Air conditioning matters - using the dry mode
Air conditioners are very convenient devices especially when
the temperatures are ridiculously high. When it is cold you
can do something about it- wear as many warm clothes as
possible. However, when the temperatures become unbearably
high, there is only so much you can do about it. Removal of
clothes has its limits. A good air conditioning system comes
in really handy as it will keep the cool air running in your
home and office to make life all that much easier. But what
if you have no idea on how to use it? For instance, very few
people know how to use the dry mode function that comes with
most air conditioners nowadays.
What exactly is dry mode?
Dry mode is often compared and confused with the cool mode.
To some extent they do not feel different. Nonetheless, they
are very different in terms of function and the result- even
the remote control will tell you. On the remote, the dry
mode is shown by a symbol which is a water drop on the other
hand the cool mode symbol is frequently a snow flake. The
dry function, as aforementioned, is not a common feature of
all air conditioners. It is mostly on some varieties of
central air conditioning units and window units. The main
point of the dry mode is to reduce the humidity in a room.
As you probably know, an increase in humidity translates
into an increase in temperature. When it is humid,
temperatures even those that are relatively low tend to be a
bit too uncomfortable.
So, basically the dry function reduces the temperature in a
room by lowering the humidity. This function is most
convenient during those times of the year when it is humid
for instance during the rainy season. During this season the
temperatures might not be hot enough to necessitate the need
for cold air. The humidity however, is high and quite
irritating. One point worth noting is that the dry mode is
not meant to remove all the moisture in the room.
The working of dry mode
When the air conditioner is function in dry mode, the fan
and other inner components of the device will be running.
However, the unit does not blow out any cold air. The air in
the room passes through the aircon and the water vapor
condenses on the evaporator. Dry air will then exit the unit
and flow back into the room. This working of the dry mode is
almost similar to that of a dehumidifier. A standalone
dehumidifier can be found at just about home improvement or
hardware store. This one is better than the air conditioner
working on dry mode in the case that you are working on a
large room. The air conditioner will only remove some of the
moisture and not all.
Assuming that the thermostat is set to 250 C and that the
humidity in the room is about 90%, the air conditioner will
reduce humidity till the temperature is 250 C in that room.
When the aircon is switched on, the fan will start running
to suck in the air and the compressor cuts in to facilitate
the condensation of the humidity. Once the room temperature
has dropped to 250 then both the fan and compressor will
stop. Humidity rises steadily again and so does the
temperature. When the temperature goes to 260 C the unit
starts running again- the cycle repeats itself.
Cool or dry- which is better?
Cool mode works almost similar to the dry mode only that
when the temperatures drop to 250C the compressor stops
running and the fan is left on alone. In dry mode, it is all
about keeping the relative humidity at a comfortable 60%.
This happens in both the cool and dry mode but in dry mode
this value is maintained. In cool mode, humidity keeps
increasing dramatically as the fan continues running.
Benefits of using dry mode include:
• Lowering moisture in the room significantly
• Maintaining comfortable temperatures without really
cooling
• Energy efficient
Dry mode does not really cool the room. The cooling effect
comes from the removal of excess moisture not that the unit
is actually cooling the room. By using the dry function of
your air conditioning unit you will be spending less money
on energy bills. It is a really effective way of keeping the
temperatures comfortable.
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