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Original poster

How much does your dehumidifier collect?

38 replies

Handyweatherstation · 19/10/2023 17:50

The house me and OH live in is rented and the building was previously a small stable block, so not built for humans. I think it was converted for human use during the 1950s, but am not sure. I love the house and where it is, but it gets damp in wet weather so I've got a dehumidifier and have started using it during the day in the room that gets the most damp.

I don't know how much these things usually collect but I'm shocked at how much water it takes in given that this room isn't big. Granted, this week has been wet, but these are the daily amounts after eight hours in use so far this week.

Sunday - 600ml
Monday - 800ml
Tuesday - 1L
Weds - 800ml
Thurs - 1.1L

Is this a lot of water?

N.B. The windows and door are closed and I take our bedside water glasses out of the room while the dehumidifier is running.

OP posts:
Disorganisedmess2023 · 19/10/2023 18:12

Mine is over a litre on damper rainy days.i have a very damp house though.

Original poster
Handyweatherstation · 19/10/2023 18:15

Disorganisedmess2023 · 19/10/2023 18:12

Mine is over a litre on damper rainy days.i have a very damp house though.

Is that for one room or the house?

OP posts:
Disorganisedmess2023 · 19/10/2023 18:27

One room - my dampest room.

SkankingWombat · 19/10/2023 18:40

Mine has been running for 8hrs so far today, and currently has about a litre in it. Our house doesn't have a damp problem as such, but I run it in the utility room to help the laundry dry more quickly plus it can start smelling a bit damp in there at this time of year if I don't run it. I have two loads hanging today. The room isn't closed off (no door), but there is little natural air flow through it.

dancerdog · 19/10/2023 19:07

Yes, about a litre a day for me too. It's in the laundry room, and I run it whether the tumble drier is on or if clothes hanging up - it dries hanging clothes and keeps the humidity down caused by the drier. Works best when the door is shut.

Original poster
Handyweatherstation · 20/10/2023 08:01

Thanks for the replies. It seems it isn't quite as dire as I'd thought, or maybe we all just live in damp homes.

OP posts:
GasPanic · 20/10/2023 11:22

Dehumidifiers are more efficient at higher temperatures, so pull out more water.

I have once running pretty much permanently in what I would say is a dry 3 bed house and it will pull out a litre a day at these temperatures (15-20C) when the house is sealed. I think it is still pulling the summer humidity out the walls at the moment.

If you are in a damp house and the damp has come through the walls then the entire walls will contain water. Probably many litres of it. So even if you only dehumidify that room, there is probably many litres of water to extract.

You do want to keep the house/room relatively sealed though. Otherwise you are trying to dehumidifier the world. Which not surprisingly, won't work. You should also look outside for anything that is causing the walls to be wet - broken gutterings or pools of standing water and remove them.

Your bedside glasses of water won't make much difference. If you want to keep humidity in a house low, then put lids on boiling pans/use extraction. Also wipe down baths and showers with one of those rubber window cleaning things (push all the water down the plughole) and use the bathroom extraction fans. It's warmer water that is spread over a large area (like a bath or shower door) that adds most to the humidity.

I run my dehumidifier pretty much all the time in winter. The house feels better dry than damp. It costs electric (about 35p a day) but that is more than made up for the fact that I don't need the heating on anywhere near as much. I aim for 50-55% humidity.

Tarmaced · 20/10/2023 12:00

Can you recommend your dehumidifiers please?

And also, should the bathroom window be open or shut whilst having a shower & using the extractor fan?

Original poster
Handyweatherstation · 20/10/2023 12:16

@GasPanic thanks for that. I suspect the reason the walls get damp is that the house is old and the foundations probably aren't great, given it was originally built to house horses.

We don't have any extractor fans so can only open the windows, not when the dehumidifier is running, obvs.

Having run it for the week, there is a definite improvement to the bedroom and it smells/feels fresher. I shall keep running it during the day for the foreseeable.

@Tarmaced we have an Ecoair DC12.

