Will a dehumidifier get rid of damp?

Today we’ll be discussing whether a dehumidifier will get rid of damp in your home. There are several types of damp, and a dehumidifier will not work with them all. However, certain types of damp can be improved considerably by using one.

In this article we will look at the type of damp that can be helped with a dehumidifier. We will also look at using a dehumidifier to improve the effects of other types of damp. Plus, we’ll tell you about our favourite dehumidifiers at the end of this article. So, stick around if you think a dehumidifier will help with your damp issues.

A dehumidifier will get rid of some types of damp. However, they are only designed to help with condensation. If the damp in your home is not being caused by condensation, then a dehumidifier might not be the best solution. If it is condensation, buying a dehumidifier is a very low cost effective solution to this problem.

Condensation happens when the moisture in the air contacts a cold surface. A good example of this happening would be a mirror (that’s why the mirror is always foggy after a shower). However, it can also be a wall, window or any other surface in your home. Condensation can also happen in parts of a home where the air is still. The corners of a room, for example. If you’re noticing that windows in a room have condensation on them, then a dehumidifier might really help to reduce the moisture in the air.

How is condensation caused?

We all know about having a shower, and the mirror steaming up. Still, unless you’re showering all day, it isn’t just your shower habits that are causing your damp issues. Condensation can be caused by draughts making your home cold. Your roof not having enough insulation. Or your home just being a bit too cold.

However, even simple things can cause condensation. For example, a boiling saucepan without a lid causes condensation. Boil water without a lid enough times and you may see mould on the paint in your kitchen. Thankfully, there’s plenty of ways to reduce condensation. In fact, condensation is one of the easiest types of damp to get rid of and keep at bay.

Ways to reduce condensation

To reduce condensation, you must reduce the amount of moisture in your home. You can reduce the moisture in your home in a few ways, including:

• Produce less moisture – Boiling veg with the lid on. Drying clothes outside. Venting your tumble dryer. All great ways to reduce the moisture in your home.
• Let fresh air in and moist air out – Installing an extractor will help with condensation. Installing one in your bathroom or your kitchen can push moisture out and let fresh air in.
• Draught-proof and insulate your home – Condensation is less prone in a warmer home. Check your roof insulation, draught proof your doors and consider double glazing.
• Heat your home more – Very cold rooms are more prone to damp. Simply turning a radiator on occasionally in rooms you don’t use can make a massive difference.

All the above methods will help with condensation. You can also help with condensation by creating a through draft. Opening a couple of windows, for example, makes a through draft. This is less effective than the measures above, but it can work to prevent condensation when used with other measures. You can combine as many of these damp solutions as you like too.

You can also use a dehumidifier with all of these solutions. But, while a dehumidifier is a great way of getting rid of condensation, you should always try to figure out what’s causing it. If there is an underlying issue you may need to run a dehumidifier all the time to see results. So, finding the cause of your condensation is key to proper treatment.

Can a dehumidifier help with other types of damp?

If you have already purchased a dehumidifier and now know that condensation isn’t the cause of your damp, don’t worry. A dehumidifier can be used to help with other types of damps too. A dehumidifier won’t solve your damp issues. Still, it can help you dry a room out once the damp has been found and treated.

Penetrating damp, for example, leaves behind wet walls and peeling wallpaper. Airing out the room will help, but a dehumidifier will speed this process along nicely. Rising damp leave behind wet floorboards and walls. Again, a dehumidifier will help to speed up the drying process.

The key thing to remember, though, is that your damp issue needs to be solved. If you have rising damp, a dehumidifier won’t get rid of it. It will undoubtedly help you dry the walls of the affected rooms. However, if the rising damp is still there, it will return. You must treat the rising damp first. Find the cause and fix it. Then, you can use a dehumidifier to speed up the drying process.

Our top three dehumidifiers

Meaco 12L Dehumidifier

This dehumidifier from Meaco can remove up to 12 litres of water a day from your home. It is nice and energy-efficient too. Plus, it has a two-year warranty and is nice and quiet. It is also totally programmable. You can set this dehumidifier to turn on and off when you like. It also has pre-sets to make controlling it nice and easy. Also, this dehumidifier is available in different colours. Granted, that won’t help with your condensation, but it’s still a nice touch! Meaco happens to be an industry leader too. There are decades of experience wrapped up in this dehumidifier.

You can learn more about this dehumidifier and read reviews on Amazon by clicking here

Pro Breeze 12L Dehumidifier

This is another dehumidifier that can remove 12 litres of water from the air in your home a day. It has a large water tank that can hold up to 1.8 litres at a time. However, it also has a continuous drainage hose. This means you can leave this dehumidifier to work long-term and not need to worry about the tank. Plus, it has a 24-hour timer, and handy pre-sets too.

You can learn more about this dehumidifier and read reviews on Amazon by clicking here

Pro Breeze 20L Dehumidifier

This dehumidifier is basically the same as the other Pro Breeze above. The reason that this dehumidifier made our list is the powerful motor. This dehumidifier can move 20 litres of water a day. Plus, it has a 5.5-litre water tank too. It does also have the optional hose, timer and the pre-sets that the one above has. If you have a big room to rid of condensation, this dehumidifier is a fantastic choice.

You can learn more about this dehumidifier and read reviews on Amazon by clicking here

Conclusion

A dehumidifier is a fantastic tool to have in your arsenal when fighting condensation. Don’t forget, though, try to find the reason for your condensation and solve it. If you don’t, your dehumidifier will be putting in a lot of work!