New symbols mean new settings to learn. The Sun: used for warm air or heat mode. The Snowflake: used for cold air or cool mode. The Raindrop: used for dry mode. This should be used when the conditions are humid, and temperatures are mild.
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.
Recognising Dry Mode on Your Air Conditioner
To identify whether your unit has this function, check your remote control: A water droplet symbol or the word “Dry” typically indicates dry mode. A snowflake symbol represents cool mode. A fan symbol usually refers to fan mode.
Dry mode can help to save on electricity bills, as the air conditioner does not have to work as hard to cool the air. By reducing the workload on the compressor and fan, dry mode can help to extend the life of the air conditioning unit and reduce maintenance costs.
But as mentioned above, you shouldn't run dry mode for more than an hour or two to lower the humidity. You can lower your cool mode running costs by only having your air con switched on when you need it, and not having your temperature level set too low. 24 degrees is usually a comfortable temperature setting.
One benefit is that dry mode uses less electricity than the standard cooling mode.
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.
During the hot summer days, keeping your energy costs at a reasonable level can be a major concern. Since it's not (all) about the heat but also the humidity, you don't have to lower the temperature that much but leave the “dry mode” in charge instead.
WHAT IS THE BEST MODE FOR AC IN SUMMER? In summer, the best mode for your air conditioner is the "Cool" mode, set to a comfortable temperature around 78°F when you're home. This setting efficiently reduces indoor humidity and maintains a comfortable environment without overworking the AC system.
Use economy mode
Running your aircon in economy mode will make your compressor run slower, which means the unit will consume less energy. This feature comes in handy if you are using your aircon for long periods of time. So if you use the system all day and night, simply activate the economy mode.
The raindrop symbol means you're in dry mode, which reduces humidity levels in the air. This is really helpful in humid climates or during rainy seasons when the air feels damp and sticky. Dry mode doesn't drastically change the temperature; it mainly removes moisture from the air.
Essentially, the purpose of the “dry” function mode is to reduce the excess humidity or moisture in the air, and the cooling effect comes from the removal of that excess moisture. It works similarly to the cooling mode, but detects temperature differently.
Cool mode is the default mode in which the air conditioner operates (i.e. the temperature setting and fans speed). In cool mode, the air conditioner takes in hot air and runs it through the compressor so as to cool the air before blowing it out into the room.
A dehumidifier and dry mode on an air conditioner both reduce moisture, but they function differently. Dehumidifiers specifically target humidity levels, efficiently removing excess moisture, ideal for damp environments. Dry mode offers a basic reduction, mainly cooling air without adding humidity control.
1. Right mode: Monsoons often come with high humidity in the air. In this condition, you must use Dry Mode (if available in your AC) to control it. Apart from this, there are several other modes such as Cool, Heat, and, Fan, which need to be used depending on the conditions in the room.
Cooling mode is the most frequently used setting on air conditioners, represented by a snowflake symbol. It works by removing heat from the indoor air and expelling it outside, thereby lowering the room temperature.
While the standard room temperature of 72 degrees Fahrenheit is commonly favored by many, others argue for higher settings, particularly when it's hotter outside.
A teardrop or water symbol is used to show the DRY mode. This mode is used to reduce the humidity in the room when the air is warm and very humid.
The recommended rule of thumb for summertime is to set the temperature to 78 degrees Fahrenheit when you're home and higher when you're away. In general, set it to 82 degrees Fahrenheit when you're asleep and 85 degrees Fahrenheit when you're away.
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.
While air conditioners provide a cool escape, finding the ideal operating temperature can significantly impact your comfort and electricity bill. Here are some pointers to strike the perfect balance: Recommended range: Aim for a thermostat setting between 24°C (75°F) and 26°C (78°F).
The most significant reason is that dry mode is more efficient. Dry mode only needs to slowly pass air over the evaporator coils while cool mode needs to pass air over them with more power. When an AC unit runs on dry mode, it uses less electricity than the same AC unit running in cool mode.
Eco or energy-saving mode
This is the ideal mode for users looking to save up on energy bills by toning down the performance of the AC and its compressor. Eco-mode uses less electricity by automatically adjusting the fan speed and temperature, while still maintaining a comfortable level of cooling.
Reduced Energy Consumption: The dry setting is inherently more energy-efficient than the cooling mode. It achieves this efficiency by running the compressor at a lower capacity, resulting in less power consumption.
Unlike cool mode, which primarily focuses on temperature control, dry mode prioritizes humidity reduction. During dry mode operation, the air conditioner's compressor runs at a lower speed to remove moisture from the air while consuming less energy compared to cool mode.