Making the house more comfortable...

[dbhost]

Here is a question for those that use them... Is it more energy efficient, and comfortable to keep the temp in the house higher, and remove humidity with a dehumidifier than to run the A/C lower? I really don't mind having the house in the upper 70's / low 80's, but I can't take the humidity. I know most of the time in my shop, I have the portable A/C set on dehumidify only, just wondering if I would benefit from a dehumidifier for the house...

[gsmittle]

Here is a question for those that use them... Is it more energy efficient, and comfortable to keep the temp in the house higher, and remove humidity with a dehumidifier than to run the A/C lower? I really don't mind having the house in the upper 70's / low 80's, but I can't take the humidity. I know most of the time in my shop, I have the portable A/C set on dehumidify only, just wondering if I would benefit from a dehumidifier for the house...

Disclaimer

I'm not an HVAC guy, so any opinion I express is purely speculation.

/Disclaimer

That being said, I'm thinking the dehumidifier would probably do you more good for less cost than running the AC all day.

g.

[charliex]

Our central air costs less than $1.25 per day. The dehumidifier at our old location with no central air took almost $3.00 per day. Used in the basement only.
I keep the temp at 67 but I have to turn it down to 64 2 - 3l times a day to dehumidify. The house is tight and well insulated so if the outside temp is not high enough the air does not run. If the temp is in the upper 90s it will run enough to remove the moisture, upper 80s no go.
Also dehumidifiers have a positive heat index. They generate more heat than they absorb thus they add heat to the house. Kinda counter productive me thinks. 2 cents worth

[pelligrini]

Also dehumidifiers have a positive heat index. They generate more heat than they absorb thus they add heat to the house. Kinda counter productive me thinks. 2 cents worth

That's one of the big factors I was thinking about.

[gsmittle]

Also dehumidifiers have a positive heat index. They generate more heat than they absorb thus they add heat to the house. Kinda counter productive me thinks. 2 cents worth

Didn't know that, thanks!

g.

[dbhost]

So basically I just need to keep on with the insulation / radiant barrier and calking...

$1.25 a day is pipe dream territory for me...

[jackellis]

Your attic is probably holding a lot of heat and costing you money, too. Make sure it's properly ventilated. IMHO, heat radiating into the house from a superheated attic is more problematic than the outside temperature, though probably not as big a factor as air leaks.

[dbhost]

Soffit vents, and 2 large turbines. But yes the attic gets nasty hot. This fall I will be completing the insulation job, and installing the radiant barrier foil I picked up last spring. I REALLY need help with that job though, kind of hard to manhandle the sheets of foil and staple them up while keeping it all straight...

Actually the house is a LOT more comfortable than it was before I started the insulation project...

I am not sure but I suspect I may benefit from adding gable vents. I will be redoing the siding shortly anyway.
I am just concerned they may provide a means of entry for pests...

[pelligrini]

I REALLY need help with that job though, kind of hard to manhandle the sheets of foil and staple them up while keeping it all straight...

Try some springboards. I think there's another term for them. They can be a thin rip of wood with a flat top attached to go against the foil, wedge the bottom against a rafter or make a flat base that will span them. Probably would need a couple different sizes to deal with the roof slope.

[dbhost]

Try some springboards. I think there's another term for them. They can be a thin rip of wood with a flat top attached to go against the foil, wedge the bottom against a rafter or make a flat base that will span them. Probably would need a couple different sizes to deal with the roof slope.

I know this makes sense somewhere...

[pelligrini]

They's work like those helpers for doing moulding, drywall etc. Instead of a person holding the foil the vertical springboard would be. A springboard would keep you from having to constantly adust a telescoping tube or something.

[dbhost]

Ah, now I get it... Worth a try...

[jking]

I am not sure but I suspect I may benefit from adding gable vents. I will be redoing the siding shortly anyway.
I am just concerned they may provide a means of entry for pests...

Fasten some wire screen material under the vent to keep the unwanted guests out.