Excess Moisture

Excess Moisture | Dehumidifier Installation | Heating and Air Conditioning | South Pittsburg

South Pittsburg’s river air and sultry summers make it easy for sticky humidity to creep into every corner of your home. HEP Heating & Air Conditioning tackles that clammy feeling head-on with expert dehumidifier installation, pairing the equipment seamlessly with your existing HVAC system. Our licensed technicians size each unit precisely for your square footage, so you’ll feel crisp, balanced air in every room while protecting woodwork, furniture, and even your family’s health from mold and allergens.

Choose HEP and enjoy same-day service, transparent pricing, and a hometown team that treats your place like their own. From the first moisture reading to the final walkthrough, we’re committed to energy-efficient comfort that lasts through every Tennessee season. Call today, reclaim your breathable space, and discover why neighbors all over South Pittsburg trust HEP to keep their homes dry, cool, and worry-free.

FAQs

Why is a whole-home dehumidifier important in South Pittsburg’s climate?

The Tennessee Valley sits in a humid subtropical zone where outdoor relative humidity often exceeds 70 % for much of the year. That moisture infiltrates homes through crawl spaces, attics, and everyday air-leaks, raising indoor humidity above the recommended 50 % threshold. Excess moisture can lead to mold, dust-mite growth, wood warping, musty odors, and an uncomfortable "clammy" feel even when the air conditioner is running. A properly sized, professionally installed dehumidifier removes several gallons of water per day, stabilizes indoor RH between 40-50 %, and protects your family’s health, furnishings, and the structure of the home.

How does a whole-home dehumidifier integrate with my existing HVAC system?

A whole-home dehumidifier is plumbed into the return or supply ductwork of your central heating and air conditioning system. It draws humid air from the home, extracts moisture through a refrigeration coil, then supplies the dried air back into the ducts so it’s distributed evenly to every room. A dedicated humidistat—often tied into your smart thermostat—monitors relative humidity and signals the dehumidifier to run only when needed. Condensate is routed to an existing drain or a condensate pump, so there’s no reservoir to empty. Because it works in parallel with, not in place of, your air conditioner, it can control humidity even on mild spring and fall days when the A/C isn’t operating.

What size dehumidifier does my South Pittsburg home need?

Sizing depends on square footage, ceiling height, number of occupants, infiltration rates, and sources of internal moisture such as crawl-space vapor. Residential whole-home units typically range from 70 to 155 pints per day. During a free in-home assessment, our comfort specialist measures the home, inspects the duct system and crawl space, and uses ACCA Manual J moisture calculations to recommend the right capacity. An undersized unit will run constantly yet fail to reach target RH, while an oversized unit wastes energy and may short-cycle. Professional sizing ensures balanced humidity control, energy efficiency, and long equipment life.

Can installing a dehumidifier lower my energy bills?

Yes. Lowering indoor humidity allows you to set the thermostat 2-3 °F higher while feeling just as comfortable, reducing air-conditioning run time by up to 15 %. Removing latent (moisture) load from the house also lets your A/C focus on sensible (temperature) cooling, improving its efficiency and reducing wear. Whole-home dehumidifiers use efficient refrigeration technology and variable-speed fans, so the electricity they consume is typically offset by the savings in A/C operation, fewer service calls, and extended HVAC life span. Many South Pittsburg homeowners see overall summer energy savings of 5-10 % after installation.

What is the installation process and how long does it take?

Most retrofit installations are completed in one day. Our NATE-certified technicians begin by protecting floors and furnishings, then choose an accessible location—usually near the air handler, in a basement, or in the crawl space. They mount the dehumidifier on vibration-isolating pads or a hanging kit, connect insulated supply and return ducts, wire the humidistat, and tie into your existing 120-V or 240-V circuit. Condensate piping is routed to a floor drain or condensate pump with a built-in overflow safety switch. Every connection is sealed and insulated to prevent air leaks or sweating. Before leaving, we calibrate the humidistat, test operation in all modes, and show you how to adjust settings and change filters.

How often does a whole-home dehumidifier require maintenance?

Maintenance is simple and usually aligns with your regular HVAC service schedule. The air filter—either MERV-8 disposable or washable media—should be inspected every 3 months and replaced or cleaned as needed. The coil and drain pan are checked annually for cleanliness and proper drainage to prevent microbial growth. During your spring or fall HVAC tune-up, our technician also verifies refrigerant pressures, fan motor amperage, and humidistat calibration. With routine care, quality units from Aprilaire, Honeywell, or Santa Fe typically last 10-15 years, keeping South Pittsburg homes dry and comfortable season after season.