The advantage of this type of dehumidifier is that it works well in warm and cold spaces. The only downside is that they tend to release warm air into a room, which you may not want in an already-heated home. However, they are ideal for a cold garage, loft or conservatory as they can operate below 10 degrees, unlike a compressor dehumidifier. They are also much quieter, so they might be a preferable option for you to use in a bedroom. Their main disadvantage is that they use a lot more energy and therefore cost more to run. Refrigerant (compressor) dehumidifier

Portability: A model with a handle or wheels/castors (or both) will be easier to move around, especially if you buy a large, heavy dehumidifier. If you’re only ever going to use the dehumidifier in one room and won’t want to put it away much, this might not be so important to you. Mumsnet has been helping parents make their lives easier since 2000 and, in those years, we’ve seen, tried and reviewed thousands of products. Noise: A dehumidifier's noise levels can fall between 34dB to 60dB - 34dB being a whisper and 60dB being the same as a normal conversation. If you choose to run your dehumidifier at a lower fan speed, it will make less noise but may be less effective. Think about where you are using it and whether it will disturb you. The advantages of this type of dehumidifier are that they tend to be larger, more energy efficient and much more widely available. The problem is that they don’t work well in lower temperatures as the coils need to be colder than the room, or they start to freeze. Once that happens, a compressor dehumidifier focuses on de-frosting itself over reducing humidity, so they aren’t a great option for garages or cellars. They also tend to be much noisier, and depending on your noise-level preference, this can irritate people. Should you leave a dehumidifier on all the time?

What does a dehumidifier do?

Because we understand how important the views of real people are, we always seek recommendations from the Mumsnet forums to ensure the information we give you is based on unbiased, trusted opinions from those who have bought the products themselves. Expert opinions That said, dehumidifiers aren’t the most stylish-looking devices. Hence, you’re unlikely to want a large unit sitting in the middle of your lounge but still think carefully about its placement. If the moisture comes from a leaky window or front door, place it near them. Extraction amount: It is essential to consider the maximum amount of moisture your dehumidifier can extract daily. It can range from anywhere from 500ml to upwards of 30 litres. Small units are fine for occasional use or a small area, such as a cupboard or study. Around 12 litres is suitable for a small flat, medium-sized room or a mild damp problem. Up to 16 litres is best for a larger room or one used regularly for washing or cooking, and units with a capacity of up to 20/30 litres can be used to dehumidify whole homes. Small, portable and whisper-quiet thanks to Peltier technology, you can keep this sleek-looking dehumidifier on your nightstand or dresser and let it run all night without you even noticing. Although, if you are light-sensitive, we suggest covering up the glowing light! Removing up to 300ml of water, the Silentnight Dehumidifier works all day and all night to improve your bedroom's humidity and simultaneously filter out allergens (perfect for those with hay fever!). Then when the light goes from green to orange, just empty the tank, and start it up again. It's simple, easy to use, and the best dehumidifier for your family's bedrooms!

Laura is also a freelance journalist and has written articles for publications including the Daily Mirror, the i, Metro, Stylist and Happiful magazine. Why you should trust us There are a few key things you need to consider when shopping for a dehumidifier, and various features you need to weigh up the importance of in terms of quality. Here are the sort of things you should be looking at when considering the best dehumidifier for your needs: According to learnmetrics.com, a dehumidifier uses between 300 watts and 700 watts of energy per hour, depending on size and efficiency. That’s not much - more than your fridge but less than things like kettles and hair dryers. What's the best dehumidifier to buy? Desiccant dehumidifiers extract water using an absorbent material to draw moisture from the air. Then an internal heater warms it so the moisture condenses and drips into the tank below. So, why choose this one? Firstly, it's smart; using an app from your phone, you can control it from anywhere, even on the school run or while at the supermarket. You can even connect it to your Alexa or Google Home to operate it with the sound of your voice! Secondly, it is powerful; with the ability to extract 25L of water from the air and a six-litre tank capacity, you can rest easy knowing that this dehumidifier has your damp under control. Thirdly, although its power usage is much higher, it is super energy efficient; ElectriQ claims it is 50% more efficient than other standard dehumidifiers. We love that for our energy bills! Lastly, for the price, this dehumidifier doesn’t just control your home's humidity. It also purifies the air and eliminates terrible odours using a combination of UV sterilisation, an active carbon filter and a HEPA filter. In short, it works hard to keep you and your family feeling fit and healthy!So, how does that affect you? Living in a mouldy and damp home can cause serious health issues, particularly for allergy and asthma sufferers, which include an increased risk of respiratory illness and infections. Additionally, damp can make your home look unattractive and give it a musty smell, with the excess moisture causing damage to your walls, carpet, ceiling and furniture. What does a dehumidifier do? verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ Simple and standard, the only additional feature is that you can choose between their four pre-set humidity levels to match your and your home's needs. All you’ll need to do is pop it in a corner and let it run, it costs around nine pence an hour so that it won’t break the bank, and when it is full, the dehumidifier will automatically shut off to avoid spillage. The only downside is that at 47dB, it is between a whisper and a regular voice; it is a little noisier than its competitors, so we recommend keeping it out of the bedroom at night. If you have a serious damp or condensation problem, it’s worth buying a model with a bigger tank so that it keeps working all night. How to choose the best dehumidifier for your home