How to Choose a Dehumidifier

Last edited: 25th July 2024

Whether you’re a first-time buyer of a dehumidifier or you’re looking to replace an existing one, this dehumidifier buying guide will help you make a decision on what dehumidifier to invest in. There are so many things that can impact the humidity level of your home, whether that be cooking, showering or laundry. Getting the right dehumidifier can make a huge difference to the air in your home, so it’s important to find the best one for you! We’ve put together a guide to help you purchase the perfect product for you and your desired use.

Table of Contents:

What Does a Dehumidifier Do?

Put simply, the purpose of a dehumidifier is to remove excess humidity from the air. As we mentioned earlier, tasks such as cooking, showering and drying laundry can all create moisture and condensation in our homes. In the winter months, this moisture condenses onto the walls, windows, and cupboards, which can lead to damp areas forming in your home. This is where dehumidifiers come in. They work by removing the excess water in the air that leads to condensation and damp problems. Not only that, but they also reduce allergens and clean the air. If you’re looking to create a comfortable and clean environment in your home, you should certainly consider investing in a dehumidifier!

Types of Dehumidifiers

Now that we have addressed what a dehumidifier does, you might be wondering what the different types are! Take a look below;

Compressor Dehumidifier

Often regarded as the most popular dehumidifier, a compressor dehumidifier is typically used in warmer environments (ranging from 10°c to 22°c). A compressor dehumidifier operates by using an internal fan, pulling the air from the room into the machine and passing the air over refrigerated coils. This causes the moisture in the air to form into condensation and drip away into a ‘water tank’ at the bottom of the unit, to be removed and poured away later. The air is then pushed back out of the device and comes out as warmer, drier air.

Desiccant Dehumidifier

Desiccant dehumidifiers are usually better suited to larger/industrial or commercial applications. They work by bringing the colder, damp air into the unit and passing it through a desiccant chemical to absorb the moisture. The desiccant is often placed on a wheel, which absorbs the water from intake air, then rotates and passes a heat source to dry the wheel, where the water is released into a container to be removed later. It also heats the air that has passed through the wheel and recycles it back into the room as warmer, drier air, reducing the relative humidity in the area.

Peltier Dehumidifier

The Peltier option is the least likely option you will find available, for numerous reasons. Peltier technology dehumidifiers generally have a low operating range and lower efficiency than compressor or desiccant options, generally only producing approximately 0.1 to 0.2 kWh in a 24 hour period. With that in mind, it’s recommended that you focus your attention on compressor and desiccant dehumidifiers!

Why Would You Need a Dehumidifier?

Reduces Damp in your Property
Improves Air Quality
Removes dust, bacteria and germs
Enhances Home Comfort
Protects Furniture and Belongings

All of the reasons above (plus many more) are good reasons to consider purchasing a dehumidifier. But, before purchasing a new unit, it may be worth investigating if any of the issues you are experiencing are being caused by other issues at the property. As good as modern dehumidifiers are, they cannot combat permanent property issues and these should always be rectified first. If you’re lucky and don’t have any issues within the property, then read on to find out how a new dehumidifier could assist with curing your issues (and maybe even save you money).

By using a dehumidifier on a regular basis, you can help yourself to ensure your property stays mould free or help to cure a mould issue if you have one already. If you have experienced a ‘musty’ smell, this will likely be caused by mould also, so you should notice this to dissipate as the mould dies off.

Dehumidifiers generally have a filter to remove dust spores and unwanted particles from the air, aiding to circulate cleaner air and maintain a fresher feel and smell within the property. If you dry laundry inside your property, dehumidifiers will remove the moisture from the air surrounding the laundered clothing, that would otherwise be circulating in the property aiding to the causes of damp and/or stale air.

How Does a Dehumidifier Work?

Compressor and Desiccant dehumidifiers will remove excess moisture from the air and the water that’s removed will be deposited in a ‘water tank’ to be emptied later. Some devices actually have pumps built in, so they can in essence, drain themselves, eliminating the possibility of forgetting to do so yourself.

