A warehouse or storage spaces are large plain buildings used by individuals and businesses such as manufacturers, importers, exporters, wholesalers to store and preserve products before moving them out at a particular time. The storage time ranges from a few days to even a year.
Maintaining optimal humidity levels in warehouses and storage spaces is challenging as these places are not as insulated as residential spaces. Ventilation systems, cracked windows, door gaps, constant staff movement, and other openings lead to warm air entering these places and increasing humidity. Moisture levels in these places increase at night when surface materials such as floors, ceilings, crates packages – reach their dew point due to cooling off warm air, which leads to moisture accumulation due to condensation.
Humidity & Moisture Problems
High ambient humidity can lead to deterioration of the quality and shelf-life of the stored products. Some common symptoms of high humidity include sweating on concrete surfaces, rust, and rot, leading to inventory and capital equipment losses.
Products are often stacked one above the other or packed tightly in storage spaces and warehouses. Without appropriate humidity control, they can absorb moisture from the air and may have a wide-ranging impact. Deterioration of stored products’ chemical and physical properties, fungal growth, softening the structural matrix, discoloration, separation, etc. are major issues. Additionally, food and medicines stored in these places are at higher risk as mold and mildew growth can pose a significant health hazard to consumers.
Working in humid and muggy conditions can also be quite unpleasant for employees and may lead to frustration. To prevent such damage, storage space and warehouses should maintain optimum humidity around the clock to improve the humidity conditions, and one of the most efficient ways to do so is using a dehumidifier.
Using Dehumidifiers to Mitigate High Humidity Levels in Warehouses and Storage Spaces
The optimum humidity level for storage areas and warehouses ranges between 45%-55% RH. Dehumidifiers can significantly reduce moisture issues by providing additional airflow during daytime and mitigate condensation issues that occur overnight, controlling dew points and relative humidity in warehouses, indoor grow rooms, and archive storage facilities.
Heavy-duty dehumidifiers are made of durable materials and higher capacity and can handle more expansive space. When used in conjunction with HVAC systems, these machines can efficiently remove more moisture, allowing you to turn up your thermostat. Warehouse dehumidifiers can save a ton on power consumption, reducing the cost of electricity.
How Warehouse Dehumidifiers Work
Most dehumidifiers work by pulling air into the unit using a fan. When the hot, humid air passes over the refrigerated coils inside the unit. The dry air is then reheated and released back into the room via an outlet. The collected moisture within it condenses and drained into a collection reservoir until it is exhausted. Many heavy-duty dehumidifiers are equipped with an internal pump that allows water to be pumped vertically into a collection area.
Most heavy-duty dehumidifiers are equipped with automatic humidity control that allows you to pre-set the ideal conditions – drier, normal, humid, and monitor the indoor humidity. These units shut down automatically whenever the collection reservoir becomes full or after the spaces reach the desired humidity levels.
Factors to Consider While Buying a Dehumidifier For A Warehouse
Selecting the ideal warehouse dehumidifier is essential to maintain the optimum humidity level to have the products stored in the right conditions. Some factors that are needed to be considered are mentioned below:
Area size: It is a measure of space that needs to be covered by the dehumidifier. Commercial warehouses and storage spaces are huge areas; hence you need a dehumidifier that efficiently covers this space. If the space is too large for one dehumidifier, you can consider purchasing multiple dehumidifiers.
Facility Climate: Factors such as local climatic conditions also influence the performance requirement of the dehumidifier. The number of doors in the loading bay, frequency of door opening and closing, and the amount of time outside air enter the facility also impact the dehumidifier’s performance.
Type of Products: Consider the type of products or items are stored inside the warehouse and storage spaces, as some articles and inventory are more sensitive to moisture than others. Facilities where employees and machinery operate continually or with great frequency usually include supplementary climate control systems like heating, cooling, or air filtration. Units used in these environments will have to meet increased or decreased performance specifications and integrate with these other climate control elements.
Best Warehouse Dehumidifier Options
1. ALORAIR LGR 85 Pint Commercial Dehumidifier with Pump
The ALorAIR Storm LGR Extreme dehumidifier has a drainage capacity of 85 pints per day (PPD)at AHAM and 180 PPD saturation. While the dehumidifier is specially designed for flood and water damage restoration tasks, but its high capacity and stackable design is well suited for removing high level of dampness in warehouse, shops, storage areas, industrial institutions, garage applications, etc. The device can deliver Air flow up to 210 CFM.
