Can a Dehumidifier Be Added to a Furnace?

A whole-home humidity solution could be right around the corner

Woman enjoying the winter landscape from the bedroom
Photo: anatoliy_gleb / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images
Woman enjoying the winter landscape from the bedroom
Photo: anatoliy_gleb / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images
Tyler Lacoma
Written by Tyler Lacoma
Contributing Writer
Updated Oct 2, 2024
Highlights

  • Whole-house dehumidifiers are installed as part of a home’s HVAC system to quickly dry out large amounts of air.

  • The best place to install a whole-house dehumidifier is next to central HVAC units and fan systems like the furnace or air conditioner.

  • Whole-house dehumidifiers need access to ductwork, but they don’t require a furnace and are not installed directly onto a furnace.

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If your house and health have been suffering from high humidity, the most effective long-term solution is a dehumidifier. But can a dehumidifier be added to a furnace? Yes, a whole-house dehumidifier, installed near central HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) units like your furnace, is an effective way to keep humidity levels in check. Let’s go over how adding a dehumidifier to a furnace works and what you should know about choosing a location.

Adding a Dehumidifier to a Furnace

Whole-house dehumidifier and how they work illustrated

When people talk about adding a dehumidifier to a furnace, they mean installing a whole-house dehumidifier near important HVAC units, notably close to the fan system that circulates air through ductwork around a house.

Whole-house dehumidifiers are installed near or even inside ductwork at these locations, usually mounted to the roof with sturdy supports and tapped into the ductwork’s airflow. That enables them to constantly remove water from the air as it passes through the HVAC system, like when the air is being heated by a furnace.

These permanent dehumidifiers typically require a drain pipe to dispose of water, as well as access to power (they may require an additional circuit breaker, for example). When homeowners plan an installation, they often find that one of the most convenient locations is near the furnace, air conditioner unit, or a similar spot. These locations are already in handy places like the garage, basement, or utility closet with easy access to everything the dehumidifier needs.

Do You Need a Furnace to Install a Whole-House Dehumidifier?

Whole house dehumidifier installed on HVAC system
Photo: Marvin Samuel Tolentino Pineda / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

To be clear, you are not installing the dehumidifier inside or on a furnace, or even as an addition to a furnace’s fan system. In fact, most whole-house dehumidifiers need some clearance space of their own, so you probably won’t be installing it very close to any other units. Whole-house dehumidifiers simply work best when placed close to the HVAC airflow.

That means you don’t have to have a furnace to install one of these dehumidifiers. They can work just as well if they’re close to an air conditioner unit, a boiler, a pellet stove, and so on. The only place you can’t install them is next to outdoor units, like a heat pump or an AC condenser.

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Do You Need Ductwork to Install a Whole-House Dehumidifier?

Ductwork helps a whole-house dehumidifier do its job, which is why many models are designed to be connected to ductwork. If your home doesn’t have ductwork, we suggest looking fora large portable dehumidifier instead of a whole-house model. These larger versions can still move enough water out of the air to help keep a whole house dry and cool, but they don’t need to be permanently installed as a part of your HVAC system.

Not sure what’s best for your home? Contact a local dehumidifier installation pro for advice.

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Frequently Asked Questions

A whole-house dehumidifier costs significantly more than a portable dehumidifier, but it can also do much more work and last much longer. Expect to pay between $1,300 and $2,800 for a complete installation, including labor. 

One handy thing about whole-house dehumidifiers is, once installed, you don’t have to worry about placement or changing the dehumidifier’s position. But if you are using a portable dehumidifier, we suggest keeping it away from walls, vents, and furniture. It needs a central, unobstructed spot with access to lots of air to do its job.

Whole-house dehumidifiers are an excellent choice in high-humidity areas. If your home struggles with condensation building up on inner windows, mildew growth or damp patches on the walls, and warping wooden furniture, then a whole-house model may be the best solution for you. For comparison, the largest portable or room-based dehumidifiers can siphon around 40 to 50 pints of water from the air per day. A whole-house dehumidifier, on the other hand, can remove 70 to 100 pints of water per day.

It’s possible to remove too much humidity from the air, but it’s very unlikely. Dehumidifiers have moisture sensors and settings to control how they function, so they can pause when the air inside your home reaches a certain humidity level. This means that most modern dehumidifiers won’t dry out the air to the point where it’s uncomfortable. But older, more basic dehumidifiers that are left on too long could potentially dry out the air so much that your skin, hair, and sinuses start to feel dry.

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Learn more about our contributor
Tyler Lacoma
Written by Tyler Lacoma
Contributing Writer
Tyler Lacoma has spent more than 10 years testing home technology and the latest tools to help keep readers current for their next project. His published work can be found on Family Handyman, U.S. News & World Report, and Digital Trends.

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