Installing a drying room could save your building

As moisture evaporates from wet materials, water vapour will remain in the air and prolong the drying process. In this humid environment, the air will become saturated until it can hold no more moisture. As the temperature drops, or if the water vapour comes into contact with a surface that's colder than the atmosphere, the moisture in the air will be released in the form of condensation.

Water droplets on surfaces create the ideal conditions for mould and mildew which can deteriorate clothing left in the room and quickly spread throughout a building. As it takes hold, mould releases toxic spores that pose a serious health risk, leading to skin irritation, severe coughing and respiratory problems.

There is not much that can be done about bad weather, but being able to dry clothes quickly and efficiently, while completely removing moisture from the atmosphere, means that the problems caused by humidity and condensation can be prevented.

Why not just turn up the heating?

Heat will lift moisture from clothing and equipment, but in an unventilated space, it will only add to the humidity levels.

As air warms up, it is able to hold a higher water content. The amount of moisture in the air at a particular temperature is measured in relative humidity (RH) as a percentage. When the air cools down, or when it can hold no more water at the current temperature, RH levels will reach 100% or, ‘dew point’. This is when water droplets are released and condensation forms.

How a Calorex dehumidifier works

By combining heating with dehumidification, high-performance systems from Calorex will circulate humid air throughout a space, physically removing moisture from the air as it flows through the system. To accelerate the drying process, they will also convert the energy taken out of the room as moisture to provide useful heat. That means faster drying and cheaper bills.

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 at the required humidity

Key benefits:

• Drying efficiency
  By combining both heat and ventilation, Calorex dehumidifiers can achieve rapid drying times and have wet clothing ready to use by the end of the day, even when the drying room is filled with equipment.
  

• Cost savings
  By using energy taken from the air as moisture, Calorex dehumidifiers can convert 2.5 times the amount of reusable heat for every unit of energy consumed. Compared to traditional heat and ventilation systems, this can often equate to cost savings of 75%.
  

• Simple installation
  With a Calorex dehumidifier, almost any part of the building can become a drying room. Installation is quick and straightforward, with no need for separate heaters, fans or extraction systems. A power supply, drainage and the right positioning are all that is required.

Calorex dehumidifiers come in a range of sizes and capacities to suit any facility. To find out about the options available, installation and how to get the best results, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team.