Joined in 2023 
82 
63 About this deal
The controls on the unit are fairly clear, and let you control, among other things, the fan speed and mode settings. For example, you can set the dehumidifier to run continuously on High, or you can have it run until the humidity level drops to a certain level. 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.) It’s the setting with the highest ventilation speed and dehumidifying capacity. In my testing, I found it to really work. I don’t struggle too badly with mould in winter but I do find it difficult to dry clothes (I’m a little too stoic about not switching on the heating). With this DeLonghi dehumidifier sat next to my standard, non-heated clothes airer, my washing dried within a few hours, including a pair of jeans and a hoodie.
Dehumidifiers don’t have to be noisy, and there are some good near-silent options. They will work discreetly in your home without interfering with your sleep or work, so a quiet mode or eco mode is well worth any extra, particularly if it will save you some cash in running costs. Key specs – Dehumidifier type: Compressor; Tank size: 2.5l; Extraction rate: 10 litres per day; Dimensions: 47.2 x 23.7 x 31.9cm (HWD); Warranty: 5 years parts and labour Another handy feature is the auto shut off function, which ensures that the device won't keep running unnecessarily, helping to save you time and money. If you want a top-tier dehumidifier that's both functional and stylish, the Prem-I-Air 1.5L Ola Peltier Dehumidifier is worth considering.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.” 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.
With advice from air conditioning experts Ryan Kandola and Chris Wood and with help from others in The Telegraph Recommended team, I have tried and tested 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 Key specs – Dehumidifier type: Desiccant; Tank size: 2l; Extraction rate: 6 litres per day; Dimensions: 48.5 x 29 x 17.5cm; Weight: 6kg; Warranty: 2 years 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. Dehumidifiers are the best way to reduce humidity in your home and many are cost effective and energy efficient. They range from bathroom dehumidifiers to compact ones for your car and even ones you can control from your mobile phone. Small dehumidifiers are ideal for flats or smaller spaces, while the bigger models can dehumidify a five-bedroom property or a small business space.If you're on the hunt for a reliable dehumidifier, look no further than the Prem-I-Air 1.5L Ola Peltier Dehumidifier with Auto Shut Off Function. With its advanced thermo-electric Peltier module, this innovative device is efficient and effective at removing moisture from the air in your home. What sets it apart from other dehumidifiers on the market is its attractive design, making it a stylish addition to any space. Plus, it's the most portable option around, so you can easily move it from room to room as needed. The Princess isn’t as quiet as Meaco’s Arete models, but you can live with the 46dB it puts out at its highest fan setting, or the 40dB noise levels at low. It also has a useful laundry drying feature that makes the most of the vertical swing on the air output and the powerful fan. It’s simple to control, either through the app or via the built-in controls, and you can keep an eye on the current humidity level through a subtle “hidden” digital display on the front. Rival dehumidifiers have the edge on noise and performance, but the Princess gives you a great set of features at a very reasonable price.
The other controls let you choose between quiet Sleep mode, powerful High mode for laundry and economic Low mode for daytime use. You can fine-tune these by setting the fan speed and desired humidity level (you’ll want it under 50 percent, see below). But that’s it. Very much a fire-and-forget machine. I like the way it looks, too. Although it’s an American company, there’s something reassuringly Swiss about it. Maybe that’s just me. 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? 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 Chris Wood from Aircon Direct.High-capacity dehumidifiers are usually power-hungry and noisy, but the MeacoDry Arete One is designed to do more with less energy and a lower volume, topping out at 40dB during typical use and keeping consumption to around 200W. In fact, both figures fall dramatically as humidity levels start to drop. It’s an excellent dehumidifier for larger spaces and, unlike most compressor models, will work at temperatures of between 5 and 25°C. Performance-wise it draws 350 Watts, making it one of the most powerful on this list at a competitive price. I tested it in my shower room, where I usually keep a window open to prevent mould. As the mornings get chillier this dehumidifier is the perfect replacement, keeping any mould at bay and the heating in. The auto-defrosting function also means it can carry on working when the temperature drops. Within the app, Midea has its own voice-activated smart assistant to control the dehumidifier (or any other Midea smart appliance), but if you have it connected to Alexa, this feels pretty redundant.
If you’re pulling out 15 to 20 litres per day, the dehumidifier needs to have a tank with the capacity to handle it or you will be emptying it out every few hours. Three litres is the absolute minimum, while five or six litres will give you a bit less emptying to do. Is there anything else worth looking out for? However, it’s worth looking out for newer and more energy-efficient designs. For example, Meaco’s MeacoDry Arete One 20L costs around 6p per hour to run, based on an electricity rate of 28.3p per kWh, while some models will cost significantly more at the same rate. Use your dehumidifier daily for a couple of hours and the difference soon mounts up. The Midea 20 pint cube dehumidifier was put to the test following hurricane Ida; while it had been downgraded to a tropical storm, it still dumped more than 8 inches of rain in our town over just a few hours. While my house escaped without issue, my friend’s finished basement flooded, soaking his carpet.Don’t get too excited about this dehumidifier’s smart capabilities. You can connect it to your smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth, but the app is little more than a glorified remote control with only basic scheduling features and no way to integrate with existing air quality meters you might have hooked up. That aside, it’s a well-designed and effective dehumidifier, capable of extracting up to 20 litres per day into a larger-than-average six-litre tank. We found this surprisingly easy to remove from the rear of the machine when full, with a built-in handle for carrying. All dehumidifiers do the same basic job of removing excess moisture from the air. However, there are three different technologies that do all the hard work. Just like the larger model, the 10L has a laundry mode to dry your washing, and can double as an air purifier with the bundled HEPA filter inserted – although we found it a little less effective in our air-purifying tests than most dedicated models. As a dehumidifier, it’s hard to fault, working efficiently in small and medium-sized rooms to reduce humidity levels and get rid of mould and moisture. Throw in the intuitive controls and easily removable water tank, and this is the best of the compact options, and ideal for smaller rooms and homes. 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?
Related:
Great Deal 
New Comment