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hvac:dehumidifier [2018/01/21 13:02]
frater_secessus |
hvac:dehumidifier [2020/10/11 19:48] (current)
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| ====== Humidity ====== | ====== Humidity ====== |
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| Relative humidity of 25%-60% is generally comfortable for humans.((https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humidity#Human_comfort)), ((https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_comfort#Relative_humidity)), ((https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/relative-humidity-d_895.html)) | Relative humidity of 25%-60% is generally comfortable for humans.((https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humidity#Human_comfort)) ((https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_comfort#Relative_humidity)) |
| | ((https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/relative-humidity-d_895.html)) |
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| ==== excessive humidity ==== | ===== excessive humidity ===== |
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| **Excessive humidity** is a common challenge for vandwellers. It can cause mold/mildew, damage to electronics from water condensate, discomfort, wood expansion, and diminution of insulative properties of items like sleeping bags. | **Excessive humidity** is a common challenge for vandwellers. It can cause mold/mildew, damage to electronics from water condensate, discomfort, wood expansion, and diminution of insulative properties of items like sleeping bags. |
| Common causes of high humidity / condensation include: | Common causes of high humidity / condensation include: |
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| === full-time habitation === | ==== full-time habitation ==== |
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| [[http://amzn.to/2h8QeIO|{{ https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41j242B4RdL._AC_US160_.jpg}}]]Humidity due to constant habitation can be reduced with increased ventilation, as with [[hvac:roof vent|roof vent]], assuming exterior humidity is lower than that of the interior. | Humidity due to constant habitation can be reduced with increased ventilation, as with [[hvac:roof vent|roof vent]], assuming exterior humidity is lower than that of the interior. |
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| [[http://amzn.to/2Dy19L3|Window vents]] can be used to crack windows without allowing rain in. | [[http://amzn.to/2Dy19L3|Window vents]] can be used to crack windows without allowing rain in. |
| A "sacrificial window" may work as an unpowered option.((http://www.cheaprvliving.com/forums/Thread-Condensation-AGAIN?pid=109944#pid109944)) | A "sacrificial window" may work as an unpowered option.((http://www.cheaprvliving.com/forums/Thread-Condensation-AGAIN?pid=109944#pid109944)) |
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| | Relocation to a drier climate sounds like a severe response, but [[camping:snowbirding|snowbirds]] often follow comfortable weather. |
| | ==== fossil fuels ==== |
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| === fossil fuels === | Humidity due to use of [[fuel:propane]] or [[fuel:butane]] can be reduced with increased ventilation, reduced cooking/heating times, and the use of more efficient propane appliances to reduce overall consumption. |
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| Humidity due to use of [[fuel:propane]] or [[fuel:butane]] can be reduced with increased ventilation and the use of more efficient propane appliances. | ==== cooking ==== |
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| === cooking === | Water vapor is often released during cooking, most visibly during a boil. Methods to reduce the production of water vapor include: |
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| Water vapor is often released during cooking, most visibly during a boil. | |
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| Methods to reduce the production of water vapor include: | |
| * covering anything that steams: pots, cups, etc. | * covering anything that steams: pots, cups, etc. |
| * reducing beverage temperatures if appropriate - coffee requires near-boiling temperatures but most other hot beverages do not. Green tea is generally steeped at 160F and black tea at 190F. | * reducing beverage temperatures if appropriate - coffee requires near-boiling temperatures but most other hot beverages do not. Green tea is generally steeped at 160F and black tea at 190F. |
| * reducing food reheating temperatures if appropriate. Already cooked commercial foods (canned or bottled foods) do not need to be boiled. | * reducing food reheating temperatures if appropriate. Already cooked commercial foods (canned or bottled foods) do not need to be boiled. |
| * reducing water temperatures for drinking water sanitization if appropriate. //Boiling// is the traditional method but this has more to do with knowing the water temperature without a thermometer. For comparison, milk is pasteurized at 161F for 15 seconds or 145F for 30 minutes.((https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasteurization#Process)) Enteric bacteria, spores, and viruses are killed at 160F -- see the table below.((https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/34/3/355/388050)) If using boiling as a reference, merely bringing the water to the boiling point is more than sufficient and holding the boil is "excessive".((https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/34/3/355/388050)) | * reducing water temperatures for drinking water sanitization if appropriate. //Boiling// is the traditional method but this has more to do with knowing the water temperature without a thermometer. For comparison, milk is pasteurized at 161F for 15 seconds or 145F for 30 minutes.((https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasteurization#Process)) Enteric bacteria, spores, and viruses are killed by sufficent time at 160F.((https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/34/3/355/388050)) If using **boiling as a reference point**, merely bringing the water to the boiling point is more than sufficient and holding the boil is "excessive".((https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/34/3/355/388050)) There is nothing magic about boiling. |
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| {{https://oup.silverchair-cdn.com/oup/backfile/Content_public/Journal/cid/34/3/10.1086/324747/2/m_34-3-355-tbl002.gif}} | |
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| === dehumidifiers === | |
| Products containing calcium carbide ([[http://amzn.to/2DXyiNO|DampRid]], etc) or silica gel ([[http://amzn.to/2DoJDpg|Eva-Dry]], etc)may help control excessive moisture, particularly in very small or confined areas. | |
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| | ==== dehumidifiers ==== |
| | Products containing calcium carbide ([[http://amzn.to/2DXyiNO|DampRid]], etc) or silica gel ([[http://amzn.to/2DoJDpg|Eva-Dry]], etc) may help control excessive moisture, particularly in very small or confined areas. |
| | [[http://amzn.to/2h8QeIO|{{ https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41j242B4RdL._AC_US160_.jpg}}]] |
| Some silica gel units can be "refreshed" by plugging them into a 110v socket whenever the color indicator advises. This gently heats the gel and drives off the moisture, so do this somewhere other than your camper!((https://www.eva-dry.com/frequently-asked-questions)) | Some silica gel units can be "refreshed" by plugging them into a 110v socket whenever the color indicator advises. This gently heats the gel and drives off the moisture, so do this somewhere other than your camper!((https://www.eva-dry.com/frequently-asked-questions)) |
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| Eva-Dry units are named after the cubic feet of space they are designed to handle. Example: the | Eva-Dry units are named after the cubic feet of space they are designed to handle. Example: the |
| [[http://amzn.to/2DoJDpg|E-500]] is made for 500 cubic feet, approximately 8x8x8'. Units larger than 500 are peltier or some other non-chemical technology. | [[http://amzn.to/2DoJDpg|E-500]] is made for 500 cubic feet, approximately 8x8x8'. Units larger than 500 are peltier or some other non-chemical technology. |
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| ==== insufficient humidity ==== | ===== insufficient humidity ===== |
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| In some very dry regions FIXME | In some very dry regions humidity may be too low (=<20%)for comfort. Evaporative coolers or ultrasonic misters may help improve the interior humidity. |
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