How drying equipment reduces condensation and dampness
PAGE
By PAGE Editor
Did you ever walk downstairs into your basement only to immediately feel like you walked into a cloud? Or maybe you’ve looked outside on a cold winter day only to find water droplets on your window. It’s happening because you have too much moisture either inside or outside of your home.
That extra moisture can cause problems such as ruining your basement’s atmosphere and causing mold or mildew to grow, not to mention causing health problems for you and your family. Luckily, there is a way you can fight moisture, which is drying equipment!
Types of Moisture Problems
First you should understand exactly what kind of moisture problem you have. Condensation happens when there is humidity in the air that comes in contact with a cold surface. So, when you see those water droplets on your window, it’s not because it’s raining outside!
Outside air is cooled by your window, causing the moisture in that air to turn into liquid. The excess moisture in the air inside your home can cause many problems such as mold, musty odors, and even damage to your home.
Damp is very similar to condensation, though it typically refers to when that moisture has already soaked into your walls, floor, furniture, etc. Some of the side effects of having damp in your home are peeling paint, swollen wood, and musty odors.
How Drying Equipment Fight Moisture
There are multiple ways that drying equipment can reduce and fight moisture. Because there are many different types of drying equipment, you need to figure out which one will work best for your situation. Don’t worry, we’ll go over the most common types of drying equipment below.
Dehumidifiers
The most common type of drying equipment are dehumidifiers. A dehumidifier sucks the air from your room through the unit. While it is being sucked through the unit, it is cooled which causes moisture in the air to condense like on your window.
The now dry air is reheated and blows back into your room. It does this continuously so that the air floating around in your home becomes less and less humid. The moisture that was removed from the air is stored in the dehumidifier’s water reservoir.
Air Movers
Air movers do not actually dry the air like dehumidifiers do. For that reason, they are typically used with dehumidifiers. These large industrial fans create a breeze that blows across any wet surface.
When you increase airflow like this, you increase the rate of evaporation. That moisture will then move from your wet materials and into the air. Where? You guessed it! Your dehumidifier can remove it from the air.
Desiccant Dryers
Instead of cooling air to remove moisture, desiccant dryers use adsorbent materials to soak up water vapor. For that reason, these types of drying equipment work great in colder environments where your regular old refrigerant dehumidifier wouldn’t do much good. They can be great in garages or other areas that you may not typically heat.
Stopping Window and Wall Condensation
You’ve probably noticed that you typically see condensation on your windows when it’s cold out. That is because typically the glass in your window is the coldest surface in the entire room. When that humidity in the air comes in contact with your window, it has no choice but to turn into water droplets.
If you run a dehumidifier next to your window you should see quite a difference. With lower humidity in the air there is not as much moisture for water to condense out of. You should keep your indoor humidity somewhere between 30%-50%.
Believe it or not air flow also has a big impact on window condensation. If you place an air mover next to your window so that it is blowing air directly across the glass you will not have as much of an issue. The air coming off of your air mover will be slightly cooler from coming in contact with your window. However, because it is constantly being blown around it will mix with the rest of the warmer air in the room and never have the chance to form water droplets.
Getting Rid of Dampness
Unfortunately, when it comes to removing that dreaded dampness from your home you will typically have to use a little bit more muscle. That doesn’t mean that you should use all three of the above drying methods at once. It simply means that you may have to move equipment around and attack the problem from different angles.
First things first; find where the dampest area of your home is. Normally this will be your basement, bathroom, or laundry room. Place your dehumidifier in this area and let it run. Let it run until you start to see the moisture levels go down. A properly running dehumidifier can collect a surprising amount of water in just 24 hours.
If the affected area contains walls or floors that are damp you can place air movers to blow air across these surfaces.
Saving Your Belongings
If you have expensive electronics, clothing, or books you want to keep dry you might want to run a drying unit near them. Think about it; when your clothes are exposed to moisture in your closet they absorb it. Not only will they start to smell musty and grow mildew, but the clothes themselves will start to break down.
Closets are easy because you can just stick a small dehumidifier in there and call it a day. But what about that home office where you keep all of your sensitive electronic equipment or your library? By running a dehumidifier at all times in your home you can prevent your books from warped pages, corrosion on your electronics, and stuck together photos.
