What Is The Dry Function Mode In Aircon?

Have you ever looked at your aircon remote and wondered why there is a water droplet symbol next to the snowflake? While most people stick to “Cool Mode” all year round, that little drop represents the Dry Mode—a secret weapon for Singapore’s humid climate. Understanding how to use this mode can make your room feel significantly more comfortable without drastically increasing your energy bill.

What is the Water Droplet Symbol on My Aircon Remote?

If you are looking at your remote and wondering what the water drop symbol means, it indicates that your air conditioner is currently in Dry Mode. While the cool mode is usually represented by a snowflake, the water droplet means your AC is actively working to reduce humidity in the room rather than just blowing cold air.

Air conditioning matters – using the dry mode

Air conditioners are very convenient devices especially when the temperatures are ridiculously high. When it is cold you can do something about it- wear as many warm clothes as possible. However, when the temperatures become unbearably high, there is only so much you can do about it. Removal of clothes has its limits. A good air conditioning system comes in really handy as it will keep the cool air running in your home and office to make life all that much easier. But what if you have no idea on how to use it? For instance, very few people know how to use the dry mode function that comes with most air conditioners nowadays.

What exactly is dry mode? 

Dry mode is often compared and confused with the cool mode. To some extent they do not feel different. Nonetheless, they are very different in terms of function and the result- even the remote control will tell you. On the remote, the dry mode is shown by a symbol which is a water drop on the other hand the cool mode symbol is frequently a snow flake.

The dry function, as aforementioned, is not a common feature of all air conditioners. It is mostly on some varieties of central air conditioning units and window units. The main point of the dry mode is to reduce the humidity in a room. As you probably know, an increase in humidity translates into an increase in temperature. When it is humid, temperatures even those that are relatively low tend to be a bit too uncomfortable. 

So, basically the dry function reduces the temperature in a room by lowering the humidity. This function is most convenient during those times of the year when it is humid for instance during the rainy season. During this season the temperatures might not be hot enough to necessitate the need for cold air. The humidity however, is high and quite irritating. One point worth noting is that the dry mode is not meant to remove all the moisture in the room. 

The working of dry mode

When the air conditioner is function in dry mode, the fan and other inner components of the device will be running. However, the unit does not blow out any cold air. The air in the room passes through the aircon and the water vapor condenses on the evaporator. Dry air will then exit the unit and flow back into the room. This working of the dry mode is almost similar to that of a dehumidifier. A standalone dehumidifier can be found at just about home improvement or hardware store. This one is better than the air conditioner working on dry mode in the case that you are working on a large room. The air conditioner will only remove some of the moisture and not all.

Assuming that the thermostat is set to 250 C and that the humidity in the room is about 90%, the air conditioner will reduce humidity till the temperature is 250 C in that room. When the aircon is switched on, the fan will start running to suck in the air and the compressor cuts in to facilitate the condensation of the humidity. Once the room temperature has dropped to 250 then both the fan and compressor will stop. Humidity rises steadily again and so does the temperature. When the temperature goes to 260 C the unit starts running again- the cycle repeats itself. 

Cool or dry- which is better?

Feature	Cool Mode (Snowflake ❄️)	Dry Mode (Water Drop 💧)
Primary Goal	Lower room temperature	Reduce humidity (Dehumidify)
Compressor	Runs until target temp is reached	Cycles on/off to remove moisture
Fan Speed	User-controlled (High/Med/Low)	Fixed at low speed
Best Used When	Hot, sunny afternoon	Rainy, humid evening
Energy Usage	Higher (High compressor load)	Lower (More energy efficient)

Cool mode works almost similar to the dry mode only that when the temperatures drop to 250C the compressor stops running and the fan is left on alone. In dry mode, it is all about keeping the relative humidity at a comfortable 60%. This happens in both the cool and dry mode but in dry mode this value is maintained. In cool mode, humidity keeps increasing dramatically as the fan continues running. Benefits of using dry mode include: 

• Lowering moisture in the room significantly

• Maintaining comfortable temperatures without really cooling 

• Energy efficient

Dry mode does not really cool the room. The cooling effect comes from the removal of excess moisture not that the unit is actually cooling the room. By using the dry function of your air conditioning unit you will be spending less money on energy bills. It is a really effective way of keeping the temperatures comfortable.