Dehumidifiers for growing tents allow you to maintain an optimal ambient humidity value, suitable for growing fresh vegetables, medicinal herbs, herbs. They can even be used in living quarters with a few square meters of a grotto. And most importantly — dehumidifiers work autonomously, you only need to set them up once, and then release the reservoir of accumulated moisture. But there are a lot of models, which causes certain difficulties when consumers choose such equipment.
What are the best dehumidifiers for grow tents?
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What are tent dehumidifiers for growing plants?
A dehumidifier is a device that passes air masses through itself and extracts moisture from them. When growing houseplants, vegetables, greens, herbs, it is important to maintain the right balance of humidity in the air. For most crops, this is 50 to 70% (limit is 80%). But in conditions of a plant tent humidity will always tend to rise up to 90%. After all, water evaporates directly from the soil (nutrient mixture), due to constant transpiration (evaporation from external “organs” of a plant) gets into the environment. And if humidity level rises above 70 – 80%, it can already lead to the development of various diseases in crops grown (for example, tomatoes often develop a “black rot“). And also in areas of rotten is formed a favorable environment for the development of mold, lichens. And if it is not controlled, you can literally lose the entire crop in a few days.
Installation of dehumidifier for grow tent – prevents all negative effects of high humidity. And creating a favorable environment for plants accelerates plant growth, increases yields, and levels out the possible development of fungal infections.
Review of the 5 best dehumidifiers for grow tent
If we are guided by the reviews of consumers themselves, which they leave on thematic forums, the best in terms of price/quality combination are the following dehumidifiers for greenhouses:
- Vremi 22 Pint with Energy Star rating;
- Pro Breeze;
- Inofia 30 pints;
- Eva-dry Edv-1100 Petite;
- SEAVON (2200 cubic feet).
Vremi 22 Pint Dehumidifier with Energy Star rating
A distinctive feature of this model is the presence of an Energy Star rating. sticker on the packaging indicates that the energy consumption of dehumidifiers is about 20 to 30% lower than that of comparable models. General characteristics of Vremi 22 dehumidifier:
- dehumidifier type – condensing (with air mass cooling);
- allowable area of vegetation tent – 1500 square feet;
- capacity – 22 liters per 24 hours (in turbo mode);
- has a built-in tank for 3 liters, and you can also take the hose out into an outdoor tank (or into the sewer).
Additional features supported: timer, turbo mode, detection of current humidity level, automatic humidity control. It is controlled by built-in buttons. If you set humidity level, a range of 5% is maintained. There are also two basic modes of operation: normal mode (with a slight cooling of air), and “comfort“, in which fan speed is reduced, but the ambient temperature does not change.
Pros:
- high performance;
- Suitable for large grottoes, as well as greenhouses;
- Possibility to drain directly from a hose, which allows further operation of the device without any human control;
- Several operating modes (including comfort);
- automatic control of the set level of humidity;
- low power consumption;
- a filter is easy to replace, a complete set is reusable.
Cons:
- the device takes up a lot of space;
- a slight noise during operation (because of the massive fan).
Pro Breeze electric mini dehumidifier
Ultra-compact dehumidifier for small grottoes. Also suitable for kitchens, bedrooms. Does not make noise during operation (no fan, uses Peltier element), has a sleek design (suits any interior). Also has a quick-release tank to collect water. Capable of removing up to 18 ounces of moisture from the air in 24 hours. Features:
- The dehumidifier type is Peltier element condensing dehumidifier;
- Optimum room area – up to 250 square feet
- allowable ambient temperature – up to 30 degrees Celsius;
- tank capacity 52 oz;
- capacity – 18 ounces per day;
- operating mode – continuous.
There is no timer, automatic keeping of set humidity level. Functionality is only basic, but the price is several times lower than the price of classic compressor dehumidifiers for grottoes. There is a LED indicator to show when the tank is full and needs to be emptied. It automatically shuts off when full to reduce power consumption. Does not affect the ambient temperature, even in small grow tents. Also, the manufacturer states that the body is made of special plastic, which even under prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation does not change its original color, does not turn yellow. And it does not react chemically with caustic substances (e.g. nitrate fertilizer solution).
