The best dehumidifier for mould UK: can they reduce your heating bills?

Target allergies, mould and dampness all-in-one with the best dehumidifiers.

best dehumidifier

by Ellen Kinsey |
Updated on

To help you achieve the optimal home environment, we have rounded up the best dehumidifiers at various prices to help you find the most suitable device for your needs. If you find your home is prone to high humidity and mould, then a dehumidifier is the answer to all your prayers. With household energy costs rising due to the UK's ongoing cost of living crisis, interest in dehumidifiers has soared over the last few months.

Best dehumidifiers at a glance:

These simple yet effective appliances convert moist air into dry air, leaving a drier environment, which some have suggested is easier to heat. High moisture levels in the air cause humidity, which can be caused by lots of things, such as poor ventilation or slow air circulation. Dehumidifiers are the best solution to prevent mould and mildew build-up, typically on walls in warmer areas of the house, like the laundry room or bathroom. Essentially, places where you don't have extractor fans or proper ventilation.

High moisture levels have some not-so-nice consequences, such as dust mites and mildew. This can be especially bad for people who suffer from allergies or asthma and is generally unsafe for anyone to breathe. If you are looking for practical ways to bring down your heating bills and improve your home environment, then we have rounded up the best dehumidifiers for your home to keep you happy, healthy and comfortable. Or, if you'd prefer a humidifier for support with health issues, that's an option, too.

Best dehumidifiers UK

Best dehumidifier overall

Credit: Piper Huxley/Yours

Reduce humidity, dry laundry and minimise damp? Yes, please. This Russell Hobbs RHDH2002B 20L Dehumidifier, Black has all the bells and whistles to help solve any damp or mould problems. Perfect for larger spaces (35 to 50 m sq., to be exact), this Russell Hobbs pick is great for open-plan living that sorely needs a boost. With a three-litre water tank, this gadget comes with an impressive 20-litre-a-day extraction rate, meaning mould and damp are tackled faster, and more efficiently. It also has an alarm function to let you know when the tank needs emptying. Complete with timer settings, SMART mode and even a dryer function to help with laundry, you're set for a healthy, happy and efficient household. We were lucky enough to test this dehumidifier - here's what we think.

Tried and Tested by Piper Huxley, Commercial Content Writer for Yours:

"Moving into a cold flat in spring is not unprecedented. However, when the seasons are changing, and the house is still like an ice cube, then there's a problem. I moved into a Georgian-era listed property in Hampshire and was charmed by its "character", but was promptly shivering all day long, whilst working from home. Assuming it was a build-up of condensation in this old property, I was recommended a dehumidifier. It's safe to say I was overjoyed when this Russell Hobbs dehumidifier turned up on our doorstep - and it has totally turned my little old flat around.

Thanks to its large capacity and mega extraction rate, it tackles a large proportion of our property with each run. It comes in handy when drying clothes, too, so as not to cause condensation - and with the super-handy drying function speeding up emergency washes. Thanks to this gadget, all the moisture in the air (in places where we didn't have extractor fans or proper ventilation) has improved. I was finding it tricky to adjust to my new home, as I am mildly asthmatic. Mildew and dust mites were brought about by high moisture levels and were affecting my lungs. Asthma attacks are less frequent, now. This was a necessary gadget for a safe home. It's a great way to bring heating bills, too."

Pros

  • Perfect for larger spaces - from open-plan to garages
  • Helpful alarm when the collection tank needs emptying
  • Easy-to-use LED with timer, smart and dryer modes

Cons

  • A little bulky - worth it!
Capacity:20 L Extraction / 3 L Tank
Dimensions:51 x 35 x 24.5 cm
Weight:15 kg
Wattage:440 W
  • Perfect for larger and more open spaces - 35-50 m sq. coverage.
  • The extraction rate is impressive - at 20L in just 24 hours.
  • Complete with timer, SMART mode and a dryer function for laundry day.
  • Easy to empty water tank, which tells you when it's full!

