Nice set up.
[OP Thread Title: Anyone with practical experience regarding Dehumidification, Standards (AHAM vs DOE)?] Dehumidifier Testing Standards / Dehumidifier Ratings.
I just want to discuss the testing procedures, and standards used and given to dehumidification machines.
AHAM
DOE
AHAM rates/rated dehumidifiers based on test parameters of 80F and 60% RH. Thatās what the ratings (in pints per day or PPD) on dehumidifiers used to be (and some still are).
DOE rates dehumidifiers based on test parameters of 65F and 60% RH. This results in a lower PPD number, even though a dehumidifier previously rated by AHAM is the same machine, they would now (if given a DOE rating, retested etc.) be significanly less in their rating.
Some machines/marketing will say straight up, eg: ā50 pints per day DOEā. Some will say, eg: ā55 pints per day AHAMā. But some will just say āX pints per dayā, and wonāt say which of these standards it relates to. This is a pretty big deal, because DOE is essentially a more difficult testing paramater/method (cold air holds less water, harder to dehumidify), and better represents how good the dehumidifier is at itās job, regardless of where itās being used.
I think one of the main reasons for this change was the most peopleās basements, where a lot of these units are used or designed for, are not 80F, theyāre cold(er) - closer to 65F.
Note: some/many units also give a square footage theyāll cover. But this seems a little bit more confusing, and Iām not sure Iād go with this over the ppd ratings and such.
If you have any knowledge, professionally or just from lots of experience, and know anything about this, itād be great if you could weigh in.
Useful link for a short explanation with AHAM to DOE ratings comparisons (shows how much youād have to āde-rateā a unit that is tested/rated to AHAM if it were rated to DOE, for both portables and whole home units).
EDIT: Additional useful link Iām going through:
A more āindustrialā sounding brand and device example (see itās ppd rating, at saturation, and at AHAM:
Alorair Sentinel HD55
-53ppd AHAM (so maybeā¦30ppd DOEā¦?)
-About $800 CAD reg. price I think.
-āApplicationsā mentions ābasements and crawlspacesā among others, but the others seem like areas/situations of very high (saturation?) humidity where youād think the temps would likely be close to or above 80F. But basements and crawlspaces? Are most peopleās basements 80F? I donāt think so. Iāve no experience with a crawlspace, but maybe in Florida or similar? You tell me.
A consumer grade, big box store example (see itās ppd rating, it doesnāt state what standard, though I called and asked Danby, and he went off and checked, and said it was DOE. I donāt feel confident though, because I wanna see it in writing/specs):
Danby 23.6 L (50 Pint) Energy Star Dehumidifier with WIFI and Pump
-Claims 50ppd, no standard given, but Danby rep said itās DOE. If itās DOE, then itās closer to 70ppd AHAM.
-$280-350 CAD reg. price, depending where, and maybe promotions.
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Thanks for posting thatā¦
I went back and checked my new 50 pint unitā¦
(Hogarlabs 3500 Sq. Ft.) ā¦they specified 50 pints at 95F, 90% RHā¦
Well, it is doing ok, fine at holding 60% in my small makeshift drying room and hopefully should be alright in future applicationsā¦(lung room conditioning)
Cheers
G
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Iām interested in this topic.
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Happy it was of some use to ya.
Cool. I posted with the hopes that someone, maybe in HVAC, who happened to know some more specifics or more details - and have experience to share, would maybe come along.
Thereās another topic regarding air conditioners, portables specifically, and their SACC rating (which I think also goes by DOE). Itās a more accurate way of testing/rating their ability to cool a room. It takes into account all factors that contribute to their inherent inefficiencies (the ducting gets hot, they may draw air from the room theyāre cooling, etc. etc.). Youāll see it on many portables now, itāll say something like ā12000 BTUā and then underneath that ā8000 BTU SACCā - for example. Seasonally Adjusted Cooling Capacity.
Hereās a channel that does a great job explaining SACC (and they do vids on dehumidifiers too): Consumer Analysis.
