The hemp-based product market has grown significantly in recent years. In response to increasing consumer demand, companies within the market have sought ways to improve production operations. One area of focus is the drying process, which is crucial to ensuring the quality and safety of products. Below, we go into more detail about the hemp drying process and the role of dehumidifiers in it.
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Hemp Drying & The Use of Dehumidifiers for Humidity Control
Controlling the Humidity of Your Indoor Grow Room
In recent years, more and more farmers have realized the benefits of growing crops in different types of controlled environments. This increased awareness has led to a significant rise in the popularity of indoor grow rooms—i.e., enclosed spaces that allow users to achieve and maintain precise environmental conditions to increase crop yield and quality, essentially being able to provide “Mother Nature’s Best Day” every day. One of the key controlled parameters in grow rooms is humidity which, at the proper levels, can significantly improve crop quality and shorten grow cycles.
Below, we discuss why controlling grow room humidity is important, how temperature affects humidity levels, and how to choose the right dehumidifier for a given grow application.
Beating Summer Moisture Challenges with Dehumidification
Industries that demand year-round strict control of moisture rely on dedicated dehumidification systems. These systems offer the ability to strictly control relative humidity limiting the effects of condensation, mold and mildew that may damage materials or products.
Commercial Dehumidifiers for Fitness Centers
Controlling the relative indoor humidity in your fitness center will reduce mold and bacteria buildup and produce happy patrons. Without dehumidification systems leading to unacceptable indoor air quality, these facilities tend to get grim pretty fast—when not controlled, moisture buildup from patron sweat results in foul odors, shorter equipment lifespans, and the proliferation of diseases.
How Relative Humidity Relates to Room Temperature
Relative humidity (RH) is the percent water vapor contained in an environment’s air compared with the maximum amount of water vapor the air can contain at a specific temperature. In general as room temperature rises air can hold more moisture so the resulting RH decreases, and vice versa.
Managing Humidity in Commercial/Industrial Settings with Dehumidifiers
To manage humidity, mold and mildew, dehumidifiers are a critical tool responsible for enhancing a space’s comfort, function, and overall operation. In large scale commercial and industrial spaces, consistent ventilation, moisture management, and desired room air temperature pose a particularly complex challenge.
Overcoming Voltage Fluctuation Obstacles in the Summer
As anyone who pays an electricity bill can tell you, air conditioners can use a tremendous amount of electricity. When that increased usage is applied across a large population, such as the New York, Madison, or Los Angeles metropolitan areas, the power grids serving those areas are put under a tremendous amount of strain.
The Insider’s Guide to Fighting Summer Humidity
Dehumidifier Corporation of America (DCA) designs dehumidification systems for a wide range of applications. We have provided dehumidification solutions to hotel and motel chains, homeowners and manufacturing facilities where the control of relative humidity is critical. No matter what kind of building you operate, summer humidity can pose a real problem. High humidity is a particular threat for facilities that store sensitive items that can be ruined by moisture, like food or powdered products that take on moisture.
What is Humidity?
Humidity can be measured as both relative and absolute. Absolute humidity refers to the mass of water vapor divided by the dry air mass, within a volume of air at a known temperature (see HowStuffWorks for more information). As the temperature of the air rises, the potential of water content increases.
Humidity is most-often measured in relative terms. Relative humidity is the ratio of the absolute humidity to the highest possible absolute humidity. A 100% relative humidity signifies total saturation, leading to the formation of rain droplets. People are most comfortable at a relative humidity 40-60%: any higher and natures air conditioner will slow down sweat from evaporating at an efficient rate and therefore the air will feel hotter to the body than it actually is.
Why is Humidity Harmful?
In addition to discomfort, humidity can also lead to structural problems, causing mold and mildew growth. Excess moisture can rot wood framing, which reduces structural integrity and provides a breeding ground for mold and pests. This is dangerous for occupant health because mold and mildew are known to cause respiratory problems, allergic reaction symptoms, nervous-system disorders and even depression.
Limitations of Air Conditioners When Combatting Humidity
A.C. systems effectively cool indoor spaces and remove some moisture, but they also raise the relative humidity indoors. This often results in mold and mildew accumulation in air moving duct work, which results in poor indoor air quality and “sick building syndrome”. ASHRAE standards now stipulate that all buildings must dehumidify outdoor air before sending it to the HVAC system.
Solve Your Summer Moisture Challenges with DCA
We can help you improve the moisture control of your system and get summer moisture under control, ultimately saving you money and energy in the long run. With the right equipment, it is possible to achieve optimal climate control year-round for the products and people inside your facility.
Contact us today to learn more about our services, or visit our website to request a quote.
Want to learn more troubleshooting tips ?
We’ve only looked at three common problems here, but there are a host of other issues that can cause dehumidifier malfunctioning.
To read more about what can go wrong with dehumidifiers and learn how to fix problems quickly and efficiently, download our free dehumidifier troubleshooting guide today.
Download our Free Troubleshooting Guide