Humidity could be damaging your building. Here's how to stop it.

The key to keeping your building at its best lies in controlling humidity levels and maintaining air quality. In this article, you will learn how the right dehumidification set up can help you do just that.

Why is it so important to control humidity levels in buildings?

Although humidity is something that easily goes unnoticed, it’s one of the most common causes of damage to buildings and commercial spaces, inside and out.

Over time, even the toughest materials can be sensitive to barely noticeable amounts of moisture in the air. And, as with most problems, prevention is better than cure. Installing a dehumidifier will help you regulate the conditions inside your building by circulating clean air at the perfect humidity levels.

3 reasons to invest in a dehumidifier:

1. Protecting buildings from corrosion
   When moisture is picked up in the air, it can easily find its way onto metal fittings, doors, machinery and equipment, leading to corrosion. This problem is accelerated by condensation caused by cooking, the use of hot water or sudden influxes of people.
   
   Most metals begin to rust at around 40% relative humidity (RH).
   

2. Ensuring staff and customer safety
   Humidity inside buildings like offices, supermarkets, restaurants and other commercial spaces can have a serious effect on the health and wellbeing of employees and customers. Water vapour that attaches itself to surfaces quickly becomes a breeding ground for mould and bacteria which release spores that could lead to allergic reactions, breathing difficulties and other illnesses. If left untreated, mould and bacteria is likely to get worse over time until your building becomes unsafe (not to mention unpleasant looking).
   
   To prevent the growth of mould and the spread of infectious bacteria, RH levels should be kept between 30% and 50%.
   

3. Drying clothing and equipment
   Storing wet materials in unventilated spaces will lead to mildew and faster deterioration over time. At offices and schools in cold climates, drying rooms are in constant use throughout the winter months. With a dehumidifier installed, wet coats, cycling gear and umbrellas from the daily commute can dry-off by the end of the day, with humidity kept well away from working areas.
   
   Compared to traditional heat and ventilation energy, cost savings of 75% are not unusual for dehumidifier-powered drying rooms.

How our dehumidifiers work

Calorex dehumidifiers circulate humid air inside buildings to stop condensation forming on surfaces, clothing and equipment. Moisture is then removed from the air as it filters through the system.

The process

• Damp air is drawn into the dehumidifier and across a refrigerated coil

• The air is cooled below its dew point, condensing the water vapour

• Latent heat energy is recovered and re-used

• Cooled air passes across the condenser and reheated

• The warm dry air is then returned to the room
  

Calorex dehumidifiers are available in a range of sizes to suit any space. Effectively, they allow you to turn any room into a drying room. And because the units also have combined heating and drying, there is no need for separate heaters, thermostats, fans and extraction systems.

Cost savings of up to 75% compared to traditional ventilation

As well as preventing the need to continuously reheat incoming air, our dehumidifiers are able to take energy from moisture in the room and convert it to useful heat that accelerates the drying process.

This means they can achieve exceptional efficiency, especially when compared to drying rooms and buildings using heat alone. In fact, every unit of energy our dehumidifiers consume is converted into 2.5 times that amount in usable heat.

You’ll find Calorex dehumidifiers in:

• Museums and historical buildings

• Modular buildings

• Office spaces

• Store rooms

• Drying rooms

• Activities centres

• Indoor swimming pools

• Factories/machine rooms

• Leisure facilities
  

Calorex dehumidifiers are quick and simple to install and come with expert support from our in-house applications department and international service network. Talk to our team today to find out more.