If you’re facing issues like dampness in your warehouse, excessive humidity in your greenhouse, or moisture affecting stored clothing and food items, you might be considering purchasing a dehumidifier. So, how do you go about purchasing dehumidifiers for your project? Keep reading this article, and your questions will be answered.
How to choose the dehumidifier type?
Dehumidifiers can effectively control humidity levels indoors. However, with numerous types of dehumidifiers available in the market, you might be unsure about how to choose the right one for yourself.
Before purchasing a dehumidifier, you need to determine which type of dehumidifier suits your needs. Whether it’s a compressor-based dehumidifier or a desiccant-based one, how do you know which type is more suitable for you? Actually, it’s quite easy to distinguish; you just need to judge based on your target humidity level.
Step One: Determine your target humidity level.
Target humidity | Dehumidifier Type Selection |
Between 1-40% RH | Use Desiccant Dehumidifiers |
Between 40-60% RH | Use Compressor Dehumidifiers |
You can compare your target humidity with the ranges provided in the table to determine which category of dehumidifier is more suitable for you. If your target humidity falls within the range of 40-60%RH, then you are better suited to use a compressor dehumidifier.
However, it’s important to note:
- Desiccant dehumidifiers are significantly more expensive than compressor dehumidifiers and offer better humidity control.
- Lowering humidity excessively may not always be necessary or cost-effective. Consider your budget and desired humidity levels when making your decision.
This article primarily focuses on purchasing compressor dehumidifiers, and the following sections will delve into this type of dehumidifier.
Step Two: Determine if Special Features are Needed for the Dehumidifier
To ensure optimal performance of the dehumidifier in your project, you need to determine if your space has any special circumstances. Check if your usage area has any of the following mentioned special situations, as this will determine whether you need to choose a standard dehumidifier or a custom-made one.
- Limited floor space in the dehumidification area: Ceiling-mounted dehumidifier
If your warehouse layout was completed long ago and there’s no extra floor space to place a dehumidifier, consider opting for a ceiling-mounted dehumidifier. These units are installed on the ceiling, saving floor space. Ceiling-mounted dehumidifiers are particularly popular in areas with limited space, such as crowded high-rise buildings in places like Hong Kong or greenhouses filled with plants on the ground.
- Corrosive environment in the dehumidification area: Corrosion-resistant dehumidifier
If you’re using a dehumidifier in places like food processing facilities or chemical plants, it’s advisable to use a dehumidifier with anti-corrosion features. These environments produce a lot of corrosive substances that can quickly damage conventional dehumidifiers. Anti-corrosion dehumidifiers offer significant advantages in such corrosive environments.
- Potential risk of explosion in the dehumidification area: Explosion-proof dehumidifier
For environments with potential explosion risks such as fireworks workshops and gunpowder warehouses, it is essential to ensure that dehumidifiers have explosion-proof features when controlling humidity. Inflammable and explosive environments, enhancing the safety of workers requires the utmost attention.
- Unable to arrange overhead installation in the dehumidification area: Ducted dehumidifier
If your indoor floor area is small and the ceiling is low, unable to support the installation of suspended dehumidifiers, you can opt for duct dehumidifiers. Duct dehumidifiers can be placed in adjacent rooms and exchange humid and dry air through ducts, ensuring targeted humidity control in specific areas, making them an ideal choice for limited spaces and areas.
- Consistently high or low temperatures in the dehumidification area: Low-temperature dehumidifier / High-temperature dehumidifier
For typical industrial dehumidifiers, the operating temperature ranges from 5 to 38 degrees Celsius. If your environment stays comfortably cool, such as in Southeast Asia where temperatures are consistently in the twenties, a standard dehumidifier will suffice.
However, if your facility is a cold storage area where temperatures remain consistently low, say between 0 to 15 degrees Celsius (above freezing but not exceeding 0 degrees Celsius), a standard dehumidifier would operate inefficiently. In such cases, a low-temperature dehumidifier is the optimal choice.
Conversely, if your operating environment experiences high temperatures, such as between 35 to 55 degrees Celsius, as in greenhouse coffee bean drying, heating for drying, or drying of molds, a high-temperature dehumidifier is necessary. This is because such high temperatures exceed the operational range of standard dehumidifiers.
- A large amount of dust in the dehumidification area: Dust-proof dehumidifier
In some special applications like construction projects or flour mills, there can be a lot of dust. In such cases, it’s necessary to use a dehumidifier with dust-proof features to prevent large amounts of dust from entering the interior of the dehumidifier. While the standard dehumidifier’s filter can capture large particles of dust, it may not filter out small particles effectively. Therefore, a dust-proof dehumidifier with a high filtration level is required in such scenarios.
Step Three: Communicate Your Information with the Supplier Promptly.
