Swan 20L Low Energy Dehumidifier review UK 2023

Price: RRP £192 | Buy now from Amazon

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Key specs:

What we like

Easy to use
Easy to empty without any unnecessary mess
Collects a good amount of water quickly
24-hour timer function

What we don’t like

Noisier than some other dehumidifiers on the market

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What Mumsnet users say

“I have a swan one for upstairs which cost about £250. Its brilliant, collects loads of water and dries clothes quickly.” Recommended by Mumsnetter MegaClutterSlut

Our verdict

Clothes drying during the winter months is not an easy task. But the Swan 20L Low Energy Dehumidifier really helped to speed up the whole process. It’s a thirsty machine and filled up in no time at all. It is easy to set up, use and empty and it’s pretty easy on the eye too (well, for a dehumidifier). Overall, I was very impressed with the Swan and it’s going straight on the Mumsnet list of the best dehumidifiers to buy.

How easy is the Swan 20L Low Energy Dehumidifier to set up?

Setting up the Swan 20L Low Energy Dehumidifier was a straightforward process. After a bit of a struggle trying to remove it from the box, all I had to do was plug it in, and off it went.

I put the dehumidifier upstairs in the spare room next to the heated clothes airer and let me tell you that I was very grateful for the comfortable fitted handles when lugging the unit up the stairs. Once in situ, the built-in castors allow the dehumidifier to be wheeled to the desired position.

The Swan 20L Low Energy Dehumidifier works best in rooms that measure 12-16m².

What is the Swan 20L Low Energy Dehumidifier like to use day-to-day?

The Swan 20L Low Energy Dehumidifier is very easy to use. The instructions were clear and simple to follow and the soft-touch control panel, featuring a large LED display, was easy to navigate. When the unit is plugged in, it shows the current humidity level in the room and the user can set the desired humidity level anywhere between 40 and 80 percent. A touch of a button changes the fan speeds and the swing setting moves the deflector back and forth. There is even an auto-defrost setting.

I really liked the timer setting, which allowed me to set a start time anywhere between one and 24 hours. There is also the option to set the run time between one and 24 hours after which the unit simply switches itself off, which is great for the sake of convenience and saving money.

I tested the dehumidifier in my spare room next to the heated airer, laden with the laundry. The four-litre tank filled up very quickly and I definitely noticed how it accelerated the drying process. A buzzer sounded when the tank was full. To empty, I gently pressed on both sides and slid the tank out. A fixed lid on the tank made sure there was no mess when it was removed, while a built-in spout made it easy to pour the water away. The Swan dehumidifier also comes with a length of plastic pipe which can be inserted straight into the drain hole at the back of the unit to take water straight from the tank and down the nearest drain. However, the pipe is quite short, so unless the unit is pretty much next to a drain, you will have to empty it manually. But as it is such an easy process, it’s no real hardship.

How noisy is the Swan 20L Low Energy Dehumidifier?

The Swan 20L Low Energy Dehumidifier is not particularly loud, but it’s considerably louder than the Russell Hobbs Fresh Air Mini Compact Dehumidifier that I tested recently (although the Swan’s tank capacity is much, much bigger).

In short, I probably wouldn't be able to sleep while it was running, but it didn't disturb me when it was on while I was working.

Does the Swan 20L Low Energy Dehumidifier offer value for money?

Retailing at £192 on Amazon at the time of writing (October 26th, 2023), I feel the Swan 20L Low Energy Dehumidifier is good value for money. It is an excellent dehumidifier with generous capacity. It compares favourably with the Meaco Arete One 12L Dehumidifier which costs £190, but only has a tank capacity of 2.5 litres.

How we tested

Reviewer Laura Cooke lives in a four-bedroom house in Sussex with her husband and two kids, aged four and six.

The dehumidifier was tested in a number of rooms in Laura’s house, including the home office and bedroom, during daytime hours and overnight. It was also tested next to wet washing hanging on the heated airer.

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