The level of moisture in the environment. This is a more subjective measure, unless you use a humidity monitor. But you should have an idea of how damp a space is by noticing where moisture is accumulating. If there’s a problem room, the dehumidifier should be kept in there, preferably with doors and windows closed,” says Chris Wood, also from Aircon Centre. “If it is to be used to control the moisture for the whole house, however, then it should be located centrally, on a landing or in the hallway, and the air from the rooms should be able to flow towards the units. So keep the interior doors open and the exterior windows shut.” How much does a dehumidifier cost to run?

Absorbing and eliminating excess moisture that can cause damp - feeling fabrics and damage clothes and leather goods. The Meaco Dehumidryer has a large 25 litre per day capacity that’s great for whole houses. It’s a refrigerant model though, so doesn’t work as well in cooler conditions. Compressors are generally efficient at room temperature, but they can’t handle the winter cold so well. If the temperature drops below three or four centigrade, they will tend to stop working. That’s not the case with desiccants, although they can be more expensive to run. How to use a dehumidifier Overall, this is a best-in-class dehumidifier that does a fantastic job of extracting moisture from the home and is one of the best dehumidifier for drying washing fast.If you need something even smaller, then ProBreeze also offer the ProBreeze 500ml Mini Dehumidifier. This has a 500ml water tank and a smaller 250ml extraction rate per day. The Silentnight 600ml Dehumidifier is another compact option, but that doesn’t enjoy the same large water tank as the ProBreeze 1500ml Mini dehumidifier which means you'll be emptying it far more often. There's also plenty of useful functionality on the models. The automatic Smart Humidity Mode works perfectly and is hassle-free, turning the dehumidifier on when moisture-levels rise and automatically shutting the appliance off when the desired humidity is reached so there's no wasted energy or expense.And in our tests, the Arete One reduced moisture levels in damp-prone rooms in a very short period of time.

The Pro Breeze is great if you’ve got a smaller space and you want something that doesn’t cost a lot to run,” says expert Kandola. “It’s probably about a penny an hour.” The recommended humidity for your home is 40-60 per cent in the summer months and between 30-50 per cent in the winter. You can measure it with a hygrometer (a humidity gauge - they’re not expensive). If it goes over 70 per cent, you run the risk of condensation, damp, mould, fungi and bacteria. That’s when you need a dehumidifier. Which is better, a compressor or desiccant dehumidifier? At 15kg, the Midea is a bit of a challenge to get upstairs. That’s a real shame, because this powerful unit is perfect for bedrooms. It has a built-in ioniser which helps to purify the air and a smart setting which senses and automatically controls the humidity of a room, keeping it between 45 and 55 per cent to reduce any bacteria growth which can lead to mould.

Quietest Dehumidifiers in the UK

B&M offers superb appliances of this kind from leading brands like Blaupunkt, Essence and H20 - all at excellent prices. Humidifier & Dehumidifiers