If your home feels humid and uncomfortable, you've probably thought about getting a whole-house dehumidifier.
But will these dehumidifiers really make you feel more comfortable?
Also: How much will it cost to install a whole-house dehumidifier?
These are great questions, and we'll answer both of them in this article. We'll also go over whether a whole-house dehumidifier is worth paying for (Spoiler: They're so worth it!) and what you should expect when it comes to having one installed.
Let's dive in! Before looking at actual prices, we'll consider whether it even makes sense to buy a whole-house dehumidifier at all.
Why pay for a whole-house dehumidifier?
Doesn't my air conditioner already dehumidify my house?
Can't I just get one of those little dehumidifiers?
The answer to both questions is yes.
So why even pay for a whole-house dehumidifier?
First, let's consider your air conditioner. While it's true that air conditioners dehumidify your indoor air, it's also true that:
- Many air conditioning systems are oversized, resulting in short run cycles and poor, inconsistent humidity control during the summer.
- Even ACs that are properly sized often struggle to hit targets for relative humidity (RH) indoors.
- Air conditioners with the best humidity control, such as variable speed units, still sit idle during the shoulder seasons. Here in Atlanta, it's humid even in the spring and fall!
For these reasons, many people opt for a whole-house dehumidifier. These units pick up the slack for your AC when it either can't remove enough humidity on its own or isn't running at all!
Now, about those small, portable dehumidifiers. They're great if:
- You only need to dehumidify a room or two.
- You only need a dehumidifier temporarily.
- You don't mind manually emptying the water tray.
But for those of use who want our entire home to feel comfortable, a whole-house dehumidifier is a much more effective piece of equipment!
Whole-house dehumidifiers are worth the cost when:
- You want to keep your entire home dry and comfortable through spring, summer, and fall.
- You want total control over the RH levels in your home.
- You want a dehumidifier that's out of sight, out of mind, and requires minimal maintenance.
With those thoughts in mind, let's look at how much whole-house dehumidifiers cost.
Whole-house dehumidifier installation cost
A whole-house dehumidifier costs between $5,000 and $10,000.
That's a wide range, so let's consider why one might cost more than the other.
Factors that impact the cost of whole-house dehumidifiers include:
- The size or capacity of the dehumidifier itself
- The installation method chosen for your home
- The extent to which ductwork modifications are required
- Installation challenges, such as the need to install a new air return in a hard-to-access location
- Electrical or high voltage requirements
- Your existing HVAC system layout
All of those variables impact the installation cost for a whole-house dehumidifier.
Whole-house dehumidifier operating costs
While modern whole-house dehumidifiers are pretty energy efficient, they will likely increase your monthly electric bill.
Why an increase? Because you're adding an appliance to your home that wasn't there before. It only makes sense that you would pay more.
But the increase might be small.
That's because you might be able to raise the temperature on your thermostat when you get a whole-house dehumidifier. Since the air is drier in your home, you probably won't have to run the AC as often-or at as low a temperature.
So, your electric bill will probably increase with a whole-house dehumidifier, but this can be offset somewhat by keeping your thermostat at a higher temperature during summer.
What are you paying for when you get a whole-house dehumidifier?
This part is so important.
When it comes to whole-house dehumidifiers, installation quality matters. A lot.
Most contractors use the "return-to-return" installation method. Here, they bring air from your existing air conditioner return into the dehumidifier and then send the dehumidified air back into the return before your AC's evaporator coil.
This is the most common installation method for whole-house dehumidifiers. But it's not the best method.
The problem with return-to-return installations is that the dry air gets dumped directly onto the AC's wet evaporator coil. As a result, it picks up additional moisture before being sent back into your home!
This makes the dehumidifier work harder, use more energy, and provide sub-optimal performance. Thankfully, there's a better way.
At PV Heating, Cooling & Plumbing, we use the "dedicated return to supply" method for installing whole-house dehumidifiers.
Using this method, we:
- Install a new, dedicated return just for the dehumidifier
- Send the dehumidified air into the air conditioner's supply plenum, bypassing the wet evaporator coil
This method allows the dehumidifier to function independently of the AC's return ductwork and air handler. The air that it supplies to your home will be much drier than what went in, and it will perform better and more efficiently.
So when you consider how much a whole-house dehumidifier costs, find out whether you're paying for the best installation method or a common, but sub-par one!
Beware of the lowest-priced whole-house dehumidifier installations
Note that it's very common for contractors to slap in a whole-house dehumidifier without regard to ductwork or static pressure in the system.
As a result, many homeowners end up with undersized ducts for the dehumidifier. This means the dehumidifier will struggle to perform to the manufacturer's specifications.
In other words, it won't dehumidify your home as well as it's supposed to.
Combine this with the sub-par "return-to-return" installation method described above, and you have a perfect storm of problems that result in a bad whole-house dehumidifier installation. We see this all the time at homes where we provide service!
Why does this happen? We suspect it's because of many contractors' inexperience when it comes to dehumidifiers and all of the legwork involved in ensuring a quality installation.
Conclusion: For whole-house dehumidifier costs, consider all of the variables.
Your final cost for a whole-house dehumidifier will vary according to home size, ductwork challenges, and unit size or capacity. Small units with relatively straightforward installations will cost less than larger units with challenging installations.
Regardless, the result is so worth it! Homes with whole-house dehumidifiers are just so much more comfortable!
If you live in Metro Atlanta and are considering a whole-house dehumidifier for your home, contact PV Heating, Cooling & Plumbing today!
Call us at (404) 798-9672 today or schedule service online!
Image Credit: U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
