To ask about dehumidifiers?

[BrioNotBiro]

Everything in the house feels damp; paper is crinkling, doors swelling etc. I close the bathroom door when showering, I am a fiend for having open windows and airing the place out, and I am heating adequately. It’s just the weather is so damp –currently 94% humidity outside even though it’s not raining (yet) and 70% indoors.

I am thinking of dehumidifier, but is there any point? Unless I shut all the windows (and shut the door of the room where the dehumidifier and clothes horses, obviously) and I’m just fighting a losing battle against the environment?

I’d be very interested to hear other people's views before I buy one. I’ve never had a problem previous years, but this year just seems so soggy, combined with me being a little more careful about having the heating blasting away all day.

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[billy1966]

We have a humidifier and use it when the heat is on occasionally to make sure the rooms are dry.

We live in an old house and am surprised and what it removes.

We open wardrobes in bedrooms and use it every so often.

Haven't used it yet but ours was an Argos own brand one and it is excellent.

We have it years.

[musttryharder84]

We have a problem with high humidity. We got a decent dehumidifier and it brings it down really well, but as soon as you turn it off the humidity sky rockets again (up to around 70 - similar to yours).
Unless you want to be running it 24/7 to keep on top of the damp then I'd try to find out why humidity is that high in the first place. Is it that high in every room? Is it only when drying clothes (I wouldn't be drying clothes indoors with that high a humidity though).

[Merrow]

We had a damp problem in a previous place that the dehumidifier totally sorted out. No more mould anywhere. Now we use it when we're drying clothes.

Admittedly you're right it's pointless when the windows are open!

[Thereisnolight]

Ours has totally solved a severe damp basement problem. We leave it on nearly all the time but I think it’s saving us money on redecorating in the long run.

[Lunar270]

I am thinking of dehumidifier, but is there any point? Unless I shut all the windows (and shut the door of the room where the dehumidifier and clothes horses, obviously) and I’m just fighting a losing battle against the environment?

You are fighting to some extent as houses aren't hermetically sealed.

Unless you've got a monster dehumidifier, you really need to use it in a localised area and without the windows open.

If you've got it in the room with washing then close the door. You can have open windows elsewhere but if you've got large gaps beneath your doors then it could make a difference.

It's quite easy to test with a hygrometer though.

[tiger2691]

Ventilation and, due to energy costs, occasional use of a dehumidifier, perhaps twice weekly in targeted areas, usually the bedroom and bathroom. I'm fortunate that I can open the front and back door and get a wind tunnel effect in either direction, depending on which way the wind is blowing. I live in a basement flat, it's a constant battle.

I note that you state a humidity level of 70%, that's not too bad, it would probably be a lot higher if you didn't ventilate like you do.

[CranfordScones]

I think they're great, especially if you're trying to cut down on heating. I lived in a very damp property and it was a lifeline.

Current home is not damp but it removes the dampness which natually comes from cooking, washing, breathing and the shower without having to ventilate and let all the heat out. I'm trying to not have the heating on at all and it makes a huge difference to the feel of the place. Also the outside air is damper at this time of year, so on a damp day opening doors and windows won't necessarily dry the place out. Houses have enough built-in ventillation as the poster above pointed out - they're not sealed.

Don't bother with the small, cheap ones. Look to spend £100 to £200 on one that has a removal capacity of 10 to 18L (that's not the bucket size). You'll be shocked at how much moisture it removes. I run mine for an hour a day in each of three rooms, or a bit more if I'm doing laundry. They don't cost too much to run - they're typically 200 to 300W.

[Var57]

I did a deep dive at the weekend and still cant decide. Desiccant or compressor. Both have advantages and disadvantages but most I looked at were either out of stock or out of budget. I feel a bit 😩🤪

[NewBootsAndRanty]

I've just acquired a 20l Devola compressor dehumidifier.

My whole flat was 65% yesterday; I've got COPD and apparently should be aiming for around 40% to minimise symptom risk.

I've stuck it in my bedroom with the door shut and a target of 40% and just left it on for now - am I doing this right, or do I need to put it in my hall (I'm in a flat) and leave all the internal doors open?

[fussychica]

Most newer / well reviewed models are out of stock until at least next month both from stockists and direct from manufacturers.

[Solmum1964]

We're in a three bedroom semi with two shower rooms - one on each floor. Ours is usually in the hall and we tend to run it when anyone has showered; if we wake up in the morning and the windows are wet or when we are drying sports clothing in the dining room. In this situation we move the dehumidifier into the dining room and pull the door to.
It's amazing just how much water it pulls out. I do clear the windows when they are wet as well. We tend to turn it off when it reads 60% humidity.

[Solmum1964]

Oh, and I don't think they work if it's too cold but can't remember what the minimum temperature is!

[ScornedChicken]

Huge damp issues in my home. I rely heavily on dehumidifier. For drying washing and when we had a pipe leak it sorted the aftermath. Brilliant things they are. I have those don't have a clue what they are called home bargains dehumidifier type tubs ( wonderful description for you there) in the bathroom that has the shower. Room temp needs to be above 16 degC I think otherwise it switches off. Got mine from Screwfix for £120 and love it.

[ScornedChicken]

Dehumidifier was £120 not the little tub from home bargains 🙈

[WhiteFire]

If the outside humidity is significantly higher then you will letting the damp air if you have windows open for long periods of time.

There is some good advice here:

www.oxford.gov.uk/info/20271/guidance_for_private_tenants/1129/preventing_damp_and_mould#:~:text=A%20good%20range%20of%20indoor,minimise%20or%20control%20dust%20mites.

And in regards to operating temperatures for dehumidifiers, at the bottom of this article.

www.google.com/amp/s/www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/lifestyle/homes-and-gardens/how-win-battle-against-humidity-1768840%3famp

[Isleoftights]

As for the cost of running one. The air they expel is not only drier, but warmer than the air they take in - so they are also a kind of low level heater.

[Thereisnolight]

Yes, definitely warms the room. We rarely need to turn on the basement heating with the dehumidifier running. It used to be the coldest part of the house but not now.

[Thereisnolight]

It has taken over my steam mop as my favourite homeware item.