Do I need a dehumidifier? If so, what type?

fluffymuffy

We've got an Ebac. It's the third one in the last 20 years. It costs about £20 a month to run. I tried turning it off for a month last winter to see if I could save money but I didn't last two weeks without it. I like my towels to dry within a few hours of use, I like to dry washing on a clothes horse (don't want a tumble drier) I like the air not to feel clammy. I think the expense of the electric is somewhat offset by the reduced need for heating when the house is dry. It does cost but is really worth it.

lemon26

I had also looked at the Ebac as it's got good 'Which' reviews but it's a compressor dehumidifer - looking around suggests that dessicant types are better for the UK? However, Ebac's website suggests that compressor dehumidifiers are better for the UK...

I'm confused... Any more advice is greatly welcomed...

lstar337

lemon26 wrote: »

I had also looked at the Ebac as it's got good 'Which' reviews but it's a compressor dehumidifer - looking around suggests that dessicant types are better for the UK? However, Ebac's website suggests that compressor dehumidifiers are better for the UK...

I'm confused... Any more advice is greatly welcomed...

I don't see how either type is 'better for the UK'.

Just get the type that best suits your needs.

lemon26

Hi lstar, that's teh thing - I don't know which type would be better as both types have contradictory information! Apparently condensor type ones are better in higher temperatures whereas dessicant types are better at lower temperatures....however, it will be used in a heated room so I guess it won't go below 15c...

Confused...

dacouch

gemmaphillips wrote: »

I always use youco for dehumidifiers, the team know their stuff, one call and they'll discuss your requirements and recommend the best model, really helpful and a great warranty too. Definitely worth calling for advice.

Are you aware of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulation? Have a read of it especially rule 18 which is in effect a law.

http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/business_leaflets/cpregs/oft979.pdf

cyclonebri1

lemon26 wrote: »

Hi all!

Hopefully I'll be able to gets ome advice please for around the house. I live in the Scottish Islands in a 1890s farm house which has a quite a large patch of damp in the kitchen / diner by the window. I had re-sealed under the window as it looked like the old mortar had crumbled away, and it appears to have stopped the water coming in. However, the wallpaper's peeled off and the plasterboard has that 'wet dog' smell, although there's no mould etc.

We also dry out washing in the room (with the windows open) as it's the only room large enough and it's usually too window / wet to hang it outdoors, although we do when we can. We also have the window open when we're cooking as the kitchen arrangement at present precludes an extractor fan.

So, would a dehumidifier help dry out the wall and keep moisture down? If so, would a dessicant type or compressonr type be best? I've read various things, most of which are contradictory! Any advice is really appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

I'll go on a tangent to all the posts before.

The Scottish highlands are wet, we know that, but the Scotts know it even better.

Are you an incomer?

That's with all due respect and no, I'm not a trad Scott.

It's just that I thought the established residents had all realised that rooms are not air tight, and that ventilation is the secret.
And along those lines, there ain't a single dehumidifier that is going to dehumidify the whole of Scotland.:D:D

lemon26

Hi Cyclone, yes, I'm an incomer...although I have lived in Scotland for the last 6 years, only been on the Islands for 18 months.

I want to dry out the damp patch near the window and the house doesn't have very much natural ventilation as the walls are metre thick (give or take) stone. We also dry our washing in doors too as it's wet and windy most of the time...

I'm not after one which will do the whole of Scotland, just an opinion on which type (dessicant or compressor) will work best given the weather we have.

Any opinion is appreciated!

cyclonebri1

Ok, but using a dehumidifier to try to cure a damp patch probably isn't the best way forward. My earlier post was a little flippant, but humidifiers are mainly used where there is a mould issue or heavy humidity in the whole of the room.

What you seem to have is a very localised problem, and the fact that you say it's near a window may be the clue.

To be honest I would try and fine where the moisture is getting in, leaks around windows are the obvious stater, gutters above etc.
Then you can spend your money.;)

For what it is worth I would think you are going to need a compressor driven DH given the predominant wet weather you have up there, but they do come at a price and that is not just the purchase price but the not inconsiderable running costs and also the noise factor.
Having said all that, we have a small unit, compressor type. It just comes out if we have been painting or after plastering etc, and even after a spillage or carpet cleaning.
I know others use them on a regular basis and don't have issues, but I was trying to approach your issue from the money saving perspective, ie fix the problem at source rather than having on going running costs ;)

You have also echoed what I suggested in my earlier post, ie, you have a lack of ventilation. Consideration should maybe be given to some improvement in that area?

lemon26

Good morning Cyclone!

Thank you for your reply. I have stopped teh water coming in (replaced crumbled mortar under the window) but the damp doesn't seem to be drying out - it probably doesn't help that it's in the kitchen/diner and this is teh only room large enough to dry our laundry when we can't hang it out. Whilst we open the windows as much as possible, the house then quite quickly gets cold and we can't heat it back up until the next Eco7 time.

We also had a problem with a leaky roof which I have fixed and we have installed a high-capacity bathroom extractor and a condensing tumble dryer to reduce moisture, but there's very little we can do about the lack of ventilation apart from opening the windows. When built (c1890) the house had an open fire in each room, so loads of ventilation, however a previous owner has blocked them up and capped the chimneys. As the walls are 1 metre thick it isn't too easy to put in ventialtion blocks, particularly as the house is rendered - this is why we're looking to get a dehumidifier. We've also put slate vents in the roof to help the house breathe.

May I ask, why do you recommend a condenser dehumidifier? I have read that they are more effective when it's hot (30c or so) and that, for colder (20c or so) a dessicant is more effective? There's just so much contradictory information I'm properly confused!

Any further advice is appreciated.

cyclonebri1

:T

lemon26 wrote: »

Good morning Cyclone!

Thank you for your reply. I have stopped teh water coming in (replaced crumbled mortar under the window) but the damp doesn't seem to be drying out - it probably doesn't help that it's in the kitchen/diner and this is teh only room large enough to dry our laundry when we can't hang it out. Whilst we open the windows as much as possible, the house then quite quickly gets cold and we can't heat it back up until the next Eco7 time.

We also had a problem with a leaky roof which I have fixed and we have installed a high-capacity bathroom extractor and a condensing tumble dryer to reduce moisture, but there's very little we can do about the lack of ventilation apart from opening the windows. When built (c1890) the house had an open fire in each room, so loads of ventilation, however a previous owner has blocked them up and capped the chimneys. As the walls are 1 metre thick it isn't too easy to put in ventialtion blocks, particularly as the house is rendered - this is why we're looking to get a dehumidifier. We've also put slate vents in the roof to help the house breathe.


May I ask, why do you recommend a condenser dehumidifier? I have read that they are more effective when it's hot (30c or so) and that, for colder (20c or so) a dessicant is more effective? There's just so much contradictory information I'm properly confused!

Any further advice is appreciated.

The bold bit was another point I was going to make, with a coal fired house you not only have a great deal more heat output than you probably put into it now, but as you say, you have forced ventilation from the updraft.

Considering the work done, :T, and the fact that the walls are 3ft thick then yes maybe a dehumidifier would work for you, considered hiring a decent sized unit for a week, or maybe that's awkward offshore?

I'm sorry I can't help you further I have had 2 household dehumidifiers and have hired several and bought 1 industrial version, all have been compressor units so I have no expertise with desiccant types.