anyone run a home dehumidifier?

[Wedg1e]

I've had one running almost continuously since about 2004 when I ripped the bathroom out due to leaking shower. Shut the dehumidifier in the bathroom to dry out the timer studs prior to fitting new plasterboard. Afterwards I realised I could use it to dry laundry indoors and have been doing so ever since (massively cheaper than a tumble drier as well). It can pull 6L of water from the air in less than a day.
The fan bearings are a bit rattly after nearly 20 years but it was £80 well spent, I've always thought.

 

[Wedg1e]

Most certainly a better alternative than the usual type of tumble dryer, but likely not of a heat-pump dryer- unless you are already sorted for the dehumidifier option.

It works for me... and if it gets really steamy in here I just fire up the Carrier air-conditioning
I think I've had the aircon on for about three hours this year. Probably just as well with energy prices as they've been - it takes 60A peak on startup and about 11A running.
The dehumidifier uses about the same as a fridge (effectively the same plumbing as a fridge, of course).

 

[Smallfry]

What type and make?

Sorry. Forgot about this. It was a Draper MD12. Conventional refrigerant condenser type. It had melted onto the floor of our cabin, luckily porcelain tiles. First thing I knew was that I went to unlock the door, top half glass, and thinking how dark it looked in there. When I opened the door, I was hit by the plastic smell, and it chemically burnt my face. There was no heat by this time, but couldn't go inside for an hour or so because of the fumes. Absolutely every surface inside was covered in black sticky plastic soot. I guess it must have smouldered rather than flamed, as the walls and ceiling are wooden, but the heat had cracked the double glazed window units. It was an absolute nightmare to get off. Ended up having to sand the whole lot down, paint with isolating sealer, and repaint. The UPVC door and windows were discoloured and scrap, and the few bit of furniture had to be thrown away too.

If this had happened indoors and we were asleep, there is no doubt we would be dead by inhalation. Could never work out how of why this happened, which is why I will not have one in the house now. Unfortunately I didn't think to take any pictures at the time.

 

[Erie Fred]

Classic Stephen Wright..."I put a humidifier and a dehumidifier in a room, and let them fight to the death".....

 

[steveo3002]

got a question , they claim to dry washing in a small room quickly

so soaking wet clothes in a cool room , how does the water get into the air to be dried ? i can understand a hot room gets steamy almost and it would dry that , but dessicant ones claim to work in cold rooms too

 

[brightspark]

i get a bit of warmth from my dehumidifier when its running

 

[steveo3002]

i get a bit of warmth from my dehumidifier when its running

surley not enough to dry washing in a couple of hrs in a cool /unheated room?

 

[voipio]

Water evaporates even when the surroundings are cool. It just does so more slowly than at warmer temperatures. Directing the dehumidifier's warm air output, that brightspark mentioned, at the washing, will give the drying process a noticeable boost. Cool air is often quite humid, and this humidity slows the drying process. By reducing the relative humidity, and producing slightly warmer air, the drying process will be greatly assisted.

 

[steveo3002]

so seller suggested can dry or almost dry a load of washing in a small cool room in 2 hrs or so

does that sound realistic ?

 

[brightspark]

surley not enough to dry washing in a couple of hrs in a cool /unheated room?

no not that warm

 

[MattF]

does that sound realistic ?

I wouldn't have thought so.

 

[Red'n'Black]

so seller suggested can dry or almost dry a load of washing in a small cool room in 2 hrs or so

does that sound realistic ?

Er, no. 18 - 24 is more like it, especially jeans and the like.

 

[steveo3002]

Er, no. 18 - 24 is more like it, especially jeans and the like.

yeah so might as well chip another £2 on heat and crack the window open?

 

[steveo3002]

yeh hence why i ask on here for real world reviews , i dont trust what sellers tell me but ive never used one so no idea

 

[brightspark]

im currently getting nearly 2 gallons in 24 hours out of my 2 dehumidifiers one upstairs and one down. they have to do 10 rooms 6 upstairs and 4 down

 

[steveo3002]

im currently getting nearly 2 gallons in 24 hours out of my 2 dehumidifiers one upstairs and one down. they have to do 10 rooms 6 upstairs and 4 down

is this normal conditions or you have damp issues?

 

[brightspark]

1 gallon each its about 80 percent outside and i keep the house round about 50 percent

 

[steveo3002]

more questions if you dont mind

so lets say i get one and run it , whole house is dry and a good humidity level , as soon as its turned off and a change of air in the house will i be back to square one ?

 

[MattF]

more questions if you dont mind

so lets say i get one and run it , whole house is dry and a good humidity level , as soon as its turned off and a change of air in the house will i be back to square one ?

Depends. If there's a continuous source of moisture, yes. If none, maybe or no.

 

[Shox Dr]

more questions if you dont mind

so lets say i get one and run it , whole house is dry and a good humidity level , as soon as its turned off and a change of air in the house will i be back to square one ?

Dont turn it off, its not drawing power while the humidity is where you have set it at.