Made from stainless steel side plates and coded coils, the ALorAIR Storm LGR boasts industry-leading epoxy coated coils that render protection against corrosive environments and maintain its heat transferability, thereby extending the life of the coils manufactured from. The unit comes with a waterproof base while a rubber strip seals the circuit board. The device can work while immersed in water. The dehumidifier features a durable condensate pump as well as a bypass air sensor. With a 14.7’ lifting distance, the condensate pump gives you the freedom to drain anywhere.
The ALORAIR Storm LGR Extreme comes with a smooth touch control panel. THE bright LED display indicates temperature and humidity levels at both inlet and outlet. The Storm LGR Extreme is equipped with a “Hot Gas” defrosting system, which ensures a quick and efficient clearing of ice from the coil under a minimum operating temperature of 2℃. The dehumidifier gets operating temperature range of 33-105 degrees and functioning humidity range of 35-90%
The Storm LGR features a 19.6 ft extra-long, three-prong power cord. The condensate hose and power cord can be easily stored on the side of the unit, ensuring optimum storage capacity utilization. The dehumidifier also includes a MERV 8 filter placed at the inlet of the device, keeping it free from dirt and dust particles, aiding in low maintenance. ALORAIR is offering a one-year limited warranty on the device; 3-year limited warranty on refrigeration circuit; and 5-year limited warranty on compressor, condenser, and evaporator.
Pros
- Waterproof shell
- Usable in frigid temperatures
- Low maintenance & easy operation.
- Epoxy coated coils
- Hot Gas Defrosting System
- Compact size for portability
- Long Warranty
- cETL Certified
Cons
- Heavier than other similarly designed dehumidifiers
- No auto restart option
- Small coverage area
Why buy: If your business place lies in a flood-prone or high rainfall zone, then you should consider the AlorAir Storm LGR Extreme with “moisture absorbents. The efficient dehumidifier offers a waterproof design and high drainage capacity. It is easy to operate and can work at low temperature, and also boasts a host of extra features.
2. Waykar Commercial Dehumidifier 130 Pint
The Waykar commercial-grade dehumidifier features a powerful compressor and efficient fan system that can move air at high speed at 180 CFM and remove up to 130 pints of moisture per day. With strong airflow and heavy-duty function, the dehumidifier can dry air for any large indoor spaces up to 6,000 sq. ft. and is suitable for warehouse, grow room, basement, garage, cellar, workshop, library, laboratory, and small factory, etc.
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The Waykar dehumidifier features intelligent Humidity control that will smartly sense room humidity and control dehumidification. Just set your desire humidity (10-90%RH), and it will automatically turn off when it reaches the point and restart the machine when the humidity rises or falls below the set level. The device will also restart automatically in case of a power outage. The machine features an intelligent control panel and a 24-hour timer setting that allows planned operation and reduces energy consumption.
The Waykar dehumidifier comes with four universal casters and two ergonomically placed handles to easily move the device. The dehumidifier comes with a 78.7-inch long drain hose. When the 5L water tank reaches maximum capacity, the dehumidifier will raise an alert and switch off until it has been emptied. This Waykar 130 Pint Dehumidifier is covered with 30-Days Money Back guarantee, one-year warranty, 2nd-year warranty extension, and lifetime expert tech support.
Pros
- Auto Shutdown
- Power Outage Restart
- Portable
Cons
- High Power Consumption
- Slightly Louder
Why Buy: The sleek and compact Waykar dehumidifier is a highly efficient machine that is simple to use and keeps the humidity at the optimum levels.
3. Kesnos 234 Pint Industrial Dehumidifier for Moisture Removal
With a comprehensive water removal capacity up of up to 234 pints per day, the Kesnos PD900AC-90L can match virtually every commercial and industrial requirement. The motorized impeller delivers 647 CFM, and the high airflow filter ensures maximum airflow for faster drying. The Kesnos dehumidifier effectively without needing constant attention, and is ideal for large basements, laundry room, cellars, crawlspace, grow room, warehouse, library, small factory, etc.
The Kesnos PD900AC-90L comes with a digital display control panel that is easy to operate and offers a convenient and accurate humidity level readout. The dehumidifier comes with humidity auto control that will sense the humidity levels and maintain it at pre-set levels. The machine features power off auto restart and will go back on the same setting as before the power outage. The Kesnos PD900AC-90L also comes with an auto-defrost function that keeps the machine from freezing and ensures continuous operation in a cold environment up to 41°F.
