It is not new that whole-house dehumidifiers are ducted to carry out effective dehumidification of high-humidity areas. The benefits of investing in a high-capacity dehumidifier can be doubled by simply connecting the unit to the ductwork of the HVAC system. Most whole-house dehumidifiers function with improved efficiency when they are connected to the ductwork of the HVAC system.
In this article, we will discuss in brief how to duct dehumidifiers, the benefits of ducting dehumidifiers, and the popular models that can be ducted into the HVAC system. Let us get started!
What are the benefits of ducting a dehumidifier?
Homes that lack fresh air ventilation can certainly benefit by installing a high-capacity dehumidifier. You must also know that the benefits of ducting dehumidifiers are plentiful. Here are a few of them.
Indoor air circulation
By ducting whole-house dehumidifiers into the system you can notice an immediate improvement in indoor air quality and air circulation. If your home could use enhanced air circulation throughout the entire building or across the different rooms of a home, installing the dehumidifier into the existing ductwork is a good choice.
Noise reduction
Most dehumidifiers are known to be noisy. Thanks to technology we have more whisper-quiet dehumidifiers. Nevertheless, the best method to get silent operation from your dehumidifier is by ducting them. When the dehumidifier is installed in a separate room and the ductwork is run to the main living space, you will notice that the overall noise generation of the dehumidifier is reduced.
Energy efficiency
If your dehumidifier is consuming more energy than expected, you must consider ducting it with the central HVAC system (if this is possible). When the dehumidifier works alongside the HVAC system to maintain the relative humidity levels of the home, the overall energy consumption of the dehumidifying unit will be greatly reduced. Is energy efficiency your main concern? Consider ducting your dehumidifier.
Enhanced health and convenience
Having a single unit to take full control of the relative humidity maintenance of the entire home is simply more convenient than having multiple units. Rather than having individual units being moved across every room, you can duct the whole house dehumidifier to have one unit to be maintained. Ducting dehumidifiers are more efficient in moisture absorption, mold and mildew removal, and musty odor removal.
Should all dehumidifiers be ducted?
Depending on the existing relative humidity levels of your home and moisture damage that has already taken place, you can decide if your dehumidifiers have to be ducted or can function as standalone units.
However, it is possible to duct even standalone dehumidifiers. You simply have to attach them by a simple installation method to the return ducts, supply ducts, or to both of them.
How to duct your dehumidifier?
Ducting dehumidifiers is simple. It is recommended that you take professional assistance to duct the unit to perfection. In order to duct a standalone unit, you have to attach the supply ducts to another room to add dehumidified air into that room from another room.
You must attach only the return duct that will pull in air from another location or room, initiate the dehumidification process on the air, and then release the dry air into the room where the dehumidifier unit is present.
How to duct dehumidifiers through a wall?
Ducting a dehumidifier through the wall can also be done by taking professional assistance. Although the user manual will clearly illustrate the instructions to duct the unit through the wall, you can seek help to prevent any mishaps. The following are the steps to duct the unit through the wall.
Step 1
Begin by outlining the wall based on the duct or the vent that you will be using as a supply duct to send the fresh air through.
Step 2
As the next step, attach the duct collars to the dehumidifier. Make sure that you get the duct attachments designed specifically for your model.
Step 3
The collar or the vent must be added to the wall to which the dehumidifier will be connected.
Step 4
Finally, the ductwork must be connected from the dehumidifier collars to the wall collars or the vent.
Recommended Dehumidifiers for Ducting:
Among the best whole-house dehumidifiers, there are several models that can be ducted. Let us take a look at the popular choices for a dehumidification system that can be installed with ductwork.
Santa Fe Dehumidifiers
Among the best dehumidifier brands available in the USA, Santa Fe is one of the best. The company is based in Madison, Wisconsin, and all the Santa Fe units are engineered and assembled in the USA. They also offer a 6-year warranty period on the purchase of their products. Every model of high-capacity dehumidifier built with Santa Fe can be relied upon for perfection when it comes to sending dehumidified air across the home. Santa Fe dehumidifiers are built for durability. They are equipped to improve indoor air quality and remove humid air from the room, replacing it with dehumidified air. You can be assured that Santa Fe’s whole house dehumidifiers are touch workers even in harsh climates.
