Fans and Dehumidifiers: Choosing and Using Them

HOME · GLOBAL

Fans and Dehumidifiers: Choosing and Using Them

Fan types and noise, dehumidifier technologies, damp causes and running costs

Fans and dehumidifiers solve different problems that are frequently confused. A fan moves air and makes you feel cooler; a dehumidifier removes water from the air and does not cool a room.

Fans

A fan cools people rather than rooms, by moving air across skin. Running one in an empty room achieves nothing except adding a little heat.

Noise is what determines whether a fan gets used in a bedroom. Look for a stated decibel figure at low speed, and note that DC motor fans are considerably quieter and use far less electricity than AC ones.

Bladeless and large-diameter slow-turning fans move air with less noise for the same effect.

Dehumidifier types

Compressor models cool air to condense water out and work efficiently in warm rooms. Desiccant models use a drying material and work better in cold spaces such as garages and unheated rooms.

Check the stated extraction in litres per day, and the temperature it was measured at, since compressor figures fall sharply in the cold.

Deal with the cause of damp

Condensation comes from moisture generated inside — drying laundry, cooking, showering and breathing. Ventilation and extraction at the source do more than any appliance.

Rising or penetrating damp is a building problem that a dehumidifier will mask rather than fix. Persistent damp with tide marks or crumbling plaster needs a surveyor.

Mould

Mould in a home is a health issue, particularly for children and anyone with asthma. Treat the moisture source, clean affected areas properly and ventilate.

Air purifiers are different again

A purifier filters particles from the air and does not remove moisture. For allergies, look for a true HEPA filter in a sealed unit, and check the room size it is rated for.

Filters are a recurring cost, so check the price and availability before buying.

Drying laundry indoors

A load of washing releases a substantial amount of water into a home. Dry it in one room with the door closed, the window open and a dehumidifier running rather than spread through the house.

Sizing a dehumidifier

Match the extraction rate to the size of the space and the severity of the problem rather than buying the largest available. A unit with a humidistat set around 50 percent will cycle rather than run constantly.

Continuous drainage through a hose removes the need to empty a tank, which is what stops people using them.

Running costs

Check the power draw in watts and multiply by hours and your unit rate. Laundry mode and humidistats prevent a machine running unnecessarily.

Empty and clean the tank and filter regularly, since standing water breeds bacteria.

WHERE TO BUY

Ready to shop Meaco? Use the link below to visit the official store.

→ Shop Meaco — official site

Visit this site