If the air in your home feels dry and uncomfortable in winter but sticky and humid in summer, you might be wondering whether you need a humidifier, a dehumidifier, or maybe both.
A humidifier adds moisture to dry indoor air, while a dehumidifier removes excess moisture when it’s too humid. When comparing a humidifier vs. dehumidifier, the right choice comes down to your home’s current humidity level and the problem you’re trying to solve. And here in Ontario, your needs can change throughout the year.
In this post, the team at Comfort Zone Services will be breaking down the differences between humidifiers and dehumidifiers, the signs you might need one, and when it makes sense to consider a whole-home system.
What’s the Ideal Humidity Level in a Home?
Before we compare humidifiers vs. dehumidifiers, it helps to understand relative humidity. Relative humidity describes how much moisture is currently in the air compared to the maximum amount the air can hold.
Generally, indoor relative humidity between 30% and 50% is comfortable. However, the ideal percentage for your home varies depending on the outdoor temperature, season, your home’s construction, and other factors.
Health Canada recommends keeping your home’s relative humidity below 50% in summer and between 30–35% in winter.
Why the discrepancy? In winter, higher relative humidity can cause moisture to condense on cold surfaces like your home’s foundation, windows, pipes, and walls, leading to a host of problems. Because surfaces are warmer in summer, relative humidity up to 50% doesn’t usually cause condensation issues.
Ultimately, too little moisture leaves your home feeling dry, while too much can make it feel damp and muggy. If you aren’t sure where your home falls, consider purchasing a hygrometer. The inexpensive device measures indoor relative humidity. Some thermostats also display humidity levels.
Humidifier vs. Dehumidifier: How Do They Compare?
What Does a Humidifier Do?
A humidifier adds moisture to indoor air when humidity levels are too low. This is especially beneficial during an Ontario winter. Cold outdoor air doesn’t hold as much moisture as warm air, and once it enters your home and is heated, its relative humidity can drop significantly.
That’s why you might notice that your home becomes much drier when you start running the furnace regularly.
Signs Your Home May Need a Humidifier
There are a number of ways that low indoor humidity can make itself known, including:
- Increased static electricity
- Dry skin
- Chapped lips
- Dry, irritated eyes or throat
- Dry sinuses and nosebleeds
- Increased respiratory infections (certain viruses thrive in low humidity)
- Shrinking or cracking wood floors, furniture, or trim
- Gaps appearing between hardwood floorboards
- A home that simply feels excessively dry
A humidifier can help protect wood floors, furnishings, and other materials that are commonly affected by dry conditions. It will also improve your indoor air quality and make your space feel more comfortable.
However, if you’re experiencing these issues, start by measuring the humidity rather than assuming more moisture is automatically better. And if you decide to run a humidifier, reduce the humidity if you notice condensation forming.
What is a Whole-House Humidifier?
You’ve probably seen portable humidifiers designed for small spaces like a bedroom. Or perhaps you even use one when you have a cough or cold in the winter.
While these can be useful for localized humidification, they only impart moisture in the area around them. You also have to refill and clean them regularly.
A whole-house humidifier takes a different approach. It works with your HVAC system to distribute moisture throughout the entire house.
Depending on the type of system, it’s connected to your home’s HVAC equipment and water supply. You can then control humidity centrally instead of running portable units in different rooms.
If you’re dealing with consistently dry conditions throughout your home, a whole-house system can be a much more convenient way to manage humidity.
What is the Best Whole-House Humidifier?
There isn’t one single best whole-house humidifier. The right system depends on:
- The size and layout of your home
- Your existing HVAC equipment
- How much humidification your house requires
- Your ductwork
- The available installation space
- Your desired humidity level
Different whole-home systems also humidify air in different ways. For example, some use airflow created by your HVAC system, while steam humidifiers generate moisture independently.
An HVAC contractor, like the licensed technicians at Comfort Zone, can evaluate your home and recommend the best whole-house humidifier based on your existing equipment and your needs.
