Battery operated/wireless Dehumidifier??

miserly_mum

I was wondering if any of you have or know of anyone who has a battery operated dehumidifier?

My MIL had awful problems with damp in the downstairs hall of her flat last winter. The council advised her to get a dehumidifier, but there is no power point in the downstairs hall. So she would need to run an extension wire down from the plug on her landing.

Shes already a bit dodgy on the stairs as it is without the added danger of wires to trip over etc.

Any suggestions would be gratefully received as we would like to get one for her before the winter sets in this year.

Penelope_Penguin

Hi there! This topic fits better on the In My Home board, so I'll move it over.

Penny. x

maninthestreet

A typical dehumidifier consumes about 200w of electricity, so it's unlikely that this could be provided by a battery, even a 12V car battery, for more than a few hours.

miserly_mum

Thanks for the reply. I remember someone on MSE mentioning a battery operated one ages ago, thats why I asked.

The only ones I could find were the little ones for closets and caravans.

muz

Have you thought about seeing how much it would cost to get a socket fitted in her hall?

maninthestreet

You may be able to hide an extension cable under the edge of the stair carpet, or use cable clips to hold the cable to the skirting board on the stairs.

Ionkontrol

You would be better off getting a builder around to find the cause of the damp than getting a dehumidifier.

savemoney

Are you sure its damp and not condensation?

Dehumidifiers take about 250w but they aren't always on 24/7

You can get treatments like, anti-condensation paint but sometimes its better to find the cause like having to much water in the air due to baths/cooking/drying clothes. Often a air brick or leaving a window on trickle may help

miserly_mum

Thanks everyonefor all the suggestions. Its a council property so its really them who should be sorting this out. They said it was damp and suggested getting a de humidifier.

MIL has mobility problems and is on the waiting list for a downstairs property so I think they just don't want to do any repairs for her as shes moving anyway.

She is currently leaving a window open and using the little tubs of moisture absorbing gel.

I thought that running the extension cable down the side of the stairs would be OK but apparently not according to her. Incase she caught her toe on it.

Hey you just can't help some people......but at least I tried.

Thanks again

Suzy_M

miserly_mum wrote: »

She is currently leaving a window open and using the little tubs of moisture absorbing gel.

We had similar problems and found the following really helped:

The less cluttered the area the more air could circulate, and atmosphere dry out.

Remove anything from the area that will hold damp, e.g. thick curtains, surplus floor mats, and/or fitted carpets if possible, piles of newspapers, excess coats, shoes, etc.

The dry moisture absorbing granules worked better than gels. (These are regular stock in Wilkinsons starting in the Autumn). The larger the container the better.

Keeping the area well-ventilated is a good idea but during the winter it creates a 'chimney' effect in hall ways, drawing in damp cold air from outside. Best to open the windows for a short time only.

Hope this helps.

savemoney

Just a though but couldn't you run the extension down the stairs and fasten it on to the side of the stairs with cable clips or those stick on tie bases with some plastic tiers

Like these

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?TabID=1&ModuleNo=6235&doy=6m12

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=4363&&source=14&doy=22m7

Ans use them plastic tiers attached to the cable and the tie base

I use this solution for Christmas lights with extension leads tucked in around the skirting board