When it comes to dehumidification, adsorption technology offers significant advantages over the traditional condensation method.
Designed for the water damage service industry: CL26 Adsorption Dehumidifier
- Energy Efficiency: Adsorption technology can save up to 54% in energy compared to conventional condensation dehumidifiers. This efficiency reduces operational costs and environmental impact.
- Lightweight Design: Adsorption units are up to 10 times lighter than condensation models, making them easier to handle and transport.
- Faster Drying: Adsorption dehumidifiers provide up to 30% faster drying times, helping to accelerate damage repair processes.
- Ideal for Northern Regions: Adsorption technology is particularly effective in cooler climates, such as those north of Milan, where lower temperatures make it more efficient.
- Simplified Logistics: These units are compact and do not require a van with a lift, making them easy to store and transport with just a combi car.
- Cost-Effective Performance: Despite their small size, adsorption units deliver high performance, offering a cost-effective solution for dehumidification needs.
Understanding Humidity and Energy Consumption
Industry standards recommend maintaining a relative humidity (RH) of 30-50% when addressing water damage in buildings. To compare the efficiency of Cotes CL-26 dehumidifiers with conventional condensation units, we analysed energy consumption for removing one litre of moisture at various temperatures and RH levels (15°C, 20°C, and 25°C with RH of 40%, 50%, and 60%).
Key Findings:
- The Cotes CL26 consistently shows lower energy consumption across most temperature and RH combinations.
- At 20°C with RH of 40%, the CL26 can save up to 54% in energy compared to condensation units.
- For higher temperatures and RH levels, condensation units may be more suitable.
Recommended Humidity Levels for Effective Drying
We have analysed climate data to determine the ideal relative humidity levels for various regions during both summer and winter. This scientific approach helps us draw informed conclusions about the most effective dehumidification methods for different conditions.
- Outside Humidity: Average RH outside.
- Indoor Humidity Without Moisture Load: RH indoors with outside air adjusted to room temperature.
- Indoor Humidity With Moisture Load: Relative humidity in houses considering moisture sources like cooking and washing, reflecting equilibrium moisture content (EMC).
- Recommended Drying Conditions: To effectively return to balanced humidity levels, the air should be 5-10% drier than before the damage. This ensures faster and more efficient drying.
| * | Meteornorm weather data |
| ** | Calculated relative humidity if outside air is heated to 20°C |
| *** | Addendum of household moisture load, according to standard DIN EN ISO 13788, resulting in a standard for household relative humidity. |
| **** | Recommended humidity level for drying back to normal |
What is Equilibrium Moisture Content (EMC) in Drying and why is it important?
Recommended Humidity for Drying Back to Normal Conditions: To effectively return to balanced humidity levels, known as Equilibrium Moisture Content (EMC), it’s crucial to dry the surrounding air. EMC represents the point where the material's moisture content is in balance with the surrounding environment. If the air remains as humid as it was before the damage, achieving this balance would take an infinite amount of time.
To expedite the drying process, the relative humidity of the air should be lower than it was before the damage. We recommend setting the air to be 5-10% drier than it was initially. This approach enhances the air’s drying potential and speeds up the restoration process—similar to how you can't dry a table with a wet dishcloth.
Key finding:
Most European cities have RH levels below 60%, where adsorption technology is the most energy-efficient option (highlighted in green). Only one region during summer exceeds 60% RH, where condensation might be more appropriate. For the majority of cases, adsorption technology is the optimal choice.
Achieve 30% Faster drying
This graph illustrates the time needed to reduce relative humidity in materials from 90% (post-damage) to 75% (pre-damage).
Managing Humidity Levels for Effective Drying After Water Damage
Proper humidity control is crucial when drying out areas affected by water damage. While lower humidity helps speed up drying, overly dry conditions can cause materials, especially wood, to crack.
To balance these needs:
- Winter: Maintain a temperature of 20°C and 40% humidity.
- Summer: Aim for 20-23°C and 45-50% humidity.
This range removes moisture effectively without overly drying materials. For even better results, ensure good ventilation to reduce the risk of cracking. American standards suggest a flow rate of 3 m/s for wet surfaces and 0.75 m/s for dry surfaces.
This comparison shows the clear efficiency differences between adsorption at 40% RH and condensation at 55% RH. Adsorption technology is clearly faster, highlighting the number of days until materials are dry.
Calculation source: Udtørring af byggematerialer | BYG-ERFA
In newly constructed buildings, reducing relative humidity to 30% can cut drying times by up to 47%.
This comparison shows the clear efficiency differences between adsorption at 30% RH and condensation at 55% RH. Adsorption technology is clearly faster, highlighting the number of days until materials are dry.
Moisture often gets trapped in materials like bricks and flooring in new builds. Installing floors and wallpaper before the building is fully dried can lead to issues. It's crucial to thoroughly dry the structure before proceeding with these installations.
Without floors, wooden ceilings, and furniture, achieving lower humidity levels becomes easier. For instance, while a customer achieved 30% humidity, aiming for 20% could be even more effective. Such low humidity can reduce drying times by half compared to condensation methods, enabling earlier use of the building.
Strong in ergonomics and safety
Weight Efficiency:
Adsorption dehumidifiers are far more weight-efficient. For instance, at 20°C and 40% relative humidity, you would need ten times the weight in condensation dehumidifiers to achieve the same results.
Safe Handling:
Equipment weighing more than 11 kg can be harmful to carry. For devices over 20 kg, cranes and moving gear are required.
For more information or to explore how the Cotes Adsorption Dehumidifier CL26 + Window Kit can fulfil your requirements, please get in touch with us.