The popularity of home dehumidifiers constantly increasing for several decades. Of course, many people want to create an optimal environment in a residential room. The growing popularity of home pools further increases demand due to the high humidity in the pool that requires regular dehumidification.
Of course, companies adequately respond to high demand and offer a wide range of models. The choice of the optimum model depends on the technical characteristics and features of the dehumidifier. Of course, the characteristics of the dehumidifiers for the living room and the pool are significantly different. Pool dehumidifier is much more powerful, more productive and more expensive.
Main technical values:
– performance;
– air consumption;
– noise level;
– energy consumption;
– control, design, dimensions and weight.
Performance
Of course, performance directly affects the efficiency of moisture removal. This value is measured in liters per day or per hour and substantially affects the choosing a dehumidifier.
Performance directly affects the drying time. Insufficient power suggests continuous work of dehumidifier during a long time for providing a given level of humidity in the room. Of course, such high intensity of operation reduces the device life.
Of course, very powerful model quickly reduces the humidity level to a predetermined level, but consumes more power and has a higher noise level.
Today, engineers offer many methods of accurately calculating the required performance. However, they are quite complex. The Internet offers less precise and simpler methods, but they often contradict each other.
For example, one of the popular methods offers to calculate the required performance as area plus a 15-20% (excess power). Performance of dehumidifier for premise 20 sq. meters will be 20/4 = 5 + 1 (20%) = 6 liter per day (or 10.56 pints per day or 1.3 gallons per day). That is, the dehumidifier with performance of 6 liters per day will be effective enough for room with area of 20 sq. meters.
Another method from the Internet proposes to use a factor of 0.7, but without excess power. The required performance of dehumidifier for the room 20 sq. meters will be 20 x 0.7 = 14 liters per day.
But this difference reaches 100%! Therefore, it’s appropriate to use more reliable information from manufacturers for specific models or choose the model with maximum value.
Companies usually indicate the recommended performance for sq. ft. (1 sq. meter = 10.76 sq. ft.) in liters, pints or gallons per day.
Air consumption, noise level and energy consumption
Of course, the selection of air consumption directly depends on premises volume. This value must be greater of space volume (V = S x h, S-area, h-height of the room) 3-4 times. Coefficient 3-4 is obtained by practical way. It takes into account that an air passes through device three or four times per hour. For example, a model with an air consumption of 4240 – 5650 ft³ or 120 – 160 cu. meters per hour provides sufficient performance for rooms of 1400 ft³ or 40 cubic meters.
Of course, the residential rooms require an acceptable noise level. Modern sanitary norms limit this value up to 50 dB for prolonged exposure. For comparison, the operation noise of the conditioner reaches 35 dB.
Energy consumption directly depends on device performance. Some models have economical power consumption mode. But these models usually are cost expensive.
Control, design, dimensions and weight
Today the market offers a very wide range of models. The choice depends only on the aesthetic preferences.
Dimensions and weight depend essentially from the device technical characteristics.
Typically, modern models use intuitive and multi-functional control system. The video at the end perfectly illustrates its capabilities.
Additional functions
The tank for water collection
It affects the usability. It’s especially convenient in the rooms with high humidity, for example, in bathrooms, saunas, showers and damp basements. Almost all modern models have such a tank.
Autostart
This function protects from unstable voltage. It automatically restarts the device.
Air filration
The removable washable filter for air cleaning from mechanical impurities. Such filter is easily removed, washed, dried and installed back. Maintenance rules usually envisage the filter service about once every three months.
Built-in ionizer and air purifier
They are often used in combined models and are very popular among consumers. Some dehumidifiers also are equipped with carbon filters to remove odors or with ultraviolet lamp for air purification from bacteria.
Room heating
Some models have additional function of the air heating. In this mode, the dehumidifier operates as a fan heater.
Built-in thermometer and hygrometer
These data are displayed on the screen.
Electronic control system in many modern models automatically adjusts the air humidity.