THE RIGHT SMALL DEHUMIDIFIER - PURCHASE ADVICE AND ADVICE

A relative humidity of 40% to 60% in living and working rooms is perceived as pleasant and is recommended by experts as optimal. If the value of the room humidity is above 60%, the air is considered too humid and should be dehumidified. Because where the humidity is too high, mold can easily form and bad smells can arise. Dark spots on the wall are an indication of mold growth. Water droplets (condensation water) on walls, furniture and window frames can be an indication of excessive humidity. A Small Dehumidifier helps to reduce the excessively humid room air to an optimal level and to prevent mold growth indoors.

WHAT DOES RELATIVE HUMIDITY MEAN?

The relative humidity tells you what percentage of the air is saturated with water vapor depending on the temperature. Basically, the warmer the temperature, the more water the air can absorb. At 100% relative humidity, the air is completely saturated with water. When the air temperature drops, a state is reached in which the relative humidity exceeds 100% and the excess water (condensation) is deposited. This condition is known as the "dew point temperature". Fog or dew then occurs in the wild. In contrast to relative humidity, absolute humidity provides information about the content of water vapor in the air (in grams per cubic meter). Relative humidity is more important than absolute humidity for human wellbeing. It depends not only on the water content of the air, but also on its temperature. Unfortunately we humans can only feel the air humidity imprecisely, which is why a hygrometer is used to measure the air humidity.

CAUSES OF HIGH HUMIDITY

The following sources are the most common causes of excessive room humidity.

Lack of air exchange in new buildings

New buildings are very well insulated and the windows are tightly built, but unfortunately there is also a lack of natural air exchange between the indoor and outdoor air. Since nowadays new buildings are inhabited shortly after completion, the building fabric and materials are often still damp. The lack of air exchange can quickly lead to a too humid and therefore poor indoor climate in new buildings.

Incorrect or insufficient ventilation

If the natural exchange of air is missing, regular and correct ventilation is very important for an optimal room climate. The so-called "burst ventilation" is particularly effective, in which the opposite windows are completely opened for a few minutes. In the summer in particular, or in the case of a property that is rarely used, insufficient ventilation is often a cause of mold or unpleasant smells.

Structural defects, poor insulation and the basement

Structural defects and outdated or inadequate insulation can also be responsible for a poor indoor climate. If the indoor air is too humid in winter, this humid and warm indoor air may cool down on cold outside walls and condense there, which can lead to the formation of mold. This usually happens in places that are not immediately visible, such as the wall behind the cabinet. The basement or laundry room are also very prone to too much moisture as they are mostly located in the basement. The soil there is often quite damp and concrete is not suitable for sealing off moisture - a naturally moist environment occurs in the basement. Other possible reasons for a room climate that is too humid can also be wet laundry, plants, showers and baths, aquariums and terrariums, floods, water damage or a house near the water.

The causes of excessive room humidity are diverse and cannot always be clearly assigned. What to do if the hygrometer shows a value over 60% during the measurement and thus indicates a bad room climate?

MEASURES IN A HUMID INDOOR CLIMATE

Before purchasing a Small Dehumidifier, possible sources of origin must first be excluded or eliminated. For example, checking water pipes or installing moisture-proof insulation on the exterior cellar walls. Targeted and correct ventilation (burst ventilation with dry outside air) of the room can also promote dehumidification. The use of a room Small Dehumidifier makes sense if excessively high humidity of over 60% is measured over a long period of time, sensitive materials have to be stored or if mold forms on walls and masonry. Any existing mold must always be removed professionally, as the spores are harmful to health. If these measures are not sufficient to remove moisture from a room, the use of a room dryer makes sense as an efficient solution to the problem. Small Dehumidifiers filter the excess moisture from the indoor air and thus prevent mold and the resulting health risks.

WHY DO YOU NEED A SMALL DEHUMIDIFIER?

The areas of application of a Small Dehumidifier are versatile. Humidity is often a problem, especially in an apartment in an old building. Leaky windows and inadequate heat insulation can promote mold growth and a poor indoor climate. In addition to proper heating and regular intermittent ventilation, a room dryer can reduce the relative humidity to an optimal level. The use of a Small Dehumidifier also makes sense in rooms with a high proportion of water vapor, such as in the bathroom and kitchen. In the bathroom, for example, it is not only possible to combat high humidity values, but also silverfish, which thrive best in dark and damp rooms. Small Dehumidifiers can also be found in cars: There the device is used to prevent the windows from fogging up and to prevent mold from forming on upholstery and fittings. Room dryers are also used to dry laundry at home when there is no laundry room or tumble dryer or the laundry needs to be gently dried. The room air dryer lets the textiles dry faster and at the same time creates an ideal room climate. In addition, a room Small Dehumidifier has a cleaning effect on the room air. Because the condensed water binds dirt particles and fine dust at the same time and washes them into the water tank. Some models have an integrated heater, which also shortens the drying process. In the event of water damage, a room Small Dehumidifier is an inexpensive, effective and sensible solution to reduce the humidity in the air. It is important that this is put into operation immediately before the moisture settles in the plaster and masonry. Therefore, the professional use of a Small Dehumidifier makes sense, especially in the event of water damage. Air Small Dehumidifiers that are used to dry buildings or to repair major water damage are called building dryers. These are more robust and have a higher dehumidification performance than conventional air dryers for private use.