Pros:
- low cost;
- attractive design;
- Peltier elements are considered the most ecological;
- Very low power consumption;
- Low weight, small size.
The only disadvantages are low productivity. Such a dehumidifier is recommended for small tents with an area of up to 10-15 square meters (maximum 23 meters) and with a relatively low level of humidity. There is no built-in filter, so no maintenance is required.
Inofia 30 pint dehumidifier
A dehumidifier with higher efficiency. In turbo mode, it removes up to 30 liters of moisture per day from the environment, so it is suitable for large grottoes (in normal mode – 15 liters). For the convenience user, it is equipped with a miniature LCD display showing the current humidity level, temperature, and selected mode. Performance is regulated by changing the fan speed. Noise is minimal because the inside case has plastic ribs that “dissipate” the sound waves. So even in turbo mode, the dehumidifier is hardly audible even in a quiet room.
It also has an LED indicating when the tank is full. And it works correctly even if the hose is connected and its end is placed, for example, in a plastic bucket. That is, inside there is an additional sensor that checks the work gravity flow. There is also a timer for 24 hours. And it works correctly even if there was an unauthorized power outage.
Manufacturer’s declared characteristics:
- type of dehumidifier – condenser with fan;
- area – up to 1000 square feet;
- capacity – up to 112 cubic feet of air mass per hour;
- acceptable temperature range – 41 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit;
- autonomous humidity control range – 30 to 80%;
- built-in water tank – 3.8 pints;
- The package includes a hose for draining the collected water to the sewage system or an external tank.
Pros:
- high capacity (one of the most powerful dehumidifiers on the consumer market);
- very low noise level;
- it comes with a washable, reusable filter;
- there is an LCD display;
- it is possible to connect a drain hose.
From the disadvantages, buyers allocate only a small volume of the tank for water collection: the manufacturer has staked on the small dimensions of the device.
Eva-dry Edv-1100 Petite electric dehumidifier
Compact dehumidifier with Peltier elements. Despite its small size, it is suitable for rooms up to 1100 square feet. Does not have any additional settings, all you have to do to turn it on is apply power. The manufacturer claims it is the quietest dehumidifier on the consumer market, emitting no more than 50.2 dB of sound (for comparison, the minimum value of analogs is around 53 – 54 dB). It consumes up to 22 watts of electricity. The design is universal and does not affect the interior design. Manufacturer’s declared characteristics:
- dehumidifier type – condensation, on Peltier elements;
- Operation mode – continuous, with automatic shutdown after the filling of the built-in tank;
- built-in capacity – 16 oz;
- built-in filter – reusable, washable, also capable of absorbing outside odors;
- area – up to 1,100 square feet;
- power adapter – 9V (low voltage, reduces the chance of fire in case of electrical outlet failure);
- capacity – about 20 ounces per day.
There is an LED indicator on the case to indicate when the tank is full. The dehumidifier automatically shuts off to reduce power consumption. It is recommended for use in compact grow tents with a total area of up to 10 – 15 m2. The reviews also say that it works correctly in rooms with high ceilings.
Pros:
- compact size;
- minimal noise in operation;
- maximal ease of operation: just plug in the power supply;
- ultra-low power consumption (in comparison with analogs);
- the filter also absorbs outside odors;
- low cost.
Cons:
- no timer;
- overly bright LEDs on the case (to indicate the work and filling of the tank).
SEAVON dehumidifier for 2200 cubic feet (240 sq. ft.)
