Two Types of Dehumidifiers: Which Will Work for Your Home?

We all know that there are many reasons to purchase a dehumidifier for your greater Kansas City area home. Some of the most common benefits include the reduction of mold and mildew fungi, drier sinuses and lower energy costs. There’s no doubt about it, dehumidifiers can be a helpful addition to the average home, but not all dehumidifiers are created equally. Here’s an overview of the two types of dehumidifiers so you can decide which type is right for you.

The Refrigerant Dehumidifier

Refrigerant dehumidifiers work by condensing air moisture. They suck moist air into the dehumidifier. Once it’s inside, the air flows over a cold evaporator coil, which condenses moisture in the air. This condensation can then be disposed of by emptying the bucket or draining it away via a hose, depending upon the model and your needs.

The Desiccant Dehumidifier

Desiccant dehumidifiers reduce humidity by drawing air into a rotor that contains a moisture-absorbing material. The most common desiccant material is silica gel, which you’ve probably seen in packets in electronic equipment. Desiccant dehumidifiers don’t have to cool the moisture before removing it, which makes it a good choice for colder climates.

Selecting the Right Dehumidifier

Now that you know about the different types of dehumidifiers, it’s time to go over the pros and cons of each, so you’ll know which is right for your family.

Refrigerant dehumidifiers usually consume less energy than desiccant dehumidifiers and are integrated into your existing duct system. They will centrally dehumidify the whole house. In addition, they extract more moisture than a desiccant model.
Desiccant humidifiers provide reliable service no matter the season, while refrigerant models don’t work as well during colder weather. Desiccant humidifiers are also much easier to transport to different areas of your home.

If you’d like to learn more about whole-home dehumidification, or how to increase your home comfort, contact the experts at Overland Park Heating & Cooling, Inc. We’ve been keeping Kansas City area homes comfortable since 1983, so you know we’ll be around for years to come. Give us a call today and find out for yourself how simple and affordable whole home dehumidification can be.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Overland Park, Kansas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).