Which? Experts Tested 120 Dehumidifiers – These Are The Best 3 For Reducing Mould, Dust Mites, Bad Smells And Bacteria

The question

What, actually, does a dehumidifier do? Quite a lot, it turns out. These little machines suck the humidity out of the air, which reduces the chance of your home developing mould, dust mites, bad smells and bacteria. Plus, they also help with drying laundry. Win win.

The basics

Which? experts tested 120 dehumidifiers over five years. They looked at two styles of machine: refrigerant (which cools the air and is better in heated spaces) and desiccant (which heats the air, using a fan, and is best in the cold). The cheapest model was £89 by Inventor and the two priciest, at £329 each, were from Ebac and Meaco.

The method

The team subjected the dehumidifiers to several tests. They placed them in special climate-controlled rooms – one at 21C and one at 10C – and monitored how much water they pulled from the air. They then calculated the running cost for every litre of water extracted. Testers also rated the dehumidifiers on their noise levels and whether they were easy to control, move around and empty.

The thing to remember

Which? is a not-for-profit organisation, so all the money they make goes back into making life simpler, fairer and safer for consumers.

See the full range of expert-recommended dehumidifiers at which.co.uk/dehumidifier

BEST ALL ROUNDER EcoAir DD1 Classic MK6

Size H 48cm x W 30cm x D 18cm

Weight 6.1kg

Cost per litre 53p

What works? This one is versatile: it works fantastically in heated or unheated spaces. And it’s quiet, too.

What’s the catch? The energy efficiency isn’t as impressive as other models. Also, the tank is on the small side, so it needs frequent emptying.

BEST FOR WARM SPACES Puremate PM465 20L

Size H 52cm x W 34cm x D 24cm

Weight 14.3 kg

Cost per litre 19p

What works? It’s brilliant at removing water in heated spaces and is energy efficient. Testers also found it intuitive to control and the tank simple to remove.

What’s the catch? Not so good in cold spaces: keep it out of your garage.

BEST FOR ENERGY BILLS Meaco Arete One 25L

Size H 61cm x W 36cm x D 27cm

Weight 15.9kg

Cost per litre 15p

What works? The initial price tag is hefty, but when it’s running this has one of the cheapest operating costs. It’s also quick at extracting water and does well in cold spots, such as conservatories.

What’s the catch? Quite large and heavy; it’s hard to move around.