Dehumidifiers, are they worth running? How big?

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timmmay

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#1956857 14-Feb-2018 10:26

Air conditioners aren't mean to improve air quality, they're meant to heat or cool. I also have a ventilation system that helps air quality. You can get combined systems but they're more expensive.

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Dairyxox

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#1956864 14-Feb-2018 10:36

TeaLeaf:

Dairyxox:

I don't think a dehumidifier is worth it.

It would be better to get an air conditioner unit.

This isnt about heat its about humidity and health.

What good is a non reverse cycle portable air con to me in winter when its still the same humidity, hence why we allow as a nation our poor to have chidren die of breathing disorders related to dank conditions. Im sure air con would have helped them.

Ventilation is the key. Something as simple as running a simple 7-12v 80-120mm exhausting fan can make a massive difference, and costs bugger all energy.

tkgit

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#1956882 14-Feb-2018 10:52

TeaLeaf:

tkgit:

if your home don't have AC and/or HRV(or humidity control) you have to use dehumidifier,

Thank you, I agree totally. Im not arguing some people cant handle high 20s heat and desire air con for a few weeks a year.

Those reverse cycle units that sit on the wall that were suggested? NO THANKS. That doesnt improve quality of air.

I owned a beautiful place overlooking a surf resort in NSW. It was a town house, but like my Mrs parents place it was made all with stone, it makes such a huge difference to not just heat by condensation in the walls. the floors were italian Marble and the view from the upstairs Balcony or even my Bedroom was amazing, but some days it was 40 degrees outside, so on went the AC, but the AC is ducted into every room through the roof.

I didnt have a dehumidifying system but being in a place where sunlight annoys you after a while I never saw the likes of mould, and 17 was middle of winter.

NZ is DANK. We need to lift our game on our thoughts of home air quality imo.

totally agree,

FYI, I'm in Dunedin,

sometime 35degC daylight suddenly 8degC in the night in the summer,

then 10degC - 0degC in late winter

TeaLeaf

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#1957011 14-Feb-2018 12:30

Yep reverse cycle heat pumps can be ok if you OWN the home as long as you have venthilate. I just think their really expensive. The good ones do dehumidify and some can do air purification, but clearly not spot cleaning like a dehumidifier.

The ultimate is ducted air con with one of those fancy air recycle purifiers. But again, im not putting that in my landlords home, F him, hes getting rich as it is the prik.

My one concern is air flow, how do I get air flow with the dehumidifier, I want to open the windows and let some fresh air in, I just dont know how much the fresh air will impact my dehumidification? Its not 1:1 as what you are dehumidifying is your house and objects not the air, thats not the real point of it all.

So I dont know what process to follow. Air the house out during the night when its cool and run the dehumidifier in bad spots of the house as needed?

TeaLeaf

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#1958123 14-Feb-2018 16:15

With SOO much consumer lending out there and we havnt even paid off the trilions we borried to buffer our selves from the GFC, NZ is sitting on a Double Mortgage Bubble, which if in ratio is much scarier than the American collapse.

So Im renting for a bit, however, Ive thought, i could always ask the landlord if I can install a heat pump and remove it when I leave.

Anyone installed one? Are they fairly DIY?

What I like a about the panasonics is they have a mode that doesnt over dehumidify (im sure others do to) but also air purifying (although Id like to know that this is a filter not a gimmick).

At $1k, they arent much more. Only thing is I think you still need a dehumidifier for spot dehumidification. Thats what the experts online seem to recommend.

Also Im very much a blankets person to save money in winter which is where the dehumidifier will save a lot of money vs heat pump.

Hmmm, I might wait it out until next year and see if Im buying or still waiting for this big Pimple to pop. In no rush, had my fill in Aus and then NZ :-). Leave the old people carrying the risk, if they going to own $20m houses and be cheeky enough to claim pensions, they deserve the risk of losing 50% of their assetts. Or Jacinda will listen to somebody instead of pretending to have a brain, and implement Mr Morgans policy of assett testing the pension. OH getting off topic lol.

TeaLeaf

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#1958134 14-Feb-2018 16:38

This looks like a good portable, does both heat and cool and dehumidity (although as always i worry it might go a bit far which is why i liked the panasonic wall unit).

https://atlantic.nz/dados-reverse-cycle-portable-air-conditioner/

timmmay

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#1958144 14-Feb-2018 16:50

There are portable heat pumps. You couldn't reasonably install a standard one and remove when you leave, it's a specialist job I think. They often need high current wiring direct to the switchboard. With two heat pumps, proper ventilation, and fans to remove moisture in bathroom (BIG fan not the kind you buy at bunnings) and kitchen we've not needed a dehumidifier. A ground cloth under the house got rid of a lot of moisture.

richms

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#1958259 14-Feb-2018 19:04

TeaLeaf:

The ultimate is ducted air con with one of those fancy air recycle purifiers. But again, im not putting that in my landlords home, F him, hes getting rich as it is the prik.

