Dehumidifier question.

Terry, I have an older model dehumidifier also. The air enters the front grill & exits the rear over the catch can. Maybe different manufacturers blow air in different directions. Doesn't really matter which way the air flows. So long as it circulates the air & removes the moisture. Don't be so concerned about how it works, just be glad it does work.

Mike

Normally the humid air should enter and pass over the cold coils first, then pass over the hot coils and possibly the compressor itself second. So the air that exits should be a little warm and dry. Front to back or back to front or top to bottom etc. depends on the individual design.

Mark

xxxxxxxxxx Thank you xxxxxxxx . Thanks to Mike and Mark. And anyone else who replies.

Yes my newer unit, drawing it's air in from the back over the refrigerated coils cools and thereby dehumidifies the air, first.

And then blows air out the front, slightly warmer. Used in a 120 sq. foot below ground basement electronic workshop, for example, it not only dehumidifies but supplies warmth.

I guess the total energy it consumes (about 300 watts, I think, if running continuously) becomes availble to heat the small room.

The older, free, unit (never one to turn down a bargain!) came out of a basement apartment in a house being renovated; dampness in basements fairly common here. It doesn't seem to do as good a job operating in the same conditions.

So before taking it apart and investigating if the humidistat is operating correctly, cos its compressor seems to cut in an out too frequently, thought I'd ask here. Always willing to and often do, learn something.

Thanks guys.

Some of the energy is used in converting vapor to liquid, called the "latent heat of condensation"...you should be able to find lots of info on those terms if you are interested. The rest of the energy is is available as heat.

have fun

Mark

The air touches the cold coils first, and then the hot coils. So, if th back gets cold, the air comes in there.

Every dehum I've worked on blows otu the front.

It's all available as heat, including the latent heat, so they are latent heat pumps, making more heat energy than the electrical energy they consume. You can measure the COP with a measuring cup and a Kill-a-Watt meter.

Nick