If you have a room that is air conditioned, it should not need a dehumidifier -- the air conditioner should be doing the dehumidifying for you.

A dehumidifier works on the same principal as a refrigerator. Moisture laden air is drawn into the dehumidifier and is passed over a cold coil (evaporator). The warm damp air then condenses on the cold coil into water droplets, which pass into the water container. The air is then passed over the warm coil (condenser) and is expelled from the dehumidifier.

In cold conditions the water accumulating on the cold coil may freeze. For this reason it is important that the dehumidifier has a Hot Gas Defrost system. This very simply enables the dehumidifier to transfer hot gases into the cold coil, thus melting any moisture that may have frozen. Without a system of this type the dehumidifier must defrost itself (only achievable when temperatures rise) or employ an expensive to run, heavy and noisy heating system.

As the dehumidifier lowers the humidity, it will start to remove dampness that has accumulated in the wall linings, furnishings and bedding. For this reason it is important to run the dehumidifier constantly for the first few weeks, particularly in very damp situations. Once the desired humidity levels are reached the dehumidifier should be used to maintain this humidity level.

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HOW DOES A HUMIDIFIER WORK?

o Whole –house humidifiers work like the old-fashioned room humidifier: they put moisture into the air. But whole-house humidifiers use water mist, instead of steam, and they keep the entire house at the perfect humidity level. A humidifier is installed in the ductwork, right beside your furnace. Just select the desired amount of humidity and enjoy the moist air that circulates through your home this winter.

What is Humidity?

What Humidity range is recommended for my home?

Between 40-70% RH.

My dehumidifier only removes small amounts of moisture in cold weather. Why?

A dehumidifier's ability to remove moisture is dependent firstly on the amount of moisture in the Air. If dehumidification has reduced the humidity to a low level, less moisture can be removed from the air. It is also more difficult to remove moisture from cold air than warm air.

I use a dehumidifier, but why is there still condensation on the windows in the mornings?

The dehumidifier can take a few weeks to remove the moisture in your home to an acceptable level. Setting the unit to high and leaving it on 24 hours a day best does this. We also recommend the unit be moved from room to room. After a few weeks the unit can then be set to one of the auto modes 50/60/70% and this will maintain the humidity to your desired level. On cold mornings there often is a small amount of condensation on the windows but this will evaporate quickly.

On cold nights it is important to have the dehumidifier running whilst the house is warm - this will result in more moisture being removed than if you start the dehumidifier before you go to bed, and will result in less condensation forming on the windows.

Can I leave my Dehumidifier turned on 24 hours a day?

The unit can be left running unattended. It will switch off automatically when the tank gets full or the required humidity is reached.

Why does the noise level fluctuate?

During operation the compressor in the unit will turn on and off. This will be noticed by an increase in volume.

Why does the defrost lamp light up and the fan stop?

When the room temperature falls below 15 degrees C, the unit may go into defrost mode. Defrost mode will occur every 30 minutes approx, and will last for a few minutes. During defrost mode the fan will stop but the compressor will keep going.

Can I drink the water collected in the tank?

It is not advisable to drink this water as dust and other impurities can collect in the tank. This water however is excellent for houseplants.

My dehumidifier is noisy - is it faulty?

It is important to remember that all dehumidifiers make a noise due to compressors and fans operating. Mitsubishi Oasis dehumidifiers are in fact the quietest products available in NZ. However, they do still make a noise. Noise levels are dependent on many factors. Place the unit on a firm, level surface. A unit placed on a wooden floor will make more noise than a unit on carpet.

Damage during transportation in our experience is the most common reason for excessive noise - it is important that your dehumidifier be handled carefully during transportation and should always be transported upright. The unit will also make more noise when used on a high fan speed setting.

Nothing turns a hot day more oppressive than high humidity. In rooms that don't really merit an air conditioner, or to cut down on the use of an air conditioner, simply run a dehumidifier to make living more bearable.

The recommended humidity level inside your home during the summer is around 40-50%, and high indoor humidity can make you uncomfortable and adversely affect your home. Musty smells, peeling wallpaper, warped wood, blistering paint and moisture dripping from water pipes indicate excessive humidity and the need for a dehumidifier.

Dehumidifiers remove excess humidity by drawing moist room air over cold refrigerated coils. The moisture in the air condenses into droplets as it passes over the cold surfaces in the dehumidifier and into a container. "Dried" air then returns to the room at approximately its original temperature. For best results, the unit should be located in an area closed to outdoor air and where air movement in and out of the unit is not restricted.

To get the most out of a dehumidifier, clean its coils every year and frequently remove the collected water. Keep the unit clear of windows and doors where dehumidified air will leak out. Finally, to get maximum airflow, position it away from windows, walls and large furniture, like sofas or dressers.

