A build up of moisture within the family home can be the source of numerous problems that may not be directly attributable to the presence of water. Sleeping difficulties, breathing problems, the constant presence of mold and mildew and an uncomfortable stuffy feeling can all indicate that there is a problem in the house with abnormally high humidity.
The first step you should take in correcting the problem is to confirm that the humidity level is above what would be considered normal. The way to do this is to use a hygrometer which you can position in a room and it will give you a reading the relative humidity in the immediate area. Anything above 70% can be considered a humidity level that is high.
When the moisture level is high throughout the entire house it may be necessary to install a dehumidifier. Make sure you have done a thorough search for a possible source of the moisture because it will be much cheaper to fix a leaky pipe or a cracked roof tile than it will be to install a whole house dehumidifier. If you fail to find any sign of a leak or dripping water you should go ahead and take the necessary action.
A crawl space dehumidifier might be the option to choose because a space under the floor such as a crawl space is an out of the way part of the house that will allow the ductwork to originate and reach all rooms. While the dehumidifier is in operation it will run without disturbing the occupants of the house because the crawl space is invariably far enough away from the living area that it will not be heard.
When the dehumidifier is installed it is recommended to find a way to connect up a water hose that can be used to allow the captured water to flow away. This can be via a drain or simply straight out of the house. Hooking it up will avoid the necessity of having to emptying the reservoir when it becomes full.
Installing a dehumidifier will not only improve the living conditions for the occupants but it will also ensure the building will remain structurally sound.