Matata
Well-Known Member
Thanks for you fantastic response earlier re sextants....Any good suggestions re dehumidifiers...good value for money....reliable...one to avoid,experiences etc
Dehumidifiers.........Has anyone got good suggestion?
- Thread starter Matata
- Start date
WindermereColvic
Well-Known Member
Thread on here a while back seemed to think you had to let the compressor type rest after being at motion whilst sailing for an hour or two befor switching them on. Just a thourght.
S
Skyva_2
Guest
We have run an EBAC dehumidifier for 6 years and it has worked well. Not the cheapest but very solid.
LittleSister
Well-Known Member
Any ventilators which don't let the rain in will remove humidity, almost never go wrong, and as they cost little to buy and nothing to run they represent excellent value for money.
Washing the inside of the boat, to remove salt and dirt, will help keep damp at bay. Again, costs v. little, almost never goes wrong, and costs nowt to run.
The ones to avoid are the electric ones, unless you can seal all the little air gaps in your boat, as these will cost money to run while attempting the impossible task of trying to remove the humidity from the earth's atmosphere. You will collect a lot of water, but it won't necessarily have started off in your boat!
Best de-humidifier, though, is a warm, dry climate! If anyone knows where I can get one cheap....
Washing the inside of the boat, to remove salt and dirt, will help keep damp at bay. Again, costs v. little, almost never goes wrong, and costs nowt to run.
The ones to avoid are the electric ones, unless you can seal all the little air gaps in your boat, as these will cost money to run while attempting the impossible task of trying to remove the humidity from the earth's atmosphere. You will collect a lot of water, but it won't necessarily have started off in your boat!
Best de-humidifier, though, is a warm, dry climate! If anyone knows where I can get one cheap....
BlueChip
Well-Known Member
After using compressor dehumidifiers for many years, my last one failed. I took it apart to see if I could fix it and found the interior of the unit was charred and the case partially melted, luckily the internal fuse had blown probably saving my boat from a fire.
Following recommendations here, late last year I bought an XDry from Breathing Space , which I found as the lowest cost supplier
Unlike compressor dehumidifiers this one works at low temperatures and is very effective. Although the running costs are higher its more efficient so doesn't need to be on for so long. The main advantage is that it works at low temperatures which are typical for winter on the boat, so no heating is required and that it will do a cold start so it can be used with a time clock or with an intermittent marina power supply. Most on the market will not autostart
After 2 weeks on continuously to dry the boat, I now have it on a time clock and run it for 6 hours three days a week which is all it takes to keep it dry.
I would recommend this unit
Following recommendations here, late last year I bought an XDry from Breathing Space , which I found as the lowest cost supplier
Unlike compressor dehumidifiers this one works at low temperatures and is very effective. Although the running costs are higher its more efficient so doesn't need to be on for so long. The main advantage is that it works at low temperatures which are typical for winter on the boat, so no heating is required and that it will do a cold start so it can be used with a time clock or with an intermittent marina power supply. Most on the market will not autostart
After 2 weeks on continuously to dry the boat, I now have it on a time clock and run it for 6 hours three days a week which is all it takes to keep it dry.
I would recommend this unit
John100156
Well-Known Member
Mmmm. As we know, condensation is caused on surfaces when air moves over a surface at a temp lower than its due point (which depends on its temp and RH).
The temp of the cooler surface cools the air and because it is now denser, it cannot hold the moisture and must condense water out.
There are ways to remove/prevent moisture build-up. If the outside air is not saturated (100% humid), we can just bring it in to ventilate the space.
In winter though air is generally both cold and often near saturation. OK so we can heat it which makes it dryer and warmer, this will work. If the air is not saturated outside we can just bring it in, this method is only effective if the outside air humidity is less than the inside, it then dilutes or reduces the humidity level of the air in the boat, and by doing so it will lower the due point temperature (that cooler surfaces need to reach before condensation forms).
Heating dry’s the air but does not remove much moisture, it simply expands the volume of the air and therefore its RH drops.
The most effective way to remove moisture is to deliberately cool the air significantly below its due point, this is what a refrigeration type dehumidifier does, you can see the water removed via the drain. The air can then be re-heated and much dryer air enters the space significantly reducing its due point temperature.
