North Carolina’s changes to the state-wide QAP allow for dehumidifier installation in place of ducted range hoods. In direct relation to these changing North Carolina industry standards, Innovative Dehumidifier Systems LLC anticipates shipments of dehumidifiers to continue rising as the warm and humid summer months bring the return of construction projects as well as the threat of mold and humidity damage.
In the past, North Carolina designers and developers had no choice but to install fire wrapped ducted range hoods in their construction projects. But in 2017, a ruling by the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency changed the QAP to allow developers the choice to install dehumidifiers into newly constructed apartment complexes in lieu of ducted range hoods. Such range hoods were expensive, costing as much as $400–$500 per unit, as well as adding increase into the construction timeline. The ducts had to be wrapped in the field after construction and after inspection. Switching to a dehumidifier instead has transformed the construction landscape, and it is saving developers money during construction. In addition, developers now have the ability to trade off the cost of ducted range hoods and install a device that will protect them and their residents from mold growth for years to come.
Innovative Dehumidifier’s IW25 dehumidifier was originally created for multifamily residences, and solves some of the moisture problems. The IW25 runs independently of other HVAC systems and has a hidden humidistat, allowing improvement of air quality no matter how musty the original environment. Damp garages and basements can be dried out and made safe for habitation without having to add the extra expense and time involved with renovations or heavy installations of other equipment. The IW25 unit can also be hardwired into preexisting electrical systems or piped into existing plumbing, allowing for an almost complete hands-off dehumidification experience.
“Our customers are important quality-control feedback. Their construction projects represent investments of both their time and money. It fills us with pride that developers have chosen to protect their construction and building investments from water and mold damage by using our IW25 in-wall dehumidifiers. That speaks volumes to the success of our design. And we’ve had reports of how efficient our IW25s are working,” says owner and founder Brian Smith.
The IW25 solves problems for developers and builders, not the least of which are new energy efficiency standards. Such standards call for more secure and moisture-resistant buildings, as well as elimination of indoor mold and mildew problems before they begin. The IW25 was designed to be installed in under an hour, either between existing support studs or surface-mounted on any interior wall of the structure. They were meant to perform their duties quietly, drawing as little attention to themselves as possible.
The IW25 units are crafted with attention to safety as well as reliability. Epoxy-coated coils protect against corrosion as well as improve overall air quality as the machine dehumidifies the surrounding environment. Tamper-proof covers ensure that only owners and certified staff have access to the hardware. And should the internal condensate pump ever fail, auxiliary pump safety contacts shut the unit down immediately. As a complete package, the IW25 units are ideal additions to any developer’s multifamily residence design.