Patent ID: 7574871

Claim:
A method for automatically dehumidifying at least one interior space of a structure using a dehumidifier at least indirectly connected to the at least one interior space by at least one dehumidifier return duct and at least one dehumidifier supply duct, the structure having an HVAC system that has at least an HVAC blower and that is connected to at least the at least one interior space through at least one of at least an HVAC supply duct and at least an HVAC return duct, the HVAC blower turned on by the HVAC system in response to blower call signals, the dehumidifier associated with the HVAC system and comprising a housing connected to the dehumidifier return and supply ducts and a compressor, a dehumidifier blower, a temperature sensor and a relative humidity sensor contained within the housing, the method comprising: determining if a measurement event has occurred; and if a measurement event has occurred: determining if the HVAC system is in a blower mode; if the HVAC system is in the blower mode: determining if the HVAC blower is on; and if the HVAC blower is not on; turning the HVAC blower on; measuring a temperature and a relative humidity of an ambient atmosphere within the housing using the temperature sensor and the relative humidity sensor, determining a dew point temperature for the interior space based on the measured temperature and relative humidity; determining if the determined dew point temperature is above a predetermined dew point temperature; and if the determined dew point temperature is above the predetermined dew point temperature turning on a compressor of the dehumidifier, if a blower of the dehumidifier is not on, turning on the blower of the dehumidifier, drawing air to be dehumidified from at least the at least one interior space through at least the at least one dehumidifier return duct; dehumidifying the drawn air; and returning the dehumidified air to at least the at least one interior space through at least the at least one dehumidifier supply duct.