Do I need a dehumidifier?

[sbp]

It's starting to get cold here in New England. Last night was the first night that we had the heat turned on all night long. Up until last night we'd had it off all night, but when dh left for work at 5 am, if it was cold, he'd turn it on so it'd be warmer when the boys and I got out of bed.

So this morning, I come out to the living room and there's condensation all over the 9 panel window in our dining room door and a thin strip along all of the windows through out the house (it was on the bottom of the top window, just where they meet, if that makes sense.) Also I turned on the bathroom exhaust fan to try to move air around this morning, and immediately it started dripping on the floor.

A google search tells me that it's normal to have condensation in a newly built house (lots of moisture in the building materials, etc.) and also at the start of the heating season. I know this house is pretty airtight, especially compared to the drafty old farmhouse that we just moved out of, but is this amount of condensation normal? The last thing I want to do is to do anything to encourage any mold in this house, but I don't know if I'm overreacting and that this is just normal for when it's just starting to be cold outside. Should I go buy a dehumidifier and if I did, would I put it upstairs or down in the basement or do I need two? (The house is 1163 sq feet, if that makes a difference.)

And, I've got a call into our builder dude, but haven't heard back from him yet.

[mama22qts]

Do you have central A/C? And a thermostat that shows the humidity level?

[mama22qts]

Your humidity level should be anywhere from 30% to 40% depending on comfort level.

[sbp]

No central air conditioning. We did have a window unit in for a couple of weeks, but only used it once or twice since the hot summerness was over by the time we moved in.

Our thermostat on the furnace (forced hot water) doesn't have a humidity reading. Maybe I should pop into Walmart and see about buying a humidity meter thingy first?

[mama22qts]

I would. They probably don't cost much and it can make a world of difference in your heating/cooling costs as well as the comfort level in your home. I have to keep ours at a certain level due to our family's allergies. Higher humidity makes it easier for DS and DH to breathe when the peanuts are being harvested around here.

[sbp]

Thanks for the advice. I'll zip into WM when I drop little guy off at preschool in a bit here. His breathing issues during the flue and cold season is what has me concerned along with not wanting a moldy new house!

[sbp]

we definitely have humidity in the house!!!

The number has been raising on my brand new humidity reader thingy ever since this afternoon. Right now we're sitting at 77' F in the kitchen, and the humidity is 50%.

[mama22qts]

Hmmm I'd say you need a deal on a dehumidifier!