Humidifiers and Dehumidifiers - Lake house dehumidifying

I am needing a whole house dehumidifier for a lakehouse. We are running a portable unit, but so much heat is generated and the noise is disruptive. The house is approx 1,100 upstairs and 1,100 downstairs basement area which we have converted into living space (however one corner of the basement is undergound--outside has a french drain). We really need it for the winter as well--when we come in after not being there for a week or two, there is a "damp" smell even in the winter and I really would like to get rid of this smell. I have not noticed any mold. I am not sure how whole house dehumidifiers work. Can you get then incorporated in the existing a/c-heating units? Where are these generally located? (that is, in a closet? out in the open? outside units?). Do you have any recommendations? Thanks!!

The heat and AC unit should take care of this Do you let them on all the time? A whole house AC unit is a dehumidifier. Post back with just what you have in there now will help. Stay in the same post.

ED ;)

We are not there most of the time in the winter and only on weekends in the summer. We usually leave the thermastat turned up in the summer and :) :) turned down in the winter so they will not come on as often, but just enough not to cause trouble (or so we thought) while we were away. Should we leave them so they will come on more frequently? It's the smell that bothers me more than anything! Thanks!! I hope I have stayed in the same post--I'm new at this!!!

You could try what we do down here in FL for when they are away for a time. Put a humidistat on the wall by the tstat. Now put it in the R wire to the tstat. When you are there turn it up and the tstat will work the AC for cool. When you are gone turn the tstat all the way down for cool then set the humidistat for what you want the humidity in the home to be. Works fine here.

Yes your doing good :D

ED ;)

Thanks for the information--I'll give it a try!! :)