South Carolina License # M94594

803-327-7100

Dehumidifiers

Illustrated whole-house dehumidifier connected to the ductwork beside a furnace

In summer, humid outdoor air and everyday activities like cooking and showering raise the moisture level indoors. A whole house dehumidifier (also called a central dehumidifier or duct-mounted dehumidifier) is a unit that installs into your ductwork and pulls excess moisture from the air throughout your entire home. It protects your home, improves your air quality, and can lower your summer cooling costs.

Ready to Get the Humidity Under Control?

Airtek Of York County can measure your home's humidity and recommend a correctly-sized whole house dehumidifier for your home and cooling system.

Get Your Free Dehumidifier Estimate Call (803) 327-7100 for a Free Estimate

Additional Benefits of Using a Whole House Dehumidifier

Pulling out moisture is just the start. Because a whole house dehumidifier circulates air through your ductwork on its own schedule, it keeps working on mild days when your cooling system barely runs, easing the load on your air conditioner at the same time. That steady run time is what makes the features below worth having, since each one only does its job while air is moving through the unit. Which of them you get depends on the model, and we can walk you through the options.

Continuous Drainage

It removes moisture around the clock and drains the water straight to a floor drain or condensate pump, so you never empty a bucket by hand.

Built-In Air Filtration

A high-MERV filter traps dust, pollen, and other particles while the unit runs. It works like a built-in air cleaner every time it cycles.

Fresh Air Ventilation

Some units can also pull in outdoor air, dry and filter it, then circulate it through your home to replace stale indoor air.

Comparing Dehumidifier Capacity

Dehumidifier capacity is measured in pints per day (PPD), the amount of moisture a unit can pull from your air in 24 hours. The right capacity depends on your home's size, your basement or crawl space, and how humid your climate gets. Use this comparison to match a tier to your home.

System Tier	Home Size	Capacity (PPD)	Who It Is For	What You Get
Standard	Up to 2,500 sq ft	65 to 70	Targeted basement or crawl space moisture control.	Reliable, quiet moisture removal with compact mounting.
Advanced	2,500 to 4,000 sq ft	90 to 100	Whole-home humidity across multiple floors.	High capacity and energy-efficient performance.
Premium	4,000+ sq ft	130+	Open floor plans or humid coastal climates.	Maximum removal, optional fresh air ventilation, and variable-speed fan control.

But Can't I Just Use a Portable Dehumidifier?

A portable dehumidifier can take the edge off a single damp room, which makes it a reasonable stopgap for one problem area. But portable units lack the capacity to dry out a basement, a crawl space, and the living space above them all at once.

	Portable Room Unit	Whole House System
Coverage	One room at a time.	Every room, through your return ductwork.
Draining	You empty a heavy water bucket by hand, often daily.	Drains itself automatically to a floor drain or condensate pump.
Placement	Sits out in the room, taking up living space.	Installed at your ductwork, completely out of sight.
Noise	Runs in the room with you, which can be distracting in a bedroom.	Runs quietly with your HVAC system, away from living areas.
Energy Use	Uses more electricity for every pint of moisture it removes.	More efficient per pint, and drier air lets you raise the thermostat.
Control	A dial or basic setting on the unit itself.	A dehumidistat that holds your whole home at a set humidity level.
Upkeep	Regular bucket and filter cleaning to keep it sanitary.	An air filter checked once or twice a year.

Portable Room Unit

Coverage

One room at a time.

Draining

You empty a heavy water bucket by hand, often daily.

Placement

Sits out in the room, taking up living space.

Noise

Runs in the room with you, which can be distracting in a bedroom.

Energy Use

Uses more electricity for every pint of moisture it removes.

Control

A dial or basic setting on the unit itself.

Upkeep

Regular bucket and filter cleaning to keep it sanitary.

Whole House System

Coverage

Every room, through your return ductwork.

Draining

Drains itself automatically to a floor drain or condensate pump.

Placement

Installed at your ductwork, completely out of sight.

Noise

Runs quietly with your HVAC system, away from living areas.

Energy Use

More efficient per pint, and drier air lets you raise the thermostat.

Control

A dehumidistat that holds your whole home at a set humidity level.

Upkeep

An air filter checked once or twice a year.

Professional Sizing, Installation, and Maintenance

The right installation and a little upkeep keep your dehumidifier working efficiently for years. You can also pair it with a smart thermostat to manage temperature and humidity together.

Sizing

We come out, assess your home, and size the unit to your space and climate.

Ducting

We connect the unit to your return ductwork, often pulling air from the dampest lower levels first.

Drain

We run a gravity drain line or condensate pump so the water leaves on its own.

Controls

We install a digital dehumidistat so you can set a target humidity, usually around 45 to 50 percent.

Startup

We set your target level, test everything, and show you how it works.

Once it is running, upkeep is simple. Check and clean or replace the air filter every 6 to 12 months to protect the coils and keep air moving freely.

To keep your dehumidifier and whole HVAC system functioning properly and efficiently without interruptions, contact Airtek Of York County in Catawba, SC to schedule regular maintenance today.

Schedule Maintenance Service Today

Is a Whole House Dehumidifier Right for Your Home?

