Dehumidification explained

							Condensation is the process whereby water vapour in the atmosphere is returned to its
original liquid state. When moisture in this form occurs indoors, problems such as
damp and mould are caused, which can aggravate allergies and ailments within a
domestic setting and can be catastrophic within certain industrial environments.
Although such conditions are easily treated using dehumidifiers, the problem is not
uncommon. Simply increasing the indoor temperature does not alleviate the problem
long term, and is costly and energy intensive.
  Controlling the amount of moisture in the air can have many benefits. Building
dryers and dehumidifiers are able to control damp conditions and condensation by
taking moisture out of the air. They are used in a number of settings such as
  * emergencies - in the aftermath of flooding or a disaster * construction industry -
where the efficient removal of excess moisture allows building work to progress more
rapidly * to create a stable environment in other industries where the correct level of
moisture is required to store products or improve processes * domestically - to
remove a build up of damp within the home
  Powerful refrigerant dehumidifiers can handle up to 890 litres dehumidification
capacity a day, delivering high levels of drying power. In a British climate this
typically provides keep-dry areas up 13,600m3 and dry out areas up to 6,400m3.
These robust building dryers are frequently used during building construction through
the process of dehumidification to accelerate the rate of drying wet materials in a
gentle manner, alleviating possible shrinkage and cracking problems. In fact concrete
and plaster is actually improved when dried in a more controlled manner.
  The alternative to a refrigerant model is the desiccant dehumidifier which uses
moisture-absorbing materials like silica gel. This type of dehumidifier is used when
very low relative humidity is needed, work is being carried out at extremely low
temperatures, a low dew point is essential, or for when the unit has to be ducted into
the area that needs drying. Desiccant materials have a high affinity for adsorbing
water vapour - up to 10,000 m3/hr.
  In addition to these more industrial models, there are also smaller, more easily
mobile products available for use within the home and commercial (office and retail)
environment. These are primarily used to control moisture by preventing damp and
condensation caused by everyday activities.
  In addition to a dehumidifier, some situations will also require an air mover too. Air
movers dry the superficial traces of water to ensure better performance out of the
dehumidifier
  Dehumidifiers have a huge number of applications whether it be planned solutions
such as delivering a longer life for operating equipment and increasing productivity,
or resolving ongoing damp issues within property & building or emergencies situation
such as flooding.
  Article submitted by Steve Reeve, Sales Director at Andrew Sykes. Andrews Sykes
is the UK's largest specialist hire company, with over 25 years experience. Serving
virtually all industry sectors using machinery sourced from the world’s top
manufacturers.