Dehumidifier

Posted 28th Jun 2023

Hi all, looking for recommendations for a decent quiet Dehumidifier that can help in a small flat with terrible condensation especially in winter that we can just leave on constantly - thanks in advance

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4th Jul
We are in a basement flat and had terrible problem with condensation, we were advised to keep kitchen door closed and a window open when cooking and make sure after showering that we close the door and let the bathroom fan take the moisture out of the flat otherwise the damp moist air will move to the coldest spot in the flat (outside wall) and condense.

I also spent a fair bit on 4mm polystyrene wall insulation which has been a real help - using a good thickness of the recommended paste, really make sure the poly paper is well stuck down in every bit, then a lining paper, then painted. It wasn't cheap or quick but long term it's certainly made a huge difference.

I did look at PIV but in the flat it was difficult to find somewhere to locate it and also the problem, at the time, of how to run the pipework to each room. it was about 10 years ago so the systems may have changed a bit since then.

This is the insulation I used (edited)
28th Jun
Some older houses just weren't designed to have all the nice insulation we're told to shove into all areas of our housing, and we're told to, without being told the consequences of preventing those houses from breathing, primarily, a build-up of condensation, followed shortly after by mould.

Yes, there are better long term solutions like PIV, but a quick solution is a dehumidifier. So, to answer your question, Meaco and Ebac are both good brands. Look for a long warranty. I've had both Meaco and Ebac. I think I'd say Ebac were better on reliability, but both have models with 5 year warranties (not all models).

The usual responses are still valid; Dry laundry outside when possible, use window trickle vents, open windows, etc. But in the middle of winter, you don't always want to do this. (edited)
29th Jun
I never got any cavity wall insulation put in. Just about everyone else on the street did.

Guess what, I'm just about the only person not to have any damp problems
The guy over the road even had a new roof thinking it was that

Don't have anything shoved up too close to the walls if you can help it too, and as mentioned regular window opening is a must.
28th Jun
Might be a bit expensive running it all day.
28th Jun
A dehumidifier? Yes it is, I have 2 running most of the time in autumn/winter for the past few years and I now regret it as it would have been cheaper in the long term to have a PIV unit or some other kind of ventilation instead.

With the recent energy crisis the prices of running them went very high and although it's more expensive initially for something like a PIV unit, they are much much cheaper to run so would work out cheaper in the long term (edited)
28th Jun
Possibly best to see what is causing it first, it would be cheaper in the long run.

Another option could be a wall PIV unit which seems to cure it for most people and running costs are significantly less than a dehumidifier
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28th Jun
I have had so many people come and look and they all just say, it’s just condensation from the cold outside, which of course we know but at its worse it’s damaged the walls. I’ll look into a PIV unit, thanks for that