So, I suppose what I am trying to say is that a compressor type de-humidifiers is IMPO the best, albeit more expensive!
The temp of the cooler surface cools the air and because it is now denser, it cannot hold the moisture and must condense water out.
There are ways to remove/prevent moisture build-up. If the outside air is not saturated (100% humid), we can just bring it in to ventilate the space.
In winter though air is generally both cold and often near saturation. OK so we can heat it which makes it dryer and warmer, this will work. If the air is not saturated outside we can just bring it in, this method is only effective if the outside air humidity is less than the inside, it then dilutes or reduces the humidity level of the air in the boat, and by doing so it will lower the due point temperature (that cooler surfaces need to reach before condensation forms).
Heating dry’s the air but does not remove much moisture, it simply expands the volume of the air and therefore its RH drops.
The most effective way to remove moisture is to deliberately cool the air significantly below its due point, this is what a refrigeration type dehumidifier does, you can see the water removed via the drain. The air can then be re-heated and much dryer air enters the space significantly reducing its due point temperature.
So, I suppose what I am trying to say is that a compressor type de-humidifiers is IMPO the best, albeit more expensive!
Richard10002
Well-Known Member
Your link took me to a very interesting site, which I bookmarked, but it has nothing to do with dehumidifiers.
The site we should be looking at is:
http://www.breathingspace.co.uk/
if anyone is interested, the other site is:
http://www.breathingspace.com
which seems to be about creating some breathing space in your life /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
The site we should be looking at is:
http://www.breathingspace.co.uk/
if anyone is interested, the other site is:
http://www.breathingspace.com
which seems to be about creating some breathing space in your life /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
winfarthing
Well-Known Member
I have been trying to sleep on my boat in the current conditions, condensation running everywhere. Very unpleasant having your bedding soaked and water dripping into your ears! Heating the air just delays the problem, you can't run heating all the time unless you are very rich. The moisture is still there and in my case, being added to. B & Q have a dehumidifier in their sales at £75. This one draws about 200w, has a ten litre tank and can be set up to drain directly into the sink. You can set the desired humidity so it will cut in and out. I've been running this on and off for a week now and can only report excellent results. I haven't blocked up all my vents for obvious reasons but have still got rid of the bulk of the problem. PS B & Q selling out fast, I had to travel to get one after my local store sold out.
Pasarell
Well-Known Member
I bought at the weekend a small condenser dehumidifier from Focus for £20. It's 12v with a transformer to convert from 240v and in the few hours I saw it running seemed to be pretty effective for a small boat like mine. It draws 35W so wouldn't suggest trying to run from the batteries but size and price made it worth a try.
longjohnsilver
Well-Known Member
I've also got an Ebac on the boat. No problems so far. At home I run an Amcor bought about 10 years ago from B&Q, has always performed faultlessly.
samwise
Well-Known Member
Bought an XM about five years ago, still going strong. Solid construction, can be set for permanent drain. Does a good job, costs about £115 now.
blackbeard
Well-Known Member
I suspect dehumidifiers are nice to have, rather than essential, when the boat is afloat (and therefore in a bath of water which is likely to be warmer than air temperature) ... they are much more important if the boat is ashore. Ashore for the winter was the only time I had real trouble with condensation (despite ventilation).
Scotty_Tradewind
Well-Known Member
My large B&Q dehumidifier has worked well for 3 winters now.
The colder it is the less well it performs but even so, not a sign of damp.
I try to block every orifice but some air gets in from outside. I leave sleeping gear, cushions etc onboard too.
Feb 2009 PBO P53 has an advert/competition for a dehumidifier, a Meaco DD122FW-MK2 they say works well at lower temps.
see www.meaco.com tel 0500 418458
The colder it is the less well it performs but even so, not a sign of damp.
I try to block every orifice but some air gets in from outside. I leave sleeping gear, cushions etc onboard too.
Feb 2009 PBO P53 has an advert/competition for a dehumidifier, a Meaco DD122FW-MK2 they say works well at lower temps.
see www.meaco.com tel 0500 418458
