Topic
Desiccant dehumidifiers
Desiccant dehumidifiers pull moisture into a zeolite wheel and drive it off with a small heater. Output barely changes with temperature, so they keep working in cold rooms.
- Works from
- About 1 °C
- Typical draw
- 300 to 650 W
Air passes through a slowly turning zeolite wheel, which adsorbs water. A heater warms one sector of the wheel, the moisture is released into a small loop and condenses into the tank.
Because there is no cold coil, extraction stays roughly level from a cold garage to a warm living room. The heater means a higher wattage than a compressor unit, but the waste heat also warms the room by a degree or two, which helps when drying washing.
Work out what that wattage means at your own tariff with the running-cost calculator.
Common mistakes
- Choosing a desiccant unit for a warm, heated house where a compressor model would use less electricity for the same water.
Guides on this topic
- 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.Guide
- 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.Comparison
- 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.Comparison
- Desiccant vs compressor dehumidifier: which suits your home?Desiccant vs compressor dehumidifiers compared on cold-room extraction, watts, warmth and noise, with a simple rule for choosing by room type.Comparison
Buying guides on this topic
- Best dehumidifiers for garages, sheds and cellarsDehumidifiers for unheated garages and cellars compared on low temperature extraction, drain hoses, auto restart and weight.Buying guide
- Best desiccant dehumidifiersDesiccant dehumidifiers from Meaco, EcoAir and De'Longhi compared on litres per day, wattage, noise, tank size and low temperature use.Buying guide
- EcoAir dehumidifiers compared: DD1, DD2, DD3 and DD128EcoAir desiccant dehumidifiers compared on litres per day, stated running watts, noise, laundry mode, timer and quoted room size.Buying guide