Creating and maintaining the relative humidity (RH) needed in a vast array of commercial industries and industrial spaces often requires the use of a heavy-duty industrial dehumidifier. While the problem is easily identified, the right solution may take some research. What type of dehumidifier is needed? How powerful should an industrial dehumidifier be? What size commercial dehumidifier is necessary to handle the job?
There are basically three types of industrial dehumidifiers: Refrigerant (Compressor), Low-Grain Refrigerant (LGR), and Desiccant dehumidifiers. You can use the following links to jump to a particular type.
- Refrigerant (Compressor) Dehumidifiers
- Low-Grain Refrigerant (LGR) Dehumidifiers
- Desiccant Dehumidifiers
- What is AHAM and Saturation?
Refrigerant Dehumidifiers
This type of industrial dehumidifier uses a compressor and refrigerant, drawing moist air over a cold evaporator coil to condense the water contained in the air. The condenser coil re-warms the dried air and releases it back into the room. These machines require some type of drain system to remove the condensed moisture (condensate) as it builds up.
Many are also portable and stackable, making them easy to move or transport when necessary. Industrial refrigerant dehumidifiers come in a variety of sizes to accommodate small spaces and large areas that need consistent moisture control.
- Crawl Spaces
- Indoor Grow Rooms & Vertical Farming Spaces
- Warehouse and Equipment Storage
- Indoor Pools, including Therapy Pool Rooms
- Water Damage Restoration
Many refrigerant dehumidifiers also have an internal condensate pump, which is helpful for moving condensate vertically to a drainage area. Quest dehumidifiers are especially well-suited for indoor growing applications and can be installed overhead using a hanging kit when floor space is limited.
Dehumidifiers that are stackable or can be daisy-chained together are ideal for larger jobs where more than one unit is needed.
Low-Grain Refrigerant Dehumidifiers
These machines operate similarly to regular refrigerant models, but use a special low-grain refrigerant plus a double cooling internal process, which pre-cools the air, allowing them to operate at lower temperatures, usually down to 33 degrees F. This also allows LGR dehumidifiers to continue to remove water below 55 grains per pound (GPP), and even below 40 GPP, depending on the model, resulting in higher operating efficiency. These units also require condensate draining.
Industrial Low-Grain Refrigerant (LGR) Dehumidifiers are the top choice for use in water damage restoration projects. These are available as freestanding models or portable units, with or without internal condensate pumps, and sized for a variety of spaces.
- Water Damage Restoration
- Wood Restoration Projects
- Large Construction Drying Projects
- Drying Dense Materials
Look for LGR models that also feature Wi-Fi or Bluetooth capabilities for ease of on-site and remote control of dehumidifier set-points, maintenance issues, and job hours. Dri-Eaz LGR dehumidifiers are Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled with their Command Hub technology for data logging and tracking over multiple units and jobsites.
Desiccant Dehumidifiers
Able to function effectively at sub-zero temperatures, these dehumidifiers use a desiccant wheel of silica gel and the process of adsorption to remove water from incoming air. Some air is retained, heated, and used to regenerate the wheel as it revolves slowly, then is released back into the air. No refrigerant is used in this type and no condensate is collected or needs draining.
Because desiccant dehumidifiers use a different process to remove moisture from the air without the use of a refrigerant, they can effectively dehumidify in sub-zero temperatures and hostile environments. They are also capable of achieving very low relative humidity—less than 35 percent RH—valuable for environments that require a high dry-air quality.
- Boating & Marine Environments
- Paper & Printing Industry
- Storage & Packing Facilities
- Pharmaceuticals
- Preservation & Archival Facilities
- Food Packaging & Processing
These versatile machines are usually smaller and lighter-weight than refrigerant models, making them easily portable and able to fit into tight spaces such as electronic storage rooms and boats. Ecor Pro desiccant dehumidifiers feature all stainless-steel construction with sizes that can efficiently dehumidify spaces from 500 to 3,500 square feet.
What is AHAM and Saturation?
The performance of dehumidifiers is usually measured in AHAM or in saturation, sometimes both.
- AHAM: This actually stands for Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, an organization dating back to 1915, organized to establish a forum for action in public policy and standards for manufacturers. In relation to industrial dehumidifiers, AHAM ratings are measured at what are considered “average conditions”: 60% humidity and 80 degrees Fahrenheit
- Saturation: These ratings are taken at 90% humidity and 90 degrees Fahrenheit, which are really considered to be extreme conditions. This rating is useful as an idea of a unit’s maximum water removal capacity.
Learn More About Industrial Dehumidifiers
While this article covers some basic information and uses for industrial dehumidifiers, you may want to learn more about specific uses or types of units. Take a look at these additional resources on our site.
- Desiccant Dehumidifier FAQ’s
- Mitigating Humidity Issues in Industrial Spaces
- How to Deal with Flooding & Why Clean Up is Important
- Desiccant vs. Refrigerant Dehumidifiers: Which is Best for You?
- Best Water Damage Restoration Equipment
Visit Our Industrial Dehumidifier Knowledge Center | Shop All Industrial Dehumidifiers
In Summary
Industrial dehumidifiers operate in different ways and are useful in a wide variety of commercial applications. Whether you need to control humidity in very low temperatures, remove moisture from storage spaces or warehouses, or require multiple units for your water damage restoration business, there is a heavy-duty, reliable commercial dehumidifier to fit the situation.
For additional help or information, please give our friendly customer service a call at 1-800-934-9194, and they will be happy to help you determine which dehumidifier is right for you. If you need to place a bulk purchase order, please call our Business Sales team at 770-224-7069 or follow this link to request a quote.