If you’re unsure about your target humidity, simply inform the dehumidifier supplier about your workshop details and the desired outcome. The supplier’s engineering team will provide you with recommendations based on your requirements and suggest the appropriate type of dehumidifier.
How to choose the dehumidifier capacity & model
Now that you’ve determined the type of dehumidifier your facility needs and have communicated any special requirements to the supplier, it’s time to confirm the dehumidification capacity and select the appropriate model. Industrial dehumidifier capacity is typically measured in liters per day (L/day) or pints per day (Pints/D). The larger the area to be dehumidified, the greater the dehumidification capacity required, and consequently, the more dehumidifiers needed.
The local engineer has recommended a dehumidification capacity
If you already have a local engineer, please have the engineer directly calculate the required dehumidification capacity and the number of dehumidifiers needed. Then, you can approach suppliers to inquire about relevant models and prices.
Uncertain about which dehumidifier model to choose
If you’re unsure about which dehumidifier model and how many units to choose, you can seek assistance from dehumidifier sales representatives. Each sales team is backed by engineers who can provide free configuration advice.
When reaching out to the sales team, provide the following information for proper configuration:
I. Application Area: The area where the dehumidifier will be used, such as a clothing warehouse or a beef freezer room.
II. Room Dimensions: Length × Width × Height (meters/inches).
III. Actual Temperature: The temperature inside the room. For more accuracy, specify the lowest temperature in winter and the highest temperature in summer.
IV. Current Humidity Level
V. Target Humidity Level: The desired humidity level.
VI. Ventilation Situation: Whether there are large exhaust fans, central air conditioning, etc.
VII. Special Circumstances: Any corrosive environments, explosion hazards, large amounts of dust, or other special conditions as mentioned above.
VIII. Actual Photos: If your facility is already in use, providing real photos of the site will help engineers make better judgments.
If you don’t have all this information, provide whatever details you currently have. The more detailed information you provide about your dehumidification needs, the better engineers can understand your site, making it easier for them to configure the dehumidifiers for you.
How to find reliable dehumidifier suppliers and sales representatives?
Now that we have confirmed the basic information needed for the dehumidifier, we can start further screening the dehumidifier suppliers. With today’s advanced internet, I believe it’s easy for you to find over 20 dehumidifier suppliers within 10 minutes. The most challenging part is how to choose a reliable dehumidifier supplier and determine if the sales representative you’re dealing with is trustworthy.
Requesting product pictures, specifications, videos, etc., is basic communication and can only determine if the supplier’s foundation is solid. So, how can you communicate more deeply to judge if this supplier is trustworthy?
I suggest you communicate with the sales representative in the following aspects:
1. Directly watch a video of the supplier’s workshop.
You can schedule a video call with the sales representative for the next day, as there’s not much time for preparation. This allows you to see the supplier in the most authentic way. Moreover, direct conversation during the video call can help you clearly understand if the sales representative you’re dealing with is trustworthy, which is more intuitive than emails.
2. Understand the sales situation of the supplier in your country or nearby markets.
This can help you judge if the supplier has rich sales experience in neighboring countries. Although dehumidifiers have the same appearance globally, the voltage varies, and there are also differences in product details and preferences in different markets.
3. Inquire about the sales representative’s tenure in the company.
Each sales representative is the direct interface of the company. If there’s frequent turnover, it’s more likely to have issues with data handover. On the other hand, a longer tenure indicates deeper product understanding and more extensive experience. A sales representative with a long tenure is less likely to encounter various minor issues with regular orders and can also remind you of details you might not have considered.
Dehumidifier Purchase cost
For a dehumidifier project, I believe you already have a certain budget in mind. So, how do we calculate the cost of purchasing the dehumidifier for this project?
The cost of the dehumidifier project = the cost of the dehumidifier product itself + the cost of sea transportation + port fees and import taxes, customs clearance fees, etc. + local transportation costs + local installation costs (if your team does not have installation engineers) + profit margin reserved for yourself (if you are importing and preparing to sell).
Analysis of Dehumidifier Product Prices
Dehumidifiers of different models have different dehumidification capacities, with prices ranging from $300 to $2000. The main difference lies in the size of the dehumidification capacity and whether there are customized special functions. For detailed dehumidifier quotations, simply click on the “Inquiry” button on the right, and I will provide you with a quotation immediately.
Cost of Sea Transportation
Dehumidifiers, due to their size, are typically transported by sea freight. We usually use the CIF trade terms, and the actual volume will be confirmed based on the quantity you need, along with the calculation of the sea freight cost.
Port Fees and Import Taxes, Customs Clearance Fees, etc.
Many new importers may not be familiar with this process. However, you can easily find out the corresponding import taxes by checking the product name or HS code at your local customs office.
