A humid home is a breeding ground for all sorts of allergens and bacteria. Dust mites, mould and other nasties thrive in areas of high humidity, and your health isn’t going to benefit from their presence. As well as triggering allergies and other chronic conditions such as asthma, skin irritations and breathing difficulties, these bacteria can cause damp stains, dark spots and other (sometimes irreversible) damage to your home.
The best way to combat the intrusion of bacteria and protect yourself against allergens is with a dehumidifier. A dehumidifier removes the moisture from the air, making it hard or impossible for the bacteria to stick around in your house. As well as protecting your health and reducing any uncomfortable allergy symptoms, a dehumidifier will keep your walls, furniture and clothing looking and smelling as fresh as can be.
Read on to find the answers to some common dehumidifier questions and find out what you need to look for when buying one. If you just want to skip straight to our pick of the best dehumidifiers to buy, then you can jump straight to the bottom of the page.
How to buy the best dehumidifier for you
Are all dehumidifiers the same?
Even though all dehumidifiers do the same job - removing excess moisture from the air - there are two different types. The first, and generally the larger of the two, is a refrigerant (or compressor) dehumidifier, which works much in the same way as your kitchen fridge. These models draw in air, which cools and condenses when it hits a metal plate inside. Desiccant dehumidifiers, on the other hand, absorb water directly from the air using a desiccant material.
While refrigerant dehumidifiers work best in warmer environments, desiccant models may be a better option for cooler rooms such as an attic or garage.
What size dehumidifier do I need?
Dehumidifiers come in different capacities (measured by the tank capacity and how much moisture they can remove in a 24-hour period) so the size you need will depend on the amount of moisture in your home. Although you could use a hygrometer to measure this, it isn’t necessary; you can usually choose the right capacity by looking at the size of the room, how many people live there and how much time you spend at home.
A capacity of around 5-10 litres should be enough for a small room in the average UK home. If, however, you want to buy a dehumidifier for a larger room that you use frequently - or you spend a lot of time at home - you might find you need a larger capacity of around 10-20 litres. If you only have a small amount of damp in one area, such as a wardrobe or door, a mini dehumidifier should do the job.
Are dehumidifiers noisy?
Finding a quiet dehumidifier used to be a challenge, but there are now many near-silent options on the market. Many have been designed to fit into your home and get to work in the most discreet way possible, so they won’t interfere with your sleep, work or everyday family life.
How much will it cost to run my dehumidifier?
Although you won’t find much difference in the upfront cost of a compressor dehumidifier versus a desiccant dehumidifier, the same isn’t always true for the running costs. A desiccant dehumidifier uses more energy than a refrigerant model, and therefore costs more to run, but can extract moisture up to four times quicker so you won’t have to leave it running as long. This also makes it a great option for anyone who doesn’t spend much time at home.
The best dehumidifiers to buy
1. Ebac 3650e 18L Dehumidifier: An all-rounder with some useful extra features
Price when reviewed: £199
If you want a dehumidifier that can do it all and then some, look no further than Ebac. Although their models aren’t the prettiest of the bunch (and don’t feel the most robust, for that matter), the functionality is hard to beat. Ebac has a range of unique and patented technologies to its name, including Smart Control, a type of auto shutoff that can halve your running costs, and Intelligent Defrost, which will save you time on unnecessary defrosting.
Ebac dehumidifiers are made in the UK, which means they’re designed for optimal performance in the UK climate and work at temperatures as low as 3°C. The newest 3650e model (also available in 15L) also comes with a new laundry drying mode, which can be set for 2, 4 or 8 hours, and an air pollen mode to clean and purify the air - both of which will be appreciated by city dwellers and flat owners alike.
Key specs: Capacity - 18L; Extraction rate - 15L; Size - 51 x 33 x 27cm; Weight - 13kg.
