There’s a lot more that goes into choosing the right size whole-home dehumidifier for your home than simply measuring its square footage. Over- and under-sizing can both result in a unit that doesn’t do a good job at controlling humidity efficiently.
Your home’s insulation and location are just two additional factors among several others that play a role in selecting a system that has the proper capacity to remove moisture effectively. By taking time to make sure you have the right-sized setup, you’ll enjoy a more comfortable home and lower your energy costs.
Quick Takeaways
- There are many factors that impact choosing the right size whole-home dehumidifier.
- If you live in a region with high humidity, you’ll most likely need a higher-capacity setup.
- An undersized system will run constantly and waste energy.
- An oversized setup can be just as problematic and will cost more.
- Having the system installed professionally is the best way to ensure you select the right size.
Why Dehumidifier Size Matters
Here’s why it’s so important to make sure you have the right size whole-home dehumidifier installed:
Comfort: The system must be able to balance the humidity levels effectively, or you’ll end up with certain parts of the home that feel clammy and uncomfortable.
Moisture control: If the system is over- or under-sized, it won’t remove moisture efficiently, greatly increasing the risk of mold growth, which can be harmful to your health and even damage the structural integrity of your home.
Energy efficiency: Proper sizing is essential to the overall energy performance of the system, which is crucial to keeping your energy bills affordable.
Equipment performance: Systems that are properly sized tend to last longer and operate smoother.
What Determines the Right Size?
Here are the different factors that pros consider when evaluating a home to determine the right size whole-home dehumidifier:
- Square footage
- Florida humidity levels
- Quality and condition of insulation
- Air leaks
- Occupancy
- Moisture sources (crawl spaces, basements, etc.)
General Dehumidifier Sizing Guidelines
| Home Size | Typical Capacity Range |
|---|---|
| Up to 1,500 sq. ft. | 70 to 90 pints per day |
| 1,500 to 2,500 sq. ft. | 90 to 120 pints per day |
| 2,500 to 3,500 sq. ft. | 120 to 155 pints per day |
| Over 3,500 sq. ft. | 155 or more pints per day |
Note: These are general sizing guidelines. The best setup for your home significantly depends on your home’s location (coastal, inland, or flood-prone), whether it has air leaks, how many people live in the home, and other factors that impact indoor moisture levels.
What Happens if Your Dehumidifier Is the Wrong Size?
Undersized units:
- Runs almost constantly
- Struggles to reach the target humidity
- Leaves the home feeling damp
- Allows musty odors to develop
- Increases the risk of mold growth
- Makes the HVAC system work harder
- Raises energy bills
- Wears out components faster
Oversized units:
• Uses more electricity than needed
- Takes up additional space
- Has a higher upfront cost
- Wears components unnecessarily
- Can make the air feel overly dry
- May increase static electricity
- Can dry out wood furniture
- Can irritate dry skin
If you suspect your whole-home dehumidifier isn’t the right size, you can watch for these signs to schedule an inspection:
- The home still feels damp or muggy
- Indoor humidity stays above 50% to 60%
- Musty odors never go away
- Condensation forms on windows
- The air feels excessively dry
- Wood furniture and flooring start cracking or warping
- The dehumidifer runs rarely or constantly
- Certain rooms stay much more humid
Should You Have a Professional Size Your Dehumidifier?
You should always have a whole-home dehumidifier sized and installed by a professional. Here’s why:
Load calculations: Professionals have specific load calculations that they perform that take into consideration a variety of factors (home size, insulation, air leaks, and occupancy) to pinpoint the exact capacity the system needs to be to efficiently and effectively remove moisture.
Humidity evaluation: Professionals use special tools like digital hygrometers and psychrometers to measure indoor humidity levels to see whether a smaller or bigger setup would work better for your home’s moisture load.
Proper integration with the HVAC system: Whole-home dehumidifiers integrate directly with the HVAC system, which requires specialized installation to ensure the setup works seamlessly without causing airflow imbalances or reduced system performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I size a whole-home dehumidifier by square footage alone?
Even though the square footage of a home plays a big role in choosing the right size dehumidifier, it’s not the only factor that matters. Whether the home has air leaks or is located in a region with high humidity also matters, as well as insulation quality and occupancy.
What humidity level should my home stay at?
Most experts agree that a good indoor humidity level is anywhere between 30% and 50%.
Can a dehumidifier be too large?
Yes, there is such a thing as oversizing a whole-home dehumidifier, which not only costs more to install but also wastes energy and skyrockets your monthly energy bills. Plus, an oversized system may remove too much moisture from the air, making the living space feel overly dry and uncomfortable.
How do I know if my dehumidifier is undersized?
The first clue to watch for is a system that runs constantly; undersized systems do this because they struggle to remove enough moisture during each cycle. You may also notice musty odors and living spaces that remain damp despite the dehumidifier running regularly.
Find the Right Whole-Home Dehumidifier
The smartest way to ensure you have the right-sized whole-home dehumidifier installed is to get a professional assessment. One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating loves helping homeowners create more comfortable homes with humidity control setups that target excess moisture efficiently.
Call us today to schedule an appointment in Tampa or one of the surrounding service areas. We’re always on time, or you don’t pay a dime!