Water Damage Restoration Technician (WRT) Certification Practice Test

What type of dehumidifier should be used if a structure cannot be warmed to effective levels for LGRs?

1. Refrigerant

2. Desiccant

3. Desiccant with heat

4. Traditional refrigerant

The correct answer is: Desiccant

The appropriate type of dehumidifier to use when a structure cannot be warmed to effective levels for low-grain refrigerant (LGR) dehumidifiers is a desiccant dehumidifier. Desiccant dehumidifiers operate based on a different mechanism than refrigerant-based units. Instead of cooling air to condense moisture, desiccants absorb moisture from the air through chemical processes. This makes them particularly effective in cooler environments where refrigerant dehumidifiers may struggle to function optimally. In situations where temperatures are low, traditional refrigerant dehumidifiers may not reach efficiency because they typically require warmer conditions to effectively condense moisture. Similarly, while LGRs are more efficient than standard refrigerant units at lower temperatures, they still rely on heat to be fully effective. The employment of desiccant dehumidifiers provides a solution that does not require elevated ambient temperatures and can effectively lower humidity levels even in cooler conditions. This makes them invaluable in specific scenarios especially during water damage restoration efforts in unheated or poorly heated spaces.