Dehumidifiers are becoming increasingly popular in UK homes. As they increase in popularity and enter the mainstream, people are asking themselves ‘are dehumidifiers worth it?’ There are several important factors that will affect whether a dehumidifier is worth it, let’s delve deeper.
YES!
Dehumidifiers are worth it, if you and your home need one.
If your home regularly shows any signs of excess moisture e.g. condensation on windows, mould, etc then a dehumidifier is definitely worth it. A dehumidifier is one of the most effective ways of bringing excess moisture under control. If however, your home has no issues caused by high humidity, a dehumidifier may not be worth it. We will cover the pros and cons of owning a dehumidifier and look into how much they cost and how much they cost to run.
Signs you need a dehumidifier
Since you are reading this article, you probably already know that you need a dehumidifier. To be sure though, check our list below to see if any of them apply to you or your home. If more than a few apply, then we highly recommend you get a dehumidifier!
Condensation on walls and windows – This is one of the most common signs your home has excess humidity. Whilst not always serious, in the long term, this can cause damage to your walls and windowsills and lead to mould growth.
Mould – The presence of mould, anywhere in your home is a serious problem. It typically presents itself as patches of black dots. It usually occurs in areas afflicted by damp. If you find mould, you need to remove it ASAP and begin ventilating and dehumidifying the room. A handy guide for how to safely remove mould can be found here.
Mildew and musty odours – This commonly occurs alongside mould and can be particularly unpleasant. To get rid of it you will need to remove any mould and then ventilate and dry out the affected area.
The presence of any of the above likely means your home’s relative humidity (Rh) is above the ideal 50%. A dehumidifier isn’t always necessary to eliminate these issues but it helps significantly and makes the process much easier.
Do you really need a dehumidifier?
In our opinion, a dehumidifier is a very helpful and effective appliance for fighting excess humidity. Typically it will be the main method within a damp busting strategy that also includes adequate ventilation. In the UK wintertime, it really isn’t practical or convenient to ventilate by leaving windows open all day.
This is why dehumidifiers are particularly useful in the wintertime here in the UK. We have seen countless people fix their damp problems by running a dehumidifier. Are you are looking for a super-efficient long-term ventilation method and have a loft space? If you are then we highly recommend you check out our guide to Positive Input Ventilation (PIV) units here.
Which dehumidifier should you buy?
This is a topic all unto itself and we have covered it in detail in our buying guide here. In short, you need to choose a dehumidifier that is right for your own situation. In general, we recommend that if your issue has progressed to mould, you get a dehumidifier of at least 6L/day capacity. Small dehumidifiers are becoming more popular but are not very powerful and can be expensive for what they are.
If you don’t have the time to do your own research and just want to be told what the best ‘all-round’ dehumidifier is then we can help. On balance, we currently recommend the Meaco ABC Range 10L dehumidifier which we have reviewed in detail here. It is super energy-efficient, quiet, easy to use, and powerful.
Disadvantages of a dehumidifier
We have covered the disadvantages of a dehumidifier extensively in this article. In short, though, the key things to be aware of are the upfront cost, electricity costs, noise and maintenance. You can cut down on these disadvantages by choosing an energy-efficient and quiet dehumidifier like the Meaco ABC Range 10L dehumidifier.
The upfront cost is a double-edged sword. You can save money on a cheaper dehumidifier but it might break sooner and cost more to run than a more expensive model.
How much should you spend on a dehumidifier?
This is the most important question for many of us and will be a big factor in if a dehumidifier is worth it. Luckily, we have a lot of experience in the market and have great recommendations for each price point. We have previously reviewed what we believe to be one of the best value 12L dehumidifiers here, the Ansio 12L. If this is out of your budget, then you should refer to our article on the best dehumidifiers under £100.
If budget isn’t a major constraint for you then please refer to our dehumidifier buyers guide and make the best choice for you. On average, a good dehumidifier is going to cost between £100 and £200. We always recommend getting a higher quality dehumidifier to save money down the road
Are dehumidifiers expensive to run?
This is a key factor in deciding if a dehumidifier is worth it. Dehumidifiers can be relatively cheap to run or quite expensive. As a rule of thumb, most mini dehumidifiers use 20-60 watts of electricity which equates to 3-9p per 8 hours. Larger dehumidifiers use anywhere from 160 to 580 watts which equates to 24-88p per 8 hours.
Typically desiccant dehumidifiers and cheaper brands use more electricity. High-quality compressor dehumidifiers are typically the most energy-efficient. We have covered the most energy-efficient dehumidifiers here in detail. The most efficient is the Meaco ABC Range 10L dehumidifier (there’s a reason we recommend it!)
Getting an energy-efficient dehumidifier will go a long way towards making a dehumidifier a worthy investment. The money you save on a cheaper model will often be consumed by higher energy costs.
Final thought
To conclude, dehumidifiers are definitely worth it if your home is experiencing dampness, condensation, or mould. If you have identified any of these in your home, then you should seriously consider getting a dehumidifier. I myself and countless numbers of our readers have solved serious damp issues with a dehumidifier. If, however, after reading this you don’t think you need one, then a dehumidifier probably isn’t worth it for you. We hope this article has helped you to decide if a dehumidifier is worth it.
Last update on 2024-10-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