What Size Dehumidifier Do I Need?

Choosing a dehumidifier size depends entirely on the room and moisture level. If you’re looking to add a dehumidifier to a small room, it’s important that you select a dehumidifier that is powerful enough to extract moisture whilst not being too big for the space. For a small room, we would recommend a dehumidifier with an extraction rate between 8-12L. For larger rooms you want a dehumidifier that has a high extraction rate, therefore you should be looking at 20-35L dehumidifiers.

Dehumidifier Features

Like all technology devices, there are numerous features to look out for when it comes to purchasing the right device for your needs.

Humidistat

A humidistat is a device used to measure and control humidity levels in the air. It is similar to a thermostat but instead of temperature, it monitors and adjusts the relative humidity (RH) of an environment.

Laundry Function

The laundry function is designed to remove excess moisture from the air surrounding wet laundry and will also help to dry your laundry quicker. If you’re wondering how you can use dehumidifiers to dry clothes, then the laundry function is your answer.

When activated, this laundry function typically sets the dehumidifier to operate at a higher fan speed and continuously at maximum dehumidification power. This helps to accelerate the drying process by removing moisture from the air in the room where the clothes are drying. For instance, the DLUX-12 Dehumidifier features a special laundry mode, making it the perfect product for drying clothes indoors in the colder months!

Defrost Function

When using your dehumidifier during the colder months of the year, it’s possible that the unit may freeze over internally, as the inside components go below freezing point. Having a device with a defrost function will stop this from happening and keep your unit operating as desired.

Dehumidifier Water Tank

The moisture that has been removed from the air will be collected into a tank on the unit. The smaller the water tank, the more often the tank will require emptying. When the tank is full, most units will have an auto-stop function, so that the water doesn’t over flow. While this feature is helpful to stop leaks, if you have left the device unattended, it may be off for long periods when you require it to be on and doing its job. Make sure you get a dehumidifier with a water tank large enough for your requirements or one that also has the option to be continuously drained.

What is the Dehumidifier Extraction Rate?

Most dehumidifiers are sized by their Rate of Daily Extract (RoDE) and this is measured in Litres (Lt). Ensuring you purchase a device with the correct RoDE is crucial to achieve the desired result. The size of the property the device will be used in is a good way to sizing the unit.

For reference, you can use the table below (although you should always check the manufacturer’s guidelines):

Number OF Bedrooms	Rate of Daily Extract (RoDE)(Lt)
1 to 2	12 or lower
2 to 3	15
3 to 4	18
4 to 5	20 or higher

How Long Should a Dehumidifier Run Per Day?

The running time for a dehumidifier depends on the humidity level and the size of the room. Generally, running it for 8-12 hours per day is sufficient for maintaining ideal humidity levels. Some models come with humidistats that allow automatic operation based on humidity levels.

Can You Leave a Dehumidifier On all Night?

Yes, you can leave a dehumidifier on all night. In fact, running a dehumidifier continuously, including overnight, can be beneficial in several ways. Not only does it help to maintain a consistent humidity level and prevent the growth of mould, but it can also improve the overall air quality.

To summarise, here are the different things you should be looking at when buying a dehumidifier;

Room Size: Choose the right capacity based on the size and humidity level of your space. For instance, the DLUX-12 litre dehumidifier is great for drying laundry, whilst the DLUX-20 dehumidifier is excellent at removing any dampness in your home!
Type: Decide between desiccant and compressor dehumidifiers based on your specific needs and environment.
Energy Efficiency: Look for Energy Star-rated models to save on electricity costs.
Features: Consider features like laundry function and defrost mode.

Buy a Dehumidifier with CoolEasy

In this dehumidifier buying guide, we have explored the different options, why you need a dehumidifier, and the sort of features that they can offer! If you’re looking to add one of these systems to your home, then look no further than CoolEasy’s range of dehumidifiers! Supplying DLUX dehumidifiers, we have the perfect dehumidifiers to either dry laundry or remove damp. With free UK delivery, get in touch with our expert team for more information!

Dehumidifier Buyer's Guide