Meaco's Dehumidifer with Daily Run Timer

The Daily Run Timer on the Meaco DD8L Zambezi Dehumidifier makes it an ideal solution for boat and yacht owners.

Meaco (U.K.), a manufacturer of dehumidifiers, points out the Meaco DD8L Zambezi is the only desiccant dehumidifier that has a Daily Run Timer so it can be set to switch on and off at set times and will shut down safely each time. 

This is a popular feature because it allows the boat owner to take advantage of off peak electricity and this coupled with the hose attachment allows the dehumidifier to work continuously whether the owner is on or off the boat.

Why humidity is problematic on your boat:

•Mold growth is caused by relative humidity above 68%rh
•Organic material in particular is prone to damage from excess moisture which explains why cushions, bedding and furnishings often smell musty when returning to the boat in spring.  
•Maps and electronics can also be easily damaged by high humidity.
•The warranty on expensive electronics is in some cases invalid if exposed to excess humidity.
•The musty smell on a boat is probably from mold spores being produced by the mold.
•If you are living on board then drying laundry will make the above problems worse.

For boat and yacht owners, there are more features that make the Meaco DD8L an ideal dehumidifier to have onboard this Summer. Even now, if your boat is docked near a power supply or on your driveway then you can use a dehumidifier to keep humidity levels down and to prevent potential damage. A desiccant dehumidifier operates well in cold conditions, so choosing a desiccant rather than a compressor dehumidifier is best for boats as an all year-round solution and they tend to be lighter, and do not have castors.

More reasons to choose a Meaco desiccant dehumidifier:

•If your boat is unheated not all dehumidifiers work well below 60 degrees and many Summer nights are cooler than this depending on where you are in North America. Desiccant dehumidifiers work well at any temperature.
•Carrying a dehumidifier between a car and the boat, may make weight a consideration a factor and Meaco dehumidifiers weigh less than 20 lbs.
•If the boat is docked then avoid a dehumidifier with castors as it will roll around.
•All Meaco dehumidifiers have the ability to drain water away continuously.
•If you are living on the boat then look for a dehumidifier with a noise level below 42dB. Meaco desiccant dehumidifiers are quieter than compressor dehumidifiers.

The benefits of using a dehumidifier:

•A dehumidifier removes moisture from the air.
•This moisture is turned into water which can be drained away.
•By reducing humidity, you can reduce and prevent mold growth.
•This means fewer unpleasant smells and healthier air.
•The lower humidity will protect your belongs and electronics.
•This means less costs for replacing items on board each year.

Once your dehumidifier on board here is how to get the best out of it.

•Place the dehumidifier on a level surface, the galley side.
•Use a RCD because you are using an electrical appliance on your boat and it will be unattended most of the time. The boat owner must still clean the filter and check the quality of his/her RCD and power supply.
•Drain the water away using a hose into a sink (otherwise the dehumidifier will turn itself off when it is full and you will need to go back to the boat every day to empty the tank).
•Use as little hose as possible and don’t leave excess curled up in the sink.  Too much hose will create a negative air pressure and the water will not flow down the hose, the tank will fill and the dehumidifier will turn off.
•Don’t use a plug-in timer switch with your dehumidifier. This is like giving your appliance a power cut twice a day and will damage it in the long run.  Desiccant dehumidifiers have a cool down time system after power off and the plug-in timer stops this from happening and compromises safety and shortens the dehumidifier’s lifespan.
•Seal the boat up the best you can. You don’t want to be dehumidifying more space than needed.
•Leave the internal doors open so that the damp air in the boat can migrate towards the dehumidifier and be dried.

Keeping the costs down

•A desiccant dehumidifier has a heater inside it as part of the desiccant regeneration process. The Meaco desiccant dehumidifiers have two heater settings at 330 watts and 650 watts.  So by setting the dehumidifier to single fan speed the heater will never go above 330 watts and by selecting a humidity setting of 60%rh you will keep the humidity in the boat sensible but minimize the dehumidifiers running time.
•For those that like to have some background heat in the boat the 330 watts from the desiccant dehumidifier can be seen as an alternative to having a tubular heating on board over cooler Summer nights.
•For those desperate to minimize the dehumidifier’s run time the Meaco DD8L Zambezi is the only desiccant dehumidifier to have Daily Run Timer so it can be set to switch on and off at set times and will shut down safely each time.

•The dehumidifier will run less if you have the boat sealed, this saves energy as well.
•When you do visit the boat clean your filter, this will increase the lifespan of the dehumidifier and will keep it efficient ensuring that your running costs are reduced.

When buying the right product for you, the DD8L Zambezi Z2 can get the job done.  If restricting the hours of operation is an important criteria in choosing a dehumidifier, then buy the DD8L Zambezi with its Daily Run Timer.