Musty Odors
Musty Odors | Dehumidifier Installation | Heating and Air Conditioning | Altamont
Damp basements, clammy rooms, and that stubborn musty smell don’t just make your Altamont home uncomfortable—they invite mold, allergens, and higher energy bills. HEP’s Musty Odors Heating and Air Conditioning brings fresh, dry peace of mind with precision dehumidifier installation that pairs seamlessly with your existing HVAC system. Our licensed technicians size each unit to your square footage, tuck wiring and drainage neatly out of sight, and fine-tune humidity levels so every breath feels lighter.
From the first free moisture assessment to our rock-solid satisfaction guarantee, we treat your home like our own. Enjoy lower cooling costs, protect your furniture and flooring, and say goodbye to that dank air once and for all—call HEP today and discover how effortlessly comfortable Altamont living can be.
FAQs
What causes the musty odor coming from my Altamont home’s heating and air-conditioning vents?
Musty or "old basement" smells are almost always the result of excess moisture inside the HVAC system or ductwork. When relative humidity stays above about 60%, mold and mildew spores find the evaporator coil, condensate pan, or fiberglass duct liner and begin to colonize. Altamont’s humid spring and summer weather, combined with tightly sealed modern homes, can trap moisture indoors and make the problem worse. Dust, pet dander, and organic debris that collect in the air handler become a food source for these microorganisms, intensifying the odor each time the blower starts.
How will a whole-home dehumidifier get rid of those odors?
A whole-home (ducted) dehumidifier continuously pulls warm, moist air from your return duct, removes water vapor over a refrigeration coil, and sends the dried, filtered air back through the supply ducts. By keeping indoor relative humidity in the ideal 40–50% range, the unit starves mold, mildew, and dust mites of the moisture they need to thrive. Dry air also prevents condensation from forming on metal ducts and coil surfaces, eliminating the damp film in which odor-causing microbes live. Within a few days of running, most homeowners notice the musty smell fading and the entire house feeling fresher.
Will adding a dehumidifier increase or decrease my HVAC energy use?
Installing a dehumidifier typically lowers overall energy consumption. When indoor air is drier, it feels cooler, allowing you to raise the thermostat 2–3 °F without sacrificing comfort. Your air conditioner will also cycle less often because it no longer has to over-cool the air just to wring out humidity. The dehumidifier itself draws electricity (about 3–6 amps for most 70–120 pint models), but the AC savings usually offset that load. Many Altamont customers report a 5–15% drop in summer utility bills after installation.
What size dehumidifier does my Altamont house need?
Proper sizing depends on square footage, ceiling height, typical indoor humidity, and how much infiltration (air leakage) your home has. As a rule of thumb, homes up to 2,500 sq ft require a 70–90 pint unit, while larger or multi-story homes may need 100–135 pints per day. Because Altamont experiences high outdoor humidity from April through September, we conduct a load calculation and measure indoor RH at several locations before recommending a model. An undersized unit will run nonstop and still leave moisture behind, whereas an oversized one may short-cycle and waste energy.
How is a whole-home dehumidifier installed and how long does it take?
Our technicians mount the dehumidifier next to your air handler or furnace, connect it to the return-air plenum with insulated flex duct, and tie the discharge into the supply duct for even distribution. We run a dedicated condensate line to a floor drain or condensate pump and add an overflow safety switch to protect your home. Electrical wiring is usually a simple 120 V plug or a hard-wired 15-amp circuit. Most installations take 4–6 hours and do not require cutting large holes in walls or ceilings. You can stay in the home the entire time, and we test the system before leaving to ensure humidity is already dropping.
What upkeep and costs should I expect after installation?
Maintenance is minimal. Replace or clean the dehumidifier’s MERV-rated filter every 6–12 months, rinse the condensate trap annually, and schedule a professional coil cleaning every two years when we service your HVAC system. Energy usage averages 5–10 kWh per day during peak summer humidity, translating to roughly $15–$30 per month on a typical Altamont electric rate. Most brands we install come with a 5-year parts warranty and a 1-year labor warranty; with proper care, the unit should last 10–15 years. We also help customers apply for any current New York State or utility rebates that can offset up to $300 of the installation cost.