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Your Kiln
How your Dehumidification Kiln Works
Thank you for purchasing a Wood-Mizer
Dehumidification Kiln and taking the first step
towards making the lumber industry cleaner and
more efficient! Years of development, innovation
and the highest quality materials have gone into
building your kiln. It’s our dedication to efficiency
that sets Wood-Mizer kilns apart from the rest
making your system the best on the market.
During kiln drying, moisture from green lumber is
evaporated into the air increasing the humidity inside
the chamber. The lumber can’t continue to dry if the
air becomes over-saturated therefore the moisture
must be periodically removed from the chamber.
In a conventional kiln moisture would be expelled
through venting. Venting causes a significant loss
of heat resulting in a waste of energy to bring the
kiln back up to temperature.
Instead of venting, Dehumidification Kilns
utilize a refrigeration system that condenses the
excess moisture. This moisture is then drained off
retaining the existing heat energy. After the moisture
is removed and heat is reintroduced to the dry air it
is pumped back into the kiln chamber to start the
process kiln is only used during the initial warm up
and sometimes when temperature increases are
desired during the cycle, saving you time and
money. But that’s not all your new kiln has to offer!
Though Wood-Mizer kilns don’t rely on venting
to get rid of moisture, a Vent System is supplied
to add extra control of your kiln temperature. If
the internal kiln temperature exceeds what’s
required, these vents can be opened to remove
excess heat and bring the temperature back to
where it needs to be.
Finally Wood-Mizer Systems offers a wide variety of
upgrades and accessories to enhance your kiln drying
experience. See the upgrades and accessories
section on page 39 for more information. By
purchasing a Wood-Mizer Kiln you have the
support of Wood-Mizer’s service team,
the very same professionals that built and
tested your unit. Enjoy your new system!
Getting Started
Please read through carefully as some options may not
apply.
Floors
Concrete floors with insulation installed
underneath is recommended for best results.
However if the kiln is going to be on an existing
concrete floor, the insulation may be omitted.
Concrete must not extend beyond the kiln walls.
Wood floors may be used but must be built
to construction guidelines (see Pg 3)
Ceilings
If the kiln chamber is a freestanding outside building,
the attic space must be well ventilated through
the eaves. This is done to avoid any moisture
buildup in this space, which will condense on the
cold roof and drip onto the insulation.
An interior kiln can have the ceiling insulation
open to the atmosphere.
Ceilings must be built to construction
guidelines. (Pg 3)
Doors
At the front of the kiln chamber install bay/loading
doors with at least two sides hinges and a
center door latch to close (recommended). Top
hinged or a lift off doors are also acceptable.
At least one access door should be installed in the
back of the chamber to allow for service of
the dehumidifier and/or lumber monitoring.
All installed doors must:
•Be built to construction guidelines. However
they may be lightened by increasing the stud
spacing and using 3/8” plywood. The lighter
weight will reduce the load on the hinges
• Have a vapor barrier.
•Have gaskets wherever the door meets the kiln;
this will give a good, airtight fit.
•Have a scraper type weather strip to reduce air
leakage if door sill is not present.