Santa Fe is one of the best manufacturers in the USA and has won the trust of many homeowners. They manufacture both freestanding dehumidifier models that are most suitable for basements and crawl spaces, and also HVAC ventilating dehumidifier system units that are ideal for moisture removal for an entire house. You can rest assured that energy consumption is the least of one’s concerns with Santa Fe. They manufacture highly energy-efficient units to conserve power while working on moisture removal and maintenance of humidity levels.
Santa Fe dehumidifiers make high-capacity dehumidifier models with easy installation method options to manage any humid climate effectively. This excellence in performance when it comes to removing humidity and moisture issues makes Santa Fe dehumidifiers reliable units for relative humidity level maintenance.
Recommended dehumidifiers for ducting from Santa Fe
1. Santa Fe Ultra70 Dehumidifier
This best whole-house dehumidifier from Santa Fe comes with the ability to remove moisture up to 70 pints per day. This high-capacity dehumidifier is an ideal choice for apartments and small homes that need to control humidity levels. You can be confident that this high-capacity dehumidifier connected to the duct system can effortlessly maintain indoor humidity levels in any humid climate. The compact size makes it perfect to have this dehumidifier connected to the HVAC system even in confined spaces.
Areas that lack fresh air ventilation and struggle with high humidity levels will certainly benefit from the features this whole-house dehumidifier brings. The Santa Fe Ultra70 dehumidifier runs as low as 49 degrees as its lowest operating temperature. The Auto Restart feature ensures that this unit can operate independently even after a power outage. You can rely on this unit to give dehumidified air across any room with an 1800 square footage area.
2. Santa Fe Ultra205 Dehumidifier
If you have a home with multiple rooms and a large square footage area that can benefit from a dehumidifier installed into the HVAC system, the Santa Fe Ultra205 dehumidifier might be just the right choice. This unit was formerly named Ultra Aire XT205H. The sturdy build and excellent design that has been built to remove moisture up to 205 pints per day, covering an area of up to 5000 square feet.
Along with being able to remove more moisture from humid air and maintain a healthy relative humidity level, this unit also assures to keep the home protected from dust mites and other moisture issues. It is able to supply air that is free from allergens and humidity. You can relax that the installation method of this unit with the HVAC system is also effortless. You will be able to control humidity levels in multiple rooms and multiple locations of your home with this Ultra Aire dehumidifier.
3. Santa Fe In-Wall Dehumidifier
This Santa Fe unit is the first design of its kind. The in-wall installation method along with connecting to the HVAC ductwork makes this unit an ideal choice for apartments and multi-family housing. The Santa Fe In-Wall UltraMD33 dehumidified runs to remove moisture covering an area of up to 1200 square feet.
With this efficient design and moisture removal, you can be confident that dehumidified air can be circulated to all the areas of your home. This unit can operate independently at temperatures as low as 49 degrees. The Auto restart and sturdy build make this a reliable dehumidifier to be connected to the existing ductwork and HVAC system of your home.
Aprilaire Dehumidifiers
Among the smart devices that make the maintenance of indoor humidity of a home, Aprilaire Dehumidifiers have gained popularity and preference. This brand has been a trusted companion for over 50 years in the USA to control high humidity levels in a home. Regardless of why you wish to invest in a dehumidifier or the type you prefer, you can be assured that an Aprilaire dehumidifier runs only to provide the best results to its customers. Whether your aim is to purchase basement dehumidifiers or your entire home struggles with high humidity levels and you are in need of a whole house dehumidifier, Aprilaire is here to support your needs.
With the help of advanced technology, most Aprilaire dehumidifiers are designed to operate independently to maintain a healthy relative humidity level. By keeping the indoor humidity level on track, these units also make sure that the indoor air quality is enhanced, and is free from dust mites, mold spores, dampness, musty odor, etc. The following are a few of the most recommended Aprilaire dehumidifiers that are effective at removing humidity from any area by being ducted to the existing HVAC system.
