Can anyone recommend a dessicant type dehumidifier that could potentially be controlled by HA?
This can even be by smart plug.
A dessicant type (as opposed to compressor type) dehumidifier is required as it will be used in a garage where the temperature can be close to freezing on occassion. The one I did try (A ‘Meaco DD8L’) was not smart, and had to keep its fan running for 5 minutes after shutting off, and would not remember its setting when turned off. So I could not control it via smart plug.
The idea is I would control it via more accurrate HA humidity sensors already in the garage, but even if not, I’d rather control when the item is on as they can be more expensive to run than the compressor type.
I’m in the UK, so ideally available from there or EU.
No, but I am back onto this at the moment, as the weather here is getting wetter again.
I returned the dehumidifier I mentioned for the reasons I explained.
Now with the added challenge of rising electricity prices, it becomes a tricky challenge.
In my case, the building is a large wooden shed. I am thinkinf of reduciing humidity by have an exractor fan linked to a humidity sendor (via HA), but I suspect I’ll need a dehumidifier too.
Its worth noting that the dessicant dehumidifiers are all likely to keep the fan/heater running after ‘switching off’ as they need to evaporate the last bits of moisture from the dessicant. So its not easy to make one smart, so I guess the only option is to buy one that’s already smart - still searching.
I’ve been using this one on my boat during the winter months. I haven’t tried to smartify it, but it will memorize and resume operation after a power cut. It will also continue running for a few minutes after you hit the off button, to evacuate moisture from the dessicant substance. I’m not sure if the unit can be damaged by repeatedly cutting power without that post-heat phase. Probably not, but it could lead to bacterial buildup etc in the unit.
While it works pretty well, I only use it occasionally now, because it draws a lot of power. I replaced it with a compressor type, which uses 3 times less power and still works OK. It’s not that cold here.
Thanks. I’ve considered using a smart button pusher - such as SwitchBot - to overcome the issue with powering off dessicant dehumidifiers. I think they do need to run the fan to stop bacterial growth.
However, I started feeling I was making a lot of compromises, so opted to hold out until I either find a smart one, or deal with the huidity in another way.
Hows the Electriq model been working for you? Thinking of putting it in a large garage as long as I can control it via HA, so electricity usage in under control.
It’s a great unit. Works well and I control it via the dashboard. I too have it in my garage. Only thing it doesn’t tell you, or at least I’ve not figured out, is when the reservoir is full and needs emptying. If you go with the constant drain tube then this is not a problem.
I have the 25L wifi model. I have local Tuya setup and it can see the device. However i am a bit lost with the config past that point. Have you got any examples, screen shots , code i can look at. I am trying to do the same with setting it up in HA so i can control it in there.
I had to send this back because when it reached the target humidity ie 55% when it went to standby the Humidity display starts to drop down to 32% and the temperature goes from 9 degrees to 20 degrees TRUE settings were 55% and 9 degrees
Sent the first one back and the second is the same so thats going back as well
the 8L or 25 Compressor one do they display correctly …anyone?
Hi @The_Flash
What did your solution end up being?
I’ve got the same situation in my basement so I’m also looking into a desiccant dehumidifier.
Due to the significant power drain my main smart use case is to only run it when I’ve got a surplus of solar power. A compromise could be an automatic timer to automatically start it during the daytime.
Sadly the electriq unit isn’t shipped to the Netherlands.
Its one of those projects I put on hold as I ran out of time.
What you could do is, using any desiccant dehumidifier, you could try using a SwitchBot Smart Switch Button Pusher, combined with a battery zigbee humidity sensor (like the Aqara ones). HA could then switch on the dehumidifier when the humidity goes over a certain amount, and switch it off when its dry. This would then allow it to do its 5 minute drying phase, as oppsed to using a smart plug.
This is what I would/will try I think, as it allows you to use virtually any suitable dehumidifier (as long as it has enough room near the power button to stick on the switchbot).
The Aqara humidity sensors work well, better than the dehumidifiers own sensor, in my experience. Batteries last for about years.
My case is an old out building but come to similar conclusion that venting/heating isn’t always a solution at certain times of year. Although I do intend to try adding an extractor fan to run under control of HA when the outside humidity is less than the inside - may try this first as its probably cheaper than running the dehumifier all year.
The extractor fan will probably also help prevent mould.
I’m indeed also planning to add the diff on internal vs external humidity sensors, adding extra sensors in the 3 connected segments of crawl space I’ve got into the logic.
For now that doesn’t really add value because in winter the maximum outside absolute humidity is still 3x lower than in the basement.
Speaking of which, the Thermal Comfort integration calculated this, the dew point and several other related things so I recommend it. thermal_comfort/README.md at master · dolezsa/thermal_comfort · GitHub
It’s available through HACS.
To combat mould we already put a layer of lime paint on the walls and ceiling.
This helps create a Ph value in the air which is not favourable to mould (never mind it growing in the walls anymore); while it does allow the walls of the basement to breathe (so it doesn’t lock up the humidity and force it to go up into the walls of the house).
Didn’t realise lime paint did that - thanks. In my case the outbuilding is wood, so won’t help in that instance. Venting is my only option I think. Its smells of mould in there so not looking forward to that job. Roof needs replacing too.
