Drying clothes in cellar using a dehumidifier vs tumble dryer

cymruchris

The dehumidifiers with laundry functions are designed to be used in regular rooms where there are regular levels of humidity. Putting one in a damp cellar and using it to try and dry your clothes would be like pushing water uphill with a straw. If you're going to put a tumble drier in the basement - it might be worth considering a condenser dryer? One where the water is collected, and you can tip it onto the garden once the drying is done. I gather they are a little less efficient than a regular drier - but could be beneficial for what you're thinking. (Would involve selling off your current tumble drier though)

Mistral001

You will have to close off all ventilation in the basement for the dehumidifier to work properly, so it will be working very hard to remove moisture from clothes and also the extra moisture from the air due to lack of ventilation.   I suspect the dehumidifier will need to be a large commercial one for it to work and your standard domestic dehumidifier of 10 to 20L/day capacity will not be big enough.  

getmore4less

Heat pump tumble dryer is a dehumidifier in a sealed box. which also controls the temperature to make it more effective at removing moisture.
rather than try to dry all the cellar you could create a smaller controlled environment within the cellar.

Cloughy

bigpappa said:

For the cellar should I go for a dessicant or a compressor?

Did you ever manage to find a suitable dehumidifier?
I'm wondering this too!
G.C

Teapot55

You can’t use a dehumidifier in a cellar with an open coal shute. The dehumidifier would be trying to take the moisture out of the air in the world as well as the air in the cellar.

If, however you can manage somehow to draught-proof the opening then a dehumidifier could make a big difference.

The one we bought (advertised as being suitable for a four-bedroom house) gives you a reading when you switch it on of the humidity in the room. The ideal level is 55% I believe. Ours has a plastic ‘reservoir’ at the back that collects several pints of water. 

Teapot55

bris said:

you would be as well just letting them air dry, the time difference won't be much and thats free.

Drying clothes outside in a garden on the line works a treat if the humidity that day is below 55% and there’s a bit of wind. 

Likewise, hanging them in a cellar that has a good throughflow of air (leave the door open at the top of the stairs?) will probably work too, certainly in the summer. 

alanhedgehog

Yes, given the right conditions, a desiccant dehumidifier will dry your clothes quicker, help dry out your cellar and raise the temperature by a few degrees.  Obviously you need to draught-proof the cellar as teapot55 mentioned.  A compressor model doesn't work so well in low temperatures (your cellar?), nor does it heat the air as much as a desiccant. From talking to neighbours and from my own experience (two models), I would say the favourites are Meaco and Ecoair.

Good luck !