UK homes grappling with the persistent issues of damp and mould are turning to dehumidifiers as a saving grace.
These electric devices manage moisture levels, offering a double-whammy benefit of stopping condensation and presenting a more economical alternative for drying clothes indoors compared to cranking up the radiators.
However, an industry expert has warned that certain blunders could dent their effectiveness, leading to unnecessary energy consumption. Chris Michael, the managing director at Meaco, has divulged some key insights to ensure your dehumidifier is running at its most cost-efficient.
He pinpoints placing the unit too close to walls as a commonly overlooked mistake that can significantly hike up energy usage.
As highlighted in the Express, he explained: “Dehumidifiers can be highly effective in helping reduce household energy costs during the cost of living crisis.
“Dehumidifiers remove moisture from the air, helping dry washing indoors and preventing damp. How and when you use your dehumidifier can affect its energy efficiency.”
With the cost of living at an all time high, families certainly don’t need extra expenses escalating their bills.
Chris cautioned: “Putting a dehumidifier flush against a wall will mean the appliance has to work extra hard to pull in the air, which is inefficient.”
The Meaco Arete dehumidifier range stands out for its design, which allows it to be placed flush against a wall, the expert noted.
When tackling damp or moisture, it’s crucial to position the dehumidifier near the main source, or in the case of general home moisture reduction, the hallway is deemed the “best place”, with all doors open to treat the entire area effectively.
For those on a budget, the Russell Hobbs dehumidifier is available for £49 from Asda or for the same price at Dunelm.
Looking to boost your dehumidifier’s efficiency? Chris offers three key pieces of advice to do just that.
How to make your dehumidifier as energy efficient as possible
1. Take advantage of optimising functions
Utilise features like a humidistat or laundry mode for better energy efficiency, says Chris.
“A humidistat helps consumers to maintain a suitable level of humidity in the home. The machine will work towards its target setting and when it is reached it will switch itself off. It will then auto-sense the humidity and only switch on again if it detects an increase in humidity.
“Setting the humidity level correctly is important. If it is too high, the dehumidifier will work harder to remove moisture from the air when it’s not needed.”
Nonetheless, setting the appliance too low means the dehumidifier might not run long enough to effectively fulfil its purpose. The suggested humidity level for homes is at 55 percent RH.
Utilising the dehumidifier’s Laundry mode causes it to function at maximum capacity for six hours—a duration that common laundry loads usually take to dry—subsequently shutting off to conserve energy.
Chris highlighted: “Cleaning a dehumidifier’s air filter regularly will optimise the machine’s efficiency and ensure it can continue to function. An unclean air filter forces the appliance to work harder, increasing energy consumption.”
2. Utilise the dehumidifier at night
For those on variable electricity tariffs, operating the dehumidifier at nighttime when energy costs drop can be the “cheapest” time to use it, according to the expert. This strategy is especially effective for indoor washing and drying.
3. Combine use of a dehumidifier and fan when drying clothes
To simulate the outdoor line drying environment, which is ideally warm, dry, and breezy, using a dehumidifier alongside a fan is recommended when drying laundry inside.
Chris explained: “A cooling fan also can help to make a dehumidifier even more energy efficient. The fan increases airflow and helps force moisture out of the clothes faster. Cooling fans can be very energy efficient, adding little to energy bills.”
The smaller the space is, the less air there is to dehumidify, resulting in a quicker reduction of room humidity.
The expert advised: “If drying laundry, selecting as small a space to do so will enable the dehumidifier to dry washing quicker, improving energy efficiency.”
Some households might even contemplate using a plug-in timer (or Wi-Fi app plug) to enhance the efficiency of the dehumidifier. However, Chis opposes this idea, asserting that it could damage the dehumidifier by causing a power cut, preventing the device from shutting down properly.
It’s also worth noting that dehumidifiers using Wi-Fi could be costly in the long run, as the dehumidifier needs to stay alert for commands from a phone – this “drains” electricity.
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