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Vivienne Chow

If your dehumidifier does not seem as powerful as it should be in the summer weather that is just around the corner, it probably isn't.

Eight of 10 models tested by the Consumer Council had a capacity less than claimed - in one case 27 per cent less. One had a capacity 4 per cent higher than claimed.

The  results  were based on standards set by the makers.  Shortfalls were up to 54 per cent using a widely adopted American standard.

Releasing the results yesterday, the council said it had called on makers to adopt the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers'  standard classification system to avoid misleading buyers.

Nine  models based their capacity rating at 30 degrees Celsius and relative humidity of 80 per cent.

The council said this  did not  reflect the indoor environment.

'The manufacturers adopted a standard favourable for their products. But the actual environment is not that warm and humid all the time,' said Mathew Ng, the chairman of the council's publicity and community relations committee.

'It's hard to say they are wrong or misleading because at the moment Hong Kong does not have an ordinance governing dehumidifiers' labelling.'

The association standard sets the conditions at 26.7 degrees  and relative humidity of 60 per cent, while the Japanese Industrial Standard  sets it at 27 degrees  and relative humidity of 60 per cent.

The council said in tests under the association standard, the capacities ranged from 40 to 54 per cent lower than that claimed by the manufacturers.

Mr Ng said that the council had already sent out letters  urging manufacturers to adopt the association standard, 'but we haven't heard anything from them yet'.

The council also was not satisfied with the results of safety tests, saying that of the 10 samples, eight might be prone to short circuits.

'Consumers are reminded to unplug the machine while cleaning,' Mr Ng said.

James Leung Siu-pong,  executive director of retailer Pricerite, said  the test results did not worry him.

'Consumers can do their own comparisons, but I don't think that will influence their decision that much because they really need [a dehumidifier].'



Tests show most dehumidifiers fall short of the mark