Dehumidification is a psychometric process that removes vapor or humidity from the air. Dehumidification process along with heating and cooling is increasingly used in air conditioning applications. A dehumidifier is an electrical device, which is used to minimize and maintain the level of moisture in the air. It is mostly used for health or comfort reasons. A dehumidifier works similar to a vacuum cleaner where it absorbs the air from room at one end takes the moisture out of it and then blows it back out into the room. Dehumidifier works by using refrigeration process or by absorption process. In refrigeration process, it cools the air by absorbing humidity, which is present in air whereas in absorption or adsorption process air is soaked into drying material and then removed back to system.

Dehumidifier aids in preventing growth of mold, fungus on cupboards, doors, drawers, and clothes. It is used to remove dampness from bookshelves and closets. Dehumidifier protects the moisture sensitive items such as musical instruments, cameras, and computers.

Driving factors for growth of the dehumidifier market

In the U.S., about half of the population was found to be living in the areas with severely high degree of polluted air. The share of such population was found to be as high as 47% of the total population as stated by American Lung Association, in 2015. Increasing level of pollution have propelled need for clean and pure air. Owing to such health concerns among individuals, and rise in disposable income is expected to aid in growth of the market. According to the report by Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), Disposable Personal Income (DPI) in the U.S. increased by US$ 39.8 billion (0.3 %) in April 2018 as compared to 2017. Moreover, number of people suffering from air borne diseases such as asthma is also rising, which is another factor for growth of the market. According to a report by Energy Efficiency, around 40% of people were diagnosed with asthma in year 2016. These humidifiers aid in controlling respiratory system diseases, allergies or skin related problems. Dehumidifier have anti- bacterial filter and ionizer where anti-bacteria filter kills bacteria and ioniser absorbs dirt, dust, and viruses out of the air, which helps to clean the air and makes breathing easy. This is expected to increase sales of dehumidifiers, in turn aiding in growth of the market.

Dehumidifier is also used in storage of valuable artifacts, documents, and work of art in museums, libraries, and archives where it maintains humidity levels of 40 - 45% RH. Artifacts can be paper based (i.e. books), canvased based (i.e. painting) and leather based (i.e. clothing). Appropriate level of humidity prevents drying of the materials while at the same time prevents the formation of mildew. Dehumidifier is also used in swimming pools and spa rooms to avoid contamination of humid aid with chlorine or bromine, which could cause harmful effects to humans. In the food industry, it is particularly used in storage of candies, as candies are highly hygroscopic when humidity is high. Sugar induced products absorbs the moisture and becomes sticky because of which it can stick to wrapping paper or machinery. Major companies are focused on offering dehumidifiers for such applications. For instance, Bry-Air is the manufacturer of Desiccant dehumidifier, which are dehumidifiers largely used by candy manufacturers such as Nestle, Leaf candies, etc.

However, dehumidifier requires high maintenance and consumes high electricity, which could affect the adoption rate. These additional costs could negatively affect growth of the market. Overheating of dehumidifier is also main drawback of dehumidifiers as it could cause smoke or fire. Overheating causes because of improper use, poor maintenance or restricted airflow in compressor and fan, which results in overheating of compressor.

Regional analysis of dehumidifier market

On the basis of geography, the global dehumidifier market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa. North America is expected to be the dominant region in the global market over the forecast period. This is owing to high growth in the food & beverages industry. For instance, according to a report by The Committee for Economic Development (CED), the food sector of the U.S. witnessed total sales of US$ 1.4 trillion in 2015, which includes overall food consumed at home and away from home. Moreover, governments are focusing on stringent regulations to keep temperature balance of the food, in order to avoid spoilage and maintain food safety. As per the report of Food and Drug Administration, temperature control for safety food shall be at a temperature of 5°C (41°F) or below when received.

Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing region in the global dehumidifier market over the forecast period. The use of dehumidifiers has increased in the construction industry in Asia Pacific region, to avoid growth of molds on slabs and walls. In addition to this, it is used to avoid rusting of iron bars and rods

Key Players in dehumidifier market

Major players operating in the dehumidifier market include Frigidaire, Haier, Honeywell, LG Electronics, Whirlpool Corporation, Therma-Stor LLC, De’Longhi Appliances, Mitsubishi Electric, STULZ Air Technology Systems, Munters, and Bry-Air, and Sunpentown International Inc.

Segmentation of dehumidifier market

The global dehumidifier segmented on the basis of product type, application, and region