If you frequently smell musty odors or feel damp spots on the floors or walls of your basement, laundry room, or storage area during warm, humid weather, you need a dehumidifier.

The recommended humidity level inside your home during the summer is around 40-50%, and very humid conditions over an extended period can leave you uncomfortable and adversely affect your home. Musty smells, peeling wallpaper, warped wood, rusting tools, blistered paint and moisture dripping from pipes are signs of excessive humidity. These conditions are most common during spring and summer.

Dehumidifiers remove excess humidity by drawing moist room air over cold refrigerated coils. The moisture in the air condenses into droplets as it passes over the cold surfaces in the dehumidifier and into a container. "Dried" air then returns to the room at approximately its original temperature. For best results, the unit should be located in an area closed to outdoor air and where air movement in and out of the unit is not restricted.

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Here are some features to look for on many of today's models:

• Automatic turn-off switch that shuts unit off when container is full
  
• Signal light indicating that container is full
  
• Adjustable "fill" control that stops unit at the desired "fill" level
  
• Automatic humidistat that maintains the desired humidity level
  
• Automatic defrost control which shuts compressor off when freeze-up develops and turns it on again when ice is melted. (This occurs when temperature and relative humidity are low.)
  
• Combination dehumidifier/heater to warm a room that tends to be chilly frequently
  
• Quiet-running compressors and fans
  
• Easy-to-reach controls
  
• Easy-to-clean grille, condenser coil and container
  
• Rustproof, spill-proof container with built-in handles for portability
  
• Drain-hose fitting to let water run continuously to a convenient drain
  
• Wheels or rollers for easy mobility
  
• Rust-resistant cabinet.
  
• While control or built-in features may increase a model's convenience of operation, they also raise its price. Consider each option carefully before you decide it is worth purchasing. But the most important consideration is "water removal capacity," the number of pints of water removed from the air in 24 hours.

Energy efficiency is important in dehumidifiers. Differences of only 85 watts may add 20 kWh daily to your summer electric bill. Some models let the fan run continuously to circulate air back to the humidistat. Since in most situations the moisture content will be the same throughout the enclosed area being treated, this may be an unnecessary energy expense.

Place the dehumidifier at least 6 inches from the nearest wall where air can flow freely to and from all sides. Avoid locating it in a room corner or near a large piece of furniture. Shut all doors and windows to the area to be dehumidified.

For the first few days of operation, turn the humidistat, if the model has one, to drier or "extra dry." This aids moisture removal from furnishings as well as room air. After the area has dried, adjust the humidistat to your particular comfort level.

Before you empty the water pan or bucket, turn the machine off and also disconnect the power cord. This eliminates any possibility of electric shock if you spill water and there is a fault in the grounding system of the unit or your home wiring. Be sure the area, the unit, and you are dry before you reconnect the cord.

Dehumidifiers operate most effectively at air temperatures about 70 F. At temperatures below 65 F frost may form on the coils (which are kept cold to condense as much moisture as possible). If this happens, shut it off, and wait for it to defrost before running again. Frost cuts down air circulation so the dehumidifying process does not work, and may damage the coils. This problem usually occurs in cool basements in spring or fall; check the appliance if temperature hovers near that point.

As water condenses out of the air, heat is given off, raising the temperature slightly in the area around the appliance. This warmer air results in a lower relative humidity.

Cleaning

Dehumidifiers need little upkeep or care. The following simple procedures are sufficient:

Always unplug the power cord before cleaning the unit. For regular cleaning, dust the grilles or louvers with a soft brush or the dusting attachment of a vacuum cleaner. Either dust the cabinet or wipe it with a damp cloth. Every few weeks, scrub the inside of the water container with a sponge or soft cloth and a mild detergent to discourage the growth of mold, mildew, or bacteria. At least once each season, remove all dust and lint from the cold coils with a soft brush.

Always plug a dehumidifier into a three hole grounded outlet. If there is none where you want to put the unit, make sure you install one properly. Using extension cords is not advised because if an extension rests on a damp floor or if water spills on it, is a shock hazard. If you must use an extension cord, be sure it has a three-hole receptacle and three-prong plug for grounding. If a three-hole, grounded outlet is not available, convert it following our instructions and grounding properly. This is particularly important for a dehumidifier because it may be operated on a damp floor that could conduct electricity and because it collects water, which could spill and cause an electrical accident. Never remove the third prong from a dehumidifier plug; to do so invites an electrical accident.

A dehumidifier makes use of the fact that water tends to be individual gas molecules in the air at higher temperatures but condensed liquid molecules on surfaces at lower temperatures. At its heart, a dehumidifier is basically a heat pump, one that transfers heat from one surface to another. Its components are almost identical to those in an air conditioner or refrigerator: a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator. The evaporator acts as the cold surface, the source of heat, and the condenser acts as the hot surface, the destination for that heat.

