Challenge 12L Dehumidifier

Product Information

And, whilst this Russell Hobbs number is cheaper upfront, running costs are higher, with the 20L dehumidifier using 440W of energy compared to Meaco's 20L Arete One which uses 216W on average. Plus, the Arete One offers a built-in air purifier which this model does not. Dehumidifier manufacturers have started to update their older models or create new ones using refrigerant gases with less of a global warming impact, such as R290. If you buy an older second-hand model, it may use a HFC (hydrofluorocarbon) refrigerant that can be a potent greenhouse gas if leaked. As explained above, make sure you’re using your dehumidifier at times of day when it will be the cheapest and most effective. Does a dehumidifier use a lot of electricity? Transparency is really important to us and that's why we're always upfront about where we find our recommendations. We write about products that we feel offer the best value to most parents – the ones that our users would recommend to their own friends and family.

Noise levels: The official specifications say that this dehumidifier is 37dBA but I barely heard it. I didn’t even realise it was on when I was in the room. It runs so quietly, you occasionally hear the odd drip as the water hits the already collected water in the tray but that’s about it. It’s ideal for use when you’re working or overnight as it won’t disturb the peace. Water tank capacity: This is how much water the unit can hold, ranging from around 250ml to six litres. The smaller the dehumidifier, the more regularly you’ll have to empty the tank, though some larger models have a continuous drainage option through a hose. A compressor dehumidifier is the most common type in the UK as it works best in higher temperatures, such as in a heated home. Portability: A model with a handle or wheels/castors (or both) will be easier to move around, especially if you buy a large, heavy dehumidifier. If you’re only ever going to use the dehumidifier in one room and won’t want to put it away much, this might not be so important to you.

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The Pro Breeze 12L Low Energy dehumidifier's 40dB volume is already higher than the MeacoDry Arete One 12L Dehumidifier 35-38dB, but its the type of noise the Pro Breeze model creates that makes it the far noisier investment. Energy use Using just 40W of energy to run, the ProBreeze 1500ml Mini dehumidifier is very cheap to operate. I kept a close eye on my smart meter whilst using it and it didn’t even register, at current energy prices costing less that 1p per hour to run. Humidistat Most dehumidifiers have one of these. A humidistat monitors moisture levels in the air and adjusts the dehumidifier to maintain the humidity level you’ve selected. Some models also have a more nuanced auto setting, where the machine adjusts its settings according to its idea of the most appropriate relative humidity. Despite its compact size, this dehumidifier is also heavy. And noisy. We also didn’t find it that much help with drying clothes, although it did a good job of managing general damp and reducing condensation and mould on windows and walls. That said, if you find the Pro Breeze 12L Low Energy Dehumidifier on offer, and are willing to accept its flaws in exchange for its lower price point, this can be a great value buy that does the job and will make a big improvement to general damp issues.

Just like the MeacoDry Arete One, as well as an impressive extraction rate the Russell Hobbs RHDH2002 20L dehumidifier has some great features, including an easy-to-read LED screen that displays current humidity levels and a useful Smart mode that monitors the humidity levels for you, turning the dehumidifier on and off as soon as it rises above the recommended home humidity range between 45%~55% for more economical (and hassle-free) use. There's also auto-shut off functionality when the water tank is full. Discover which retailers are rated highly by Which? members with our expert guide on the best and worst shops . How to dry clothes indoors during winter Noise levels: Along with the Silentnight 39899 I found this one of the quietest low cost dehumidifiers in this round up. It produces 35dB of noise whilst operating, but I didn't really hear it running at all. A couple of times, I even had to lean in to make sure it was actually switched on! However, I tested the Challenge 0.5 Litre Mini Dehumidifier several times in my kitchen whilst cooking and found it collected excess moisture caused by steamy conditions efficiently.Most dehumidifiers have their noise levels listed in their specifications, although in practice we didn't find that much variation between models, with most falling somewhere between 35 and 45dB. You can now find a wide range of designs online that cater for various budgets and room sizes. There are automatic smart models that turn on if your home reaches a certain level of humidity, and switches off after a set period or when the water tank is full, and those that combine both air purifying and dehumidifying settings in one. The MeacoDry Arete One dehumidifiers are some of the best dehumidifiers we've tested. They're quiet, easy to use, work superbly and are very energy-efficient compared to other compressor models. Plus, all offer a built-in air purification function to improve air quality within the home in more ways than one. Overall, it's not the most powerful dehumidifier you can buy, and it can't cope with high moisture levels – we found it made little difference when drying wet washing for example. However, it did a great job of clearing condensation on windows and managing moisture levels in a small bedroom when left running overnight.

Dehumidifiers do not kill mould, but they help make it inert and stop it from spreading (the spores love humid air!). You need a dehumidifier to treat the underlying cause and a good mould killer to eliminate it completely. Here’s our guide to the best mould removers so you can clean it off any surface and stop it from regrowing. How do dehumidifiers work?Wheels/castors These could come in useful if your dehumidifier is heavy – they can weigh from 6kg to more than 16kg.

When the dehumidifier is in operation, a green light tells you it's on, this light turns orange when the tank is full and the dehumidifier will automatically shut off when tank capacity is reached. I was less impressed by the unit's sleep function, as it meant I couldn’t adjust the fan speed, and although this dehumidifier is noisy in all modes (more on that below), it is even more so on a high fan setting. Research your energy tariff and see if your electricity is cheaper at certain times, such as at night. If so, you could time it to come on during those hours. Alternatively, consider using it when your home is most likely to have high humidity levels, such as when you are showering, cooking or have the heating on. So, how does that affect you? Living in a mouldy and damp home can cause serious health issues, particularly for allergy and asthma sufferers, which include an increased risk of respiratory illness and infections. Additionally, damp can make your home look unattractive and give it a musty smell, with the excess moisture causing damage to your walls, carpet, ceiling and furniture. What does a dehumidifier do?Our trials showed that moisture absorbers won’t do much to reduce damp in a room that’s routinely used for drying laundry. So moisture absorbers can help with small day-to-day damp issues, but shouldn’t be relied upon for any serious damp-busting. Choose the right capacity for the size of your space, the number of people living in it and the severity of your damp problem.