OP posts:
wonkylegs · 20/10/2023 12:30

No matter how damp your house is, you living there is the biggest source of damp.
A household of 4 normally produces about 14litres of water vapour a day.
In a well heated/insulated and properly ventilated house you won't notice that but you will notice it when heating/insulation & ventilation are sub par, they need to work together to avoid issues, you can't just fix one bit (insulation is a common issue for this, needs to be balanced with adequate and proper ventilation)
A dehumidifier will highlight just how much water you produce.
The lack of proper ventilation in your house is why it feels damp, dehumidifier isn't a bad temporary fix.

GasPanic · 20/10/2023 12:30

I have a Meaco ABC12LB.

The Ecoair DC12 above looks good too.

Amazon have a which best buy rated if you are on a budget.

Remember you can use them to dry laundry also - I do need to tumble dry in the middle of winter but most of the time I can use this.

They are worth the investment IMO - but it pays to consider the running cost as once you get them and see how good they are you want them on all the time in winter.

If I had my time again I would also get one with a better air filter as I hate dust, but it still collects a lot.

Original poster
Handyweatherstation · 20/10/2023 12:43

The lack of proper ventilation in your house is why it feels damp

The house is extremely well ventilated and the windows are opened daily. In summer they're open day and night.

OP posts:
plumtreebroke · 20/10/2023 12:53

Have to empty the tank most days 3.5 litre tank. It's in the hall so does the whole house. No condensation in the bathroom or on the windows brilliant.

wonkylegs · 20/10/2023 13:33

@Handyweatherstation
Unfortunately it needs to be a balance of
Heat, insulation and ventilation - one aspect on its own doesn't work.
Windows do ventilate but they also at this time of year let in cold air which will condense the moisture in the air.
It's really tricky to get right unless you have a properly designed house with MHVR (most houses don't have this) which is why most houses have an issue with some level of damp at some time or another.

Original poster
Handyweatherstation · 20/10/2023 13:54

The house is far from being well designed, so I suppose we'll have to put up with a certain level of damp.

OP posts:
Coughingdodger · 20/10/2023 13:58

We run one 24hrs in the basement where all the vapour in our house goes to condense. We used to have almost pools of water down there at times and mould growing on coats and boots. Nothing since the dehumidifier - and it warms the air too. Best thing we’ve bought for the house.

Coughingdodger · 20/10/2023 13:58

About one litre per day.

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 20/10/2023 14:06

Ours is 12l and needs emptying every day. Humidity is about 80 when it's first turned on in the morning and it sits on the landing and I have those little ones with the cassettes you put in in two bedrooms and the bathroom as well. Just got a tiny one for the extension as dry the washing in there and it was getting loads of condensation

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 20/10/2023 14:09

Oh and it's a meaco

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 20/10/2023 14:09

The baby one is a beta

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 20/10/2023 14:10

A Netta I mean. Bloody autocorrect 😬

GasPanic · 20/10/2023 14:36

Handyweatherstation · 20/10/2023 13:54

The house is far from being well designed, so I suppose we'll have to put up with a certain level of damp.

If your damp room has wet walls, it could take weeks for the dehumidifier to get rid of all the water in it, especially if you are adding to the humidity by sleeping in it at night! Just keep an eye on the humidity level indicator and watch where it is heading. You should see it generally decrease with time.

Next year you will be able to start up earlier and keep it drier.

BrownTableMat · 20/10/2023 14:39

My huge Meaco pulls around 10l a day. But I
live in a very unusual, and unusually damp,
large old house. It definitely makes the air a lot pleasanter.

Stonemaiden · 20/10/2023 14:50

How expensive are these to run please?

GasPanic · 20/10/2023 15:02

Mine is about 0.2 of a unit per hour. The general calculation is :

((Power W)/1000) x electricity unit price

Mine is 200W. So if the electricity price is 35p per unit then ((200/1000)x35p)=7p per hour.

I can't remember the price cap for leccy per unit atm. But I think it is less than 35p.

They aren't hugely expensive, but if you have them on 24/7 then it does build up. if I left mine on for a month 24/7 it would cost £50 per month at these rates.

I only use mine for 5 months of the year though.