Dehumidifier Buying Guide
In the colder months you may have noticed a build up of condensation on windows and a damp feeling in the air. If high humidity in a room isn’t addressed, this can result in mould growth and makes for an ideal breeding ground for bacteria.
A dehumidifier is the perfect solution for reducing the humidity in a room, and keeping it at bay. What’s more, it can reduce the drying time of your clothes and improve the comfort of your home.
The most common types of dehumidifiers are compressor or desiccant and while both work to improve air quality and reduce damp, each type functions differently and are suited to different environments. In this guide, we’ll cover both types of dehumidifiers looking at their different features and benefits.
How Does A Dehumidifier Work
In a nutshell, a dehumidifier works by processing damp air, drying it, and then pushing it back out into the room. However, depending on the type of dehumidifier you have determines how it extracts water from the moist air.
A desiccant dehumidifier features an inbuilt fan which draws in the moist air. This damp air is then pulled over a desiccant wheel where the moisture is absorbed by the silica gel surface. Prior to expelling the dry air, it warms a small amount which helps to regenerate the desiccant material. This warm, dry air is then pushed back out into the room.
A compressor dehumidifier works by pulling in damp air which is then passed over a series of coils, a bit like those found in your kitchen fridge. These refrigerated coils condense the air resulting in water droplets which drip into the tank. The moisture-free air is then expelled back into the room.
Besides the way they process damp-air, the key difference between a desiccant dehumidifier and a compressor dehumidifier, is that air expelled from a desiccant is slightly warmer which can offer additional benefits in respect of increasing the temperature of a room.
Compressor Dehumidifier
As explained, a compressor dehumidifier is a bit like your fridge in how it extracts moisture from the air, and one of the reasons why it’s sometimes referred to as a refrigerant dehumidifier. They tend to be more readily available compared to desiccant models and what makes them more popular is their lower purchase price and cheaper running costs.
While compressor dehumidifiers are perfect for most rooms in your home, they’re not the best choice for colder places like your garage or basements. That’s because they’re more efficient in rooms of a temperature which exceeds 10 degrees celsius.
Compared to desiccant humidifiers, compressor alternatives tend to be bulkier and heavier making them less manoeuvrable, although some models feature wheels making them easier to move around the home. The running of the compressor can sometimes be quite noisy so may not be the best option if you’re looking for a dehumidifier to run overnight or to be placed in a bedroom.
Advantages
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Lower purchase price
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Reduced running costs
Things to Consider
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Can be heavy and bulky
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Noisier compared to desiccant dehumidifers
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Not suitable for colder rooms
Desiccant Dehumidifier
Desiccant dehumidifiers are more effective at removing large amounts of moisture from the air making them a great option for particularly damp environments that could benefit from a more powerful dehumidifier. However, this is at the expense of consuming more energy, making them more costly to run.
If you want a dehumidifier which is easy to move around the home, you’ll find desiccant models very lightweight compared to compressors. Another key benefit of desiccant dehumidifiers is that regardless of the room temperature they still function well, even when the temperature drops below 10 degrees celsius. This makes them ideal for cooler rooms.
While running costs can often be higher with desiccant dehumidifiers, their efficiency typically means they can extract a higher volume of water in a shorter amount of time. What’s more the air extracted is of a higher temperature which can help to increase the warmth in a room.
Advantages
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Works well at all temperatures
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Quieter operation
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Lightweight for improved portability
Things to Consider
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More expensive to run
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They use more energy
The Benefits of Using a Dehumidifer
There are some lesser known benefits of using a dehumidifier making them a great addition to many home environments.
Improves Room Comfort
Whether it’s the peak of summer or you’re drying clothing indoors during winter, both can result in the build up of humidity in a room. This can make it feel clammy and unpleasant. By positioning a dehumidifer in the room can help to reduce excessive moisture helping to make the air feel fresher and the overall space less oppressive.
Speeds Up Clothes Drying
Tumble dryers are costly appliances to run and in colder months when outdoor drying isn’t practical, many people revert to drying their clothing indoors. That said, drying times can be quite long and often results in musty smelling clothes. However, a dehumidifier can help to speed up clothes drying by drawing in the moist air created by water evaporation.
Reduces Condensation
Everyday activities like cooking and clothes drying increase the moisture content in a room. When outside temperatures are cooler than indoors, this moist air comes into contact with windows and patio doors resulting in condensation build-up. A dehumidifier will dry the air sufficiently so that water droplets cannot form on cool surfaces thus preventing condensation.
Reduces Dust Mites
High humidity is the perfect breeding ground for dust mites where they thrive on things like curtains, bedding, and furniture. This is bad news if you have a dust mite allergy as any associated symptoms can worsen as their numbers increase. The good news is a dehumidifier can greatly reduce dust mite numbers as they need to absorb moisture from the air to survive. So, drier air equals less dust mites!
Key Dehumidifier Considerations
Smart Technology
Some dehumidifiers feature inbuilt wifi functionality. This allows you to control the dehumidifier when you’re away from home via an app on your smartphone. You can usually set things like preferred humidity and set schedules for better energy efficiency.
Air Flow Capacity
The air flow capacity refers to the amount of humid air that a dehumidifier can process over a specific period of time. Usually, desiccant humidifiers offer a higher air flow rate which equates to better efficiency.
Tank Capacity
The tank capacity of a dehumidifier relates to the volume of water that can be extracted within a 24 hour period. Tank sizes vary anywhere from 0.5 litres up to 30 litres. Generally, a 12L capacity is sufficient for smaller rooms or when drying clothes, with larger tanks suited to very large, cold rooms.
Room Size
Consider the room size before purchasing a dehumidifier as it needs to be powerful enough to extract enough moisture from the air. Very large spaces, like open plan homes, may benefit from dehumidifiers that offer higher flow rates and bigger water tanks.
Noise Level
The noise level of a dehumidifier can differ depending on the type you have, with the majority of models being around 40dB which is slightly quieter than a refrigerator. You can expect desiccant dehumidifiers to be quieter which makes them ideal for offices or bedrooms.
Hose or Tank
Dehumidifiers used in the home tend to come with built-in tanks with an automatic shut-off feature which activates once full, the tanks are then emptied manually. Those with a hose, allow water to drain continuously and are ideal for very high humidity areas. They’re not always practical for home use as they need to be elevated from the ground in order to work properly.
