Dehumidifiers and heated airers
Dry washing, drier walls: litres a day, watts and pence per hour.
Which dehumidifier suits a cold flat or a heated house, what a heated airer costs to run, and why the bedroom window streams every morning. Compared on the makers' own figures, with the test conditions stated.
Our top picks
All buying guides- Best 20 litre dehumidifiers for family homes
20 L/day
Meaco Arete Two 20L: 38 dB and H13 HEPA filter
20 L/day · Not stated
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link - Best dehumidifiers for garages, sheds and cellars
7.5 L/day
EcoAir DD1 Classic MK6: 1 °C, auto restart, timer
7.5 L/day · Down to 1 °C
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link - Best dehumidifiers under £300
30 L/day
Pro Breeze 30L/day: smart app and drain hose
30 to 80 percent, app · Not stated
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link - De'Longhi dehumidifiers compared: Tasciugo AriaDry and DDSX range
21 L/day
DDSX220WFA AriaDry Multi: 21 L/day, Wi-Fi and HEPA E12
21 L/day · 5 L
Check price on AmazonAffiliate link
Running-cost calculator
Open the calculator →The dehumidifier and airer figures are examples: replace them with the wattage on your own appliance. Per month = per session x sessions per week x 52 ÷ 12. Rounded to 0.01 kWh and 0.1 p.
Damp and drying problems
Streaming windows, musty towels, a tank that never fills: causes and fixes.
- Code or warning lightWhat Meaco dehumidifier warning lights and error codes usually mean, the first checks to try, and when to contact Meaco or the retailer for a repair.
- Tank stays emptyDehumidifier running but the tank stays empty? Check room humidity, temperature, the setpoint, the filter and the tank float in this order before booking a repair.
- Frost on the coilFrost or ice on a dehumidifier coil usually means the room is too cold or the airflow is blocked. How defrost works, what to check and when desiccant fits better.
- Damp or mouldy wallsWhy bedroom walls go damp or grow black mould: overnight moisture, cold outside walls and furniture against them, with fixes ranked from free to professional.
- Musty washingMusty washing usually comes from slow drying. How spacing, airflow, a dehumidifier and a clean machine cut drying time so clothes and towels come out fresh.
Topics
Dehumidifiers, heated airers, drying indoors, condensation and running costs at a glance.
- Compressor dehumidifiersRefrigerant dehumidifiers for heated homes, sized by litres a day at the maker's stated test conditions.14 guides · 5 buying guides
- Desiccant dehumidifiersZeolite dehumidifiers that keep working in cold garages, cellars, caravans and unheated rooms.4 guides · 3 buying guides
- Heated airersElectric clothes airers with rails, wings and covers, compared by watts, rail length and load.3 guides · 0 buying guides
- Drying indoorsHow to get washing dry inside in a British winter without damp walls or musty towels.5 guides · 1 buying guide
- Condensation and mouldWhy windows stream and walls go damp, read through humidity, dew point and ventilation.8 guides · 1 buying guide
- Running costsWatts, hours and kWh for dehumidifiers, heated airers and tumble dryers at your own unit rate.5 guides · 2 buying guides
Calculators
Running costs at your own unit rate and the dew point of your room.
Comparisons
- Meaco vs Pro Breeze dehumidifiersMeaco vs Pro Breeze dehumidifiers compared: premium against value brand on listed specs, noise, filters, tank size, app control and support.
- Meaco vs Ebac dehumidifiersMeaco vs Ebac dehumidifiers compared on range, warranty, humidistat controls and spares, so you can pick the right British brand for your home.
- Meaco DD8L Zambezi vs DD8L JuniorMeaco DD8L Zambezi vs DD8L Junior compared on ioniser, laundry mode, louvre and timer, so you know which desiccant version suits your room.
- Meaco DD8L vs Arete OneMeaco DD8L vs Arete One: desiccant against compressor within one brand, decided by your coldest room, the watts each draws and your unit rate.
- Meaco Arete One vs Arete TwoMeaco Arete One vs Arete Two compared: Wi-Fi app, display, controls and filter, with what stays the same and what changes between the two ranges.
- Heated airer vs tumble dryer: time and kWh per loadHeated airer vs tumble dryer compared on drying hours, kWh per load from stated wattages and the moisture each one leaves in your room.
Buying guides
One type of dehumidifier or airer per guide, compared on what the listings and makers state.
- Best 20 litre dehumidifiers for family homes
- Best dehumidifiers for condensation and damp rooms
- Best dehumidifiers for drying clothes
- Best dehumidifiers for garages, sheds and cellars
- Best dehumidifiers for UK homes
- Best dehumidifiers under £300
- Best desiccant dehumidifiers
- Best low energy dehumidifiers
- Best quiet dehumidifiers for bedrooms
- Best smart dehumidifiers with Wi-Fi and app control
- De'Longhi dehumidifiers compared: Tasciugo AriaDry and DDSX range
- EcoAir dehumidifiers compared: DD1, DD2, DD3 and DD128
Guides & advice
- Where to put a dehumidifier in your homeWhere to put a dehumidifier: landing, hallway or problem room, with clearances from walls and whether to keep doors open or closed. Simple UK guide.
- What size dehumidifier do I need?A dehumidifier size guide by bedrooms and how damp the home is, using litres a day at stated test conditions, plus when to go bigger or pick desiccant.
- What is a desiccant dehumidifier and how does it work?How a desiccant dehumidifier uses a zeolite wheel and heater to dry air, why output holds up in cold rooms, why the room warms slightly and where it suits best.
- Is a heated airer worth it?What a heated airer does well and badly, which loads suit it, how its watts compare with other options, and when a dehumidifier does more for damp homes.
- How to use a Meaco dehumidifier: settings and modesHow to use a Meaco dehumidifier: the humidity to set, when to use laundry and continuous modes, and how to fit the drain hose. General guide, check your manual.
- How to use a heated airer and coverHow to use a heated airer and cover: loading order, cover on or off, timers and where to stand it so clothes dry evenly. General guide, check your manual.