Please advise about dehumidifiers

[60schild]

Probably the most boring topic imaginable but I'd like some advice please. I live in a terraced Edwardian house with high ceilings and it's freezing. The cellar smells a bit damp but there aren't any visible signs. Will a dehumidifier help? I'm thinking in the house rather than the cellar. Please advise - thanks very much.

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MNHQ

Do you dry your clothes indoors? Leave windows closed in the bathrooms? That will obviously add to damp smells. A dehumidifier is great and very satisfying to empty the collected water!

Thanks. I always have a window open and haven't seen any signs of condensation but even if it speeded up drying clothes that would help. The joys of being a homeowner getting our kicks from dehumidifiers

I got one a couple of years ago and it’s made a a big difference to how fast washing dries. Even if there’s no washing hanging up, it collects a lot of moisture from the air. We don’t use it all year round, but have it on through the day in winter when windows are generally closed.
The one we got was the Ebac 2250e.

Thanks very much. It's good to get a specific recommendation as I can't believe how many there are!

It might in the house, but not in the cellar. In my experience, a dehumidifier in an untanked cellar is pointless. It will draw moisture through the walls as fast as it can condense it.

We have an ebac too.

We live in an old victorian terrace that gets condensation in colder months, dehumidifier was the best thing we bought.
And we use it everytime we have to dry clothes indoors. Got ours from John Lewis about 5 years ago for around £80/90? Still going strong and it gets used pretty much all the time in winter.

Thanks for the advice. I'm just trying to avoid another freezing winter when it's colder inside than outside!

I’m in the market for a dehumidifier too for my two bed terraced house. I think 10 litre would work. Meaco seems a good brand.

Another recommendation for Ebac. It’s very good. Ours sits in the hall outside our bathroom. I use the water collected to water the plants. It makes a big difference to the damp, you can get different sizes depending on size of space.

We have a meaco, use it for drying washing & overnight in winter otherwise we get condensation.

We also have a nu air In the loft which is essentially a giant dehumidifier but it's just on/off automatically as and when it is needed.

I was never without one when in other rentals. A lifesaver. I used to leave the wardrobe doors open to dry the clothes out.

Thankfully my small demountable dwelling is blissfully dry .

Go for it OP...

You can very cheaply (about £15) buy a digital thermometer & hygrometer from screwfix (or elsewhere but I got mine there) which will tell you exactly how humid your air is so you can decide if /when to run a dehumidifier (some have them built in but I've never found them accurate). Air needs to be 40-60% relative humidity for comfort and health.

It won't make much difference to your thermal comfort though, you need insulation for that.

www.heritage-house.org/
before you try and solve damp issues, please read this.its very very useful

We’ve used one for years and it‘s very helpful in our period property with a ‘cold wall’. Avoid Meaco. For various reasons we’ve had four of their machines (three different models) and all bar one failed.
Go with Ebac.

www.heritage-house.org/damp-and-condensation/solving-damp-problems-in-your-home/controlling-humidity.html

Claraboochuffing Thanks for the link! There is information in there I really needed just now.

Your cellar probably needs better ventilation via air bricks/grills under the front door etc. More cross air flow and the smell will improve.

Above ground, agree with buying a digital hygrometer or two (I have them in rooms at the front and back of the house) to keep an eye on relative humidity. I struggle to keep my place under 65% relative humidity in winter, without my dehumidifier.

I have a 10l Meaco and love it. When ventilating alone doesn’t do the job, I set it to 60% relative humidity and, while it’s not an exact science, it happily keeps the hygrometers under 65%. It also has a high power setting for drying laundry next to it - very useful.

Thanks very much. I'm glad my boring post has helped others too!