Do you need a dehumidifier?

Bedside dehumidifier

Although natural ventilation is ideal, not all houses have this accessible to them, and this can cause constant condensation, damp or mouldy patches, and a muggy atmosphere in the home.

If your rooms are suffering from any of these issues, you might find that a dehumidifier will combat these and create a more ventilated home with a higher level of air quality.

What types of dehumidifiers are there?

The role of a dehumidifier is to draw moisture out of the air in order to stabilise humidity levels and rid your home of the issues that come with these, creating a more comfortable, hygienic atmosphere.

There are two types of dehumidifiers to choose from, and each one is more suited to a different environment. A refrigerant dehumidifier draws the air over cold coils and forces the moisture in the air to condensate. This condensation then drips into a collection tank and can be disposed of. Refrigerant dehumidifiers are better suited to high temperature environments, and are the best option for home use.

The second option is a desiccant dehumidifier. A desiccant dehumidifier uses absorbent material to draw in moisture from the air. This moisture is then heated and collected so that it can be disposed of. This type of humidifier is best suited to cold environments, such as garages, cellars, and outbuildings.

Do you need a humidifier?

There are a number of issues that a dehumidifier can help to combat if you’re experiencing them in your home. For example, you should definitely look into purchasing a dehumidifier if your home has been subjected to flooding or if water pipes have burst, as this will speed up the process of pulling moisture out of the air.

The same is true for if your windows are constantly covered in condensation. You might find that this only occurs at certain times of the year, but it’s still worth getting a dehumidifier to help you out during these periods, and enable you to avoid any long-term issues.

If you’ve been finding damp or mould patches in the home, a dehumidifier can help with this too. This is a common problem in areas with little or no natural ventilation, such as in corners or behind furniture, but a dehumidifier can help to eliminate these and leave your rooms feeling fresh and airy.

Remember that when you’re using a dehumidifier it should be placed away from walls so that air can circulate around it, and you should close all windows and doors so that it doesn’t pull in air from outside.

Things to consider when buying a dehumidifier

When researching which dehumidifier to buy, there are a number of things to look out for. Firstly, you should consider the tank size of each model. The larger the tank, the less frequently you’ll have to empty it, which can be very handy when using it regularly or in larger rooms.

Some dehumidifiers come with a continuous drainage feature where the moisture is constantly expelled via a hose, so this could also be a great option. The next thing to consider is the model’s energy efficiency. Most dehumidifiers use barely any energy, but it’s definitely worth checking to ensure that you don’t end up with one that does.

The final thing to consider is noise level, as you don’t want something that’s going to be rumbling loudly in the background, especially if you have it on at night.

You can expect to pay between £120 and £350 for a dehumidifier, with most of the best performers falling into the £200 range. The more expensive options tend to have extra features, but these might not be necessary for your needs so it’s likely that you won’t need to splash too much cash on the perfect option for your home.

One final thing to consider is whether your home might have an underlying damp problem that you won’t be able to solve through using a dehumidifier alone. If you’re experiencing a lot of recurring damp patches or the atmosphere constantly feels humid, you should seek the services of a qualified surveyor who will be able to get to the root of the problem for you and find a true solution.

Now that you know if you need a dehumidifier, you can buy one that suits your needs and make your home a fresher, more comfortable place to be.

See Also
Bedside air purifier
A guide to air purifiers
Portable air-conditioner
A guide to domestic air conditioning