Dehumidifying System

Abstract

A system dehumidifies a non-environmentally controlled, enclosed space of a building, for example a crawlspace, using a dehumidifier unit comprising an evaporator coil, a condenser coil, and a compressor arranged for circulating heat exchanger fluid through the coils. A fan operates in series with closed loop ducting to communicate air from the space to the dehumidifier unit and back to the space independently of an HVAC system of the building. The fan and dehumidifier unit are responsive to a dehumidistat. A distributed outlet distributes air from the unit to peripheral positions about the space. A heater is coupled in series with the ducting for heating air circulated therethrough.

1 . A dehumidifying system for dehumidifying a space of a building, the system comprising:
 a dehumidifier unit comprising an evaporator coil, a condenser coil, and a compressor arranged for circulating heat exchanger fluid through the coils;   ducting arranged for communicating from the space to an inlet of the dehumidifier unit and for communicating from an outlet of the dehumidifier unit to the space;   a fan arranged for circulating air through the ducting between the space and the dehumidifier unit;   a dehumidistat arranged for communication with airflow from the space to the dehumidifier unit to measure a humidity level of air in the space, the dehumidistat having a set point humidity level and being arranged for activating the dehumidifier unit responsive to the humidity level in the space exceeding the set point humidity level.   
   
   
       2 . The system according to  claim 1  in combination with a building including a controlled space in communication with an air handler of an environmental control system of the controlled space and an uncontrolled space, the ducting being in communication with the uncontrolled space independently of the air handler. 
   
   
       3 . The system according to  claim 2  wherein the dehumidifier unit is supported in the controlled space of the building and is arranged to communicate with the uncontrolled space of the building. 
   
   
       4 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein there is provided a common intake arranged to be supported in the space, the ducting communicating between the common intake and the inlet of the dehumidifier unit. 
   
   
       5 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein there is provided a distributed outlet arranged to be supported in the space for communication with the space at a plurality of positions spaced generally about a periphery of the space, the ducting communicating between the outlet of the dehumidifier and the distributed outlet. 
   
   
       6 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein there is provided a common intake arranged to be supported in the space and a distributed outlet arranged to be supported in the space for communication with the space at a plurality of positions spaced generally about a periphery of the space, the ducting communicating between the common intake and the inlet of the dehumidifier unit and communicating between the outlet of the dehumidifier and the distributed outlet. 
   
   
       7 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the inlet and the outlet of the dehumidifier are arranged to communicate with the space in a closed loop configuration. 
   
   
       8 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein both the fan and the compressor are operated simultaneously responsive to the dehumidistat. 
   
   
       9 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the fan is responsive to a timer to circulate air periodically through the space. 
   
   
       10 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein both the fan and the compressor are responsive to a timer to periodically circulate and dehumidify air within the space. 
   
   
       11 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein there is provided a heater for heating the space. 
   
   
       12 . The system according to  claim 11  wherein the heater is coupled in series with the ducting for heating air circulated therethrough. 
   
   
       13 . The system according to  claim 11  wherein the heater is in communication between the space and the inlet of the dehumidifier unit. 
   
   
       14 . The system according to  claim 1   1  wherein the heater is in communication between the outlet of the dehumidifier unit and the space. 
   
   
       15 . The system according to  claim 11  wherein the heater is responsive to a thermostat supported within the space. 
   
   
       16 . The system according to  claim 11  wherein the heater is operated responsive to a flow of air through the ducting. 
   
   
       17 . The system according  claim 1  wherein there is provided a de-icing mechanism coupled to the evaporator coil and arranged for selectively heating the evaporator coil such that ice is arranged to be removed from the evaporator coil. 
   
   
       18 . The system according to  claim 1  in combination with an enclosed and unheated space within a building. 
   
   
       19 . The system according to  claim 18  wherein the space in communication with the dehumidifier unit through the ducting comprises a crawlspace of the building. 
   
   
       20 . The system according to  claim 1  in combination with a building including an existing plumbing drain wherein the dehumidifier unit includes a drain arranged to drain condensate from the evaporator coil directly to the existing plumbing drain of the building.