Dehumidifier

Eldi_Dos

Emmia said:

Eldi_Dos said:

Emmia said:

Eldi_Dos said:

Emmia said:

Eldi_Dos said:

masonic said:

Eldi_Dos said:

QrizB said:

Eldi_Dos said:

Emmia said:

Eldi_Dos said:

RedFraggle said:

Another Meaco fan here.
https://www.appliancesdirect.co.uk/p/meacodry-abc10lb/meaco-meacodryabc10lb-dehumidifier?utm_source=transactional-emails&utm_medium=email&refsource=email&utm_campaign=335

Dries 2 loads overnight in our large bathroom. Super cheap as we're on E7. 

Advising anyone to use a portable electrical appliance in a bathroom, especially one with loads a wet/ damp laundry is quite simply bad advice.

This is how we use it. 

What's the safety risk versus a kitchen, if the bathroom is otherwise dry and not being used?

Different regulations apply for kitchens and bathrooms.
But the most obvious answer is most bathrooms do not have a electric socket, I know I have never seen one.

I've sent lots of bathrooms with electrical sockets. But you don't need a socket in the room.

You've not actually answered Emma's question, though.

Emmia asked:

What's the safety risk versus a kitchen, if the bathroom is otherwise dry and not being used?

Can you elaborate on the problem you've spotted, and explain why you believe that:

Advising anyone to use a portable electrical appliance in a bathroom, especially one with loads a wet/ damp laundry is quite simply bad ad

Quite a common thread on DIY board is about high humidity levels in bathrooms and how to mitigate it.

Most people when they come out the bath or shower are dripping wet, luckily I do not see much of that in our kitchen.

I think we can agree it is unwise to be trailing any powered extension leads into the bathroom while bathing.

Not only while bathing but at anytime,must say I am quite surprised that on a energy board in the year 2025 that there are so many posters who think it is acceptable.

And some of them must have strong bladders if they can guarantee not to use the bathroom for the purpose it is intended for overnight.

Some of us have more than one "throne".

That could prove the old adage right, "toffs are careless"

But I note you still haven't answered my question regarding the relative hazard levels. 

Not a toff, just someone in a flat with two bathrooms.

If you read through the replies again I think you will get the gist of why it is inadvisable and in one off my replies I mentioned that having laundry in the bathroom and the dehumidifier out in the hallway with the door open would be a more sensible approach than the one you advocate.

If you shut the door you focus the dehumidifier effects, I don't usually want to dehumidfy the entire flat, plus it's in the way in the hallway outside the bathroom.

it seems that you're the only one with an issue, but you still can't explain how a dehumidifier in a dry bathroom that is not being used for showers/bathing or going to the loo, is more dangerous than drying washing in any other room.

In possibly the longest running thread on the energy board I think the most sage post in all of its 129 pages was the first one posted, maybe worthwhile refreshing your memory.

If after rereading this thread you still think using a portable electrical appliance in a bathroom with a extension lead is a good idea I can only refer you to Louis Armstrongs reply when someone asked him what jazz is.

EssexHebridean

The world is divided into those who know the rules, understand why certain things are dangerous but in their own homes are able to apply common sense and logic and thus not create any further danger to themselves or anyone else in adjusting the application of those rules to suit their own needs, and those who insist on applying every rule verbatim, even if it is entirely pointless. 

Scot_39

And also sadly there are those who are less fortunate.

https://www.meteorelectrical.com/blog/electrical-safety-statistics.html

And not always because they do risky things. Devices fail and can give shocks or burn - themselves the sockets they are fed by or cause the home wiring to burn out and that then the home to do so when do fail).  Even if no one injured the cost of fixing could be non trivial.

Some folk here will probably run tumble dryers or washing machines over night or program for cheap daytime rates - there is a risk - and so many fire brigades advise against it / any unattended operation etc.  Most of course operate normally as expected.  So the overall risk is small and some people accept the savings worth the risk.

Using a standard 13A plug and socket - I am guessing a standard trailing extension placed on the floor (potentially even with multiple exposed sockets if a 2 way or 4 way extension lead) - bearing in mind even a standard switch on a fused spur is against modern wiring regulations in a bathroom - seems to be an unnecessary and avoidable risk.

I'd have less of an issue with the extension to the bathroom door - and the plug / socket being outside the door - but even then if the device isnt designed to cope with a truly damp environment - and suitably protected (e.g by circuit breakers - especially if CU really old / fuse based).

But of course if doing DIY - would also have no qualms about using say an electric drill in a bathroom - but not unattended for hours.

