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Be it the icy breeze of an air conditioner in the blistering heat or the cozy warmth of a heat pump during the cold winter months – air conditioners are essential!
Providing an instant solution in winter or summer by regulating the indoor temperature and humidity as per your need, air conditioners are a godsend. Other than cooling and heating, modern ACs can dehumidify, ventilate and even purify the air! There are multiple modes and features on your AC remote that you may have never used. One such underrated feature is the dry mode in your air conditioner.
If you’ve hardly ever used the ‘Dry Mode,’ let’s dig into what it is. How does it work, and how you can benefit from it.
Dry mode – a feature that is found in several ducted and ductless AC systems. It comes very handy in humid environments as it works to remove the moisture from the indoor air. This function is best suited for spring or fall seasons when humidity is at its peak, but it is not hot enough to use the cool mode. For instance, during a rainy day when it’s around 76 degrees, you can greatly benefit from the dry mode.
Another use case is when you come across the ‘Feels Like’ temperature in your weather forecast. ‘Feel Like’ means that although the temperature is at a certain degree, you will ‘feel’ the temperature to be more or less than it actually is. The temperature may ‘feel higher’ because of high humidity levels, and this is where the dry mode in your AC can be super beneficial! Use the dry mode to get rid of the higher ‘Feels Like’ temperature feeling.
Note: It’s best to use the dry mode for a couple of hours to get just get rid of extra moisture instead of making the air absolutely dry. If you have a mini-split, window, or portable AC, you can use a smart AC controller. You can set schedules or comfy mode to automate room temperature and humidity levels.
How Does the Dry Mode in ACs Work?
The dry mode sucks out the moisture from the air, thus acting similar to a dehumidifier. When an air conditioner is in dry mode, the air just passes through, and the moisture is captured, releasing fresh, breezy air.
Your AC’s fan and compressor run at low speed for the dehumidification to take place, but the unit does not blow out much cold air. Instead, the absorbed moisture condenses on the unit’s evaporator, and dry air is released into the room. This mode keeps the area cool & dry and refreshes the air in a humid climate.
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Since there is no intensive ‘cooling’ taking place and your AC’s fan is running on low, the dry mode in your AC definitely saves energy. If it’s not very hot and you just want to control the humidity in your room, opting for the dry mode over the cool mode is an energy-saving option.
Dry Mode vs. Cool Mode on Your AC
As evident by the name, the cool mode cools the air! This is the mode you must be most familiar with. It turns on the compressor and blows out cool air into the room. Energy expenditure of cool mode is dependent upon the temperature of your air conditioner along with the fan settings.
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On the contrary, the dry mode of an AC’s intended purpose is not to introduce cold air into the room. It removes the excess moisture. This mode is convenient when you are in a moderate climate zone or if the temperature is not that hot, but humidity levels are high. An added advantage is that the dry mode in AC is much less energy-intensive than the cool mode.
Dry Mode vs. Fan Mode
When the temperature and humidity levels are perfect, and you just need air circulation in the room, the fan mode is your go-to option. Unlike dry mode, the fan mode does not suck out moisture from the air. It still maintains a pleasant indoor environment.
On the other hand, if the moisture level is high and you need to make the air drier rather than just circulate it, the dry mode is the perfect option.
AC Dry Mode vs. a Dehumidifier
Both of these things perform the same function, so why choose one over the other? The answer is simple. Dry mode is a specific mode among the various modes of an air conditioner. An AC dehumidifies the air by cooling at a very low speed. On the other hand, a dehumidifier is a separate appliance that only removes excess moisture from the air.
When using the dry mode with an air conditioner, a more considerable amount of electricity is consumed as compared to when you use a dehumidifier. Moreover, if there is very high humidity, such as in Florida or Louisiana, there is a high chance that dry mode would not cut it. You might have to use a specialized appliance such as a dehumidifier.
How to Set the Dry Mode on Your AC?
All ready to experience your air conditioner’s dry mode?
Simply grab your AC’s remote or your phone if your air conditioner is smart and hit the mode button! Depending on the type of air conditioner you have, each time you press the button, the mode will change – this can be cool, heat, fan, dry auto, etc.
When you see the dry mode, which will be represented by the word ‘dry’ or a water droplet icon, the mode will be active.
