Dehumidifier Installation and Replacement in Charlottesville, VA

Achieve greater indoor comfort with a whole-home dehumidifier. The team at The Otter Guys offers professional dehumidifier installation and replacement services throughout the Charlottesville, VA area. We are committed to helping you enjoy more reliable and consistent indoor comfort and will work closely with you to carry out the best solution for your home.

How Can a Dehumidifier Benefit Your Charlottesville Home?

More humid weather during the summer months means indoor humidity control becomes an essential part of maintaining a comfortable and healthy home environment. Dehumidifiers help to control mold growth and musty odors in your home as well as your HVAC system.

Whole-home dehumidifiers work with your HVAC system to conveniently and efficiently remove excess moisture from your home–typically removing between six and twelve gallons of moisture in a day. As a result, you are able to enjoy less allergens circulating throughout your home, greater energy savings, and improved indoor air quality and indoor comfort.

Benefits of Dehumidifier Installation

If you’re considering a dehumidifier for your home, perhaps it’s a good time to consider the benefits. Here are some reasons why homeowners install dehumidifiers:

Reduce Mold and Mildew

The biggest benefit of a dehumidifier is that it greatly reduces the risk of mold and mildew forming in your home. It doesn’t take much excess moisture in the air for mold and mildew to form. Allowing fungus to grow in your home could lead to congestion, wheezing, irritation, and more. A dehumidifier reduces the moisture level by extracting excess water. This helps prevent the growth of mold and mildew. 

Water Leakage and Flooding Cleanup

As a homeowner, you know that flooding and water leakage can be common. Using a dehumidifier can help with the cleanup. It can work like a vacuum cleaner by absorbing the extra water and moisture in order to quicken the drying process. 

Eliminate Musty Odors

Too much moisture in the air can lead to musty odors throughout the home. If you notice musty or foul smells in the basement or laundry room, it may be time to install a dehumidifier. This odor is typically caused by damp climates or excess moisture in the air. If humid air comes in contact with cold surfaces, it can cause condensation and musty odors. A dehumidifier will be able to extract the extra moisture from the air, preventing these horrible odors.

Alleviate Allergy Symptoms

Too much moisture in the air can often lead to worsened allergy symptoms. Mold and mildew can lead to a variety of different allergy symptoms, including sneezing, a runny or stuffy nose, congestion, watery eyes, and itchiness. Reducing the humidity in the air can help reduce any dust or other allergy triggers in the air. This will dramatically improve the air quality of your home.

Lower Energy Costs

Having a dehumidifier in your home can help lower your energy costs. Since these units remove the moisture in the air, you don’t need to run your AC as frequently. Your cooling equipment will also not have to consume an excessive amount of energy in order to cool your home. If you’re interested in saving money on your utility bills, installing a dehumidifier could be the answer. 

If any of the benefits listed above sound appealing to you, consider reaching out to our team of professionals for installation services!

Why Should You Choose The Otter Guys

When you need dehumidifier repair services in the Charlottesville, VA, area, you need a company that you can trust. Our team at The Otter Guys has years of experience and expertise working in the area! We’re ready to help you with your dehumidifier repair needs, no matter what those repairs look like. 

On top of our top-of-the-line repair services, we’re also proud of our unmatched customer service. After working with us, we’re sure you will never work with an “otter” HVAC repair company again. From the moment you give us a call to the moment your repair needs are met, we will work with you every step of the way.

Signs That You Need Dehumidifier Repairs

As a homeowner, recognizing the signs of a broken dehumidifier can help you keep the air quality of your home safe. It can also help protect your wallet. The longer you put off repairs, the worse the damage will be, costing you more money in the long run. Here are some of the signs you need to contact a repairman:

The Dehumidifier Isn’t Collecting Water

One of the main purposes of a dehumidifier is to collect the moisture found in the air of your home. If the dehumidifier is not draining, it’s usually caused by issues relating to the drain hose. There could be a block in the drain hose, which prevents it from collecting water. Another possible issue is an improperly connected drain hose. This is often a consequence of poor installation. 

