What size
dehumidifier you should buy depends on where you plan to use it
Keep
condensation, damp and mould at bay in your home with a great dehumidifier that
quietly and efficiently removes moisture from the air. The best models are easy
to set up, cost little to run and make emptying collected water easy.
For a full
list of dehumidifier features read Dehumidifier features explained.
How much should I spend?
Typically,
the more you spend, the larger the dehumidifier’s capacity and the more
features it will have.
Which type of dehumidifier should I buy?
There are two
main types of dehumidifier available. Both work to remove moisture from the air
but use different methods to do so.
Refrigerant
dehumidifiers are the most common type of dehumidifier available. Inside these
units is a fan that sucks in damp air and passes it across a metal cooling
plate or coils. Moisture from the air condenses on the metal plate and drips
into a collection tank. The air is then warmed and re-circulated into the room.
This process continues until the room’s humidity reaches the selected level.
· Pros: Cost-effective to run,
refrigerant dehumidifiers work best in small to medium-sized rooms and at room
temperature. You’ll need to empty the tank of collected water, although some
models come with a hose that can feed water directly into a sink or drain.
· Cons: Refrigerant dehumidifiers can
be heavy to move around and noisy in operation. Less efficient at low
temperatures, they’re not suitable for use in sheds or garages.
Desiccant
dehumidifier A desiccant dehumidifier works by sucking in damp air but rather
than condensing moisture, it uses several layers of absorbent material to
remove it before re-circulating the dryer air. Most models use heat to dry the
desiccant material, which in turn warms the air exiting the machine.
· Pros: Using filters rather than a
compressor pump, desiccant dehumidifiers are much quieter in operation than
refrigeration units, making them suitable for living rooms and bedrooms.
Anti-bacterial filters mean allergens, dust and bacteria are removed from the
air before it’s passed back into the room, and some models offer ‘continuous
drainage’ using a hose so there’s no need to empty a container of collected
water. They’re also lighter to move around too and can work even at very low
temperatures.
· Cons: Far more expensive to run. What size dehumidifier do I need?
Dehumidifiers
come in a variety of sizes with capacities ranging from 0.5 liters to 20 liters.
What size you should buy depends on where you plan to use your dehumidifier.
Typically,
the bigger the room or space, the larger the dehumidifier capacity you’ll need.
When
comparing refrigerant dehumidifiers, be careful to note the difference between
a model’s extraction capacity – which refers the amount of water it can remove
from the air per day – and its water tank capacity – how much water it can hold
in its tank before it needs to be emptied.
Typically, a
dehumidifier’s ability to extract moisture far outweighs the amount it can
store, which means regularly emptying the water tank when using the
dehumidifier for long periods. If you plan on using a dehumidifier throughout
the day, look for a model that lets you attach a hose so that water can drain
away continuously.