Best compact dehumidifier for small spaces

Russell Hobbs RHDH1101G Ozone FreeRussell Hobbs/Amazon

The Russell Hobbs RHDH1061G Mini Compact Grey Dehumidifier is a vital dehumidifier for reducing home humidity and signs of dampness. Ideal for winter with a defrost function for those chilly nights, its compact 600ml size suits spaces up to 15m², making it perfect for desks or countertops. With a sleek design and LED lighting, it efficiently removes moisture quietly at 37 dB. Lightweight and portable at 90g, it keeps your home fresh and dry.

Customers online have seen a vast improvement in reducing humidity in their homes since using this dehumidifier, but they also praise its modern look and design as well as its compact size. As it's more compact than some of the others on our list, it may not be the best option for large rooms and homes but if your space is 15m² or less, it'll be ideal.

Pros

  • Low noise at just 37 dB
  • Small and compact, weighing 90g
  • A defrost function for chilly nights

Cons

  • It may be too small for bigger rooms
Capacity600ml
Weight900 g
Dimensions:‎21.8 x 20 x 31.5 cm
Wattage:23 W
Coverage:15 Square Meters
  • ‎Advanced H13 HEPA filter, Ozone free filtration
  • 1L water tank with a max extraction rate of 750ml per day
  • 2 in 1 Dehumidifier and Air Purifier
  • Compact design, ideal for your home office or utility room

Recommended

Swan/Amazon

The Swan 20 Litre Low Energy Dehumidifier helps to improve air quality and damp and mouldy conditions by removing excess moisture. It's designed to remove up to 20 litres of moisture a day, with a four-litre water tank that automatically shuts off when full so you won't have to worry about it overflowing. When it comes to emptying the tank, you can easily lift and move it around your home as it's fitted with a handle and wheels. You can control everything from the soft touch LED display panel where you can set a running time and control the fan speed and swing settings too.

Customers on Amazon say this dehumidifier is easy to use, runs quietly and works very efficiently at collecting moisture out of the air. Reviews are mixed on the noise level, with some saying it's not very quiet but many more mentioning it doesn't make a lot of noise.

This product is currently being tested by one of our Commercial Content Writers

Pros

  • Automatic shut off when full to avoid overflowing
  • Easy to move as it has wheels and a handle
  • Soft touch LED display panel where you can easily control all the settings for this dehumidifier

Cons

  • Some reviews say it's not very quiet
Capacity:4 Litres
Dimensions:25.1 x 34.2 x 56.1cm
Weight:13.25kg
Wattage:310 watts
  • 4 litre water tank
  • Water full indicator
  • Large LED display
  • Soft touch panel
  • Operational temperature
  • 24 hour timer

Best for reducing humidity levels

Hangsun 12L DehumidifierHangsun/Amazon

The Hangsun DL12 dehumidifier is able to collect 12 litres of moisture per day and adjust humidity from 30 per cent to 80 per cent, with colour indicator lights so you are aware of the humidity around you. Once target humidity is reached, the unit will turn off to conserve energy. There is an LED control panel to display the current humidity level, three modes – auto, continuous and sleep, as well as three speeds. It even comes with 360-degree rotatable wheels so you can easily move it around your home as well as a child lock so little hands can't fiddle with it.

This dehumidifier is great value for money say reviewers online. They find it easy to use and set up as it has simple controls and clear instructions. There are some reviews that mention this Hangsun dehumidifier is a little noisy, but overall customers have plenty of positives to say about it, with over 1,100 reviews and an average 4.5 star rating out of five.

