Posted 9 November 2023

Dehumidifier Help

Hoping someone could advise on best option.

Pretty standard 3 bed house, minimal steam from kitchen as we have an active fan vent that sucks most out when cooking etc.

We do dry clothes in lounge away from food smells as we don't have space for a tumble drier, we get it outside when possible but hey, British winter.

Condensation on windows upstairs is horrendous but particularly in the north facing bedroom. Trickle vents always open and I always crack the windows for a bit in the morning. But the window is literally top to bottom in condensation. I can't put a large dehumidifier upstairs anywhere at all as there just isn't the space and the particular wet bedroom belongs to my ASD daughter who will complain about even the slightest noise from it.

That in mind, should I
a) buy a large dehumidifier to keep in lounge by the washing and hope that it sucks up all that moisture and so naturally improves the damper bedroom? or

b) buy two smaller ones, ones for up in the damp bedroom and one for by the washing?

Ideally I'm thinking a large one for the washing and hope for the best but would it be unrealistic to expect that to improve upstairs?

Budget wise I can't afford a maeco (?), no more than £130 ish.

Many thanks.
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  1. Willy_Wonka's avatar
    You could always dry your clothes upstairs with the window open & door shut or door shut with dehumidifier on in the room.

    Have you got proper extractors in the bathrooms/shower rooms? If you have then when you have finished in there shut the door & leave the extractor running or shut the door & leave the window properly open for 20/30 minutes,. (edited)
    eaw1988's avatar
    Author
    Yes we have proper extractors in both the bathroom and kitchen. They come in automatically when they run on eco mode constantly then come on full when they detect high moisture and we do as you say, open window and shut door which is why I think it must be the laundry that's the issue. We do at least a load a day.
  2. macD78's avatar
    I've had a similar problem drying clothes / breathing / butane gas heater x2 - (GCH died & couldn't get it sorted), scored a dehumidifier from freecycle, massive difference, man said it didn't turn off when full but it was an easy fix....

    +1 for positive input ventilation system, if I ever move I'm doing that anyway...

    My brother's answer is to grow lots of English Ivy indoors, he's in an old damp stone house in a river valley & swears this works...

    Good luck.
    eaw1988's avatar
    Author
    Funny you say that but I read something similar about spider plants. I'm going to buy a couple for the bad room as can hang them by the window.
  3. Yolofknell's avatar
    Maybe consider installing a positive input ventilation system. I do not have one so cannot really comment on them but have read very good reviews. I have condensation issue in my property too.
    eaw1988's avatar
    Author
    Thank you but we would have to get council permission for that and looking for something I can do this week.
  4. JimboParrot's avatar
    It could be that the front bedroom is just too cold as it is north facing. Do you know if it is single brickwork and then plastered? If so, it might be worth lining with sheets of polystyrene (although be aware of a potential fire risk) and then lining paper/wallpapering. Do you have a radiator under the window?
    eaw1988's avatar
    Author
    Not even got brickwork as far as I'm aware. Bottom half of house is brickwork with cavity (no insulation) and plasterboard. Top half is pvc cladding against a membrane held in place by timber, cavity and then plasterboard. Again, no insulation. The joys of council housing. I know there is no insulation as if you make a hole through the plasterboard it's just hollow and neighbours that have bought theirs have shown us when having their cladding redone and subsequently installed celote boards themselves.

    Unfortunately, owing to being council, I don't think we would get away with polystyrene lining.

    Yes, large radiator under window, ch system under a year old.
  5. eaw1988's avatar
    Author
    We could probably do that as it's already shut quite often anyway. Thanks for your help.
  6. Pandamansays's avatar
    Do you have a garage or shed to put a tumble drier in as 1 load per day is an awful lot (in terms of moisture).
    My tumble dryer is in the garage.
    eaw1988's avatar
    Author
    Unfortunately not.
  7. dcx_badass's avatar
    I got the £90 Daewoo 12L the other week and have had it running on my landing and it's made a big difference in my 3 bed semi, dropped it from 75-80% humidity to 55-60% humidity (although it creeps up the further you go from it, but this size isn't recommend for a whole house anyway), but have had no condensation on the windows since and when drying clothes I move it into a bedroom with an airer and it dries them overnight and they smell fresher.
    eaw1988's avatar
    Author
    Thank you, do you have a link to yours by any chance?
  8. macD78's avatar
    Told by the gas fitter who finally sorted the boiler that this one's good - on pffer atm

    diy.com/dep…prd
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