Dehumidifier Components

The basic parts of a dehumidifier include a humidistat, a fan, a compressor, cooling and heating coils, a reservoir, and occasionally a drainage system. Each of these separate parts plays an integral role in extracting moisture from the air and taking it through a series of steps, wherein in is condensed and deposited in the reservoir. All of these dehumidifier components also operate in a particular order, and each part is reliant on the other’s functionality.

Humidistat

Humidistats are the dehumidifier components responsible for actually controlling humidity levels, as they allow the user to program a desired humidity percentage into the dehumidifier’s control panel. When this level is reached, the appliance will shut off, and when it is exceeded, the dehumidifier will turn back on. Humidistats operate via a sensor and an amplifier, which detect and measure changes in area humidity levels by responding to electrical resistance in the sensor’s metal conductors (triggered when humidity levels change).

Fan

Once the humidistat signals the dehumidifier to turn on, the circulating fan is the first of the dehumidifier components to begin working. The fan works in conjunction with the compressor (described below) to gather in the air from the surrounding environment, along with the moisture that is causing humidity, and passes it over the cooling coils, setting the next phase of the dehumidifying process in motion.

Compressor

The compressor is one of the most important dehumidifier components, as it is essentially the engine that runs the appliance. When the humidistat senses increased humidity, this compressor is turned on simultaneously with the air circulation fan, and keeps air flowing through the dehumidifier. The compressor is also responsible for pressurizing the refrigerant (e.g. Freon) within the dehumidifier, which is responsible for the cooling process of the evaporator coils.

Cooling and Heating Coils

The cooling coils attract water molecules pulled in by the fan. The molecules first adhere to the evaporator coils, otherwise known as cooling coils, which cause the water molecules to condense and drip off into the reservoir. Then the compressor and fan work together to recirculate the air back into the room, by way of the condenser coils, otherwise known as heating coils. These coils make the air warmer, but also drier.

Reservoir and Drain Hose

The reservoir catches the water collected on the cooling coils. It usually takes the form of a plastic bucket affixed to the back of the dehumidifier, which can be removed manually and emptied or hooked up to a drain hose, which will immediately strain the water into a remote drain or downhill location.

Condensate Hose

The condensate hose is one of the most useful components for particularly humid areas. This part is built in to some dehumidifier models, and it removes the hassle of frequently dumping the reservoir by hand every time it fills. Additionally, it prevents the dehumidifier from automatically shutting off when full, since it constantly empties itself by pumping water out.

All of these dehumidifier components are found in residential or refrigerant dehumidifiers, which are the most common dehumidifying devices found in the home. The other less popular version of the appliance is the desiccant dehumidifier, which operates without a compressor.