Pros

  • Easy to use as it has simple controls, according to reviewers online
  • Auto-shut off feature once target humidity level is reached to save energy
  • Colours lights of green, blue and red to make you visually aware of what level humidity is in your room

Cons

  • Some reviewers say this dehumidifier is noisy
Capacity2 litres
Dimensions‎50.9 x 31.4 x 27.2cm
Weight10.47kg
WattageUnknown
  • Three modes, auto, continuous and sleep
  • Two fan speeds
  • Bult-in auto defrost function
  • Coloured light indicators to show what level of humidity is in your room

Best quiet dehumidifier

 Meaco MeacoDry ABC Dehumidifier (Silver) 10LMeaco/Amazon

Ultra-quiet and energy-efficient, this is Meaco's quietest and best-performing dehumidifier available in the UK. With a 10-litre daily performance, this Meaco MeacoDry ABC Dehumidifier is ideal for medium-sized homes and flats that regularly suffer from dampness and condensation. With multiple settings, this cannot only clean your air but also dry your wet clothes quickly with the laundry mode feature.

This Meaco Dehumidifier is a popular choice on Amazon with over 5,400 reviews and an average star rating of 4.7 stars out of 5. Customers say this dehumidifier is very effective at removing moisture from their home and does so quietly. It is quieter than other models we've featured at 35dB with a Quiet Mark certification too. Reviewers do have different views on the dehumidifier's weight, though. Some say it's quite heavy so if you have limited strength in your arms, you may struggle. However, the wheels do make it a little bit easier to manoeuvre.

Pros

  • Quieter than many other models with Quiet Mark
  • Cleans air but also dries your wet clothes quickly with the laundry mode feature
  • Great for medium-sized homes with its 10-litre capacity

Cons

  • Some reviewers found this dehumidifier to be heavy
Capacity:10 litres
Dimensions: 25 x 30 x 46.3cm
Weight:10.5kg
Wattage:160 watts
  • Auto-off timer
  • Laundry mode
  • Automatic defrost
  • Automatic turn off
  • Ultra-low energy consumption
  • Quiet mark certification

Best smart dehumidifier

Princess Smart 20 Litre DehumidifierPrincess

Smart is the perfect word to describe this dehumidifier. It’s sleek and compact and has smart connectivity with remote phone control via the HomeWizard Climate app; this Princess Smart Dehumidifier efficiently prevents damp issues. It has a capacity of 3.7 litres but can remove up to 20 litres of moisture a day. With three settings, including laundry mode, you can control the humidity by the temperature setting and easily check the moisture content percentage on the LED display. It can even be used as a fan on hot summer days to keep you cool when you need it.

Overall, 94 per cent of reviewers recommend this product. It scores highly for capacity, design and performance but what brings the overall score down is the noise level, according to customers online. Some reviewers also reported issues with leaks but others found that as long as you're emptying the tank regularly this shouldn't be an issue.

Pros

  • Easy to operate as you can control it via your phone thanks to the smart connectivity and HomeWizard app
  • Can also be used as a fan on hot summer days to keep you cool
  • Easy-to-read LED display where you can check the moisture content percentage and temperature settings

Cons

  • A small number of reviewers have reported issues with leaks
Capacity3.7 litres
Dimensions59.5 x 37.1 x 25.1cm
Weight13kg (with an empty water tank)
Wattage:310 watts
  • 24-hour timer
  • LED digital display
  • Auto turn-off
  • Swing function
  • Adjustable humidistat
  • Carry handle and wheels

Best dehumidifier for large spaces

Meet your moisture nemesis, the LOGIK L30DH23 Dehumidifier. Tackling damp and mould in rooms up to 73 m², it's the best pick for larger spaces. With a three-litre tank, it extracts up to 30 litres of moisture daily, ensuring your air stays dry. Choose from two speed settings and take advantage of the automatic shut-off when the tank's full or after 24 hours of dehumidifying duty. It's a favourite of ours.

There is one review that mentions the instruction manual this dehumidifier comes with isn't very clear so it's taken a bit of trial and error to discover what each setting does. That being said though, many other customers have found that it's very effective once they've got it going and figured out the right settings.