Bitter much?

Richard rich.ms

lNomNoml

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#1958270 14-Feb-2018 19:16

Not much us renters can do, the selection of portable aircon is nonexistant. :(

richms

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#1958278 14-Feb-2018 19:22

lNomNoml:

Not much us renters can do, the selection of portable aircon is nonexistant. :(

No split ones available here because of some law about refrigiration having to be done by licensed people, so there is just the crappy single box ones with the hose really available. Not even a range of window mount ones which are very very common in the US for people renting.

Richard rich.ms

TeaLeaf

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#1958395 15-Feb-2018 07:55

richms:

TeaLeaf:

The ultimate is ducted air con with one of those fancy air recycle purifiers. But again, im not putting that in my landlords home, F him, hes getting rich as it is the prik.

Bitter much?

Yep, very much. Hes an idiot who doesnt realise he and us fellow humans are still at the basis animals. He floats around in a cloud of thinking about life like its garunteed he will retire, not die early. Hes hard to explain, just a really low human being.

As a landlord myself, some of the stuff he does is both illegal and just really immoral. Keep your tenants happy, because if the market plummets which its been tetering on doing and still may, he will do good by long term tenants that treat the place like its their own.

Anyway, I dont give him much thought until just then, hes not worth it.

As for portable air cons, the one I linked is very well thought of, has a dehumidifying function and I believe a washable filter. For $899 its the perfect renters air con, just make sure you have access for the drainage (not easy if you are up 20 flights etc)

TeaLeaf

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#1958400 15-Feb-2018 08:03

richms:

[Not even a range of window mount ones which are very very common in the US for people renting.

Oh they look so ghetto haha. But often more powerful than the heat pump ones that you hang on the wall. Ducted air con is the only way to go if you own, along with a powerful air purifier. No ugly white thing hanging on the wall moving about and a noisey box outside on often the balcony.

I had 2 box ones in a brick and tile 3 bedroom (massive garage/rumpus) I renovated in Bris. They were great, because they were so powerful I could run them on low in 45 degrees, perhaps over kill. But thats what was used back in the day. I soon replaced them with ducted air con and ran a massive plate glass window in the living room overlooking the ocean.

The wall hanging ones you get in Baches here are good for the fatc they can easily be relocated and of course you can get ones over powered for the room its in so the air will creep down the hall into the rooms so you dont need two.

Id probably rarely use air con in summer, but the reverse cycle in winter would keep me at room temp 24/7.

TeaLeaf

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#1958413 15-Feb-2018 08:24

I was wrong, it only needs drainage when you used as a dehumidifier.

Keep in mind 30sqm is not big, but for renters its a good 3 in 1 unit.

https://atlantic.nz/dados-reverse-cycle-portable-air-conditioner/

TeaLeaf

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#1958417 15-Feb-2018 08:30

Ive seen a similar dimplex on trademe currently around $450, but to be honest its about 1.5kw, 4kw of the Atlantis is much stronger.

1101

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#1958459 15-Feb-2018 09:54

Portable aircon : they work, they are VERY inefficient
You need to duct the exausted/hot air outside. That means opening a window or door for the large exhaust tube
Guess what, for every litre of exausted hot air pumped outide, a litre of hot/damp outside air comes in.
These things pump alot of exhaust air
I used to have a "portable" aircon , I'd leave it on a timer pointed at my bed for long enough for me to get to sleep.
I never replaced it when it died

You can get split portable aircons, but they arnt so common.
You still need to have doors or windows open with those,to put the split portion outside, but doors dont need to be opened as much as the pipe is smaller

Ive 2 dehumidifiers in 2 rooms . Thats the best compromise I found. To dehumidify the whole house would cost to much in power
Anything that can get moldy I put in those rooms
Generally, dont expect a single dehumidifier to be enough for a whole house.
Leaving windows & doors open during the day(to help remove dampness) in just not an option when Im at work.
Windows open in the evening helps somewhat, but its not enough to get rid of damp.

Lastly, if you buy a dehumidifier, dont bother with the ones that have stupidly small collection tanks.

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