by When the humidity is high people tend to suffer health wise and mold receives more of the moisture that it needs to grow. If you turn your air conditioner on full blast to try and control the humidity it can send your utility bills through the roof. So it is very important that you choose the right kind of dehumidification system to control both the humidity and your high-energy bills. When the temperature outside is significantly hot there is a high sensible cooling load and a properly sized air conditioner will have to run for the majority of the day just to maintain a comfortable temperature indoors. While the air conditioning unit does remove moisture while it is cooling once it cuts off there is no moisture being removed. Dehumidification methods can be of a great benefit not only for your comfort but for your monthly utility bills as well.
Overcooling
When the set point on the thermostat is lowered well below the desired temperature it causes your air conditioner unit to run longer and work twice as much to reach the lower temperature. Granted that the air conditioner will remove more moisture reducing the humidity levels, the downfall is that it causes wasteful overcooling. This may cause anyone inside the building to become too cold and cause your energy bill to increase significantly. Even though running the air conditioner for long periods of time may be the easiest way of controlling moisture overcooling is the least desired method because of its high costs and chance of making people uncomfortable.
Stand-alone dehumidification
Generally stand-alone dehumidifiers are added as accessories that work in combination with air conditioning systems. The dehumidifiers are often ducted into the buildings to work during hot temperatures when cooling doesn’t do enough. A dehumidifier removes humidity independently of the air conditioning system while the air conditioning system or system fan is running. Dehumidifiers allow moisture control without overcooling and reject heat into the conditioned space as a part of the process.
Electric or gas-fired reheat
An electric or gas-fired reheat system is used to reheat the cold air stream that is leaving an air conditioner before it re-enters the space in which it is controlling the temperature, while removing moisture in the process. Reheating air with secondary heat sources let the air conditioner continue to run in cooling mode while removing humidity when the desired temperature has been set. Electric or gas-fired reheating systems have no problem of overcooling and the humidity is reduced effectively. The downfall to electric or gas-fired heat is that it requires significant energy consumption, which will increase monthly utility bills.
Integrated dehumidification systems
Integrated dehumidification systems are used as an energy efficient method of removing excess humidity without giving up the comfort of the space. Initiating the dehumidification is based on a space’s actual relative humidity level. Sometimes air conditioning is not required in a space and dehumidification is the only need. The integrated dehumidification systems shift the air conditioning systems ratio from primary cooling and part dehumidification to focus solely on dehumidification with cooling being second. This happens when a supplemental reheat coil in the air stream starts acting as a secondary condensing coil taking a significant load off of the primary condenser. This helps prevent both wasteful overcooling and any additional costs that would be required by electric or gas-fired reheat systems.
By installing a dehumidification system you can maintain a comfortable humidity level when the temperatures are at their worst. Dehumidifiers will allow all of your employees or family members to go about their daily lives in a comfortable environment.
