At this time of year when the mercury drops below freezing we often get phone calls from customers saying that their dehumidifier is not working. The problem is usually that it is not collecting any water and yet they still get condensation on their windows. Frustrating but there is very little that can be done.
A dehumidifier removes the excess moisture from the air but what you do not want the dehumidifier to do is to dry the air so much (below 30%rh) that you start to get dry skin, sore throats and static shocks. So a dehumidifier does not dry the air down to this level but when the outside air temperature drops down below freezing you do not need much moisture in the air for condensation to form.
All you can do is to run your dehumidifier on it’s maximum setting which will lower the relative humidity further (to about 40%rh) and reduce the amount of condensation on the windows. But it would be a waste of energy to reduce the relative humidity so low that the condensation is eliminated completely and no-one really wants to live in a home where static shocks are the norm and we suffer from constant sore throats and dry skin.
Thankfully in Britain these cold spares are rare and after a week or so we can get back to normal and the dehumidifier will once more have things under control.
45 responses
My arête 20 litre dehumidifier is removing the condensation from the windows, which is what we required
but it never achieves the 50rh target that we set. Why ?
Andrew,
Thank you for your message regarding your Arete and the target RH levels. It’s great to hear that the unit has had a positive effect on the condensation issues on your windows!
There are a few reasons why your unit might not be reaching the set target. First, it’s important to ensure that the unit is appropriately sized for the space you’re using it in. Additionally, humidity levels can fluctuate in any environment, so while you may not hit the exact target, you should have noticed a decrease in humidity from when you first started using it. Warming up the space can also help, and you may want to consider adjusting the target RH to 55%, which is a more common and recommended setting. This will give the unit a better chance to reach and maintain your desired humidity level, especially when using the auto switch-off feature.
To help achieve your target RH, make sure the unit is the right size for your space, check for any ongoing moisture sources, keep the room at a warmer temperature, run the unit continuously or on an automatic setting, and ensure the filter is clean and there’s adequate airflow around the unit.
We hope you continue to see positive changes in your home.
Kind regards,
Omar@Meaco.
I bought arete one for more than a year. At first it’s working perfectly but now even it on for over night for about 16 hours but it’s only absorbed a bit of water,not even 1/4 of the tank and there still a lot of condensation in our windows. In my case, is my dehumidifier still working?
Cheska,
Thank you for your message and question regarding reduced extraction. In colder conditions, such as in colder homes, compressor-based units like the Arete tend to extract less moisture. It’s important to ensure the unit is the right capacity for the space you’re using it in. Positioning the unit closer to areas with higher humidity can also help. In cold environments, the air holds less moisture, which leads to reduced extraction.
To improve extraction, you can introduce some heat into the space, which should help increase both the extraction levels and the water collected in the tank. However, this won’t necessarily solve window condensation issues. It’s important to let the unit run continuously, rather than just during set periods, to help maintain the desired humidity levels.
If your windows are single-glazed, they will always struggle with condensation, especially during colder months. Consider factors that contribute to humidity in your home and how you can reduce them.
To improve performance, try warming the space, ensuring the filter is clean, and providing adequate airflow around the unit. Every drop of water collected is one less that would have been sitting on your window sills.
Hopefully, these adjustments will help improve the situation.
Kind regards,
Omar@Meaco.