A dehydrator that is too small will operate at a high duty cycle and require compressor overhaul in less calendar time. For the manually regenerative units, a desiccant change is needed more frequently, thus increasing costs. A dehydrator that is too large will, in the case of the pressure swing system, short cycle, saturating the towers. Manual and heat regenerative units are unaffected by a smaller system. This provides maintenance-free operation for up to 10 years without a compressor overhaul.
Improper installation can degrade system performance.
Feed line tubing should be neatly dressed and free from kinks. Fittings should be airtight. Transmission line must be purged of any moist air. When pressurized cable is supplied for the installation, the pressure should not be released until installation is finalized. If this is done, only a small amount of purging will be necessary.