In historic buildings, preserving both comfort and architectural integrity poses unique climate control challenges. At a 5-star Boutique Hotel in Portugal, excessive humidity affected two guest rooms located below ground level. With limited airflow, high moisture from bathrooms, and strict acoustic and decorative constraints, finding a discreet and silent solution was essential.
The Challenge
The 17th-century building had been beautifully restored, maintaining its original stone and wooden features. However, two luxury rooms on floor -1 experienced persistent high humidity, especially in spaces with bathtubs. Traditional ventilation was not an option due to the absence of external air connections and the need to maintain silence and aesthetic harmony.
The Solution
Cotes’ Portuguese partner, ClimaConforto and its installer, Instavac, installed Cotes Hybrid CH26 dehumidifiers — compact, stainless-steel units designed for low-noise operation and flexible placement. The CH26 is used because it eliminates the need to drill wall penetrations for fresh-air intake or exhaust. Unlike traditional desiccant units, the CH26 employs a fully closed regeneration-air loop. The process air is simply drawn from the room, passed through the unit, and returned to the space—only drier.
Within the closed regeneration loop, a heat exchanger enables moisture removal without exchanging air with the outdoors. As the regeneration air circulates, the cooler process-air stream causes water vapor within the closed loop to condense on the cold surfaces of the heat exchanger. This condensate is then drained away. The resulting dry regeneration air is reheated and fed back through the rotor, allowing continuous moisture absorption without any external ducting.
- Moisture removal capacity: 0.6 kg/h
- Connected load: 1.6 kW
- Key benefit: Operates as a closed-circuit system, condensing moisture directly from regeneration air without external ductwork.
The result was an efficient, silent, and visually discreet solution that maintained ideal comfort levels while preserving the charm of this luxury hotel environment.
Results
The CH26 units successfully eliminated excess moisture and prevented condensation, protecting valuable interior finishes and ensuring guest comfort. The installation demonstrated how Cotes hybrid technology delivers modern climate control in heritage settings without compromising style or tranquility.
Do you also face humidity challenges in your historical building? Talk to one of our expert partners to find out how dry-air solutions can safeguard your operations.
