifier, it may be time to move up to a whole-house dehumidification system. It will be able to cope with our climate, and it’s more convenient than a portable system.
Benefits of whole-house dehumidification:
- You set your preferred humidity on the thermostat. The system works in concert with your home’s air conditioner, ensuring a comfortable temperature and humidity level all the time.
- It’s quiet, and hidden away with the rest of your home’s HVAC equipment. You won’t need to empty portable units or move them around from room to room.
- Changing the air filter yearly is the only maintenance required.
Now that you’re considering whole-house dehumidification, contact Mathews CCAC in South Texas with any questions you may have about installation.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Corpus Christi, Texas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about dehumidification and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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