When Should You Use Dry Mode?
When Should You Use Dry Mode?
After a wet few years, it feels impossible to try and avoid mould build-ups or the oppressive humidity on a 27℃ day making it feel like a 31℃ sauna inside your home. The dry function proves to be the perfect tool to bring comfort to these days. This little-used function removes the humidity from your home drying out carpets and walls decreasing the risk of mould and returning the home to a more comfortable ambient air temp. But what is dry mode, how does it work and how can you use it efficiently?
What is Dry Mode?
When your air conditioner is in cool mode the coils within the air conditioner are above the dew point this reduces condensation and keeps the moisture in the air as it is blown through the air conditioner keeping your room or home at roughly the same humidity. When in dry mode however your air conditioner does two things; firstly it will reduce the coil temp to as cold as possible while still being above freezing temp but below the dew point then secondly it will reduce the fan to as slow as possible allowing the coil to get as cold as possible. By cooling the coil below the dew point it will allow for large amounts of moisture from the air to condense on the coils, the condensation then drips onto a drip tray that will carry the water outside. This process rapidly removes moisture from the air dehumidifying the home. There is one caveat, as the fan speed is reduced this mode is not amazing or efficient for cooling your home if you want to cool your home you will be better off using the cooling function. However, when these two modes are used in conjunction it can increase the efficiency of your system.
Why and When to Use Dry Mode?
So when should you use dry mode? Dry mode is best used in two situations;
- When the ambient temp is low or comfortable but the humidity is high making it uncomfortable for example a 26-27℃ day with 80% humidity.
- Or on a rainy or humid day when everything in your home is beginning to get damp from the humidity. For example during a wet week or month where it has been overcast and raining for an extended period.
Both of these scenarios fit the perfect use case for the dry function. For the first situation the dry function would remove the humidity from the air that was making it sticky and uncomfortable returning the air temp to 26℃ this is perfect as it removes your need for running costly cooling functions on days that aren't that hot apart from the high humidity. The second scenario is perfect for the dry function as removing the humidity from your home will help everything dry out and reduce the risk of mould on walls and other surfaces in your home. This will save you big time in cleaning bills to clean the mould and ensure your home's air is clear from mould spores. Another scenario we haven't talked about yet is where the dry function can help in reducing the electricity needed to cool your home down initially. To ensure the most optimal usage of your aircon it is important to check the forecast if it is looking to be hot that day you should turn your air conditioner on earlier while it is still cool this will reduce the initial cooling cost to get your home to temperature. One other way to help this is by initially running the dry function as the morning is generally when the humidity is the highest therefore by running the dry function you will remove the moisture and allow the air to cool down more efficiently.
There is one important thing to remember when running the dry function. Not all air conditioners are made to run the dry function for an extended period so please check your aircon’s manual or contact a qualified HVAC technician if you have any questions as incorrect use of the function can put excessive strain on the system and increase the risk of breakage.
If you are looking for expert and trustworthy air conditioner technicians in Brisbane, Redland, Logan, Gold Coast, Moreton Bay, and Sunshine Coast Areas contact All Purpose Air Conditioning today. Our team can take care of it all from Installation to servicing, to repairs we have a solution for you.
References:
How to stay comfortable in humid climates with dry mode | Fujitsu General Australia
When is the best time to use the dry mode on air con? | Actron Air Australia