The AC was never going to fix it. Add a real dehumidifier.
A bigger AC will not fix a muggy house. In Pearland the fix is a whole-home dehumidifier, sized to the house and ducted into your HVAC. We install Aprilaire and Honeywell units along with Santa Fe, rated 70 to 130 pints a day. Set to 45 to 50 percent relative humidity, they keep the house there all year.
- Sized for Gulf Coast humidity
- Ducted into your HVAC
- 5-year manufacturer warranty
- Quiet operation
How much does a whole-home dehumidifier cost installed in Houston?
Installed, $2,400 to $6,000 in the Pearland and Houston area: $2,400 to $3,200 for a 70-pint Aprilaire or Honeywell, $3,200 to $4,500 for a 100-pint Santa Fe, and $4,500 to $6,000 for a 130-pint commercial-grade unit. Running cost is about $25 to $50 a month in peak humid season, and the target is 45 to 50 percent indoor humidity.
| Capacity | Typical brands | Installed price | Fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 70 pints per day | Aprilaire, Honeywell | $2,400 to $3,200 | Most one-story homes |
| 100 pints per day | Santa Fe | $3,200 to $4,500 | Larger or two-story homes |
| 130 pints per day | Commercial grade | $4,500 to $6,000 | Very large homes, chronic humidity |
What's included with whole-home dehumidifiers
Here is how a whole-home dehumidifier install goes, start to finish.
Manual J latent load calculation
Along with the cooling load, we calculate the moisture load on the house, and that number sets the dehumidifier size. For most Pearland homes it lands at 70 to 100 pints a day. A big house, or one next to a pool, can need 130.
Ducted whole-home install
The dehumidifier goes in the attic or a mechanical room and ties into the supply or return side of your HVAC. It treats every room your AC reaches, and there are no buckets to empty.
Dedicated humidistat or smart thermostat integration
A smart thermostat with a humidity sensor can call for dehumidification separately from cooling. We wire it so you set a target, usually 45 to 50 percent, and the system handles the rest.
Condensate drain to existing line
The drain ties into your AC condensate line with a trap and an air gap so it cannot back up. We add a condensate sensor too.
Fresh-air ventilation option
Aprilaire and similar models can bring in fresh air while they dry it. That helps in tight newer homes where VOCs or CO2 build up, and we can add it at install.
Quiet operation
A correctly sized whole-home unit runs at 55 to 65 dB, about the level of conversation, and from the attic you will rarely hear it. A box-store portable is much louder. It also dumps its compressor heat into the room, so the AC ends up fighting it.
Signs you need real dehumidification
Your AC only pulls water out while it is cooling. In a humid Pearland spring or fall the house is not hot enough for the AC to run much, so indoor humidity climbs. Those are the months a dehumidifier does most of its work.
- House feels muggy even with the AC running
- Thermostat set at 72 but the air still feels heavy
- Visible condensation on windows or supply registers
- Musty smell in spring and fall when the AC barely runs
- Furniture, leather, or wood instruments showing damp damage
- Existing AC is oversized and short-cycles
- Allergy or asthma symptoms get worse on humid days
- Mold spots on bathroom ceilings, closet walls, or behind furniture
How a visit works
Four steps. No surprises. Same on your first call as your fiftieth.
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Free in-home humidity assessment
A technician logs indoor humidity in several rooms and checks your AC sizing and runtime. Then he tells you whether a dehumidifier is the right call. Plan on about an hour.
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Sized recommendation
You get one recommended size, with the model number and its capacity in pints per day. We size to the house.
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Install
The unit sits on a vibration-isolated platform in the attic or mechanical space. We duct it into the HVAC and run the electrical, then plumb the drain and connect the controls. Most installs take 4 to 6 hours.
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Verification
The system runs a full cycle while we watch the drain and the humidity reading drop toward target. The humidity log goes on your printed report.
- $99 Diagnostic visit ($79 for new customers), waived when you approve the repair
- Free In-home estimates on new systems
- Same price Nights, weekends, and holidays. No overtime fees.
What Pearland neighbors are saying
"Had these guys come out my tech was Carlos. I asked him to give me a honest assessment of what I needed in my house to address me humidity. Needless to say he saved from spending unnecessary money. Have been and will continue to be my go to a/c company."
"Joe Johnson did an outstanding job ascertaining possible humidity problems and mitigating those concerns and areas in the house."
"We called Clear The Air because of their positive reviews. Mark Ortiz came within 30 minutes and was excellent. He diagnosed the issue almost immediately, worked diligently to address the problems, and was very kind and helpful to us in understanding how we can prevent it in the future."
Frequently asked
How much does a whole-home dehumidifier cost in Pearland?
A 70-pint Aprilaire or Honeywell runs $2,400 to $3,200 installed, and bigger units cost more. The table above shows the larger sizes. The humidity assessment tells us which one your house needs.
Will my AC dehumidify enough on its own?
In the middle of summer, often yes. In spring and fall, when the AC barely cycles, no. Indoor humidity climbs in those months even with a working AC, and a whole-home dehumidifier keeps it at 45 to 50 percent.
Should I oversize my AC instead?
No. An oversized AC short-cycles, and short cycles pull very little water out of the air, since an AC needs long run times to dry the house. Size the AC to the house and let a dehumidifier handle the moisture.
What humidity should my home be at?
45 to 50 percent relative humidity is the comfortable range. Below 40 feels dry. Above 55 feels muggy and gives mold a foothold, and plenty of cooled Pearland houses sit above 55 in summer without a dehumidifier.
How loud is it?
Quiet, especially next to a portable. Up in the attic, most customers do not notice it, and the compressor cycles on and off with the humidity.
Do you sell portable dehumidifiers?
No. A portable is loud and only treats one room. It also heats that room with its own compressor. For a single problem room it is fine. For the whole house we install a ducted unit.
How much does it cost to run?
Around $25 to $50 a month in peak humid season. Some of that comes back in AC runtime, because drier air feels cooler at the same setting.