Every restorative drying project you perform involves calculating the AHAM pint removal needed from dehumidifiers. Completing this first day calculation ensures that enough water will be removed from the air to promote proper drying. If extraction is done properly, and enough dehumidification is placed, a balanced drying system is virtually guaranteed. Drying progress of materials occurs, there's no mold growth, you get paid, etc.

The absolute bottom line of the entire calculation is the AHAM performance of your dehumidifiers. For example, if a job calls for 90 AHAM pints of dehumidification, your dehumidifiers must be able to deliver 90 pints in 24 hours at 80°/60% RH. How you achieve the 90 pints needed is up to you. Could be one large, or two small dehumidifiers, just make sure that you have at least 90 AHAM pints.

Be sure that the AHAM rating of your dehumidifiers is AHAM Certified. This means that AHAM has verified water removal based on tests by a laboratory under contract with AHAM, so that the dehumidifier will actually pull out the amount that is advertised. Dri-Eaz dehumidifiers are independently AHAM certified, so you can be confident in consistent, predictable performance. Using non-verified dehumidifiers puts your company and customer at risk.

(from the New Guide to Restorative Drying)

Determining the amount of air filtration needed is very similar to how desiccant dehumidifier CFM is determined. The factors involved are:

• Cubic feet or cubic meters of air in the area to be filtered
• Air exchanges necessary (ranging from 4 to 6, depending upon conditions)
• Math (Multiply the cubic feet by 4 to 6, then divide by 60; this will provide the CFM/CADR needed to effectively filter air in the affected area.)

• Cu. Ft. x AEH / 60 = CFM/CADR necessary

• Cu. Ft. = Cubic feet of air in the affected area
• AEH = Air exchanges necessary (4 to 6)
• 60 = Minutes in an hour, to convert air exchanges per hour to cubic feet per minute