Too much indoor humidity affects more than comfort. It shows up in your cooling bills, your health, and your home itself. If any of these sound familiar, a whole house dehumidifier can help.

Sticky Air and High Cooling Bills: Dry air feels cooler than humid air at the same temperature. Pull out the excess moisture and you can set the thermostat a few degrees higher and stay just as comfortable, which cuts how hard your air conditioner has to work.
Mold and Dust Mite Allergies: Mold and dust mites thrive when humidity climbs above 50 percent. Keeping your indoor humidity in the 30 to 50 percent range helps stop them from taking hold, which can bring real relief if allergies or asthma are a problem in your home.
Musty Basement or Crawl Space: Those damp, earthy smells usually come from a basement or crawl space, where moisture builds up and lingers. A central dehumidifier keeps the air moving and the moisture down, so those areas stay fresher year-round.
Window Condensation and Warped Wood: When there is too much moisture in the air, it collects on windows and soaks into wood. Pulling that moisture out helps prevent foggy windows, warped trim and doors, and swollen cabinets.

If that describes your home, a whole house dehumidifier is worth a closer look. Airtek Of York County can measure your home's humidity and recommend the right unit for your space.

Sound Like Your Home?

Let us check your indoor humidity and recommend the right unit for your home. Serving Catawba, SC and the surrounding area.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dehumidifiers

What humidity level should I set on my dehumidifier in summer?

Aim for 45 to 50 percent indoor humidity in summer. That range keeps the air from feeling sticky and damp without running the unit more than it needs to.

Does a whole house dehumidifier prevent mold?

It is one of the main reasons people install one. Mold needs moisture to grow, and it takes hold once indoor humidity climbs above about 50 percent. Keeping your whole home in the 30 to 50 percent range removes the damp conditions mold and mildew depend on, including in basements and crawl spaces where they usually start.

Do I still need a dehumidifier if I have air conditioning?

Often, yes. Your air conditioner removes some humidity as it cools, but that is a side effect, not its main job. On mild days it runs too little to keep up, and it does almost nothing for a basement or crawl space it is not cooling. A whole house dehumidifier controls humidity on its own, so your home stays comfortable even when the air conditioner is barely running.

Can a whole house dehumidifier lower my summer electric bills?

It can. Humid air feels warmer, so once the moisture is gone you can set the thermostat higher, say 76 instead of 72 degrees, and still feel comfortable. A dehumidifier uses much less power than your air conditioner's compressor, so leaning on it can lower your overall summer energy use.

Where is a whole house dehumidifier installed?

It usually goes in with your central system, in a basement, utility room, crawl space, or attic. It connects to your main return ductwork and drains automatically through a gravity line or condensate pump.

Aprilaire Dehumidifier Product Offering

Model E130W high-capacity whole-home dehumidifier View Brochure
Model Family: E130W
Capacity: Up to 130 pints or 16 gallons per day
Sound Level: Whisper-quiet performance
Energy Star Certified: ENERGY STAR®
Warranty: 5 years from date of installation
Manufacturer's Stated Benefits: Reduce proliferation of airborne viruses. Features a built-in digital control that can be configured on the top or the inlet side of the unit Helps prevent mold, termites, structural wood rot, and odors. Set it and forget it control automatically starts dehumidification when humidity above target is sensed. Wi-Fi Control: Includes an integrated, full-color display with Wi-Fi communication.

AprilAire E100W Wi-Fi Dehumidifier View Brochure
Model Family: E100W
Capacity: 100 pints per day
Sound Level: Whisper-quiet performance
Energy Star Certified: ENERGY STAR®
Warranty: 5 Year Warranty
Manufacturer's Stated Benefits: Ideal for dehumidifying basements, sealed crawl spaces, or whole home. Features a built-in digital control that can be configured on the top or the inlet side of the unit Helps prevent mold, termites, structural wood rot, and odors. Set it and forget it control automatically starts dehumidification when humidity above target is sensed. Control the AprilAire Dehumidifier by connecting it to your phone via the built-in Wi-Fi interface.

Model E080W Wi-Fi Dehumidifier View Brochure
Model Family: E080W
Capacity: Removes up to 80 pints (10 gallons) of moisture per day.
Sound Level: Whisper-quiet performance
Energy Star Certified: ENERGY STAR®
Warranty: 5 years from date of installation
Manufacturer's Stated Benefits: Provides dehumidification for homes up to 4,400 square feet Aluminum coil protects refrigeration system from corrosion Lightweight and fits in attics, crawlspaces, and closets. All units include an integrated LCD with intuitive RH set points and optional external controls Control the AprilAire Dehumidifier by connecting it to your phone via the built-in Wi-Fi interface.

AprilAire E070W Wi-Fi Dehumidifier View Brochure
Model Family: E070W
Capacity: 70 Pints a Day
Sound Level: Whisper-quiet performance
Energy Star Certified: N/A
Warranty: 5-Year Warranty
Manufacturer's Stated Benefits: Provides dehumidification for homes up to 4,400 square feet Aluminum coil protects refrigeration system from corrosion Our 200 CFM blower, combined with our air circulation program, allows for consistent temperature and humidity control. Wi-Fi enabled digital control with color graphical display. Can be set up for dehumidification with the option of ventilation.

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