HOW DOES A SMALL DEHUMIDIFIER WORK?

Small Dehumidifiers work with two different processes, condensation and adsorption, which are explained in more detail below.

Condensation is about cooling the air with subsequent water elimination. With the help of a fan, the moist room air is sucked in and cooled by the heat pump evaporator so that the water is separated (condensed) from the air. The dry air is then reheated in the heat pump condenser and blown back into the room. There it continuously mixes with the moist room air until the target humidity is reached. The water extracted from the air is collected in a water tank or fed directly to the drain using a water hose. This process can cause the evaporator to ice up at low room temperatures. Therefore, when purchasing a room Small Dehumidifier, make sure that the device has a defrosting sensor or frost protection (also called a defrost function). Nowadays, almost all modern room dehumidifying devices have a de-icing function. Many Small Dehumidifiers are equipped with a hygrostat. Thanks to the hygrostat, the devices are very energy-efficient, as they switch off automatically as soon as the desired humidity is reached.

In contrast, there is the process of adsorption drying. Adsorption is the concentration of gases or dissolved substances on the surface of solid objects. This includes the granules that are still often used. The water vapor accumulates there on the granulate and is thus withdrawn from the air. Drying rooms with a granulate Small Dehumidifier is not an optimal alternative to dehumidification compared to electric air Small Dehumidifiers with warm air regeneration, because the dehumidification performance is rather low.

WHAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED WHEN PURCHASING A SMALL DEHUMIDIFIER?

Buying a Small Dehumidifier is not that easy and should be well thought out. There are many different criteria that influence the purchase decision and thus save unnecessary costs. The following is a description of the most important points that should be taken into account when buying a room dryer.

Room size: The room size is decisive for choosing the right Small Dehumidifier. A strong dehumidification performance is required for large rooms. It is important to note the room volume and not the area (area in m2 x room height). As a rule, manufacturers assume a room height of 2.5 meters for their room size recommendation.

Purpose: It must be carefully considered where the Small Dehumidifier is to be used (e.g. laundry room, cellar, living room or bedroom). Other criteria are important depending on the room in which the Small Dehumidifier is needed and how powerful the performance must be. There are different models that differ in their type and depending on the application. For example, if you are considering dehumidifying wet laundry, a Small Dehumidifier with a swivel function is suitable. This feature ensures optimal air distribution in the room. An industrial building dryer is more suitable for water damage. Or a quiet room Small Dehumidifier with a night mode is ideal for dehumidifying living rooms, such as bedrooms or living rooms. A mobile Small Dehumidifier that can be moved from one corner to the other on castors is advantageous for dehumidifying several rooms.

Technology: Depending on the purpose, emphasis is placed on different technical equipment. In the bedroom, for example, you don't want the LED display to shine brightly. Therefore, the LEDs should be dimmable or the device should even have a night mode. In a small room it is important that there is no over-dehumidification. Therefore, a Small Dehumidifier should be selected that has an integrated hygrostat. As soon as the target humidity is reached, the device switches off automatically. The timer function is also an important criterion. In the case of room dryers with a timer, the desired switch-on and switch-off times can be selected and, for example, differences in electricity tariffs can be used. In addition, the Small Dehumidifier should be equipped with an automatic switch-off so that the device switches off automatically when the water tank is full.

Power consumption: If the humidity is very high, the room Small Dehumidifier should remain switched on at all times if possible. However, the energy consumption can still be controlled: It is crucial whether the device has a hygrostat. The desired target humidity can be set with the hygrostat. As soon as this is reached, the device switches off automatically.

Water tank size: Depending on the model and purpose, the amount of water collected is also decisive. Commercially available Small Dehumidifiers for private use usually have a dehumidification performance of max. 30 liters per 24 hours and a water tank capacity of max. 8 liters. Ideally, the air Small Dehumidifier has a connection option for a hose in order to discharge the condensation water directly.