The Kesnos dehumidifier is designed for portability with four wheels and ergonomically recessed handles to move around effortlessly. The dehumidifier includes a 2-meter drain hose for continuous drainage. The machine comes with auto error detection, which will display error codes in case of a problem in the unit’s operation to help you with troubleshooting tips. The Kesnos PD900C-90L is covered with 30-days money-back guarantee, one-year warranty, a 2nd-year warranty extension when the product is registered, and lifetime tech support.
Pros
- Wide Coverage Area
- Energy efficient
- Auto Defrost
- Long Drainage Hose
Cons
- Slightly Noisy
Why Buy: The versatile Kesnos PD900C-90L dehumidifier wears multiple hats. Featuring automatic humidistats, auto-restart, auto defrost, and continuous drainage, this dehumidifier provides low-hassle humidity control in a highly efficient manner.
4. COLZER 140 Pints Commercial Dehumidifier 17 Gallons Large Capacity
Capable of removing 140 pints of moisture per day, the COLZER commercial-grade dehumidifier is an ideal drying solution for large basements and any other wet areas up to 6,000 sq. ft. Apart from conventional dehumidification, this machine features a functional Laundry Mode to dry delicate clothes or products that require hang dry quickly.
The COLZER dehumidifier comes with an intuitive full-function touch-pad control panel with humidity and digital temperature reading. The dehumidifier features adjustable fan speeds, 24-hour auto on/off, and the auto-swinging louvers improve airflow and direct the air to a specific direction for added flexibility. The device also comes with CHILD LOCK for safer daily use.
The COLZER dehumidifier has a 17-pint water reservoir, and it also comes with an advanced full tank alert system that will auto shut-off once the tank becomes full. The dehumidifier comes with a 6.56 ft drain hose that allows automatically continuous drainage by gravity. The humidity setting ranges between 30%-80%. The machine will stop working when the ambient humidity is less than or equal to the set humidity.
Pros
- Large Capacity
- Easy to set up and operate
- Laundry Mode
- Low Noise Generation
Cons
- No Pump
Why Buy: The Colzer dehumidifier is a powerful and large-capacity unit that works quickly and efficiently. The unit comes with straightforward and intuitive controls and has wheels on the bottom for easy movement. This unit is also tranquil and sounds like a fan running. The large-capacity tank is easy to empty or can be attached to a plastic tube to run continuously.
5. DOROSIN 130 Pint Portable Industrial Dehumidifier
With powerful moisture removal ability, the Dorosin dehumidifier can remove 130-pint water per day. Powered by a Panasonic compressor, the dehumidifier delivers strong airflow and heavy-duty function. It is suitable for large spaces such as a basement, garage, cellar, workshop, warehouse, library, laboratory, and water damage restoration.
The Dorosin dehumidifier is made from anticorrosive steel stainless outer shell that adds durability. At the same time, the inner grooved copper tube is more efficient than a standard copper tube in drying air. To prevent electric leakage and extend the machine’s longevity, the DOROSIN dehumidifier comes with an enclosed motor to protect it from damp and moisture. The device also uses a centrifugal fan that operates powerfully without making noise. The dehumidifier can circulate air in an 860-1300 sq. ft room 6-8 times in an hour during a stable operating environment.
The DOROSIN dehumidifier comes with a continuous drainage feature and includes a 40-inch long drain hose and 16pint water bucket. Connect the drainage, set your desire humidity (10-90%RH), and it will automatically turn off when it reaches the point. The machine comes with four universal wheels and two handles to move around easily. The Panasonic compressor comes with a three-minute overloading protection system that can prevent the relay from damaging in case of excessive current or high temperature. The machine comes with a one-year warranty, while the warranty for the compressor is three years.
Pros
- Simple to use, easy to operate
- Panasonic Compressor
- Tough Build quality
Cons
- Smaller Coverage Area
- No Auto Restart Feature
Why Buy: The DOROSIN Commercial Dehumidifier is a perfect foil for combating moist and musty environment. It is efficient at a wide range of temperature and competently removes odor smell and reduces damp atmosphere.
Tips for Maintaining Humidity Levels in Warehouses and Storage Space
Maintaining Clean Work Environment: Keeping your warehouse or space clean is ideal for monitoring moisture, machinery, and inventory. Frequently inspect the structure and check for damage. Look for moisture or water damage, inspect piping and windows through which humidity can leak inside, and help you identify and treat mold and mildew growth.
Keep Track of Inventory: If there is inventory at the storage space or warehouse, it should be stored up and out of the way. Inspect the packaging, and consider placing the sensitive products where they are easily accessible and be inspected frequently for moisture damage. Keep track of how long the products have been stored and carry out occasional inspection to help alleviate any concerns before they arise.