Mold and mildew pose health risks for those in your household and can even cause structural damage over time. Using the dry setting will help prevent the growth of mold and mildew in your home and maintain safety across the board.
It's a fact: dehumidification keeps indoor air at its optimum humidity level, which helps you and your family breathe easier. But that's not all – it also fights against common allergy triggers, such as dust mites, mould and mildew which thrive in an excessively humid environment.
Whilst it's common belief that dry mould is safe, this is not the case. Mould spores do not multiply without a source of moisture but they will re-activate and start growing once they come into contact with water again.
In addition, running the dry mode on an air con for too long can cause the humidity level in your home or office to drop too low. Drying the air too much can result in issues such as dry eyes, a sore throat and breathing issues. A healthy humidity level is anywhere between 30 and 50%.
Seasonal Use: "Dry Mode" is particularly useful during transitional seasons when the weather is not excessively hot, but humidity levels may be high. Instead of running the AC system in cooling mode, which might lead to overcooling, "Dry Mode" offers a more appropriate and energy-efficient solution.
It is recommended to keep the dry mode on for no more than two hours at a time. Once the dry mode has been longer than the recommended time interval, it can cause dry skin, cracking in the drywall, lackluster indoor plant health, and other problems.
Dry mode helps dehumidify your home, making it more comfortable and reducing the exhaustion and perspiration that come with high humidity levels. By drawing out excess moisture, this feature creates a cosy living space that's easy on the body. Say goodbye to the discomfort of a humid environment.
A More Efficient System
This makes dry mode the ideal choice when the weather is humid but not necessarily hot. On these days, you may feel hot even though the temperature isn't very high. You can run your AC unit in dry mode to cool down. This process uses less energy, which reduces your monthly energy bill.
The only major downside of the dry-cooling technology is the energy output reduction by between 3% and 10% on an annual basis, resulting in increased electricity cost [62,66,67,68,70]. ...
For the best temperature for dry mode, set your air conditioner to 24°C. This temperature effectively reduces indoor moisture without making the room feel too cold. Dry mode controls humidity effectively, but it doesn't handle extreme cooling. Switch to cool mode on particularly hot days.
Hydrogen peroxide, commonly used to disinfect wounds, is active against a wide variety of micro-organisms including mold. It acts by releasing oxygen at a rapid rate, which kills mold by oxidizing the surface and breaking down proteins and DNA.
Relative humidity levels above 70 percent appear to be optimal for fungal or mold spore growth. A lower relative humidity level reduces the rate of mold growth as the mold goes dormant but does not stop growth and development entirely.
Look for visible signs like discolorations or dark spots on surfaces, visible mold spores, warped walls, and other moisture issues. You may also smell something damp and musty as well as experience worsened allergy and asthma attacks.
Keeping the air conditioner set at 78 degrees or lower prevents mold buildup in the summer. Even when leaving for a few days or vacation, don't set it above 80. A higher setting won't provide enough dehumidification from the cooling process to prevent spores from growing.
Using your unit's cool mode consistently in warmer weather isn't energy efficient — you should only use it during hot and humid seasons — so switch to dry mode when it's just humid. When using the dry mode, your air conditioner's compressor runs at a slower pace, so less energy is required.
If vacuuming “dry” coils, use a HEPA vacuum. Use an EPA-registered disinfectant labeled for HVAC use to clean non-porous surfaces (Ductwork, coils, plenums, pans, etc) of mold, mildew, and other dirt. BIOSPRAY-TOWER ready-to-use disinfectant and mold cleaner will kill and remove mold, mildew, and odor-causing bacteria.
Unlike wet cooling, the heated steam is cooled and condensed back into water in a closed loop system. Dry cooling solutions can decrease total water consumption by more than 95%, this is the equivalent of the water consumption of several million people.
In dry heat, sweat evaporates faster, allowing the body to cool off faster. However, the quick evaporation of sweat can lead to dehydration if you're not drinking enough water. Dry heat may also make breathing harder for certain people with respiratory conditions like asthma.
AC systems should never be left in dry mode for long stretches of time. Just as too much humidity can make you uncomfortable, having air that is too dry can cause problems as well. Most HVAC professionals recommend using dry mode for just one to two hours at a time.
In fact, homeowners are advised against using this AC setting for too long. You should only use dry mode for just one to two hours at a time. Letting your air conditioner run indefinitely while in dry mode can leave you with excessively dry indoor air.
One way to measure humidity is with a hygrometer. Hygrometers are available at most hardware stores, and they're relatively simple to use. Just place the device in an area of your home that you'd like to measure, and wait for the reading to stabilize.
So, to ensure it's working its magic, aim for the best temperature for dry mode which is around 24 degrees Celsius. But most dry-mode AC units don't allow you to dial in a specific temperature. Nope, it's all about prioritising dehumidification over temperature control.
4. Improved air quality. Dry mode lowers humidity in the room, while also filtering air to remove pollen, dust, and other airborne contaminants. This ensures cleaner air and a healthier living environment.
Without the facilitation of an electrical appliance, desiccants such as silica gel, charcoal, and rock salt can still adsorb some moisture from the air at a slower rate, due to their hygroscopic nature. You can put a basket of charcoal in the room and replace the charcoal once it gets damp.