The Primary Differences Between an Air
Conditioner's Cool Mode and Dry Mode
In this day and age when temperatures are
reaching record-breaking levels in various
countries worldwide, it is apparent that we are
becoming increasingly reliant on temperature and
humidity-altering devices like air conditioners
and heaters. There is without a doubt, though
that, in Singapore, more people are using the
former than the latter. And, considering this
increase in need for air conditioners, wouldn't
it be just appropriate for people to start
learning how their units work, its various modes
and general functionality? After all, taking the
time to study them could prove to have many
benefits (making the most out of their device
and saving energy, to name a few.)
Are you aware, for instance, of the major
differences between an air conditioning unit's
"Cool Mode" and "Dry Mode"? Very few people take
the time to know them that, regardless of what
mode their unit is currently in, they
practically couldn't tell the difference between
the two. Most people just rely on the standard
and familiar "Cool Mode" most of the time. While
there's nothing wrong with having your air
conditioner running permanently on "Cool Mode"
(a fact which would be explained later on), it
wouldn't hurt to learn the other features of
your unit, right? After all, its developers
wouldn't have included them if they served no
important purpose.
One can argue that some air conditioners do not
even have a "Dry Mode." However, in a generally
tropical country like Singapore where humidity
levels can increase by as much as 80-90% in
certain times of the year, air conditioning
units with a "Dry Mode" should be opted more.
This tip should be followed all the more so by
people who reside near the sea and other locales
where humidity have a tendency to increase due
to various weather conditions (i.e. storms,
monsoons, etc.)
The importance of the "Dry Mode"
In order to understand and distinguish the two
modes from each other, we would have to explain
the functioning of each in detail. Let's start
with the lesser known mode first. The "Dry
Mode", as has been stated above, essentially
takes care of the humidity levels in a room. It
is commonly distinguished from its counterpart
by a separate icon on the air conditioner's
remote control (normally, it is a single drop of
water with a set of arrows curling and pointing
upwards.) This is used to signify its main
function, which is to reduce the humidity
(brought about by high moisture levels in the
air) of a certain place or venue where the air
conditioner is installed.
The most evident difference between the "Cool
Mode" and "Dry Mode" is that in the latter mode,
your air conditioner wouldn't be releasing cool
air and is technically not actively cooling the
room. Nonetheless, since humidity plays a big
role in raising room temperature, using the "Dry
Mode" to decrease humidity could also bring
about a "cooling" effect. Some users may even
feel that cool air is being blown out during
"Dry Mode", but this is actually produced by the
said mode's dehumidification process. This
effect is felt better in a room where the
humidity levels are 90% or more.
While the "Dry Mode" does a good job in lowering
air moisture, keep in mind that it shouldn't be
used to completely remove the humidity of the
room. It should only be used to maintain
humidity at a level that is ideal for human
comfort. After all, dry air in excess levels is
just about as uncomfortable as an extremely
humid room. This is why most experts suggest
that the air conditioner should only run in "Dry
Mode" for 1-2 hours, at most.
How the "Dry Mode" works
If you're curious as to how the "Dry Mode"
performs, let us give a concise explanation of
its basic functions. You may be wondering why
your unit is still blowing out air even when in
"Dry Mode". Well, this is because when "Dry
Mode" is active, the air conditioner is
practically sucking the moisture from the room,
which it then releases through the unit's
built-in drain hose or pipe. This is why, when
in "Dry Mode", you can expect to see higher
amounts of water being expelled by your air
conditioner, especially if the room is very
humid. Dry air will, in turn, be released by
your unit's fans to regulate the room's
humidity.
Many have compared this function to what
dehumidifiers can do. While their workings are
comparatively similar, dehumidifiers actually
work better in optimally dehumidifying rooms,
especially large ones, and has a number of other
functions, which an air conditioner's "Dry Mode"
can't really do.
With that said, what clearly makes the "Dry
Mode" an important addition to an air
conditioning units arsenal is the fact that it
can "cool" a room even without relying on the
traditional way that most units cool rooms (i.e.
the "Cool Mode"). It has also been proven that
running an air conditioner in "Dry Mode" can
actually save a lot of power.
What makes the "Cool Mode" different
The "Cool Mode" is the default mode that many
air conditioners run in and is heavily reliant
on the unit's compressor to bring about
significant cooling. In this mode, you only need
to set the temperature that you want the room to
achieve as well as the unit's fan speed. Once
the desired temperature has been achieved the
compressor stops, but the fan still works in
keeping the cool air evenly distributed. This
process also reduces the room's humidity, but
what makes things different is that the "Cool
Mode" doesn't have the ability to maintain it.
Additionally, as opposed to the unit's other
modes, this mode also consumes the most power.
This is why, since most people leave their
unit's running in this mode, it shouldn't be a
surprise to see an increase in your electric
bill at the end of the month, especially if
you've been using your air conditioner more
frequently. If you want a balance in comfort and
money-saving, experts suggest that you keep your
temperature at 25 degrees Celsius.
Now that you know the difference between these
two modes, though, you can now start using your
air conditioner properly; setting it running in
the appropriate mode based on the current
temperature and humidity of the room. This could
go a long way in using your unit properly as
well as your power-saving efforts.
