When Humidity Becomes Dangerous

If we are speaking strictly about the comfort level of people in the building, most folks prefer the humidity to be between 30% and 50%. In terms of dangerous mold growth, however, when humidity levels hit 60%, you’re in the danger zone.

For safety’s sake, we recommend keeping humidity levels in your professional space to 50% or lower on a consistent basis. Mold spores will stop proliferating once you get under 60%, but can come roaring back to life quickly if the humidity ever creeps above that mark. Of course, certain industries may have regulations that require a specific humidity level less than 50%, and construction crews who work on mitigating flood damage will need to ensure that all materials are thoroughly dry, no matter the relative humidity of the air.

What is a Commercial Dehumidifier?

Commercial dehumidifiers are built tough for industrial purposes.

A commercial dehumidifier usually is:

• Designed to dehumidify large spaces;
• Has a continuous drainage function for the water they remove from the air;
• Is most often metal or sturdy polyethylene (unlike thinner plastic used in home humidifiers);
• Is frequently a portable units on wheels.

A portable industrial dehumidifier (we use the term industrial interchangeably with commercial dehumidifier) is typically used at construction sites and in areas that are flooded or somehow hit by water damage. Other stationary models are installed and left in place for consistent use, such as office space or warehouse humidity control.

Residential, Commercial, and Industrial Dehumidifiers

There are several different types of dehumidifier that work in slightly different ways. Examples include chilled coil, desiccant, and air heater. However, when it comes to the broader categories of dehumidifier, you will usually see residential, commercial, and industrial. So what’s the difference?

You probably already know that residential dehumidifiers are made for use in the home. They are smaller, usually on wheels, and encased in plastic. There are many different sizes of home dehumidifiers, from small dehumidifiers that fit inside a safe or drawer, to larger ones designed for specific areas of the home like crawl spaces or bathrooms. The bigger the space you need to dehumidify, the more powerful the residential dehumidifier you should choose. Residential models usually top out at about 70-90 pints of water per day capacity.

Industrial vs Commercial Dehumidifier

You might not understand the difference between a commercial and an industrial dehumidifier. That’s because there is none! These are simply interchangeable terms in the industry.

Despite that, you’ll see some different characteristics in these kinds of humidifiers versus residential options. A commercial or industrial dehumidifier is built out of more durable material and are made to last longer – they are therefore also more expensive. They also tend to have larger water capacity, meaning that you might have to empty the dehumidifier less often.  Commercial dehumidifiers can typically pull 30 to 1,200 liters of water from the air per day, depending on the ambient conditions. All of the capacities we list in this article are at AHAM, or average conditions. The performance of your unit will depend on the unique environment it runs in. More on that later.

A commercial dehumidifier is definitely worth the investment, though, as water damage can cost many times over what the dehumidifier costs. This is especially important in a commercial or industrial setting where products are made or sold. Let’s cover that in a bit more detail.

Why Businesses Need Dehumidifiers

A commercial or industrial dehumidifier is essential for businesses in construction, as weather can wreak havoc on buildings in their early stages, before they are “dried in.” Until insulation and HVAC is installed, environmental humidity can also cause problems. Construction firms may want to keep a few portable industrial units handy to transport from site to site.

Other businesses with one building may be situated in a flood plain or in a very humid climate. The building itself might have with poor ventilation, or moisture may be generated indoors as a byproduct of the type of production that happens. There may even be health and safety regulations that dictate a certain humidity level for businesses in your industry.

Of course, when it comes to your bottom line, you will also want to invest in a humidity control system if the products you sell are sensitive to moisture. Food and paper goods fit this category. Excess humidity can also damage metal machinery and wooden structures. Controlling the moisture level extends the useful life of your production equipment.

And finally, if you have employees in your building, it’s important to keep them safe from harm, and it’s considerate to do what you can to make the space comfortable. Excess moisture in a building can cause serious mold and mildew problems that might make your employees sick. Too much humidity is also extremely uncomfortable for people. Even if you don’t care about your employees’ comfort (though we are giving you the benefit of the doubt and assuming that you do), productivity can be greatly decreased when workers are physically uncomfortable.

Stick with us after the product reviews to learn about five types of business that must have a humidity control system in order to do good business. For now, let’s start looking at some of the safest and most reliable commercial dehumidifiers available.

Industrial & Commercial Dehumidifier Reviews

Here are the specs on our best commercial dehumidifier recommendations.

Top 5 Best Commercial Dehumidifier

Now let’s dig deeper into all that these products have to offer with our commercial dehumidifier reviews.

Businesses That Need Humidity Control

If you own any of these types of businesses, an industrial dehumidifier is an important investment to ensure a top quality product, protection for expensive equipment, and safe working conditions for employees.