When the unit is operating and pumping heat, the evaporator becomes cold and the condenser becomes hot. A fan blows warm, moist air from the room through the evaporator coils and that air's temperature drops. This temperature drop changes the behavior of water molecules in the air. When the air and its surroundings were warm, any water molecule that accidentally bumped into a surface could easy return to the air. Thus while water molecules were always landing on surfaces or taking off, the balance was in favor of being in the air. But once the air and its surroundings become cold, any water molecules that bump into a surface tend to stay there. Water molecules are still landing on surfaces and taking off, but the balance is in favor of staying on the surface as either liquid water or solid ice. That's why dew or frost form when warm moist air encounters cold ground. In the dehumidifier, much of the air's water ends up dripping down the coils of the evaporator into a collection basin.

All that remains is for the dehumidifier to rewarm the air. It does this by passing the air through the condenser coils. The thermal energy that was removed from the air by the evaporator is returned to it by the condenser. In fact, the air emerges slightly hotter than before, in part because it now contains all of the energy used to operate the dehumidifier and in part because condensing moisture into water releases energy. So the dehumidifier is using temperature changes to separate water and air.

Distilled water is created by boiling water, which releases steam. This steam is then condensed, forming liquid water that is collected in a clean container. This process not only produces pure water since any minerals or other substances in the water are left behind, but also the heat sterilizes the water so that live fungal and bacterial pathogens are not present in the distilled water.

A dehumidifier works by simply condensing water from the air (from the water vapor that is present in household air) and collecting it. Since this does not involve boiling the water, the water is not sterilized. In fact, older dehumidifiers, which may not have been cleaned out, can feature many fungal spores in the equipment and in the water that is collected (since fungal spores are naturally found in damp air anyway).

So, while the water collected in the dehumidifier may not contain problematic minerals and chemicals, such as sodium or chlorine, that might be in your town water supply, it can contain high levels of microbial contamination and it not suitable for drinking or for hydroponic systems--unless it is boiled first.

Humidifiers & Dehumidifiers Energy saving tips Purchase a low wattage unit. If you’re comparing dehumidifiers with the same capacity, check the wattages on the nameplates. A lower wattage unit that does the same job is the better value. Humidity makes you feel warmer. Use a humidifier in the colder months. With the proper humidity level, you’ll be able to turn your thermostat down to a lower temperature, save energy and still feel comfortable. Dehumidifiers remove moisture. Use a dehumidifier in the warm, humid months to remove moisture from the air. A dehumidifier works best when air can circulate freely through it. Place it away from walls and bulky furniture. Reducing moisture and humidity in your home. Place dehumidifier in the area with the highest humidity. For safety reasons, don’t place it directly in water or near your sump pump. Check for frost build-up. If your unit is running in temperatures less than 70º F, check it occasionally to see if frost is building up on the coils. If so, turn the unit off until the frost melts and the room is warmer. Clean the unit. Dust or vacuum the dehumidifier at least once a year before you plug it in. If your unit is difficult to clean, check the owner’s manual.

How do humidifiers work and what is the daily output of water? Are they silent? There are two basic types of humidifiers, passover and heated. IN the case of the passover models, air passes over the surface of the water in the humidifier and gains humidity. A passover humidifier is completely silent and actually decreases slightly the noise transmitted thru the hose.

The amount of water used per night is a function of the temperature and humidity of the air coming from the humidifer, the water temperature in the humidifier, the amount of air flow, and the amount of water surface area the humdifier provides. Most users will find they have used 1/4 to 1/2 cup during a night. This is usually enough to keep the airway moist and comfortable. A heated humidifier greatly improves the amount of water vapor being delivered to the user.

Air can only hold so much moisture for a given air temperature. This
measure is the relative humidity. If the air is saturated with moisture,
we say it is at 100% relative humidity. That is like when you are in a
steamy shower with clouds of moisture in the air. If the temperature in
the room is lower, it will steam up even more since the air can't hold as
much moisture before it condenses (changes from vapor to liquid) on a
surface. The air in a room will will lose moisture to a dehumidifier
because it is cooled below the existing temperature and cannot hold as
much moisture as it did at the warmer temperature. The cold surface will
cool the air, and the moisture in the air will condense from vapor to
liquid onto the cold surface. To condense a vapor to liquid, it must give
up a certain amount of energy. This is absorbed by the chilled plate in
the de-humidifier. (An example is the mirror in a steamy bathroom with the
shower running.)

Tabletop humidifier works off the principle of evaporation. More energy efficient than warm-moisture humidifiers because there is no heating element.