DEHUMIDIFIERS have soared in popularity as a cheaper alternative to putting on the heating or using a tumble dryer.
But households should be aware that using their dehumidifier wrong could actually be adding to their energy bills.
Dehumidifiers are used to help get rid of damp in homes, especially if you dry your clothes inside.
It comes as households are looking to switch off their tumble dryers as energy bills soar, and dry their clothes using cheaper methods.
Using a dehumidifier for six hours a day costs around 8p, according to experts at Uswitch.
This is considerably cheaper than the cost of running one cycle in the tumble dryer, which costs £1.44.
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But using your dehumidifier inefficiently, and having it on for longer as a result, could be adding to your bill.
For example, using your dehumidifier for 12 hours a day would cost you £58.40.
But if you needed to have it on all day as a result of running it inefficiently, this amount could double to £116.80 a year.
Gareth Kloet, an energy spokesperson for Go Compare, said: “Dehumidifiers can draw a few litres of water out of the air in the course of a day – and as they do so, they generate heat as a waste product.
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"This means that while you pay to extract moisture from the air with a dehumidifier, the heat generated may give you a slightly warmer room as an added benefit, without the additional cost of running a heater.”
“However, knowing how to use your dehumidifier efficiently makes a difference."
Here are five things you need to know when using your dehumidifier.
Know where to put it
Gareth said you should avoid placing your dehumidifier against a wall.
This is because the gadget will have to work harder to generate airflow if it's pressed against a surface.
Gareth said: "Make sure there is space around it, and place it where you are likely to see the most moisture in your home – for example, in the hallway outside the bathroom.”
Don't stick to the usual functions
Many of us don't think of looking at alternative ways of running our gadgets, and it could be costly.
Gareth said: "Check the fan speeds on your dehumidifier. A lower fan speed will mean less energy consumption.
"So, use high fan speeds to quickly draw moisture from the air when you need to, for instance, after a shower, and then lower the speed to help maintain an optimum moisture level at a lower cost."
Using the humidistat feature will also help you to get the most out of the device.
“The humidistat is an auto-sense of the humidity and will turn off when it reaches the target level of humidity," Gareth said.
"It will then only switch on again if it detects additional humidity in the air.
"Using the humidistat feature means you can avoid running your dehumidifier constantly, when this may not be needed.”
Give it a spring clean
It can pay to keep your dehumidifier in tip-top condition and it's also pretty quick and easy to do.
Gareth said: “Make sure you clean your dehumidifier regularly – to make sure there is an uninterrupted airflow, you may need to clean or even replace the inbuilt filter.
"Empty the water tank often, too, to create room for moisture extraction."
Dehumidifier filters can be bought for around £9 from B&Q or £5.99 from Amazon.
Of course, the exact cost will depend on the model of your dehumidifier.
Consider the time of day
In terms of energy costs, the best time to use your dehumidifier will vary depending on your energy tariff, Gareth said.
He added: "If you have a smart meter to monitor your real-time energy usage and your supplier offers lower rates for energy consumption in ‘off-peak’ times, it may be worthwhile to time your dehumidifier usage to match these times – for instance, overnight.
"If you’re unsure, check your energy contract.”
Of course, if you use more energy than the average household, you should expect to pay more.
Drying laundry
“The best thing to do when using a dehumidifier to help dry laundry is to use a small but airy room, and place the dehumidifier next to the clothes", Gareth said.
Using a smaller room means the dehumidifier will be able to dry the air faster and achieve the low relative humidity you need for the clothes to dry.
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