Bedroom (EE)

Using a dehumidifier can help reduce humidity in the home by controlling excess moisture in the air. By reducing the risk of damp, dehumidifiers can help prevent mould growth. Dehumidifiers are mains powered and are usually the size of a small suitcase. They work through drawing in moist air from the home, removing the water in the air through condensation, and sending the ‘drier’ air back into the room. Some dehumidifiers have specific settings to help dry clothes (and tend to cost less to run than tumble driers); others have air purification settings which can reduce allergens in the home. Dehumidifiers generally have a removeable water tank which needs emptying, and they have an internal fan, so they can create some low noise. If you are buying a dehumidifier, you may need to think about the size of your home and how many people live in your home to decide which one is going to best meet your needs. Many retail sites have buying guides for dehumidifiers. 

You may want to buy a small widget which you can leave in your home to measure humidity levels. These can cost anything from a few pounds to around £25 and will allow you to gauge the moisture in the air in your home. Recommendations on the ideal humidity levels in the home vary, but generally between 30-60% humidity is the optimum range.

If damp and mould is a significant problem in your home, even after using a dehumidifier, you may need to try and find the root cause of the issue.

£ You may want to trial dehumidifier pots or moisture traps, which can be purchased at relatively low cost. Dehumidifier pots on windowsills can help in managing excess moisture and condensation on windows. These are also a cost-effective way of minimising some of the potential damage to wooden window frames (if you have wooden window frames in your home); given the effect moisture can have on older wooden window frames, condensation and damp can cause them to rot or warp.

££ Dehumidifiers can cost from around £50 for small, low-capacity models, up to around £350/£400 for larger models with a range of settings.

£ Dehumidifiers do cost money to run, costing generally between 5-15p per hour, but this will depend on the model that is used. Although they cost money to run, dehumidifiers can help save on energy bills as it is cheaper to heat drier air than moist air, and dehumidifiers cost less to run than appliances like tumble driers.

Read the Good Home Lincs Guide to condensation, damp and mould

Check out the Good Home Lincs information on Common hazards to find out more about how to manage damp and mould in your home.