After moving to a new apartment or installing plastic windows, homeowners are faced with the problem of fogged windows. This harmless, at first glance, circumstance can develop into more serious problems: spoiled furniture, a constant unpleasant odor, and a deteriorated state of health. All these problems have one explanation - high humidity. Everything is decided by the purchase of an air dryer. What it is, what types are, and how to choose a dehumidifier for a particular apartment, you can read about everything below.
Content
Why do I need a dehumidifier?
An apartment is a place where a person feels as comfortable as possible. Unfortunately, excessive humidity can negatively affect the well-being of residents. In such a situation it is difficult to talk about comfort and coziness. A person feels discomfort with a moisture content of 55-60% and above.
By what signs can you determine that the humidity in the room is above normal?
- The first and most obvious signal is foggy windows.
- Unpleasant moldy odors.
- Clothing becomes wet for no apparent reason.
- Furniture or wooden floors become damp and swell.
- Stains appear on the walls.
- The appearance of mold.
- Destruction of dry plaster, etc.
The tenant usually pays attention to these symptoms when they first appear. The main thing is to immediately realize that you have a problem. No need to bring the situation to a critical state. After all, as a result of carelessness and inattention, your house undergoes irreversible changes. In addition, not only the furniture and the environment deteriorate, but also your health. Mold, fungus actively multiply. Their spores fall into the air that all residents of the room breathe. Allergic reactions appear, the likelihood of developing lung disease increases. The climate of the apartment and the health status of its residents are inextricably linked.
Reasons for high humidity
- Plastic windows were not installed correctly.
- Inadequate room ventilation.
- Lack of a fume hood in the kitchen.
- The presence in the apartment of a large bath or Jacuzzi. Their frequent use.
- In private homes, the presence of a pool inside the living room.
- Finding a home close to the sea, river or other body of water.
In addition, air temperature also affects humidity.
If there is at least one reason, restoring the normal microclimate of an apartment is vital. Sometimes the cause of high humidity can be easily eliminated. For example, put a fume hood. Otherwise, you will need to purchase a dehumidifier.
In apartments, household dehumidifiers are used, the performance of which, unlike the industrial ones, is designed specifically for residential premises. The device is installed in one of the rooms or purchased specifically for the bathroom.
In addition to these cases, a dehumidifier may be needed during repairs to quickly dry building materials, after flooding an apartment by neighbors, or to eliminate the consequences of leaking pipes.
The principle of operation of the air dryer
A dehumidifier for the apartment regulates the humidity level of the living room. This indispensable device saves from property damage, fogging of windows and other unpleasant consequences of high humidity.
The principle of operation depends on the type of air dryer. There are 3 types of this household appliance:
- Assimilation method dryers.
- Desiccant dryers.
- Condensing dehumidifiers.
The former fulfill their function by exchanging apartment air and fresh air from the street. This is a very costly method.In addition, it is useless in areas with a humid climate. Thus, it is better not to choose such a device for the home.
The second type of technology drains the air through the use of special chemicals that absorb moisture - adsorbents. They must be periodically changed or dried. The device works silently, but less efficiently. Use it at subzero temperatures. Therefore, it is better to use in cellars, garages, but not apartments.
And finally, condensation. This type of dehumidifier for an apartment works at a temperature of + 15-18 degrees and above, ideal for residential premises. The basis of his work is the effect of condensation. That is, the gaseous substance goes into a liquid state.
How does a condensing dehumidifier work for an apartment?
- Air from the room enters the appliance.
- As a result of the evaporator, the air cools.
- Moisture in the air due to the temperature difference turns into condensate.
- The resulting condensate flows into a separate container.
- The cooled air is again heated and discharged into the room.
Please note that the air outlet is several degrees warmer. So the average room temperature may increase slightly.
How to choose a dehumidifier for an apartment?
Before buying an air dryer, it is not superfluous to first buy a hygrometer and measure the level of humidity. First, you’ll see that the problem really exists. Secondly, decide which rooms need a dehumidifier.
If the purchase is still necessary, you should decide on the desired device parameters.
- Performance: This is the most important parameter when choosing a dehumidifier. It is calculated in l / h or l / day.
It is advisable to immediately determine the performance required for your premises. To calculate it, you can use online calculators, which are based on the engineering formula. Some offer to calculate by a simple formula, for which it is necessary to multiply the area of the room by 0.7. But the result is only an approximate number. When calculating, humidity and temperature are not taken into account.
It is better to buy a device with a small margin of performance, as otherwise it will work without interruption and overheat. Too much performance is also not needed, since it is accompanied by an increased noise level.
- Air exchange. It is desirable that the device drives air through itself at least 4 times in an hour. Therefore, the parameter depends on the volume of the dwelling. This number must be multiplied by 4. For example, for a room with a volume of 20 m2 optimal is a device with an air exchange of 80 m2/ h And this is the minimum indicator.
- Power. Or, in another way, power consumption. The indicator depends on the performance. The higher it is, the greater the power consumption. Some manufacturers use special technologies that reduce power, but because of this, their market value rises.
Before deciding on the optimal power, decide for yourself how often and for how long you plan to use the equipment.
- Noise level.The recommended indicator is 40-45 dB. This characteristic should not be underestimated, since a too loud device will interfere with sleep and create an uncomfortable environment around.