If you scroll down (to vids from about 3 years ago) youāll see about four videos in a row they did on āBest portable ACā, they go into SACC. Eg: Best 14000 BTU Portable AC. The best one is now a Midea Duo unit.
I used to think that a dual hose unit meant that it was better than a single hose unit, without question (for obvious reasons, if one knows a little bit about how these things work), but I learned thatās not necessarily the case.
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That is a big one. 1400 btu. I have a wall unit. Been wanting to change it up.
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a toshiba dehumidifier is working very well to keep my house dry here in the drippy pacific northwest.
A good rule of thumb for electronics and small appliances is to buy them from the brand that actually manufactures them. Not rebranded units.
So, I know thereās some information out there in the Internet, but there really isnāt a lot of information out there on the Internet. Whatās a good dehumidifier for a bedroom that Iām drying in?
I want to be able to program the humidity level so it shuts off when it reaches that level. It seems like everything on Amazon is cheap piece of junk and the more expensive ones. I canāt tell if theyāre other pieces of junk or if theyāre actually good.
I know nothing about these. Help me out! Iām hanging plants to dry in an empty bedroom about 200 ft.Ā²
I have a humidifier that I can program with an app. Seems to work great. I got it set to 60, it shuts off and turns on on its own. Itās got a humidity sensor in it and the app shows me the numbers and the stats. But thatās telling me, especially when itās raining outside. That the humidity is getting up to 75% in that room. I need to fix that now, and for future dries.
What are you guys using? Oh and Iām not trying to spend over $200. Iād really like to keep it under that!
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I donāt use anythingā¦I just hang dry them, I donāt do any overthinking about these plants any moreā¦the temps in my house is at 72 and I have a fan for air movement.
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Iāve tried that. But the temperature and humidity fluctuation causes my plants to smell and taste like hay or grass. And it makes it a harsh smoke. And I lose basically all my Turpines and all I can smell is hay and grass. I donāt want to grow good plants anymore and then destroy them during the dry. Itās not worth it to me.
So, Iām looking for information on dehumidifiers!
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When it still smell/taste like hay/grass itās not totally dryā¦after drying it has to be cured, sometimes it takes 2+ weeks to dryā¦it sometimes take 4+ weeks to be totally cured bromigoā¦donāt be in a rush to smoke itā¦hope this helps.
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I would put an extra WiFi humidity sensor connected to my phone ( like Engbird ones), compare the data from both and play with that, I guess you could program a lower humidity in the dehu ā¦ 
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On Amazon, there is a brand called Vremi. The smallest dehumidifier they have should be sufficient for your room. I have two of them and they work great. Have lasted 2+ years so far.
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When I switched to controlled dry, 60 degrees and 60 percent humidity for two weeks, it was a game changer. Little need to cure/burp because it ends up perfect. There are several dehumidifiers on Amazon that are programmable, just spend mid shelf and youāll be happy.
Iāll look when I go outside tomorrow. I have one in a 8x10 shed works great for growing. Should be fine for your uses. Amazon. About 6āx12āx18"
Thatās the specs I use 60/60. To drop the temp I use a window unit to get the desired temp and an auto humidifier for humidity
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Maybe a desiccant dehumidifier can be enough for drying some plants.
Iāve not used one yet. However I really can use some spot dehumidifying as the regular dehumidifier when close to my growing plants seems to dry them to quick.
When located in another area, where the air for the grow area is pulled from, removes a good bit of the water, so some spot dryers may work a treat for me.
Iām sort of slow and just found these a few days ago
For a good dehumidifier Iād get one that meets the 2019 DOE 50 pint standard (itās the same as the 2012 70 pint DOE standard .)
2019 50 pint DOE standard dehumidifier
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There are two types of portable plug in dehumidifiers , different working parts / methods for dehumidifying
One is best at lower temps , other is best at higher temps I think
Make sure you buy the type suitable to your dry room
: )
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Hereās what Iām using.
The RH sensor is accurate, the unit is quiet and produces less heat than others.
Cheers
G
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