Can anyone talk to through dehumidifiers?

[MoistAF]

We have just got a dehumidifier. Last winter we were very cold and miserable so we are trying to make this winter a bit more comfortable. We are mid-terrace and old.

I couldn't believe the amount of water that is has collected, but we aren't totally sure how what the best way to do it is. I know it can take several weeks to improve, but should we be keeping it in one room or moving it about? Each time it goes on it starts at 75-80. Want to use it more smartly and appreciate any advice from non-novice owners! Thank you.

Following as a fellow new dehumidifier owner.

Leave it on 24/7 but remember to empty it daily.
We have ours in the utility room. Washing dries in a flash.
80 is very high, should be around 50, so let it do its thing.
Its a Meaco one that will do the rest of the house if doors are left open. Love it! Makes the house so much warmer.

Yes just leave it switched on and remember to empty it daily. It will bring the humidity down in time. Depending on what you have it will click off once it reaches the humidity you want or just keep an eye on it.
Which one do you have? It's helpful to have one that does a few rooms at once (like the Meaco) but if it's a slightly less powerful version that's fine - it will just take longer!

Thanks all. Yes it's a meaco. Had been on 24/7 but had to go into work so was worried about leaving it on when not here. So should I be moving it around? I thought I should be closing the doors so think it'll only do the one room?

If you close the doors, it'll work better for that room - I do this when drying washing - but generally you want to position it somewhere quite central. Ours is really old, so it doesn't tell me what the humidity is, but I bought some cheap thermometers and try to keep below 65%. Aim for 50%, but that's generally only possibly for us when we can open the windows on a dry breezy day.

Thank you that's really helpful. We'll do that then (and a closed room for washing).

I bought a Meaco 12 litres a couple of days ago. I hung the washing on several clothes racks around the dehumidifier in the dining room and shut the door. After around six hours it was 95% dry - only DH's extra thick cotton polo shirts were still damp around the neck. The best thing - I measured the water when I poured it out of the tank - 2 and a half pints. That's a lot of moisture that is not floating around my house.