What Does a Dehumidifier Do?
A dehumidifier removes excess moisture from the air. It draws humid air into the unit, extracts water through condensation or absorption, and sends the drier air back into your space.
Your air conditioner already removes some humidity as part of the cooling process, but your AC’s primary job is controlling temperature. Depending on your home and conditions, it doesn’t always extract enough moisture to keep relative humidity where you want it. That’s where a dehumidifier can help.
Signs Your Home May Need a Dehumidifier
Excess humidity can be a little easier to recognize than dry air. Watch for:
- A damp or sticky feeling indoors
- Condensations on windows
- Musty odours
- Damp areas in the basement
- Visible mould or mildew
- Asthma and allergy issues
- Interior doors that stick
- Persistent moisture problems
- Relative humidity consistently above the recommended range
High humidity can create conditions that promote mould, mildew, bacteria, and dust mites, and Health Canada warns that when combined with high temperatures, it can also increase off-gassing of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like formaldehyde from consumer products and building materials.
If you see significant mould growth or have ongoing moisture problems, simply installing a dehumidifier might not address the underlying cause. You should also investigate poor ventilation, water leaks, drainage problems, and other sources of moisture.
What is a Whole-House Dehumidifier?
Portable dehumidifiers are great when moisture is isolated to one area, such as the basement.
A humidifier for the whole house, on the other hand, is designed to control moisture across a much larger area. A whole-house unit can work alongside your HVAC system to manage relative humidity and distribute drier air throughout your home.
Investing in a whole-house dehumidifier also eliminates some of the hassle associated with portable units. You won’t have to repeatedly empty collection tanks because a professionally installed system will drain the collected moisture automatically.
Dehumidifier vs. Humidifier: Which One Do I Need?
It really depends on the problem you’re having.
Consider a dehumidifier if:
- Your indoor relative humidity is consistently too high
- Your house feels damp or muggy
- You regularly get condensation on your windows, pipes, walls, or foundation
- You have mould
- Certain areas always smell musty
- Excess moisture is an ongoing problem
- The issue gets worse during warm, humid weather
Consider a humidifier if:
- Your indoor air is frequently dry
- Static electricity is common
- Your skin, nose, eyes, and/or throat feel dry and irritated when you’re at home
- Your wood floors or furniture shrink or crack
- The problem becomes noticeably worse during winter
If the relative humidity in your home changes significantly with the seasons, you could potentially benefit from both, which brings us to our next point.
Can I Get Both a Whole-House Humidifier and Dehumidifier?
Yes, you can get a whole-house humidifier and dehumidifier. This will give you more precise control over your home’s relative humidity year-round.
That said, you might not need them both to be whole-house systems. If, for example, excess humidity is your main concern and you only notice dry air in your bedroom during winter, you might want to consider whole-house dehumidifier installation but rely on a portable humidifier for that one room.
The reverse can also be true. If dry air affects your whole home but excess moisture is limited to the basement, a whole-house humidifier paired with a basement dehumidifier might be all you need.
Ultimately, the right combination depends on when and where you experience humidity problems. A licensed HVAC technician can help you determine whether whole-house equipment, portable units, or a combination of the two makes the most sense.
The Bottom Line
When comparing a humidifier vs. dehumidifier, neither is inherently better. They simply solve opposite problems.
A humidifier adds moisture when your home’s air is too dry, while a dehumidifier removes it when humidity levels get too high. And with Ontario’s climate, some homes may need both at different times throughout the year.
Take Control of Your Home’s Humidity Levels & Comfort
If you’re tired of dealing with dry winter air, sticky summer conditions, or humidity levels that are difficult to control, Comfort Zone Services can help.
Our experienced technicians can assess your home’s layout, your existing equipment, and your air quality needs, and help you decide on the best humidity control solution.
We offer whole-house humidifier and whole-house dehumidifier installation, repair, and maintenance in London, Ontario. Contact us today to schedule a free in-home estimate.