Healthier Living
You might already know that by reducing the amount of moisture in your home you can prevent mold from growing. Not only does mold ruin the look and smell of your home but it can cause health problems for you and your family. By running a drying unit and reducing moisture you will be able to breathe easier literally. Dust mites also love moisture and are known allergens.
Case Study: Removing Condensation with Dehumidification Equipment
Indoor Moisture Arsenal shows you exactly how drying equipment works.
Illustrating how a dehumidifier (drying equipment) reduces condensation potential in a controlled chamber:
The Heritage Science article shows how RH decreased as a dehumidifier ran, along with explaining how lowering dew point reduces condensation potential.
Notice how lowering relative humidity also increased the dew point (temperature at which water vapour in air will start to condense) above the wall surface temperature. That means any water vapour in the air has a lower chance of turning back into liquid form on that cold surface.
By running the dehumidifier, the chamber’s air became less humid which lessened the likelihood that water vapour would condense on colder surfaces.
Pointing air into the center of the chamber away from the walls accelerated drying deeper into the room.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s40494-024-01296-0
This article not only demonstrates how dehumidifiers decrease RH in an indoor space, but it also clearly shows how lowering dew point reduces condensation potential.
More FAQs: How Drying Equipment Removes Moisture From Your Home
What causes condensation and damp inside homes?
Warm air can hold more moisture than cool air. When that humid air comes into contact with a cold surface, it can't hold as much water. Water is forced to liquify, thus causing condensation (water droplets forming on cool surfaces like windows or walls). If left alone, condensation can create ideal damp and mould conditions. Damp typically refers to moisture absorbed into building materials.
Does a dehumidifier help prevent condensation?
Yes! Dehumidifiers work by drawing moist air into the device. Air is cooled, causing water vapour to liquify on cold surfaces inside the dehumidifier. Water is stored in the tank until emptied. With less moisture in the air, relative humidity decreases along with the dew point. Lower humidity means there’s less moisture available in the air that can condense on surfaces.
Does reducing humidity help with dampness?
Moisture loves to creep into porous materials and hide. But when humidity levels remain high, damp can develop and gain a foothold within those materials. You’ll want to reduce RH to prevent moisture from penetrating walls, flooring, and furniture.
Does air movement prevent condensation?
Air movers work to dry out surfaces by forcing more air to circulate. The faster air moves, the quicker water will evaporate into the air. You want moisture in the air taken OUT by a dehumidifier!
Do all types of dehumidifiers work the same way?
Most people have refrigerant (compressor) dehumidifiers in their home. They’re great at extracting moisture at regular indoor temperatures. Desiccant dehumidifiers use material that absorbs water instead of cooling air to remove moisture from the environment. Desiccant dehumidifiers perform well at lower temperatures, making them ideal for garage or basement use.
Can I run a dehumidifier and get rid of condensation immediately?
Dehumidifiers help make condensation less likely by reducing humidity levels in your home. However, they do NOT affect temperatures. You may want to insulate problem windows and eliminate cold spots by increasing ventilation (opening windows) during the colder months.
Will eliminating condensation make me healthier?
Reducing mold and dust mite habitat improves your chances! Did you know dust mites LOVE humid environments? By keeping your RH below 50%, you’re creating an uncomfortable environment for them.
Do I need a dehumidifier during summer too?
Yes and no. If you live in a very humid climate or use your bathroom a lot without ventilating (taking a steamy shower with the door closed increases moisture in the air), you’ll benefit from running a dehumidifier regularly. Otherwise, use a hygrometer to measure your home’s humidity and determine if you need a dehumidifier.
Final Words
After you have ridded your home of that nasty condensation and dampness you should try to stay on top of things. What I mean by that is that every once in a while you should run your drying equipment to help stave off moisture build up. By doing this you will help protect your home, belongings, and overall health.
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT FASHION?
COMMENT OR TAKE OUR PAGE READER SURVEY
Featured
AXE introduces Midnight Amber — a hazelnut, sandalwood, and vanilla-driven scent — alongside a redesigned spray technology that delivers lighter, more precise application, signaling a refined, quiet-luxury evolution for the brand.