  1    Pools, gyms and spas

Facilities that offer pools, saunas, or hot tubs will have constant evaporation of warm air and a consequently humid environment. And while getting wet is part of the purpose of those amenities, there are usually many other pieces of equipment that need to be protected from excess humidity. Exercise machines, lounge chairs, and towels should not be made damp simply by sharing the room with a pool. Floors, walls, and ceilings can also be degraded if not kept dry. Damp items are slick to the touch and can present a slipping hazard for customers and a legal nightmare for business owners.

  2    Food production and storage

Most food production and storage businesses need some sort of temperature and humidity control system to protect the integrity of their ingredients, finished products, and machinery. Too much moisture in the air causes raw ingredients like flour and sugar to clump, and can lead to rapid mold growth in baked goods. There are likely local health regulations surrounding humidity in any facility that makes food for sale to the public.

  3    Auto painting services

This actually goes for all painting professionals as paint does not adhere properly to damp surfaces, and will dry much faster in less humid environments. But humidity is especially challenging for those in the auto industry as the paint must adhere to a metal surface (unless it’s fiberglass). Metal left exposed to a chronically damp environment will rust, making repair necessary before painting can even begin. The paint guns used for auto paint are also subject to rust.

  4    Auto painting services

This actually goes for all painting professionals as paint does not adhere properly to damp surfaces, and will dry much faster in less humid environments. But humidity is especially challenging for those in the auto industry as the paint must adhere to a metal surface (unless it’s fiberglass). Metal left exposed to a chronically damp environment will rust, making repair necessary before painting can even begin. The paint guns used for auto paint are also subject to rust.

  5    Schools and offices

This category could fairly be called “and the rest” because almost any place of work or schooling could benefit from humidity control. Some have pools, gyms, or showers that might create excess humidity, but the environment alone can make conditions inside a building extremely uncomfortable. Both students and employees cannot do their best work while in physical discomfort. Beyond that, humidity can accelerate maintenance needs by degrading the construction materials in your building. Schools run on a shoestring budget as it is, but no organization likes dealing with unexpectedly steep maintenance costs.

Useful Features in Commercial Dehumidifiers

Commercial dehumidifiers work much the same as home dehumidifiers, but have a higher demand on them because industrial spaces are typically larger than the average home. They may also need to be moved around more often and operated by a variety of people. Here are some features you may find especially useful in an industrial dehumidifier.

User-Friendly Controls

The more features your dehumidifier has, the more complex the control panel tends to be. It’s helpful if it is laid out intuitively and doesn’t require a complex series of actions to perform various functions. For commercial use, it is likely that multiple people will need to control the device over the years, and a steep learning curve slows down productivity. It may also lead to periods where the dehumidifier is not running because available employees did not know how to troubleshoot it. Look for a clear and simple interface with buttons that are labeled by their actions.

Auto Restart

A power outage can throw all of your company’s work into disarray, even if it’s brief. Remembering to turn the dehumidifier back on is just one more thing to manage in an already hectic moment. It can be time consuming, too, if the unit does not retain your preferred settings after losing power. And if the available employees don’t know how to reprogram the device, humidity will quickly start creeping up and compromising your products. An auto restart feature ensures that your dehumidifier will get to work again with its preferred settings just as soon as the power is back on.

Dehumidifiers used for commercial purposes need to handle a high volume of water yet be small enough to be portable. That doesn’t leave a lot of room for a water collection tank, but regardless, needing to empty one multiple times a day is a real productivity killer. A commercial dehumidifier with pump and hose drainage is preferred for business use. This means that water is continually vented through a hose into an area of your choosing, either outside away from the building, into a utility sink, or through a floor drain. The pump allows the water to be directed anywhere you need it, even upwards from the position of the dehumidifier.

Frost Sensor/Defroster

Many dehumidifiers struggle in cold temperatures because the coils used to cause condensation can freeze over and become ineffective. When this happens, the dehumidifier will keep running but not pull water, wasting valuable energy. But many industrial spaces are kept deliberately cold, so how do you avoid this problem? A frost sensor that turns off the machine when the coils are frozen is helpful. Even better is a built-in defrosting capability that thaws the coils and avoids the need for any downtime.

Washable Air Filter

Though it is not their primary function, dehumidifiers can also help purify the air via an internal filter. Moist air gets pulled through the filter, which traps allergens and airborne dust, so that the drier air is clean when it gets vented back into the room. A washable filter will save you money on maintenance costs over the life of your machine. One-use filters still add value in terms of air quality, but require you to keep a stock of replacements on hand so as not to experience any downtime.

We hope that we have given you all the information you need to choose the best commercial and safe dehumidifier for your business needs. Though these units can be a bit costly, they save money in the end by avoiding all of the potential losses that come with damaged materials and products. You may also find that your employees deliver stronger productivity when their environment is kept comfortable. If there are laws in place that dictate a certain humidity level, ignoring those will set you up for a shutdown and hefty fine. A commercial dehumidifier is a sound investment for all these reasons, so go get one (or three)!