A dehumidifier removes excess moisture from the air to dry out the room, depositing it safely inside its water tank until you are ready to pour it away. Its job is to help you reach the optimum humidity level, and some even purify the air, removing allergens and dust through their filter.

A dehumidifier's extraction rate is an average of how much moisture it can remove from the air during a given timeframe. Most commonly this is measured in litres per day, so an extraction rate of 10L/per day means the dehumidifier should be able to extract 10 litres of moisture within 24 hours if running continuously. In practice, this also depends on the humidity levels of the room, and the ambient temperature. The MeacoDry Arete One dehumidifiers are some of the best dehumidifiers we've tested. They're quiet, easy to use, work superbly and are very energy-efficient compared to other compressor models. Plus, all offer a built-in air purification function to improve air quality within the home in more ways than one.

How do dehumidifiers work?

Energy efficiency is another major concern. It's kind of counter-productive if the model you buy ends up being more expensive than a tumble dryer in the long run. It can't quite beat the MeacoDry Arete One on overall performance, but if you're willing to put up with noisier operation and higher running costs in exchange for its powerful performance, then this Pro Breeze model will make short work of getting wet washing ready for the airing cupboard. There's also a filter which catches dust and this needs to be cleaned fortnightly. You can just run it under water or run a vacuum over it. Some dehumidifier brands routinely do well or badly in our tests, while others are a lot more hit and miss. Remember that to maintain your dehumidifier’s airflow, you should never place it too close to a wall or any furniture, and ensure that you keep it away from electrics in case of leaks. What is the best time of day to use a dehumidifier?

We know that a dehumidifier is one of the best tools for fighting condensation, damp and mould. What many people aren’t aware of though is just how much electricity they use to run. We have seen that many popular dehumidifiers actually use quite a lot of electricity, much more than energy-efficient models. There are two main types of dehumidifiers that work in slightly different ways: desiccant dehumidifiers and compressor (also known as refrigerant) dehumidifiers. While all dehumidifiers have the same aim, which type you go for will depend on where and how you will use it. Desiccant dehumidifier Location: The area that your dehumidifier will be located will impact your decision when buying. For example, you may only need it for a small area such as a cupboard or wardrobe where mold is developing The only downside with this one is the placement of the digital control panel. You'll notice others on our list have their displays on the top. There's a reason for this...If you're looking for the best dehumidifier for the bedroom, then, in our opinion, it's all about finding a dehumidifier with low noise volume, and the Silentnight 39899 600ml Dehumidifier is one of the quietest dehumidifiers we've tested. This dehumidifier is designed for managing fairly low moisture levels in small rooms up to 15m² or 2200 cubic feet, so it isn't going to cope with major damp issues or be able to control humidity within an entire house like larger capacity dehumidifiers. That said, the ProBreeze 1500ml Mini dehumidifier still impressed us during testing, and as long as you don't expect too much of it, this mini dehumidifier has a lot of plus points, not least its affordability. All that said, the Russell Hobbs RHDH2002 20L dehumidifier still impressed our review team during testing. So, if you’re looking for a powerful dehumidifier with a cheaper upfront cost, the Russell Hobbs RHDH2002 20L is well worth considering.

When looking for the best dehumidifiers you will have two main types to choose. Both have their own merits and are effective at removing moisture from the air, although some environments will be Fan speeds: Some dehumidifiers have just one speed for continuous drying, limiting your control. Whilst others have up to three, which is advantageous if you want to adjust it for faster drying or put it on a lower (and possibly quieter) setting. To give you an idea of it's drying process, users report it helps dry king size bedding, 3 bath towels and 3 hand towels over night. The advantages of this type of dehumidifier are that they tend to be larger, more energy efficient and much more widely available. The problem is that they don’t work well in lower temperatures as the coils need to be colder than the room, or they start to freeze. Once that happens, a compressor dehumidifier focuses on de-frosting itself over reducing humidity, so they aren’t a great option for garages or cellars. They also tend to be much noisier, and depending on your noise-level preference, this can irritate people. Should you leave a dehumidifier on all the time?litres – medium capacity. Suitable if there are more of you creating moisture through activities such as showering, cooking and washing clothes at home, and/or your damp problem is more severe. It's also worth considering noise levels and energy consumption before you invest in a dehumidifier. What's the quietest dehumidifier? Maintenance: It is very important to maintain your dehumidifier, so be mindful of how easy it is to clean when buying. Some great dehumidifier devices can continuously drain their tanks into a drain, Integrated cord storage This is handy for saving space when the dehumidifier isn’t in use, and removes the risk of tripping over a sprawling cable.