- Drainage system. There are household appliances for air drying with 2 types of drainage system: storage and drainage systems. In the first case, the dehumidifier has a container for collecting condensate, which must be periodically emptied. When choosing, pay attention to the tank volume. The higher the humidity, the greater the volume needed. In the presence of a drainage system, all moisture goes into the sewer.
- Dimensions and weight. The choice of this parameter depends on where and how the equipment will be used. There are two types of dehumidifiers: mobile and stationary. Home devices are usually mobile: they are small in size, they are easy to carry from room to room. Among mobile, floor, wall or table dehumidifiers are also distinguished. In private houses and large apartments, they sometimes install stationary dehumidifiers. They are placed in the middle of the entire living space, and they do not move. Such devices do a great job with moisture, but take up a lot of space. If the room is small, then sometimes it can no longer be used for its intended purpose, since there is little free space left.
- Price: There are no specific recommendations regarding the price. Focus on the characteristics of the device, additional functions and your wishes. Remember this in the store, so as not to flatter at too low a price and not overpay for unnecessary functions.
- Additional functions: Manufacturers' chips may be useful for effective operation of the device. For example, a timer can limit the operating time of the dryer. This will avoid unnecessary power consumption. A built-in hygrostat allows you to always monitor the humidity. Some appliances even turn on automatically when humidity exceeds normal limits. Useful auto-restart function. When there is a power outage or when it changes, the device switches back on in the same mode that worked before the shutdown.
Some devices are created according to the 2-in-1 principle. For example, both a dehumidifier and an air purifier. Or a dehumidifier and an air ionizer. It is not for nothing that they are sometimes called climatic complexes, because they maintain a comfortable atmosphere in all respects in the room or immediately throughout the living room.
Rating of dehumidifiers for apartments and houses
The market offers a wide range of dehumidifiers. Different firms, as a rule, do not offer products that differ greatly from each other. Usually they differ in design and material of manufacture. Therefore, first of all, you need to pay attention to the required parameters and additional functions.
Timberk DH TIM 20 E7
The country of origin is China.
Dimensions - 51x35x24.5 cm.
Weight - 14 kg.
Productivity - 20 l / day.
Air exchange - 170 m3/ h
The volume of the tank is 3 liters.
Power - 440 watts.
The approximate price is 12 500 rubles.
The compact silver dehumidifier, in addition to its main function, ionizes the air. Easily adjustable via electronic control. For convenience, equipped with an electronic display. Has a tank fill indicator.
Neoclima ND-30AEB
The country of origin is China.
Dimensions - 61x38x28.5 cm.
Weight - 18.5 kg.
Productivity - 30 l / day.
Air exchange - 275 m3/ h
The volume of the tank is 6 liters.
Power - 500 watts.
The approximate price is 14,300 rubles.
Thanks to the stylish design, it fits into any interior. Due to its large weight, it will be more difficult to transfer it from room to room, so when buying it is advisable to decide on the room where it will be mainly used. The electronic display shows the current, set humidity level and room temperature. It also functions as an air purifier.
Steba LE 100
The country of origin is China.
Dimensions - 49x36.5x22 cm.
Weight - 11.5 kg.
Productivity - 10 l / day.
Air exchange - 120 m3/ h
The volume of the tank is 2 liters.
Power - 250 watts.
The approximate price is 12,200 rubles.
Powerful household appliance with mechanical control. There is a built-in hygrostat and a filter for air purification. Automatically shuts off when filling the tank with condensate.
BALLU BDH-15L
Dimensions - 38.6x25x23 cm.
Weight - 8.5 kg.
Productivity - 15 l / day.
Air exchange - 51 m3/ h
The volume of the tank is 2 liters.
Power - 205 watts.
The approximate price is 11,000 rubles.
A compact device equipped with a noise reduction system will be an excellent assistant in the fight against high humidity.The built-in hygrostat allows you to regularly monitor the efficiency of the dehumidifier. Convenient electronic display and touch control add advantages over other models.
Master DHA 10
The country of origin is China.
Dimensions - 52.5x44.5x20 cm.
Weight - 8.5 kg.
Productivity - 9 l / day.
Air exchange - 200 m3/ h
The volume of the tank is 3.5 liters.
Power - 470-780 watts.
The approximate price is 12,000 rubles.
The adsorption dryer works even at low temperatures. Runs at 2 speeds. A carbon filter is built into it. It is possible to control the filling level of the condensate collection tank.
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| Title | Timberk DH TIM 20 E7 | Neoclima ND-30AEB | Steba LE 100 | BALLU BDH-15L | Master DHA 10 |
| Type of | Air Dryer | Air Dryer | Air Dryer | Air Dryer | Air Dryer |
| Control | electronic | Electronic / Touch | electronic | electronic | electronic |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 350x510x245 mm | 610x380x265 mm | 485x340x190 mm | 386x250x230 mm | 200x445x525 mm |
| Condensate tank capacity | 3 l | 4.8 L | 2 l | 2 l | 3,5 l |
| Maximum air exchange | 20 l | 30 l | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. |
| Price | from 13250 rub. | from 14590 rub. | from 16 490 rub. | from 11950 rub. | from 13800 rub. |