2. Meaco Small Home Dehumidifier: Best for flats and smaller homes
Price when reviewed: £115
Meaco’s Small Home dehumidifier is big enough to combat mould and moisture problems in flats and smaller houses, but small enough to do so without being an unnecessary eyesore. It’s a compact model that does everything you need it to and is compact enough to easily move from room to room. It also comes with an added laundry mode - something that smaller models often lack - to speed up indoor laundry drying.
Meaco proves that buying a smaller product doesn’t have to mean downsizing on functionality. The Small Home dehumidifiers come with some useful features that put the user first, including a well-designed control panel that makes set-up simple and an automatic shut-off function to avoid spillage from overfilling. Although it’s not the quietest of dehumidifiers - and probably just a little too loud to leave on overnight in a bedroom - it’s still quieter than most compressor models thanks to the well-thought out positioning of the fan.
Key specs: Capacity - 15L; Extraction rate - 15L; Size - 48 x 30 x 19cm; Weight - 8.7kg.
3. De’Longhi DNC65 Dehumidifier: An all-in-one solution to dehumidify and cleanse
Price when reviewed: £132
The DNC65 is one of the most versatile dehumidifiers around. As well as coming with one of the widest operating temperature ranges (it works from 1-35°C), it has 3 power levels to give you maximum control. The De’Longhi DNC65 doesn’t just remove unwanted moisture from the air, but has also been designed to clean the air it leaves behind. This is done through the anti-bacterial filter and built-in ioniser, which emits negative ions to purify the air, coupled with a swing function to optimise air distribution.
Although the De’Longhi DNC65 offers more than most, it underperforms in one key area: emptying the tank. If you’re looking for a dehumidifier that simply removes moisture with minimal time and effort, this probably isn’t the one for you. If, however, you want a dehumidifier that makes your home as healthy as possible, the DNC65 is well worth a look.
Key specs: Capacity - 6L; Extraction rate - 2L; Size - 48 x 32.5 x 19cm; Weight - 5.5kg.
4. Vax DCS1V1EP 10L Power Extract Dehumidifier
Price when reviewed: £127
The Vax Power Extract dehumidifier is one of the more compact models on the market, meaning it will fit easily into most homes. It does exactly what the name suggests, offering powerful extraction to combat all kinds of mould, mildew and other moisture damage. The Smart Sensor indicator and digital display, which gives feedback on the room’s moisture and humidity level, is a nice added touch, as is the automatic fan control, which adjusts the speed of the fan to maintain a consistent humidity level.
Although the Power Extract comes with an automatic switch off function so you won’t have to worry about over-spillage, you’ll need to use the drainage tube to make the most of the 10L extraction rate because the tank can only hold 2.2L. The drainage tube is included, but its short length makes it tricky to use. Similarly, the power cable lead is on the short side, so it’s not the easiest dehumidifier to move around.
Key specs: Capacity - 2.2L; Extraction rate - 10L; Size - 24 x 28 x 46cm; Weight - 9kg.
5. Duronic DH05 Mini Dehumidifier: Best for cupboards and small rooms
Price when reviewed: £30
For smaller areas of damp and moisture damage, a mini dehumidifier may be all you need. The Duronic DH05 is small enough to fit into cupboards, wardrobes and other nooks and crannies, but big enough to tackle visible signs of moisture, such as mould and mildew. With a 500ml capacity and automatic switch off, it’s hard to beat for smaller areas of damp that only need a little bit of attention.
Even though the Duronic comes in at a much lower price than most of the dehumidifiers on the market, it doesn’t compromise on basic performance. It’s a lightweight, compact model that does its job and not much else - and certainly not going to solve larger humidity problems - but is more than adequate as a quick solution to small areas of damp. It’s nearly silent too, so it’s well-suited to bedrooms where a larger dehumidifier may be too noisy to leave running overnight.
Key specs: Capacity - 500ml; Extraction rate - 250ml; Size - 15.4 x 13 x 22cm; Weight - 1.2kg.