In some air conditioners, you can alter the temperature and fan speed, while in some models, this is automatically set for best temperature optimization, and you cannot adjust it.
Benefits of Dry Mode in Air Conditioners
Temperature changes from season to season so does the humidity. You cannot always use cool or heat mode to maintain the temperature and humidity. This is when dry mode can prove to be beneficial.
It is one of the important features of an air conditioner since it maintains the indoor environment and helps slash your bills if you use it well!
There are quite a few benefits that dry mode brings with it. Let’s see the major ones:
Healthy Home
Dehumidification maintains ideal humidity levels that help you and your family breathe better. This is not the only benefit of optimum humidity levels; the dehumidification process also fights against allergens like mold and mildew that thrive in excessively humid environments.
Real Feel of the Temperature
Using the dry mode of your AC instead of cool mode can reduce the room’s humidity levels, giving a reduced real feel of the temperature. The temperature can immediately feel a few degrees cooler than it really is due to reduced humidity.
Prevents Damage
The dry mode prevents damage to your home appliances and furniture as it reduces humidity. Low humidity levels hamper the growth of mold and fungi, which can be damaging to your furniture. Moreover, mold and fungi can degrade indoor air quality, so it is always a good idea to prevent its growth.
A Solution to Unpleasant Odors
Unpleasant odors usually accompany high humidity levels due to the growth of mold and fungi. By dehumidifying the air, you can eliminate these odors and ensure a fresh feel to the indoor environment.
Stay Active!
With constant sweating and having a damp feeling in the room, you can feel lethargic. This can sometimes hinder your daily functions. By reducing the humidity levels, you can always be bright and active to have a productive day.
Energy Efficiency
Whenever the cool mode is not really needed, opting for the dry mode can help save energy! You would be getting rid of moisture, the air will feel cooler, but the air conditioner would be consuming much less energy!
Make Use of Dry Mode Today!
If you feel sweaty, lethargic, or clammy because of high humidity, then the dry mode is your savior. Effective use of the dry mode in AC helps you save some bucks on utility bills. Moreover, it offers several other benefits, as described herein.
Make use of the AC dry mode via smart AC controllers to automate your temperature and humidity levels all year long.
7 Comments. Leave new
Hi,
If I use dry mode 24/7 to reduce electricity bills during summer does it damage the AC or reduce its longevity in any way?
Hi Aby, using the dry mode will not affect your unit. It is though recommended to use the Dry mode for a couple of hours to maintain humidity at a comfortable level.
You can pair your air conditioner with Cielo Breez smart AC controllers to save energy without compromising on comfort. With Comfy Mode you can program your AC to switch off or run at low power when your room temperature reaches your desired level.
Will the “dry” mode work in cold winter wheather, for instance 0 celcius. From what i read the answer is no. I just want to confirm since i have humidity problems year round.
The analysis of dry mode here is not entirely true. Unless you are talking about some very unique or specific air conditioner/heat pump, “dry mode” is the same as cool mode except it runs the fan at a low speed, as this article correctly points out. However this still does cool the air. The only way to avoid cooling the air would be if the air conditioner can somehow direct the cooled air through the condenser coils, just like a dehumidifier does. On a portable AC, you can effectively achieve this by removing the vent hose and blowing the hot air back into the room. However you would also need to make sure you drain the condensate from the portable AC vs allowing the unit to try to evaporate it back into the exhaust air. But for a normal window air conditioner and every mini split heat pump I’ve seen, “dry” is the same as cool mode except it forces the fan to only run on slow.
Hi Matt, technically speaking, you are absolutely correct. You cannot have dehumidification without cooling. Your AC’s fan and compressor run at a low speed for the dehumidification to take place.
If away for several months in a hot climate like Florida, and you only want to control humidity, is it ok to use dry mode in enclosed lanai?
In Florida, the humidity levels are quite high, and just relying on your A.C. dry mode will not have a noticeable effect. You would require a dehumidifier as it is designed to remove a high amount of moisture from the air effectively.
To control your dehumidifier remotely when you are away from home, you can use a smart AC controller. You can pair your dehumidifier with our Cielo Breez smart AC controller as long as it comes with an IR-based remote control. This smart device has humidity sensors that allow you to monitor and maintain ideal humidity levels. You can view the current humidity levels in your home and make any changes using your phone from anywhere in the world.