Commercial drying desiccants are used in a variety of ways to remove moisture from the air and protect products and materials from water damage. This plays an important role in the restoration industry. They are a key tool for property owners looking to remove water and control humidity efficiently and effectively in large-scale or challenging environments.
What are commercial drying desiccants?
A desiccant is a substance (see below) that absorbs moisture from the air. Commercial drying desiccants are designed specially for large-scale properties or industrial use. The different uses of drying desiccants are extremely effective in absorbing moisture from the air. When there’s water damage, this is ideal for drying materials.
Different Types of Desiccants:
There are three different types of commercial desiccants. When choosing one, it’s important to consider the specific needs of the application. Factors such as moisture level, the temperature, and the type of material being dried will all play a role in selecting the appropriate desiccant.
– Silica gel: This is a popular choice of general-purpose drying applications due to its high capacity for moisture absorption and its ability to be regenerated for reuse.
– Activated alumina: This type of desiccant is often used in high temperature applications or where a low dew point is needed.
– Molecular sieve: This is a highly selective desiccant that can remove moisture from a wide range of liquids and gasses.
The breakdown: How do they work?
Desiccants are basically tiny sponges. They act like magnets for moisture, removing excess water from the air creating a drier environment. They achieve this primarily through absorption.
How they are used in our industry:
When there is water damage, we use dehumidifiers that contain commercial drying desiccants. These types of dehumidifiers are especially effective in environments where it’s crucial to have low humidity. Traditional refrigerant dehumidifiers are less effective in colder climates or in larger spaces and this is where we’d use the commercial drying desiccants.
Key benefits:
Commercial drying desiccants offer a few key benefits over traditional methods of drying and dehumidification.
– Rapid moisture removal: They can remove moisture from the air much faster than conventional dehumidifiers, which rely on condensation to remove moisture.
– Prevention of mold and mildew: By reducing humidity, desiccants help prevent the growth of mold and mildew.
– Versatility: These can be used in a variety of settings from warehouses, to hospitals, laboratories, food processing plants and more.
– Energy Efficiency: The investment of a desiccant system may be more costly than a traditional dehumidifier, but they can be more energy efficient in the long run. This is because they remove moisture from the air at lower temperatures, which reduces the amount of energy required to operate the system. This is beneficial for larger scale or long term drying operations.
This system is an essential tool in the world of water damage. If you’re experiencing water damage at a large facility or think you may be dealing with a challenging climate, like high humidity, commercial drying desiccant systems are one of the more cost effective ways to mitigate damages. It’s our job to prevent further damages from happening, like mitigating mold or mildew risks and restoring the facility back to its normal condition. Insurcomm can ensure we will help you and make a significant difference in the efficiency and effectiveness of treating your water loss.