The raw heat and sticky humidity of a North Texas summer can make your home feel miserable even when the AC is running. Using dehumidifiers in Arlington is one of the simplest ways to take that heavy, damp feeling out of the air. Best of all, most dehumidifiers are easy to understand, use, and care for.
This guide takes an in-depth look at using dehumidifiers not just in summer but all year long to fight North Texas weather, and where to call your local HVAC team for help.
Key Points
- The ideal indoor humidity for Arlington and North Texas homes is between 40 and 45 percent.
- Match dehumidifier capacity to room size and moisture level, not just price.
- Whole-home and special-use units should be installed by an Arlington HVAC contractor.
- Placement and regular cleaning are key to efficient, effective operation.
- Minuteman Heating & Air can help with whole-home dehumidification tied into your HVAC system.
Introduction to Dehumidifiers
Stand-alone dehumidifiers are widely available at home improvement centers like Lowe’s and Home Depot throughout Arlington, as well as retailers like Walmart, Target, and Best Buy.
Low-end dehumidifiers range from $150 to $500, mid-range units run between $500 and $1,000, and upper-end whole-house, industrial, or special-use machines for pools and spas run from $1,000 to more than $3,000.
Whole-house, industrial, and some special-use dehumidifiers should be installed by an Arlington air conditioning repair or service contractor. You can install, operate, and service stand-alone and portable machines on your own, but when you want it tied into your system, it helps to call a professional.
When Should You Use a Dehumidifier?
- When a room feels damp. Rooms that feel damp and smell musty have a relatively high humidity level, and a dehumidifier can restore them to ideal relative humidity.
- When your thermostat humidity setting is too high. Many modern smart thermostats have a humidity setting buried in the interface that most homeowners never adjust. It may be set too high, at 50 or even 60 percent, for North Texas summers.
- When walls feel damp or you find moldy patches anywhere in the home.
- After flooding. With continued use, a dehumidifier helps remove excess moisture from the air.
- To ease certain health problems. People with asthma, allergies, or colds can sometimes breathe more easily, clear sinuses, and improve coughs in a dehumidified room, though results vary.
- During the spring and fall swing season, when air conditioners do not run as much and provide less natural dehumidification.
- In tight, energy-efficient homes, where again the AC runs less and removes less moisture on its own.
Dehumidifiers in Cooler Weather
Humidity is less of a problem in winter because cooler air holds less moisture. Some equipment, such as compressor dehumidifiers, loses efficiency when the air temperature drops below 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cooler weather also raises the chance of frost building up on the dehumidifier’s coils, which hurts efficiency and can damage the machine. Desiccant dehumidifiers are built for lower temperatures and are a good option if you need to dehumidify a cold space.
How to Size a Dehumidifier for Your Room
As with anything HVAC related, it pays to understand your environment and needs. Wrong-sizing air conditioners and furnaces does more harm than good, and the same is true for dehumidifiers.
Too small and the unit cannot do the job. Too large and it still struggles to do the job, and it costs more to run. Start by measuring the square footage of the room where you plan to use it.
Capacity is usually categorized by:
- room size
- level of moisture in the room, measured in pints of water extracted in a 24-hour period
For example, a 500-square-foot room that smells musty and feels damp needs a 40 to 45-pint dehumidifier. Some units handle up to 44 pints per 24 hours in spaces as large as 2,500 square feet.
Large dehumidifiers suit large rooms and basements, which are uncommon in Arlington and North Texas. They remove moisture faster and need emptying less often, but they cost more to buy and operate.
Special Needs Around the Home
Some dehumidifiers are engineered for special spaces such as a spa room, pool house, warehouse or work room, or home gym.
If you are unsure what you need, ask your Arlington air conditioning repair or service contractor, or visit a local home improvement store for advice. Buy a portable dehumidifier if you plan to move it from room to room, since these often have wheels, though some models are still heavy.
If you need dehumidifying in multiple rooms, consider ducting a dehumidifier into your home’s HVAC system instead of buying a single-room unit. For whole-home dehumidifying, you will want to call on Minuteman’s indoor air quality team for assistance.
Dehumidifier Features Worth Considering
As with any electronics, the more you spend, the more options you get. A few worth considering:
- Adjustable humidistat: lets you control the moisture level, then shuts the machine off automatically once it reaches your target.
- Built-in hygrometer: reads the room’s humidity so you can set the unit accurately for maximum water extraction.
- Automatic shutoff: stops the machine when it hits the target humidity or the reservoir is full. Confirm the model you want includes it.
- Automatic defrost: keeps the fan running to melt frost on the coils, which protects the components from damage.
Most dehumidifiers are simple to maintain, so you will rarely need a service call. Still, during your semi-annual maintenance checkups, you can ask the technician to look the unit over and confirm it is working with your heating and air conditioning equipment as expected.
Where to Place a Dehumidifier
- Place units with top-mounted air discharge against a wall. Otherwise, leave six to 12 inches on each side for good air circulation.
- If you use a hose to drain the reservoir, rest it in a sink or tub so it cannot slide onto the floor, and keep it away from electrical outlets.
- Keep the dehumidifier away from heavy dust sources like woodworking equipment.
- Set it up in the most humid room, such as a bathroom, laundry room, or basement, with windows and doors closed for best efficiency.
- With some portable models, placing the unit near the center of the room helps it work more efficiently.
- You can also install a dehumidifier directly into your HVAC system with duct kits and accessories, which is best handled by an Arlington contractor.
How to Operate It Correctly
- Measure the humidity with a hygrometer. The ideal level for Arlington and North Texas is between 40 and 45 percent. Above 50 percent invites mold, and below 30 percent can cause structural damage like cracked ceilings and separated wood floors.
- Plug into a grounded outlet and do not use an extension cord.
- Run it until you reach your target humidity, which can take hours, days, or in extreme cases weeks. The first run is the most productive because that is when the air holds the most moisture.
- If the unit is in a bathroom, keep the toilet lid down so it does not pull water from the bowl.
- Empty the reservoir often, sometimes every few hours when it is very humid.
Keeping Your Dehumidifier Clean
Dehumidifiers are relatively easy to care for and rarely need a service call from an Arlington air conditioning specialist.
- Wash the reservoir every two weeks with warm water and mild dish soap, adding an odor-eliminating tablet if a smell lingers.
- Check the coils for dust, which hurts effectiveness and efficiency.
- Check the coils for ice build-up.
- Check and replace the air filter regularly.
- Wait 10 minutes before restarting the dehumidifier.
Let Your Local Team Handle the Humidity
A portable dehumidifier is easy to manage on your own, but whole-home humidity control is where a professional makes the difference. Minuteman Heating & Air is a trusted HVAC provider serving Arlington, Fort Worth, and surrounding Texas communities, with fast response and dependable service in every home. To set up whole-home dehumidification or tie a unit into your air conditioning system, contact our team today.