When dehumidifiers first rose to popularity, desiccant technology wasn’t at the forefront of the industry. Still, in recent years the technology has drastically improved and is now among the best types in the market which have been shown in the sales which have steadily risen resulting in more brands creating their own versions.
A desiccant dehumidifier has several advantages, especially if you’re treating air in lower temperature environments. This article will show how desiccant dehumidifiers work, what the benefits are, and the best desiccant dehumidifiers available on the market to make you buying decision easier.
1. EcoAir DD1 Classic MK5
The EcoAir DD1 utilises unique Eco E7 technology that takes your experience to the next level by automatically monitoring the ambient temperature and humidity level and alters between full power, economy power and standby modes to best suit the current environment. This not only means that it can function unaccompanied but also has the potential do decrease your dehumidifiers energy consumption by up to 40%.
The dehumidifier has a redesigned heating element that increases its overall efficiency and lifespan. There is an inbuilt carry handle which makes it simple to move from room to room and have the ability to effectively dehumidify multiple room homes.
It has an inbuilt ioniser which purifies the air by removing harmful particles such as dust and bacteria to provide you with safer breathing air. This is ideal if you suffer from breathing issues such as asthma or hay fever.
There’s also a silver filter to trap and kill bacteria upon contact, and all you need to do is clean the filter with a hoover. The unit has an inbuilt timer so you can set it to turn on/off in 2,4 or 8 hours.
The dehumidifier is capable of removing up to 7 litres of excess moisture from the air which collects in a detachable water tank which can be easily removed. The unit will also alert you when it gets full and automatically turn off, so it doesn’t overflow with liquid.
If you’d prefer not to have to manually empty the water tank you can also use a continuous drainage hose.
The dehumidifier has a 3d-louvre which provides a wide distribution channel for you to point the airflow which is great if you have problem areas of damp or mould around your home.
Benefits
Specs
2. Inventor Rise True Zeolite
Inventor Rise True-Zeolite Desiccant Dehumidifier is a great option to meet your needs. It has a modern, sleek design that won’t look out of place in your home. It uses Desiccant technology so doesn’t require a compressor which delivers lower sound when it’s in operation.
You can also select the ECO mode, which means that it can operate at 50% of its usual energy consumption while still effectively dehumidifying your home or living space. When it’s in operation, it generates air that is on average 10 degrees warmer than the temperature of the room so in addition to its dehumidifying qualities it can save you money on your central heating bills by efficiently increasing the room temperature.
The unit is capable of removing 8 litres of excess moisture per day which collects into its inbuilt 2-litre water tank. This wank has a water level indicator so you can monitor its current level and it also has overflow protection so it will automatically turn off when it reaches max capacity.
It’s also compatible with a continuous hose so you don’t have to worry about emptying as the water will lead directly to a drain.
The dehumidifier has an air ioniser that gives you air purification benefits to remove any nasty allergens from the air. There is also a swing function so you can point the airflow in a direction which is best suited if you have a wall that has mould.
You have the choice of 3 power consumption levels and also four timer settings so you can pick when you want the unit to turn off. You’ll also receive a two-year warranty to protect you against any faults that might develop within this time.
Benefits
Specs
3. EcoAir DD122 7L
The DD1 Desiccant dehumidifier is easy to use a product that allows you to easily control the humidity of your home. It’s well known that once humidity readings go above 60%rh, this can become a thriving environment for bacteria which can lead to breathing issues.
This unit has the ability to remove up to 7 litres of excess moisture each day, and you can toggle between quiet and turbo mode, with the silent mode being just 34dB so you’ll barely even notice that it’s turned on.
You have full control of the settings using its rotary control panel that allows you to select your desired humidity level between 35 per cent - 80 per cent RH. There are also pre-selected guidelines for low, medium and high settings to make it easier.
It’s simple to move using its fold-away handle so you can transport it around your home. The excess moisture collects into its inbuilt 2-litre water tank that also has an alert that will signal when it’s full while also automatically turning off, so it doesn’t overflow.
This desiccant dehumidifier is also compatible with a continuous drainage hose to save you from having to manually empty. It has a large range of operating temperatures between 1 - 35 degree Celsius making it ideal for the UK climate.
The unit is built with a tilt over safety protection, so if it falls over, it will automatically switch off to avoid any further hazards. You can also benefit from the laundry modes, which provides you with a quick way of drying your garments which can be made faster by using the adjustable louvre to concentrate the airflow on a specific area.