Pros

  • Suitable for room size up to 73 m² so it's great for large spaces
  • Has auto-shut off when the tank's full so it does overflow
  • Extracts up to 30 litres of moisture daily to ensure your air stays dry

Cons

  • One review mentions the instruction manual isn't very clear so it took a while to figure out what each setting did
Capacity:3 litres
Dimensions:H52.5 x W44.5 x D33.7 cm
Weight:17 kg
Wattage:715 W
Coverage:73 m²
  • It eliminates damp, mould and moisture in rooms up to 73 m².
  • With a 3-litre water tank, it can extract up to 30 litres of moisture per day.
  • Choose between 2-speed settings depending on the conditions in your room.
  • It automatically switches off when the water tank is full or after 24 hours.

Best energy-efficient dehumidifier

electriQ 5L Quiet Compact Dehumidifier and Air PurifierAppliances Direct
Price: $69.98 (was £129.98)

www.appliancesdirect.co.uk

Introducing the electriQ 5L Quiet Compact Dehumidifier and Air Purifier – your home's moisture home help. Perfect for apartments and small houses, it extracts five litres daily and has an anti-bacterial ioniser that removes nasties from the air too while taking moisture out of it. Set your ideal humidity, enjoy a quiet night's sleep with its sleep mode, and stay worry-free with the child-lock safety feature. A quiet, energy-efficient way to solve dampness and it's cost-effective too, costing just 3.8p an hour to run (based on the current energy price cap).

The build and design quality get a thumbs up from reviewers online. They also appreciate that it's quiet, efficient and cheap to run. Some thought the unit tank was a little on the small side but the integrated carry handle makes it easy to move about to empty it.

Pros

  • Costs 3.8p an hour to run (based on current energy price cap) so it's energy-efficient
  • Comes with a carry handle to make it easy to move about and empty
  • Anti-bacterial ioniser removes nasties from the air

Cons

  • Some thought the unit tank was a little on the small side
Capacity:1.5 litres
Dimensions:23.2 x 21.5 x 41cm
Weight:7kg
Wattage:155 watts
  • Ideal for apartments, single rooms, and small houses (up to 3 bedrooms)
  • Great for drying clothes, cheaper to run than a tumble dryer
  • Extracts up to 5 litres of water per day
  • Highly portable with sturdy retractable handle - can be placed on a table or worktop
  • Humidistat lets you set the humidity level (50-55% suitable for most homes)
  • Activated carbon filter removes odours
  • Built-in anti-bacterial ioniser also removes large particles from the air, such as tobacco
  • Quiet fan operation ensures the right balance between noise and dehumidification
  • Ioniser and carbon filter to improve air quality
  • Digital backlit LCD display showing current Humidity
  • Easy to use - Automatic Smart function - set once and forget

Best budget dehumidifier

Pro Breeze 500ml Dehumidifier Pro Breeze/Amazon

The ultimate budget-friendly solution for tackling humidity at home, you can say goodbye to damp and musty spaces with the Pro Breeze 500ml Dehumidifier. Priced at less than £30, this little dehumidifier offers great value while delivering results. It has a compact size that makes it ideal for flats and small rooms in your home but despite its compact size, the Pro Breeze can remove up to 500ml of moisture per day. It's also equipped with an intelligent auto shut-off feature so it'll automatically stop when the water tank is full and the LED light will alert you when it's time to empty it. The water tank is also fully detachable so you can empty it easily.

This Pro Breeze Dehumidifier is a popular choice with Amazon customers, with over 34,000 reviews. Customers find this dehumidifier to be an affordable yet efficient option and they also appreciate that it's low-noise too as it uses Peltier cooling to ensure it's whisper quiet (which also helps with the overall energy consumption too). Opinions are mixed on the build quality, with some saying it with a little flimsy but many say that for a budget option, it looks good and is solid and well-made.

Pros

  • Compact size so it's great for small sizes as it doesn't take up too much room
  • Auto shut-off feature so it'll stop when the water tank is full
  • Water tank is fully detachable so you can remove it easily for emptying

Cons

  • Opinions are mixed on the build quality, with some finding it to be flimsy
Capacity500ml
Dimensions22 x 16 x 30cm
Weight1.04kg
Wattage23 watts
  • Auto shut-off function and indicator light when full
  • Ultra-quiet as it uses Peltier cooling
  • Portable and lightweight
  • Detachable water tank

Dehumidifier FAQs

What is a dehumidifier good for?