Water Leaking on the Floor

If water is leaking around the dehumidifier, it’s time to call a professional as quickly as possible. Allowing too much water to leak could eventually lead to water damage, which costs a fortune to repair. You should always check to make sure the collection bucket is correctly positioned within the unit. If the bucket is correctly positioned, but you still notice a leak, it could be caused by a crack in the collection bucket. It’s best to contact a professional the moment you notice a leak. The cause can be hard to spot by the untrained eye. 

Loud Noises or Rattling While On

If you notice loud noises when your dehumidifier is running, it could be caused by a loose fan motor, compressor mounting brackets, or screws. Loose parts can cause the fan or compressor to vibrate, causing quite a ruckus. While you should expect some noises from your dehumidifier – even the occasional loud noise is to be expected – consistently loud noises should end in a call to your local repair company. 

Staying on Permanently

Even if a dehumidifier runs constantly, it will continue to collect moisture. The likeliest cause for this is a small dehumidifier. The capacity might be too low for the space it’s in. You may need to add another dehumidifier to increase the overall capacity for water collection. 

Another reason why a dehumidifier might run constantly is due to a defective humidity sensor, telling the unit to keep dehumidifying. An evaporator that is not defrosting may need a replacement evaporator thermistor, which functions as the temperature sensor. If a thermistor isn’t working correctly, the coils won’t defrost because the electronic control isn’t told that it’s frozen. 

Another cause could be that the dehumidifier humidistat isn’t communicating the humidity properly to the electronic control board. The humidistat is found on the front of the evaporator coil and works to detect the humidity in the room by using the air that’s pulled through the evaporator. It uses a wired connection to transmit information to the electronic control board. If defective, the humidity of the room won’t be accurately detected, causing the unit to run non-stop. 

The Dehumidifier is Collecting Frost

If you’re noticing a buildup of frost on the evaporator coil, you should call a professional technician to come take a look. A properly operating dehumidifier should be able to work in a space where the room temperature is at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit. If your unit is still collecting frost, it could be due to damage to the dehumidifier compressor, dehumidifier condenser coil, dehumidifier evaporator coil, or the dehumidifier fan motor. 

The Dehumidifier Doesn’t Turn On or Doesn’t Stay On

Earlier we talked about what could be wrong if your dehumidifier stays on too long, but there’s also an issue if your dehumidifier doesn’t stay on long enough. First, you should check on the outlet first to make sure it’s plugged in. If it is, try plugging in another device to make sure something isn’t wrong with the electrical outlet. If the outlet is fine, the issue could be:

• The dehumidifier electronic control board – This board works to regulate the compressor and fan motor of the unit. Any issues with the control board could lead to a full-unit replacement
• User interface control board – The user interface control board houses the selection buttons that allow you to control the dehumidifier. If the buttons are unresponsive, it could be due to a control board issue
• Dehumidifier evaporator thermistor – This part of the machine works to tell the control board the temperature of the evaporator coil. If it’s not working, the coils could defrost or freeze over
• Dehumidifier compressor – The compressor compresses refrigerant, which runs through a dehumidifier through a sealed system. Problems with the compressor should be handled by a certified professional since repairs and replacements involve refrigerant

If you notice any of the issues listed above, you should call a professional technician for help. Letting these issues fester for too long could lead to issues down the road.

Schedule Dehumidifier Installation or Replacement Services in Charlottesville, VA Today

At The Otter Guys our goal is to help you achieve long-term peace of mind through honest advice, quality workmanship, and a hassle-free experience from start to finish. 

We will always take the time to assess your needs and explain your options. When you work with us you can expect to receive upfront pricing and all of the information you need upfront to help you make the best decision for your home. 

We understand how important it is to maintain a comfortable and healthy indoor environment, and our experts will go above and beyond to ensure that you are able to experience the whole-home comfort you deserve.