Benefits
Specs
4. Meaco DD8L Junior
The DD8L desiccant dehumidifier has already received industry-wide acclaim by securing the best buy award 2013 from the publication Sailing Today. This high-quality solution is great when you need to leave it in unaccompanied settings such as a caravan, boat or garage.
It can function well even in lower temperatures and will stay secure on the floor because it isn’t mounted on to castors. The unit has shut off protection, so if there’s a power cut when the power returns; it will continue from where it left off and remember the previous settings.
This Meaco model has a great energy-saving function, so once it reaches its target humidity, it switches to fan mode, and thirty minutes later, it checks the humidity again. If the humidity has worsened, then the dehumidifying function will turn back on.
Its energy efficiency will be noticed in your energy bills because it can be run for as little as 5.02p per hour, which can lead to an overall reduction in cost by 80% compared to other models.
The unit will naturally warm the air around it by 10 degrees, so if you’re using it in a naturally cold area such as a garage or conservatory, then it’s great for warming up the area. This desiccant dehumidifier can extract 8 litres of moisture from the air per day which collects into its inbuilt water tank and is suitable for multi-room homes
Benefits
Specs
How do Desiccant Dehumidifiers work?
Desiccant Dehumidifiers work by making use of desiccant material. You may wonder what this is, but this material commonly found in silica gel pouches that you’ll get in consumer goods such as electronics, clothing or shoes.
This material is used because they attract moisture from the air, so they don’t damage your goods. Desiccant material is used in dehumidifiers and is mounted onto a rotating disc. One section of the disc is exposed to the air from the room, and the material extracts the excess moisture.
The disc continues to rotate until it’s blasted with air from the dehumidifier which then forces the moisture into the collecting tank which is then emptied at your convenience making the air in your home higher quality.
This process then repeats to create continuous removal of excess moisture from your living space.
Advantages of a Desiccant Dehumidifier
Quiet
Desiccant dehumidifiers function using a rotating drum that moves at a slow speed. There are also one or two blowers that pull or push the air through the unit to remove the excess moisture from the air. This means that the only noise generated is by the blowers, which makes Desiccant dehumidifiers have a quiet operation.
Refrigerant alternatives have a compressor makes noise in addition to the sound of the fan, which is significantly louder than a desiccant dehumidifier. The noise of a dehumidifier can be an essential factor when choosing a model, especially when using it in the home because you might need to have it turned on overnight, and you don’t want to be disturbed while you try to sleep.
Lightweight
The parts used to create a Desiccant dehumidifier are lighter than those used to create a compressor alternative. This is mainly due to the compressor and evaporator, which makes up most of the weight of the overall unit.
A desiccant dehumidifier has many plastic components that are naturally lightweight yet durable, so it not unusual for your average unit to weight under 10kg, whereas compressor-style alternatives can weight double this.
Portability is a big factor for most people, especially if you have numerous rooms in your home, so you may want to move it from location to location. Of course, this is even more important if it isn’t mounted onto castors, so you need to ensure that it at least has a carry handle.
Another thing to consider is that compressor based units have a refrigerant component inbuilt which means it needs to remain upright at all times. If you don’t keep it upright, then you’ll need to wait before switching it back on so the refrigerant can settle correctly back into place.
However, Desiccant dehumidifiers can be moved into any position as you transport it without issues.
Can Operate at Lower Temperatures
Traditionally desiccant dehumidifiers are more suitable for lower conditions which are made more evident by the fact that the competing model of refrigerant types aren’t ideal for lower temperature environments.
Refrigerant models require a difference in temperature between the coils and the air for it to function effectively. If the temperature is too low, then the coils inside the dehumidifier begin to free, and if your unit has an anti-frost setting, then this will be activated.
If the temperature continues to fall then, the refrigerant model will designate more energy to defrost instead of dehumidifying so your results won’t be as good.
Desiccant dehumidifiers don’t rely on cooling coils which means that they can deliver reliable and consistent performance at both high and low temperatures.
It’s important to understand that if you’re going to be in environments where the temperature will be under 10 degrees, then a desiccant dehumidifier is more suitable. This is even more so the case in the UK where the weather is unreliable especially if you plan to use it in non-residential home environments such as boats, caravans or garages,
Can Heat your Room
This can be seen as a positive or negative depending on your preferences. Still, desiccant dehumidifiers create excess heat due to their operation, which can be useful by-product to help heat your home.
This is especially useful through the cold winter months, which means that you can save money on your energy bills because you can use it for both dehumidifying and heating purposes.
Some desiccant dehumidifiers also have laundry modes and louvres which allow you to control the direction of the airflow so you can also use them to dry your clothing.