As for customs clearance fees, some countries allow individuals to handle customs clearance locally, while others do not. If this is your first time dealing with customs clearance, it’s advisable to use the simplest and quickest method. You can find a local customs clearance company and provide them with the commercial invoice and packing list. They will then inform you of the total customs clearance fees. Through further communication, you can gradually learn about the detailed import process and how to save costs.
Local Transportation Costs
The cost of transporting the dehumidifier from the port to your warehouse may be included in the customs clearance fees by some clearance companies. You can confirm the detailed cost breakdown with them. Alternatively, you can arrange the transportation directly yourself.
Don’t forget to factor in the transportation cost to deliver the dehumidifier to the end customer’s warehouse!
Local Installation Costs
If your team doesn’t have its own installation engineer and you need to hire a professional team for the installation of the dehumidifier, you should inquire about the installation cost locally. For detailed installation steps, you can first refer to: “How to install dehumidifier?“
Analysis of Dehumidifier Brands
In the process of selecting dehumidifier suppliers and calculating costs, you must have faced the dilemma of whether to purchase from large corporations or small companies. Here, we will provide a brief analysis of well-known brands from large corporations and smaller brands from small companies.
Premium associated with well-known brands from large corporations and their comprehensive after-sales support.
Large corporations have globally renowned brands and may even have subsidiaries in your city, offering excellent quality and after-sales service. However, this also means that the prices of dehumidifiers sold by these big companies are quite high, as they need to cover their significant expenses, including branding.
As a project user, you’ll have to bear these high costs due to the premium associated with the brand. Nevertheless, you’ll enjoy peace of mind in terms of usage and after-sales support.
Becoming a distributor for these large companies might be challenging if your project is successful because they likely have already established distribution networks in various regions. Moreover, when purchasing directly from them, you may encounter high minimum order quantities. Even if you buy samples and find them satisfactory, there’s no guarantee that they will accept smaller orders in the future due to product adjustments or internal policies. Additionally, their production schedules are usually busy, leading to longer lead times for orders. Therefore, even if you have urgent orders, the likelihood of expedited processing is low.
Enthusiastic service and full support from small companies.
Small companies usually offer more budget-friendly prices since they don’t have the premium associated with big brands. When you place a moderate-sized order with them, there’s a high probability of becoming an important or core customer for their company. Moreover, in case of urgent orders, they are often willing to adjust their production schedules to prioritize your order for production and delivery. Being a core customer for a small company makes it easier to receive their full support. However, their after-sales service might not be as comprehensive, and warranty services may not be available in your city.
Choose the dehumidifier supplier based on your specific needs and circumstances.
After the analysis above, I believe you now have a basic understanding of choosing between big and small companies. Ultimately, consider the key aspects of price, communication, quality, and after-sales support to make your decision based on your specific situation. I trust you will find the dehumidifier supplier that best fits your needs. What suits you best is indeed the best choice.
The purchase process for a dehumidifier
Once you have selected your dehumidifier supplier and finalized all the details through communication, you can proceed with the purchase of the dehumidifiers.
Sample Purchase
If this is your first time purchasing dehumidifiers for your project, I recommend buying a few samples for testing first. This allows you to assess their performance, as well as the quality of service provided by the supplier. Purchasing samples helps to further understand the compatibility between your chosen supplier and your needs, facilitating a gradual alignment process.
Bulk Purchase
As the quantity of dehumidifiers purchased increases, it becomes more advantageous for your price negotiations. Moreover, when procuring in large quantities, it’s essential to pay close attention to every detail. During the bulk purchasing process, make sure to double-check all the details, costs, and procedures. Once the production of the goods is completed, you can request the supplier to provide you with pictures for remote inspection or arrange for a third-party inspection company to conduct an onsite inspection.
Conclusion
Do you feel like the process of purchasing a dehumidifier isn’t actually that complicated? If there are any steps in the purchasing process that you’re unsure about, feel free to ask me. I’m more than happy to answer any questions you may have about dehumidifiers. So, let’s start your journey of purchasing a dehumidifier!
FAQ
Do industrial dehumidifiers require professional engineers for installation?
You need to hire a professional engineer to install industrial dehumidifiers. Since industrial dehumidifiers use three-phase electricity, it’s essential to have a specialized electrical engineer check whether the voltage at the installation site meets the installation standards and proceed with the installation. However, for household or commercial dehumidifiers, you can simply follow the user manual instructions to plug them in and use them.
Can I customize industrial dehumidifiers according to my needs?
Sure. You can contact me to discuss your customization requirements. Our team of professional dehumidifier engineers will provide you with the necessary specifications and drawings for the customized dehumidifier. Once confirmed, we will arrange for the production of your order.
Are industrial dehumidifiers noisy?
Due to the larger intake area and dehumidification capacity of industrial dehumidifiers, they tend to produce more noticeable noise compared to typical household dehumidifiers, typically around 66 dB.