Mini split 'dry mode' ?

[snyder]

When you place a mini split in dry mode, what actually changes. Does the fan run continuously or does it change evaporator settings. Also how much effect would using dry mode have on electric usage? Thanks.

 

[kelpaso1]

I was going to ask the same question. When I have mine on "dry" mode it just feels the same as being on A/C mode.

 

[Jackfre]

The unit will reverse cycle into heating and the fan will run to dry the coil and drain pan. It does it at a level that is very low on the heat side but effective in the drying operation.

 

[Git]

The unit will reverse cycle into heating and the fan will run to dry the coil and drain pan. It does it at a level that is very low on the heat side but effective in the drying operation.

Dry mode = dehumidify, it's all about the dew point.

The unit will cool below the dew point but will also reduce the airflow over the coil. The moisture from the air will condense on the coil but instead of being blown out with the cooler air on higher fan speeds, it will now condense on the coil and drop down to the drain pan

 

[rlitman]

The unit will reverse cycle into heating and the fan will run to dry the coil and drain pan. It does it at a level that is very low on the heat side but effective in the drying operation.

No. The unit will NOT reverse cycle in dry mode. FYI, dry mode exists on cool-only mini-splits as well. Also, heating mode will immediately stop the interior coil from condensing, so it will not contribute to drying the interior space.

In dry mode, the unit will run the inside fan a little slower and run the coil colder than usual. Dry mode will ONLY cool the space, and may over-cool it a little, because they have no ability to heat while drying (unlike a dehumidifier, which has the condenser coil indoors).

Along these lines, I just had a flooding event in my basement, and am currently running my mini-splits in dry mode. It got quite cold down there, and as the space got cooler, the dehumidification slowed down. So I just plugged in a dehumidifier (actually two) that I dug out of deep storage. That warmed the space up enough that the mini-splits started doing a better job drying the air again.

Dry mode = dehumidify, it's all about the dew point.

The unit will cool below the dew point but will also reduce the airflow over the coil. The moisture from the air will condense on the coil but instead of being blown out with the cooler air on higher fan speeds, it will now condense on the coil and drop down to the drain pan

Right.

 

[jjrbus]

I often run one of my minis in dry mode and do not know much about how it works. The only thing I notice is the lack of temp control and room will keep getting cooler. How cool, don't know, it has never been an issue. Does not seem to noticeably affect the electric bill.

 

[Kaizen]

Don’t know how it works but in cool humid nights it is awesome. Looks like someone left a faucet running. I can tolerate hot temps but puss out on humidity


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[walrus]

When you place a mini split in dry mode, what actually changes. Does the fan run continuously or does it change evaporator settings. Also how much effect would using dry mode have on electric usage? Thanks.

I think on my Fujitsu is uses 1/3 the amount of electricity as cool mode.

 

[Yankeefarmer]

As Git wrote above, dry mode typically runs the evap coil very cold, and the fan on a low speed to maintain circulation of room air over the coil. Although the logic varies somewhat from manufacturer to manufacturer, in general it uses the temperature set on your controller as a lower limit on room temperature, where the unit will shut down to avoid chilling the room much below set temperature. Conversely, if you have the unit running in dry mode in a room with a lot of heat gain, it won’t ramp up to keep the room from heating up above the set temperature. That’s what cool mode is for.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

No reverse cycle on heat pumps. "Dry" mode is just a different operating program to reduce airflow and cool below dewpoint. I run the Fujitsu in my basement on "Dry" from around March to November.

Tommy

 

[snyder]

Thanks everyone , this is my first mini split install. It's in a basement bedroom that we just made for our daughter. I guess it's been completed about 9 months now. It really performs well. But we saw some light amounts of gray pasty mold on the baseboard. My daughter hasn't complained about any temp issues since we put the mini split in dry mode. We will keep an eye the mold issue.

 

[Ohmthis]

It works very well. I installed a Mitsubishi unit at our lake house In a room with no heat or ac. I used to leave it on cool, but run it at a higher temp when we would leave. A couple times we came back and the room was moist feeling. I have since ran it on dry mode and it kicks ***. No more moist room. We haven’t noticed the electric bill any different.