A dehumidifier is excellent for reducing the amount of moisture in your home. The device will extract moisture from the air, a bit like a tumble dryer extracts moisture from clothing. This will help your home dry out much faster if you have damp problems in your space.

This appliance also helps reduce musty odours that can come with mould and mildew, which can reduce the potential development of mould on furniture, curtains, bed sheets and clothing. Running a dehumidifier reduces dust that can trigger allergies and other allergens such as dust mites, mould and mildew.

Spaces like the laundry room or rooms where you are air drying your clothes are exposed to a lot of moisture almost daily, and if not well-ventilated, it can cause many issues in your home. Some of our picks are air purifiers, also, to relieve your space of any nasties or impurities.

Does a dehumidifier reduce energy bills?

Using a dehumidifier to remove excess moisture is a very energy-efficient way to keep your home warm. Using a dehumidifier rather than turning the heating up high can allow you to save around £325 per year on your heating bill, according to the dehumidifier company EBAC.

Chris Michael, Director at Meaco says that 'you’re more likely to use your dehumidifier during the winter,’ and as wattage that a dehumidifier use is turned into heat, you get a double benefit. 'The results will be less condensation on the windows, less chill in the air, and the space feels warmer.’

Over the last year, energy prices have shot up. In November 2021, the national average price per pence/kWh of electricity was 20p, according to the Energy Saving Trust. As of October 2022, the national average price is 34p. It was expected that after the energy price cap increase, this figure would be 52p, but the price freeze announcement has brought this down to 34p.

Is it expensive to run a dehumidifier in the UK?

According to Ideal Home, an example dehumidifier that can extract up to 20 litres a day, with a wattage of 480w, would use 0.48 kWh, suggesting that an hour's usage would cost just under 16p. In comparison, an example dehumidifier that can extract up to 12 litres a day, with a wattage of 157w (0.157 kWh), would cost just over 5p an hour.

Can a damp house make you tired?

Not only are mould and mildew common in a humid home, but pests also love a warm and moist environment. Keeping humidity levels balanced is important in any home or flat, so save your time and money in the long run and let a dehumidifier do all the maintenance for you. A study conducted by sleep experts at SleepSeeker, found that dehumidifiers were the most popular and effective way to get a good night’s rest if you suffer from fatigue or have trouble sleeping. 

Hayley Thistleton, a sleep expert at SleepSeeker, commented: "If you have a damp or mould problem caused by condensation, something many of us are struggling with at the moment as a result of rising heating bills, a dehumidifier can be a great solution to this. A dehumidifier will extract moisture from the air and help dry out your home, helping you have a better quality of life and improved sleep. ”

High humidity levels can have many negative impacts on the human body and, in some extreme cases, might result in hyperthermia symptoms such as headaches, vomiting, or dizziness. Additionally, individuals with asthma or cardiac problems should take caution. Hayley says, "you should keep your indoor humidity between 30 per cent and 50 per cent as these are the healthiest humidity levels. This limits the development of pollutants, germs, and other undesirable issues like dampness and mould."

“If the humidity levels in your bedroom are routinely above 60 per cent or you have a snoring issue, a dehumidifier may be able to assist. Even if the machine does not reduce snoring, it will undoubtedly improve air quality in your room, resulting in a better night’s sleep overall.

How long does a dehumidifier take to dry a room?

As long as the dehumidifier you select is large enough for the area and there are no specific damp problems, then a dehumidifier will typically reduce the humidity to the chosen level within a few days to a week. However, it is good to note that air that is too dry can be bad for your health, drying out your eyes and skin and making it harder to sleep, so some common sense is required to know when it is necessary to put on the appliance.

Ellen Kinsey was a Senior Health and Wellness Product Writer and has been a part of Bauer Media since 2020. She has left Bauer Media to study Ayurveda in India to expand her knowledge and skills in the health and wellness field, where she plans to continue making journalistic contributions.

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