Dehumidifiers Provide a Solution to Residential, Commercial Indoor Air Quality Issues

Nowadays, the buzz in the HVAC industry is all about indoor air quality (IAQ): how to identify hazards, how to treat the air, how to educate the home or building owner — the list goes on. One key aspect of IAQ is measuring and, subsequently, managing humidity levels within a given space. Dehumidifiers are designed for this specific purpose and they can be used within homes, office buildings, grow facilities, and more to help boost IAQ.

Following are several of the latest dehumidification products on the market, representing residential and industrial applications alike.

Launched in November 2022, Santa Fe’s Oasis105 is a residential dehumidifier with patented three-coil efficiency capacity coil optimization (ECCO) technology. This feature replaces the traditional evaporator and enables the product to remove 7.6 pints of water for every kW of energy at 80°F and 60% RH. According to Nikki Krueger, director of marketing and business development at Santa Fe, this new design means the Oasis105 is capable of removing more water using less energy, which leads to less waste heat in the living space.

“The system can pre-cool the incoming air to get to dew point faster, which we do on our larger units by using a massive heat exchanger inside, but by using this three-coil design, it's a really compact unit that still allows us to deliver that same concept of being able to pre-cool incoming air,” she explained.

The product also features a variable-speed fan, which allows the unit to be installed on higher static systems (up to 1 in. WC). Krueger noted that this feature is ideal if the product is being ducted because the fan speed can be adjusted to accommodate the existing HVAC system’s static level. Alternatively, the fan can be set to run at a lower speed for quieter operation.

Along with ducted installations, the Oasis105 can be used in crawl spaces, basements, attics, and other stand-alone applications. The unit’s MERV 13 filter and dew point cut-out control can help extend the life of the unit, as well as protect it from low-temperature inefficient operation.

APRILAIRE: The E100’s field-interchangeable user interface can be repositioned from the top of the unit to the front of the unit for easy access. (Courtesy of AprilAire)

Although AprilAire has manufactured dehumidifiers for some time, one unit was redesigned and released in April 2021 as the Model E100 Dehumidifier, said Brett Phillips, product specialist – dehumidification at AprilAire. He explained that the redesign incorporates better airflow, a negative pressure cabinet, and a unique patented drain system — the unit does not require a drain track. The dimensions and weight of the product were also considered, as well as ease of installation.

“We were able to work with the size of it so that it was a bit lighter than the previous model and smaller,” he explained. “Hopefully that’s better for installers to get into homes and crawl spaces and attics.”

One of AprilAire’s most energy-efficient models to date, the Energy Star-rated product has a field-interchangeable user interface, which Phillips said can be repositioned from the top of the unit to the front of the unit for easy access.

The Model E100 can be used in a wide range of applications, including moisture control in basements and crawl spaces, or whole-home dehumidification. The unit can also be programmed to circulate air, which serves to balance RH levels and temperature in a given space. Phillips added that the products come with 10-inch duct collars, providing a convenient way to attach the unit to an existing HVAC system, if needed.

Available in three different sizes, two of which are Energy Star rated — the 90-Pt., and 120-Pt. models — Resideo’s Whole Home Dehumidification System is designed to deliver fresh, filtered air to indoor spaces. The units can remove up to 60, 90, or 120 pints of moisture per day, depending on the model, and can be used in conjunction with the Honeywell Home T10 Pro Smart Thermostat to optimize humidity levels across different rooms.

“We're looking at more of the whole home integration aspect of ‘How do you bring everything together in the home to help with your humidity management?’” said Marissa Kocaman, product specialist at Resideo. “When you pair [the dehumidifier] with a thermostat, as opposed to standalone equipment, that's when you get some of the advantages of the whole home control.”

She explained that while most homeowners can identify when their spaces are too humid (mainly due to a lingering smell), it is often difficult for them to identify the opposite problem: not enough humidity. Connected home ecosystems allow homeowners the chance to identify and address these problems early on, she said, adding that data insights can be collected through programs like Resideo’s Pro-IQ AirCycle. The program measures six IAQ indicators, including relative humidity, and generates an easy-to-understand report for technicians to share with the homeowner.

An industrial dehumidifier, the Anden A710 was designed exclusively for indoor grow facilities and features patent pending variable-speed, low grain refrigerant (VLGR) technology. This technology modulates the refrigeration system based on the load, which allows users to maximize vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and provides greater control during difficult late flower conditions.

While single-speed dehumidifiers frequently require defrost cycles, the variable speed technology on A710 increases the units capacity and efficiency, which leads to improved stability of the grow environment. The models A710V1 and A710V3 are also able to remove 710 pints of moisture per day at 80°F/60% RH.

The unit includes a negative pressure cabinet, which requires a vented drain and drain tap (both included). Along with a control range of 35%-80% RH, the A710 also features a low limit 40°F dew point and a high limit 99°F dry bulb. The system can be controlled with Anden’s Model A77 Digital Dehumidifier Control or any external control that is able to provide dry contact closure. The digital control allows for more accurate monitoring of humidity levels, which promotes energy — and cost — savings over time.

Layan Dahhan is the former web editor for The News. Previously, she worked as a multimedia specialist for four BNP publications and was a member of CNN Academy’s inaugural class. Layan has a Bachelor of Science in Social Sciences from the University of Central Florida and a Master of Science in Journalism from Northwestern University. You can contact via email at [email protected].