Dehumidifier extraction rate - an explanation
It all comes down to how the capacity of a dehumidifier is calculated. For example, on the Meaco website we use 30°C and 80%rh as the benchmark for all of our dehumidifiers. This allows our customers to clearly see which dehumidifier is smallest, which is largest and so on.
It's always good to have single figures for comparison, but if we don’t regularly have temperatures of 30°C and 80%rh in the UK then why do we use those figures for comparison?
It's a good question.The humidity levels in the biggest dehumidifier markets
It all comes back to the fact that the largest markets in the world for dehumidifiers are all in tropical areas: Hong Kong, China, Japan, South Korea and so on. In these countries, hot and humid conditions are more common and you can see how 30°C and 80%rh has evolved as a common standard.
Ideally, we would like European resellers to agree on 20°C and 60%rh as a common standard for comparison but take a quick look around the various brands websites and you will see that many use 32°C and 90 or 95%rh in order to boost their extraction rates. We're still lobbying for standards that are more relatable to the common temperatures and humidity levels that you see in Europe, but for now, our products use the main standard, which makes them easier to compare with other models.
So, why is the dehumidifer extraction rate higher than the tank capacity?
But back to the original point as to why the buckets are smaller than the extraction rate and how often you might have to empty the container.
Firstly, if you had a 10 or 20 litre container capacity, the dehumidifier would have to be huge. And, as one litre of water is equal to one kilo, it would be hard to lift and empty a full container. These, therefore, are the reasons why the container is smaller.
A compressor dehumidifier's extraction rate will lessen as the temperature and relative humidity falls. This is just a matter of physics and is something that is common in all models from all manufacturers. So in a real world situation in Europe you would be looking at room conditions closer to the 20°C and 60%rh that we mentioned above.
Comparison Graphs - Extraction Rates (Meaco 20L & 10L) in different conditions.
Below is a graph showing the extraction rate for the Meaco 20L in different conditions. You can clearly see how its extraction rate falls as the conditions cool. The Meaco 20L is a very popular and very effective dehumidifier and the one that we use ourselves at home. As you can see the graph predicts around 8 litres a day in average conditions and that matches our own experiences.
For the Meaco 10L the graph shows the same trend and once again it offers a very efficient performance at room temperatures. This will be why the Meaco 10L is getting such good reviews.
If you have any questions on extraction rates and dehumidifiers then please feel free to leave a comment below or contact us via sales@meaco.com or call the office on 01483 234900 and we will be delighted to assist.
Products featured: Meaco 20L