Dehumidifier

donfanatico

Hi all, is it worth getting a dehumidifier to deal with high moisture in kitchen and bathroom and other damp and mould stuff in rental flat

If yes, does anyone have any recommendations for energ efficient ones and do they generally use a lot of leccy?
Thanks

ess0two

http://www.screwfix.com/p/wdh-210db-16r-16ltr-dehumidifier/49718


Got one of these myself,can set the humidity and has a timer function,works great.


As for leccy??

kirkbyinfurnesslad_2

Maybe be better just to increase the air flow in the flat by opening the windows

pogofish

Yes it is - Mine has made life so much easier.

Some use more than others and consumption depends on the king of moisture load they have to deal with. Around 200w is good for drying an average house/flat and an auto/humidistat setting will help keep consumption down. If you have to dry clothes indoors, a higher power is useful - around 400w

Similarly, mine can run on low at around 27w, only needing turned-up when cooking/bathing etc, so that's pretty efficient. Its a DeLonghi DNC65. Dessicant type machines are better in colder conditions (below @15c) compared to refrigerant/compresor types.

donfanatico

kirkbyinfurnesslad wrote: »

Maybe be better just to increase the air flow in the flat by opening the windows

Tried that. Not working. Single skin bathroom and kitchen extension means cold wall and condensation.

Would it offset the cost of reheating a cold flat with open windows agains running a dehumidifier ?

G_M

Have either room got windows? Extractor fans? Are the fans working? Clean or clogged up?

Does bathroom fan run on a timer after the lights are turned off?

I would be looking to reduce moisture though use of decent ventilation as above, and by reducing air moisture (saucepan lids when cooking etc)

Can't comment on dehumidifiers I'm afraid.

donfanatico

G_M wrote: »

Have either room got windows? Extractor fans? Are the fans working? Clean or clogged up?

Does bathroom fan run on a timer after the lights are turned off?

I would be looking to reduce moisture though use of decent ventilation as above, and by reducing air moisture (saucepan lids when cooking etc)

Can't comment on dehumidifiers I'm afraid.

Yes all extractor fans run properly everything is newly refurbished and installed brand new kitchen. The bathroom fan runs ALL the time if set at 65%RH Or lower. The kitchen extractor fan I've just learned is only a filter ie no vents to outside.

patman99

Dehumidifiers are worth it for damp control.
I have one that has a laundry drying function and can dry a full airer of washing in 4 hours.

The cost of running one is irrelevant as they produce heat and so take the weight off of the heating system.

Would go with the dessicant type as they work regardless of how low the temperature gets.

pogofish

G_M wrote: »

Have either room got windows? Extractor fans? Are the fans working? Clean or clogged up?

Does bathroom fan run on a timer after the lights are turned off?

I would be looking to reduce moisture though use of decent ventilation as above, and by reducing air moisture (saucepan lids when cooking etc)

Can't comment on dehumidifiers I'm afraid.

Even with all that, you can still be overwhelmed by moisture in winter - esp if you are in an old house without central heating. A Dehumidifier complements these measures nicely.

Never mind all the heat you can lose in venting.

pogofish

donfanatico wrote: »

Would it offset the cost of reheating a cold flat with open windows agains running a dehumidifier ?

Yes - I find I need far less heating in the dehumidified areas. Kitchen in particular, where a dehumidifier run mainly at 27 watts for 4-6 hours a day, except when cooking/washing etc, compares very favourably with a cycle of open window venting and a 1Kw heater run in bursts for a similar time to less effect in keeping the condensation in check. The dehumidifier is going to cost far less overall.

Also remember that air with a lower moisture content does not feel so cold, so less heating overall.

pogofish

patman99 wrote: »

The cost of running one is irrelevant as they produce heat and so take the weight off of the heating system.

Would go with the dessicant type as they work regardless of how low the temperature gets.

Some do, some don't - My dessicant only produces a small amount of amount of heat on the higher power/clothes drying settings - The low/medium power does not.

My neighbours refrigerant machine however, it chucks out heat but its minimum power consumption is several times higher than mine.