Any experience of dehumidifers?

Looking forward to the replies, I've just moved into a bungalow and the inside of the double glazed windows were sopping wet the other morning. My neighbour said they have a karcher to suck the condensation from their windows.
I've had a look around and the prices and sizes really vary.

I have an Ecoair desiccant dehumidifier. You need a desiccant type if you are using it in a cold room such as a garage as non desiccant types do not operate properly below a certain temperature. The one I have will also dry laundry as it gives off a little heat. This would be ok for damp laundry but not wet laundry. The desiccant types are quite expensive to buy - mine was over £100. You can either empty it every time it fills with water from the air or you can tube it into a bucket.

I have mine in a storage room below the house which has no windows and would otherwise get very damp. The heat is useful as we store logs in here and it helps the drying out process.

Could they not buy a condenser dryer. It doesn't need an outlet pipe as the water is condensed into a container that you empty out.

Condensation is a major problem for landlords (speaking from experience). Rooms need to be ventilated even if the heating is on. One of our previous tenants complained about condensation but it was 90% down to them not turning on the bathroom and kitchen extractors and never opening any windows. Our current tenant is older and more sensible and has never had a problem with condensation !!

the laundry will be damp, well spun from the washing machine, but not soaking wet.

A dryer, condensor or otherwise, is not an option as there is not the space.

If they are worried about condensation, it would be a lot cheaper to dry the washing with the window open a couple of inches rather than run up the electric bill by using a dehumidifier. Is there no way they can hang the washing on a line outside to remove most of the dampness? Even in the winter, as long as it's a dry day, 90% of the moisture can be removed on a washing line and it's free (once you paid a few quid for the line)

I hate to be obvious Gill but have they tried having a window open a little? I hang washing in the bathroom with the door open, and never on a radiator.

I used to notice the condensation on the windows of the young couple above me, and that they hardly seemed to open any windows.

I live in an old house. .I dry my washing inside in the winter, in a room which the window is open..no problem with condensation

Wouldn’t be without one. Bought my first one years ago when I had a mould problem. And that was before my house was insulated better. Not only did it solve the mould problem but I found that my washing dried quickly if I put it next to the dehumidifier. I may also get one of those heated clothes dryers that are quite cheap to run. When my children grew up and had homes of their own I bought them one too and they wouldn’t be without one either. Even condenser tumble dryers seem to release a certain amount of moisture into the air. Having said that I wouldn’t be without my tumble dryer either.

I put washing outside on the line to dry whenever possible but during times when it rains for long periods I dry indoors. I try to avoid heavy bulky clothes washing unless it’s fine but otherwise put washing on 3 airers in a closed bedroom with the dehumidifier for a few hours. It is like magic and the water container fills quickly. Clothes dry in a fraction of the time otherwise and don’t have that dried slowly smell. I would say it’s a good idea to get one.

Bought DD2 one when in her first flat - it was ground floor so leaving a window open when she was out at Uni wasn’t an option.
The bathroom was internal which didn’t help, so the dehumidifier was a Godsend

I find a dehumidifier useful when weather is damp but not cold. Daughter uses one to dry clothes on airer in bathroom and works quite well. She doesn't have a dryer.

Leaving a window open when weather is damp outside won't help to dry clothes inside - if humidity is 100% outside will only let more moisture in!

We use a dehumidifier all the time as our very old house has a damp problem. Washing dries very quickly in the room where the dehumidifier is. Not sure about the cost of running it though.

Had a couple over about 25 years, never without one. Can't believe how much moisture is in the house. It's fully insulated, double glazed etc
My TD is in the garage so I don't very often have washing hanging around drying, just jumpers etc.
We empty the tank (5lts) every other day, which comes from just bathrooms and kitchen.
Yes you can dry items if you want to place around the Dehumidifier.

I use Dehumidifiers around the house and have been very impressed with the effectiveness. They are really good at dealing with damp and mould.

We have an Edwardian house on three floors so not the best insulated property and we often shut the top floor off.

I've used them when I have washing drying inside. I mainly use them in the spare rooms when it's really cold and damp and I'm prepare the rooms for visitors. I find that half a day with a dehumidifier on and then the radiators at normal not frost setting gets the room ready in a day. Much quicker and more efficient that just the heating turned up alone.

Sometimes I'll put one of them in front of the wardrobes in the spare rooms for a couple of hours just to keep things fresh.

We bought our 2 from either Argos or Screwfix a few years ago as there was a leak in one of our rentals and we needed it dried out fast so just bought what was available to buy on the day.

If you have time to look around there are some good ones out there. If I was buying one now just for home I'd get a smaller one only because of storage space and the weight when moving them around.

I would buy one again.

Open the window or use an extractor fan when you are drying clothes or showering, any heat you loose is cheaper than buying and running a dehumidifier

We had some damp in the loft - put a dehumidifier up there, it was astonishing how much water it collected, and how quickly.

From all I’ve ever heard, they’re excellent if you need to dry clothes indoors. Opening windows is all very well - I’m a fresh air fiend so ours are open a lot - but when it’s very cold and/or damp outside, and you’re trying to keep the house warm when fuel prices are rocketing, I’d have thought a dehumidifier would be the better option.

We had a dehumidifier on board our boat when we were living full time on it. It worked extremely well and the water it collects is so clean that you can use it for any household purpose you like, I don't remember the make, but as we bought it in the Netherlands, it probably would not help if I could.

In our house, we have a dehumidifier in the cellar, which I turn on at need. It was a less succesful buy, as for some odd reason it doesn't always fill the tank with the water, but spits it out instead! However a strategically placed bucket prevents that problem.

I would certainly advise using one when drying clothes indoors

It always surprises me how reluctant a lot of people are to having windows open, at least when activities are happening which are likely to cause dampness in the house.
That simple act is often enough to solve the problem of condensation on the inside of windows, and is essential if clothes are being dried indoors.

Over the years we’ve had tenants complaining about condensation in the house, but when we sent someone round to check, it appeared they were bathing/ showering without opening the window after.
The same problem occurred in the kitchen, where again, even with pans boiling, the small kitchen window hadn’t been opened.

I imagine wet clothes hung indoors would cause the same problem so a dehumidifier sounds like a good idea.

I was hoping people would mention the make of the dehumidifer they use, I'm a bit boggled by the price choices.

Our tenant had issues with condensation & mould in room corners etc due to her lifestyle, drying clothes indoors and/or on radiators. The flat was absolutely bone dry before she moved in & is bone dry now whilst it’s empty waiting to be sold,
She was advised by a specialist we engaged to dry her washing in the bathroom (set the surer in the bath if necessary) with window cracked tiny bit open & the door kept shut.
We supplied her with a dehumidifier to be used in her bedroom or lounge with the door shut.
There’s lots of advice on the internet about how to avoid condensation issues.
There are also specialist companies who will survey & advise free of charge. They will often suggest equipment based on humidity levels that can be installed to overcome the issues but that’s expensive.
Our winters & trying to get washing dry has a lot to answer for.

Set the airer …. In the bath I meant.

At one point I put my clothes to dry in a hidden area of my living room and I found black mould growing in an old dresser in that room. I spent the summer trying to get it clean and mould free.

I have a Meaco low energy one bought about 5 years ago from John Lewis.We bought it originally as we have a old damp house with mould problems,but it worked wonders solving that problem,
Very useful for drying washing as well.