And again wouldn't think about using a standard extension socket in a kitchen - in case dropped or splashed water on it accidentally.

Eldi_Dos

EssexHebridean said:

The world is divided into those who know the rules, understand why certain things are dangerous but in their own homes are able to apply common sense and logic and thus not create any further danger to themselves or anyone else in adjusting the application of those rules to suit their own needs, and those who insist on applying every rule verbatim, even if it is entirely pointless. 

Surprised to hear you voice that opinion.

So safety procedures do not need to be followed by "sensible" people,it is just the rest of the population that should follow them.

My understanding of the statistics is around 1000 people a year die from electrocutions and 30000 injured, so approximately 20 deaths per week. I would have thought on a energy board those fiqures would merit attention not derision.

masonic

Eldi_Dos said:

EssexHebridean said:

The world is divided into those who know the rules, understand why certain things are dangerous but in their own homes are able to apply common sense and logic and thus not create any further danger to themselves or anyone else in adjusting the application of those rules to suit their own needs, and those who insist on applying every rule verbatim, even if it is entirely pointless. 

Surprised to hear you voice that opinion.
So safety procedures do not need to be followed by "sensible" people,it is just the rest of the population that should follow them.
My understanding of the statistics is around 1000 people a year die from electrocutions and 30000 injured, so approximately 20 deaths per week. I would have thought on a energy board those fiqures would merit attention not derision.

I think that misses the point of EH's post. Blanket ignoring of rules is just as bad as treating them as the be all and end all. The latter has led to my situation of an electrical socket being installed in a cupboard under a sink, adjacent to my washing machine's water intake fittings, and passing electrical safety inspections because it isn't a consideration in the rules. Similarly, use of a plug-in electrical device in a bathroom will not be materially less safe than a different room under all circumstances. And Swipe's cheeky airing cupboard socket, though prohibited, is probably the safer option of those two.

Bendo

Don't forget, zone 2 ends 0.6 meters from the bath or shower cubical. You can legally have a socket outside of zone 2. The wash basin (like the kitchen sink) is irrelevant to the zones.

There is too much drama here, the biggest risk is not electrical, its tripping over the extension lead but Im sure most people will manage to avoid that just fine.

Bendo

masonic said:

Eldi_Dos said:

EssexHebridean said:

The world is divided into those who know the rules, understand why certain things are dangerous but in their own homes are able to apply common sense and logic and thus not create any further danger to themselves or anyone else in adjusting the application of those rules to suit their own needs, and those who insist on applying every rule verbatim, even if it is entirely pointless. 

Surprised to hear you voice that opinion.
So safety procedures do not need to be followed by "sensible" people,it is just the rest of the population that should follow them.
My understanding of the statistics is around 1000 people a year die from electrocutions and 30000 injured, so approximately 20 deaths per week. I would have thought on a energy board those fiqures would merit attention not derision.

And Swipe's cheeky airing cupboard socket, though prohibited, is probably the safer option of those two.

Provided it has a door, then it's perfectly acceptable to have a socket in the airing cupboard. 

Scot_39

Bendo said:

Don't forget, zone 2 ends 0.6 meters from the bath or shower cubical. You can legally have a socket outside of zone 2. The wash basin (like the kitchen sink) is irrelevant to the zones.

There is too much drama here, the biggest risk is not electrical, its tripping over the extension lead but Im sure most people will manage to avoid that just fine.

I think you will find thats 3m minimum is the UK IET wiring regs standard for any standard socket (not protected shaver sockets) not just zone 2 0.6m - and most modern bathrooms simply do not have that space from shower or bath.e.g. 

https://www.sparksdirect.co.uk/blog/electrical-safety-bathroom-sockets-lights-showers-heaters

"Socket outlets should not be permitted in bathrooms or shower rooms (apart from shaver-supply units). This is unless they can be fitted a minimum distance of three metres from the bath or shower."

Bendo

Yes, my bad, looked at the wrong diagram sorry.

QrizB

Eldi_Dos said:

My understanding of the statistics is around 1000 people a year die from electrocutions and 30000 injured, so approximately 20 deaths per week. I would have thought on a energy board those fiqures would merit attention not derision.

Having given the figures due attention, I have some good news.

If those statistics were intended to apply to the UK, rather than a different country, they appear to be incorrect.

Per page 48 of the latest RoSPA report:

https://www.rospa.com/safety-campaigns/national-accident-prevention-strategy/naps-report

"We note that exposure to electrical current accounted for over 300 hospital admissions in England in 2022/23, and 20 deaths across the UK in 2022."