Recommended dehumidifiers for ducting from Aprilaire
1. Aprilaire 100 Pint Energy Star Whole House Dehumidifier
Remove up to 100 pints of moisture per day from any area of your house with the Aprilaire 100 Pint Energy Star Whole House Dehumidifier. being an energy-certified model, you can rest assured that the energy consumption of this unit will be efficient and minimal when compared to the other high-capacity dehumidifiers. Although this unit is specially designed to be installed into the duct system of the home’s HVAC system, this Aprilaire 100 Pint Energy Star Whole House Dehumidifier can also be used as a standalone unit.
Rooms, basements, crawlspaces, bathrooms, kitchens, or office spaces that have more moisture content in them than required will certainly benefit from this 100-pint unit. Along with efficiently removing humidity, all the side effects of moisture issues in the humid climate are also taken care of with this dehumidifier.
This energy-efficient Aprilaire unit can send out dehumidified air covering an area of up to 5500 square feet. Moreover, you will notice that this dehumidifier runs seamlessly even at temperatures as low as 40 degrees.
2. Aprilaire 130 Pint Energy Star Whole House Dehumidifier
If your home is in need of large-capacity moisture extraction, you can invest in the Aprilaire 100 Pint Energy Star Whole House Dehumidifier. This is one of the most trusted units in the USA that can effectively cover an area of up to 7200 square feet. This large area coverage is sufficient to cover an entire home.
With this large capacity and design to be connected to the ductwork of an already existing HVAC system, you can rely on this Aprilaire dehumidifier to remove moisture from multiple rooms. The casters and ability of this unit to also function as a standalone unit makes it possible for this dehumidifier to be moved to multiple locations. You can enjoy the benefits of dehumidified air across any humid climate with this 130-pint dehumidifier.
Apart from having advantages like minimal energy consumption, this Aprilaire dehumidifier also comes equipped to operate in low temperatures. When plugged in it can operate at temperatures as low as 50 degrees and at 40 degrees when hardwired. This unit was labeled as the most efficient unit at circulating dehumidified air in the year 2021.
3. Aprilaire E100V + 8190FF Energy Star Ventilating Dehumidifier
Tasking control over the high humidity levels of your home with fresh air ventilation is easy with the Aprilaire E100V + 8190FF Energy Star Ventilating Dehumidifier. This highly efficient, durable, and large-capacity ventilating dehumidifier can be relied on for removing humidity up to 100 pints per day.
By keeping the indoor humidity on track, this unit can circulate dehumidified air across the room and remove other side effects of high humidity as well. The lowest operating temperature of this Aprilaire dehumidifier is 40 degrees. You can be confident of the energy-efficient function of this unit and benefit from the simple installation method.
Wrapping Up
With this, we have reached the end of the article. We trust the article was able to explain the process of ducting dehumidifiers to the already present HVAC system of the house. If your home is in need of large-scale dehumidification and you have the facility to install the dehumidifier unit to the HVAC, consider various ducting options before you. Duct your dehumidifier and enjoy the benefits of creating a comfortable environment with air-conditioned air and dehumidifier air, both in the right balance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to drain the dehumidifier through an air duct?
Draining dehumidifiers via an air duct can be done by using gravity draining, external condensate pumping, or internal condensate pumping.
How to duct a Sante Fe dehumidifier?
Ducting a Santa Fe dehumidifier is easy. It follows the same procedure as already mentioned.
Attach the supply ducts into another room to add dehumidified air into that room, from another room. Attach only the return duct that will pull in air from another location or room. This will initiate the dehumidification process on the air, and then release the dry air into the room where the dehumidifier unit is present.
Should a whole house dehumidifier be ducted to the supply or return of HVAC?
The most efficient method to install a whole-house dehumidifier is to add a dedicated return to supply duct in the already present HVAC system of the house. By adding a dedicated dehumidification method or dedicated return duct you can make sure that the entire house is dehumidified without the trouble of handling high static pressure. With less static pressure, stable dew point, and minimal maintenance of the air conditioner, you can enjoy the benefits of having dehumidified across the home.
