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The dry mode on air conditioners doesn't directly cool the air but operates by reducing humidity, thereby indirectly lowering the air temperature.
1. Dry - optimal air conditioning mode for humid rainy days
The dry mode on air conditioners doesn't directly cool the air but operates by reducing humidity, thereby indirectly lowering the air temperature.
Cool Mode - symbolized by a snowflake icon, blows out cold air to maintain the set temperature.
Cool Mode is the primary feature of an air conditioner, but under certain usage conditions, the dry mode can also provide effective cooling along with some advantages in energy savings and noise reduction. Users therefore need to understand the mechanisms of both modes to use them appropriately.
Cool Mode uses the evaporator to continuously cool the air passing through. For example, if the set temperature is 26 degrees Celsius, the air conditioner will continue to cool until the room temperature reaches this threshold. In contrast, Dry Mode operates with the aim of maintaining the room's humidity at around 60%.
When the air conditioner operates in Dry Mode, the fan and internal components still run. However, the evaporator does not blow out cold air like in Cool Mode. The air with water vapor in the room passing through the device will condense. Operating in this mode is similar to a dehumidifier. However, dehumidifiers operate more efficiently and have higher capacity, allowing the humidity threshold to be set much lower, around 30%.
Dry Mode - represented by a water droplet icon, condenses moisture, reducing humidity to create a cooler sensation in the air.
The cooling function in Dry Mode is only effective during humid or rainy weather.
Users feel cooler air due to decreased humidity rather than actual cooling like in Cool Mode. For example, when set to Dry Mode at 25 degrees Celsius with room humidity around 90%, the air conditioner will dehumidify the air until it reaches approximately 25 degrees Celsius and then stop. If humidity rises again, causing the temperature to increase, the unit will continue operating to maintain low humidity.
In Dry Mode, the compressor only operates to condense moisture, resulting in less noise and lower energy consumption compared to Cool Mode. However, on excessively hot or dry days, Dry Mode doesn't provide significant cooling. Excessive use of this mode on hot, dry days can even be harmful to human health, causing respiratory issues, dry skin, and cracked hands and feet.
Users should consider adding a humidity meter to their rooms.
To determine whether to use Dry Mode, users should have a humidity monitor.
If humidity exceeds 70%, this mode should be used. If it falls below 60%, the air conditioner should be set to regular cooling mode (Cool) along with the use of a humidifier or placing a small bowl of water in the room. In Vietnam, Dry Mode can be used during the humid season in the North (February and March annually) or during the rainy season in both regions. In early winter in the North, on some hot, humid days, this mode can also be used to make the air more comfortable.
