The cost of one kiloWatt-hour of electricity is capped at 30p under the Energy Price Guarantee as of July 2023. Although prices do vary by region and contract (economy 7 tariffs are more expensive by day and cheaper by night, for example), we use the capped price to estimate running costs. Look for one which draws less than 330 Watts and you will never spend more than 10p per hour. It’s often much less on lower power settings. Dehumidifiers are generally cheap to run. What size dehumidifier do I need? Lowering humidity can prevent mould growth on walls, tiles and ceilings, which is costly to remove. 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 Once this baseline has been established, you probably won’t need to run the dehumidifier for more than a few hours per day. You might also only need the low or medium settings, which reduces energy usage further.

Using only 219 Watts of electricity per hour (at an estimated cost of 7p per hour, based on the current average rate of 34p per kWh), the Meaco 20L offers the lowest energy consumption of any dehumidifier in its class. This model is designed for larger homes or small business premises. Domestic dehumidifiers can extract up to 25 litres of water per day. We have largely focused on 20l models since these are the most popular for domestic use. For larger spaces, damper environments or colder temperatures, choose something more powerful. (Or vice versa for smaller spaces.) Solid, compact and not bad looking, the Honeywell 24L Portable Dehumidifier is designed for medium to large-sized homes with three to five bedrooms. Weighing 14.8kg and a little over half a metre in height, with omni-directional castor wheels, it’s not hard to manoeuvre around your property.

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? If you’ve ever had reason to ask yourself ‘what is the best dehumidifier?’ it was probably with a sense of desperation over mould in your bathroom that just won’t shift, or window condensation forever puddling on the sills. Humidity can be a real problem. A dehumidifier is your best defence. With advice from air conditioning experts Ryan Kandola and Chris Wood, we have selected the best dehumidifiers on the market for energy efficiency, drying power, value for money and, where possible, quiet running. “Remember, size isn’t everything,” Ryan says. “Look at the area you’re dealing with and choose the right size of unit. You’ll be surprised at just how powerful some of the small dehumidifiers are.” High demand If you have a small space that’s prone to damp air, like a kitchen or a bathroom, you need a dehumidifier that’s compact and quiet. Standing 22cm high and weighing little more than a bag of sugar, unlike some dehumidifiers The ProBreeze is easy to move around and won’t stand out like a sore thumb once it’s in place. Humidstat + Smart Control. If a dehumidifier monitors the humidity and only switches on when needed, it’ll use less energy.

Perhaps the best-looking dehumidifier on our list, the Midea Cube is only a foot tall when collapsed for storage but extends upwards in use to hold 11 litres of water. That’s about three times more than traditional dehumidifiers and means you need to empty it less often. Another option is to just use the top half and run its hose into a sink or drain so that you never have to empty it at all. There’s also the endless debate between desiccant and refrigerant (compressor) dehumidifiers. We talk more about the general differences here, but a refrigerant dehumidifier works best in warmer temperatures, while a desiccant is the better option for low temperature applications. The running costs of a dehumidifier varies depending on its power rating, the mode you use, and your energy tariff. As we all know, energy prices have gone up rapidly during 2022, and this looks likely to continue in the future, so you’ll need to adjust the numbers for your own tariff and the current energy prices. Dehumidifier manufacturers are more conscious of energy usage than ever before. Newer dehumidifiers are being built with a variety of energy saving features to help keep energy costs low. There are also a range of features that can reduce energy consumption. If you’re worried about your energy bill, look out for:

Are Dehumidifiers Energy Efficient?

Rather than being a compressor or a desiccant, the ProBreeze instead uses peltier technology, similar to that used in some mini fridges, to cool water vapour into water. It’s much quieter than the other methods.

Things are a bit more complicated than this though. While a dehumidifier is sold with a power rating, that doesn’t mean it uses this power all the time. All dehumidifiers are rated in Watts (W). This is the amount of power the dehumidifier uses, which is another way of saying the amount of energy per second the dehumidifier requires to run. The higher the power, the more energy the dehumidifier will use. For a bathroom, you should position the dehumidifier just outside the bathroom door and ensure the door is left open so the unit can draw the moist air towards it. If you’re drying clothes, just place the dehumidifier in the room, making sure the door and windows are all closed. Here’s a rough estimate using an estimated energy tariff of 34.00p/kWh, which was the electricity energy cap set by the UK government in October 2022. Power Rating

What causes high humidity? And should it concern me?

We often get asked how much it costs to run a dehumidifier. It’s an important topic, as rising energy bills have forced everyone in the UK to be more aware of how much their appliances cost to run. It’s a difficult question to answer, as the cost varies wildly. Factors such as the temperature, type of dehumidifier ( desiccant or refrigerant) and energy-saving features all affect the running costs. Manufacturers also confuse the issue by adding the phrase “energy efficient” to every product description – whether it’s deserved or not. That will be especially useful over the winter months as it means you won’t have to keep your heating on as long to dry your clothes, reducing your energy bills in the process,” says Wood.

The Honeywell features a smart digital humidistat,” Air Con Centre’s Ryan Kandola says. “It automatically senses the moisture levels of your room to maintain your pre-programmed humidity level. There’s also a washable dust filter to purify the air that has already been dehumidified. It’s a good all-rounder.” Dehumidifiers are proving exceptionally popular this year and our top-rated airers may temporarily sell out. These are currently the best places to look for alternatives:Reducing humidity can also eliminate dust mites, which can relieve allergies. It can reduce “musty” smells in your home while preventing mould from spreading. It can even reduce skin and lung irritation. The reduced moisture can prevent damage to furniture. It also means you won’t need to buy anti-mould spray and similar products. A compressor dehumidifier is almost like a mini-fridge that cools the air and converts it into water that you can pour away,” says Ryan Kandola, a dehumidifier expert from Aircon Centre, “whereas desiccants take the air and run it over a rotating flywheel which absorbs the moisture, before heating it so the wheel doesn’t get saturated.” How do you know when you need a dehumidifier? We all want to save energy at the moment – and that’s where the Meaco 20L Low Energy comes into its own,” adds Kandola. It uses a HEPA ( High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter which will remove 99 percent of dust mites, pollen or other allergens, making a cleaner and healthier atmosphere in your home. Fast Water Extraction. The faster a dehumidifier removes moisture from the air, the shorter time it’ll need to be switched on. The key is to choose the right dehumidifier for the environment (i.e. a desiccant for colder rooms or a refrigerant for warmer ones)