Ultra-compact dehumidifier. Designed to be installed in the bedroom (can be placed directly on a bedside table). But also in a grotto environment – does an excellent job of maintaining optimal humidity levels. Powered by Peltier elements. Makes up to 35 dB of noise during operation. Has a built-in humidity sensor, which turns off the unit if the level drops below 45%. Provides automatic shutdown when the built-in reservoir is full. The built-in filter also removes unpleasant odors from the environment. The manufacturer claims that it is also able to trap fungal spores, which is just as important when growing plants in tents. The manufacturer’s stated characteristics of the device are:
- The dehumidifier type is condensing, on Peltier elements;
- Capacity – 12 ounces per day;
- area – up to 240 square feet (or 2,200 cubic feet);
- electricity consumption – up to 0.54 kWh per day;
- tank capacity – 27 ounces (approximately 2.5 to 3 days without having to drain)
- acceptable temperature range of 59 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
A key advantage of the model is the presence of an air humidity sensor. The dehumidifier turns on at 45% humidity or more. This has a positive effect on both power consumption and the fact that the tank rarely has to be emptied. The built-in filter is reusable and should be cleaned under running water without the use of detergents. On the body, there is a fill indicator (“blinking” LED). It is made intentionally not bright, so as not to distract attention, if the device is installed, for example, in the bedroom.
Cons:
- Connector for power connection – on the side, not on the back;
- Not the most convenient design of the reservoir (located at the back of the device).
What to pay attention to before buying
Before buying, you need to understand the required functionality, productivity. That is, calculate the area, the volume of the tent for growing plants. And if there is an opportunity, you should measure the current air humidity indicator.
Dehumidifier type
Dehumidifiers are conventionally classified into:
- condensation dehumidifiers;
- absorption dehumidifiers.
Absorption dehumidifiers are the most efficient and therefore widely used. Condensation dehumidifiers are further classified into:
- with a fan (more productive, but noisy, slightly lower ambient temperature);
- Peltier-based (practically silent, but less efficient).
Dehumidifiers with a fan are optimal for large grottoes, from 10 square meters and more. With Peltier elements – for small tents up to 10 square meters.
Dehumidification rate
The dehumidification rate is indicated in the amount of moisture the device “extracts” from the ambient air over the class of a day. Ultra-compact models are able to condense about 1 – 2 liters per day. And this is more than enough for a tent of several square meters. Models with a fan “absorb” up to 30 liters of water in 24 hours. But the higher the dehumidification rate, the bigger the size of the device and the higher the fan speed. It is not recommended to buy a dehumidifier with excessive capacity. You should select the model for the specific task, the area of the tent already installed for growing plants.
Portability
If a small size tent is installed, then it is better to choose a dehumidifier for it portable. There might not be enough space for a powerful model with a massive fan. Also, dehumidifiers, to which you can connect a hose, are always more massive. Therefore, you can follow these recommendations:
- for grottoes of about 7 – 8 m2 (maximum – 10) you can choose dehumidifiers on Peltier elements, that is, without a fan;
- For tents larger than 10 m2 it is better to choose a dehumidifier with a fan and the possibility to connect the outdoor tank with a hose.
Cleaning the air
Almost all dehumidifiers have a built-in filter for purifying the air. It traps dust, dirt, pet hair, and flower pollen. Filters can be disposable or reusable. It is better to give preference to those models in which the filtration system is easily serviced. That is, the filter can be removed, washed. You should also check if spare filters are available for sale and how much they cost.
And it is better not to buy dehumidifiers without filters. Their durability is low since the condensation system loses its initial performance over time.
Area coverage
Most manufacturers in the technical specifications of household dehumidifiers indicate the allowable area in which the device is able to maintain humidity at an optimal level. However, you have to keep in mind that these figures are valid for premises with low ceilings, up to 2,5 meters. If the height of the greenhouse is higher, you must take into account the capacity of the dehumidifier in relation to the volume of the tent for growing plants. You can calculate these figures yourself or ask the manufacturer’s customer service.
To summarize, you must always install a dehumidifier for grow tent. You must choose the optimal model according to the calculated required capacity and the area of the greenhouse. For small tents, dehumidifiers Pro Breeze, Eva-dry Edv-1100 Petite, SEAVON will suit perfectly. For large, as well as for complete greenhouses (where it is also possible to connect a hose for water drainage into the sewer— – Vremi 22 Pint, Inofia 30 Pints.
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