Topics: Air Conditioning, Staying Cool
Purchase a dehumidifying machine. I have four and we use them very often, in part because we do a lot of laundry at night and need it ready by the next day (e.g., the kids' soccer uniforms -- would you believe that the other kids all have TWO sets of socks, shorts, etc.? Socks cost 1,800 yen/pair! Shorts/tops are 16,000 yen for the set. Not for us, thanks.). Hang the clothes on a rack, stick two machines underneath, then drape a large towel or sheet on top of it all (this is the key point). The clothes dry within 2 hours or so, even in rainy season -- really unbelievable. Dehumidifiers should also cut back on your air-conditioning bills, because rooms with low humidity are significantly cooler than humid rooms.
T
Some tips on dehumidifying...
DEHUMIDIFIERS ARE CHEAPER TO RUN THAN AIR CONDITIONERS
When I come in from the heat, or in the morning after sleeping with the windows slightly open, I turn on my dehumidifier and in about 10 minutes maximum I feel cooler, and comfortable again -- and turn it off! For most of the summer I can get by with just my dehumidifier and electric fans, keeping air conditioner use to a minimum except on the hottest days. That's a definite savings in electricity use!
CHEAPER TO BUY, TOO
The lowest-priced (new) air conditioner I've seen was 35,000 yen, at a Don Quijote discount store. The same store was selling dehumidifiers for 18,000 to 20,000 yen. I believe that the air conditioner purchase price does not include the installation charges -- usually minimum 15,000 yen and often 25,000 yen. (You can't do it yourself; you need special materials and, I think, training and certification.)
PORTABLE, SERVE MANY LOCATIONS
One can be placed to dry adjacent rooms; it just takes somewhat longer. Or dry one room, close its door, and dry the next. A dehumidifier can be set in a closet or, for wetter laundry, in a small bathroom. Over my dehumidifier's usual location I've extended a pole (anchored atop a bookshelf). There I hang almost-dry laundry and rain- or sweat-damp clothes; they usually dry in a half hour or less.
SELECTION
Decide on the combination of features that fits your needs. Some models are priced a couple thousand yen higher if they offer "more" of one of the features, such as compactness, timer and dryness-level complexity, noise, and heat reduction.
PURCHASE PRICE
I've seen them up to 60,000 yen, but at discount stores, standard sizes are generally just under 20,000 yen.
SIZE, WEIGHT, CAPACITY
As an example, mine is 50 cm H x 40 cm W x 20 cm D (slightly smaller than my computer console). It weighs about 4 kg (empty) and has a tank capacity of about 4 liters. Some units are larger overall because their tanks are larger, or they have a larger tank, or noise/heat reduction materials.
AUTOMATIC TIMERS
Virtually all average-size dehumidifiers have automatic timers, to turn off or on at a preset or you-set interval. An automatic timer is desirable so you don't forget and run it longer than needed. (The heat generated by operating the dehumidifier for longer periods can make your room too hot!) It's nice, though, when sleeping room air starts to dry an hour or so before you wake.
All models automatically turn off when the water tank is filled to capacity. You can use this "free" water (from the air) on your plants!
DRYNESS SETTINGS
Some offer only "dry", in one or two levels; many add a "laundry" setting. Spun-"dry" very damp laundry can be dried by enclosing it in a small bathroom with a dehumidifier, but this takes a few hours.
NOISE AND HEAT REDUCTION
Most standard-size dehumidifiers have a low-pitched operating hum (like a small refrigerator). Some models are designed to reduce this noise and cost slightly more. Ditto for the heat produced by the dehumidifier's operation.
ES
<< Brastel Telephone Card | Index | Buy a Thermos >>
