Where to put a dehumidifier in your home

Whole floor: landing or hallway

A central landing or hallway, with bedroom and bathroom doors open, lets the dehumidifier draw air from several rooms. Moist air spreads through a house, so a unit in a central spot can keep a whole floor in check if it is sized for the space. This works best in a heated home where rooms are at similar temperatures.

Keep front and back doors and windows shut while it runs, or it will be trying to dry the outdoors. Check your unit is big enough using what size dehumidifier you need.

One problem room: door closed

If one room has the problem, such as a bedroom with streaming windows or a box room with a damp corner, put the dehumidifier in that room and close the door. It then works on a small volume of air and brings the humidity down quickly. Position it near the problem area but with clear space around it.

For bedrooms, a quiet model and night mode help; see damp walls in a bedroom for fixes beyond the dehumidifier.

Best quiet dehumidifiers for bedrooms →

Drying washing

Choose a small room, close the door, put the clothes airer in the middle and the dehumidifier about a metre away, with its outlet pointed at the washing. Leave space between garments. This is the quickest way to dry a load indoors without a tumble dryer. See how to dry clothes indoors quickly.

Clearances and surfaces

Most makers give a clearance figure in the manual, often measured in tens of centimetres. If in doubt, give it more space rather than less.

• Leave space around the air inlet and outlet; check the manual for minimums
• Do not push it against curtains, furniture or a wall
• Stand it on a firm, level floor so the tank float works
• Keep it away from radiators and other heat sources
• Do not put it on a bed or soft rug that blocks a bottom inlet
• If using a drain hose, the outlet must be higher than the sink or drain

Note:Plug it directly into a wall socket where possible, keep the cable out of walkways and away from water, and do not cover the unit.

Cold rooms, garages and cellars

In a cold garage, cellar or conservatory, a compressor dehumidifier loses output and may ice up, so a desiccant model is usually better there. Raise it off a damp floor if the manual allows, keep it away from fuel and solvents, and use a drain hose if you will not be there to empty it. Our desiccant vs compressor guide explains why.

Kitchens and bathrooms

Kitchens and bathrooms produce a lot of moisture in short bursts, and an extractor fan is the first line of defence. A dehumidifier is not designed to sit in a wet bathroom, so place it just outside with the door open after the extractor has done its work, if the manual allows. In a kitchen, keep it clear of the hob and sink splash zone.

Frequently asked questions

Is it better to put a dehumidifier upstairs or downstairs? Put it where the problem is. Condensation is often worst in bedrooms upstairs; a damp ground floor or cellar needs it downstairs.

Should the door be open or closed with a dehumidifier? Closed for one room or drying washing. Open internal doors if you want it to treat a whole floor from a landing.

Can I put a dehumidifier in a hallway? Yes. A central hallway or landing with doors open is a good spot for treating several rooms.