Dehumidifiers are often placed in living areas and may well run for long periods, including overnight. In these cases, a noisy machine can be an irritation and disturb your sleep, so your choice of dehumidifier may be influenced by the noise it makes. Essential oil aroma diffusers use ultrasonic technology to vaporise drops of essential oil with water, releasing a cool fragrant mist into the air which stimulates your senses and boosts your wellbeing through the therapeutic benefits of essential oils. Dehumidifiers function by drawing excess moisture from the air, helping to combat condensation, prevent mould growth and reduce damp on walls.

At the other end of the spectrum, the most powerful dehumidifiers can have capacities of up to 25 litres per day. Meaco, for example, produces the excellent Low Energy Dehumidryer with a 25 litre capacity. As you would expect, the largest capacity models tend to be more expensive. The EcoAir DD1 Simple MK3 Dehumidifier can extract up to 7.5 litres of moisture per day in cold temperatures as low as 1ºc, so it's a very useful option for conservatorys, basements or garages that don't have dedicated heating, as well as unheated rooms in the home during winter months. Noise levels: This is where the Silentnight 39899 really comes into its own. When switched on, its operating noise levels are just 25dBA, and when I say it’s whisper quiet, I mean it. I couldn't hear this dehumidifier whilst it was running at all. That makes it perfect for anywhere you want to maintain peace and quiet, and thanks to its green light, I thought it made the perfect addition to a kids bedroom, doubling up as a nightlight when its running. With advice from air conditioning experts Ryan Kandola and Chris Wood and with help from others in The Telegraph Recommended team, I have tried and tested the best dehumidifiers on the market for energy efficiency, drying power, value for money and, where possible, quiet running. “Remember, size isn’t everything,” Ryan says. “Look at the area you’re dealing with and choose the right size of unit. You’ll be surprised at just how powerful some of the small dehumidifiers are.” High demand The only area it didn't perform that well was in drying clothes but then, unlike other dehumidifiers that have specific laundry modes, the 1500ml Mini doesn't claim to be able to help in this regard. I tried it anyway but didn’t find that it did much. The clothes were still wet after 24 hours.

Humidifier & Dehumidifiers

First up, it's worth making clear that this small dehumidifier has a low extraction rate compared to many others on our list. The ProBreeze 1500ml Mini Dehumidifier can extract just 0.5L of moisture from the air per day. For comparison, the lowest extraction rate offered within the MeacoDry Arete One range is 10L of moisture extraction per day. What you need to remember here is that size really does matter. This is a small and compact dehumidifier suitable for small rooms, so it will struggle to be effective and get overwhelmed when placed in a large area.

It is an excellent solution for owners of towing caravans and motorhomes that want to avoid their soft furnishings from smelling musty after a few weeks or months of being parked up in their garage or driveway. What we don’t like about the ANSIO 500ml Dehumidifier It's fair to say that most dehumidifiers aren't the most stylish of appliances, which is why the De'Longhi Tascuigo AriaDry Multi Dehumidifier is something of a breath of fresh air amidst the usual boxy white plastic designs. The tank capacity dictates how much water the water tank of the dehumidifier can hold before it needs emptying. A larger tank capacity – such as the MeacoDry Arete One Dehumidifier's generous 2.5L or 4.8Ltanks – means you won't be emptying it as frequently. ProBreeze states the unit's energy consumption is just 40W. At current energy prices of 30p per kilowatt hour of electricity, that means the ProBreeze 1500ml Mini dehumidifier costs just 1p per hour to run. Lastly, there's extra functionality to consider. The best dehumidifiers you can buy offer a Smart mode. That means you can leave the dehumidifier running and its sensors will detect the humidity levels and switch the machine on and off to keep humidity within your desired range. That saves energy (and money) as the appliance isn't running if it doesn't need to be.

Are Desiccant Dehumidifiers Quieter?

In reality, a dehumidifier will rarely reach these numbers, so it’s not the only factor affecting a machine’s extraction effectiveness. This is because extraction varies greatly depending on the temperature and humidity of the air. B&M offers superb appliances of this kind from leading brands like Blaupunkt, Essence and H20 - all at excellent prices. Humidifier & Dehumidifiers They effortlessly keep your items and fabrics safe from the distractive effects of mould and moisture, keeping them dry. Water tank capacity is also reduced compared to the ProBreeze's super generous 1.5L tank, with the Silentnight model only able to hold 0.6L of water – which means you'll be emptying the tank a lot more frequently.

Most dehumidifiers have their noise levels listed in their specifications, although in practice we didn't find that much variation between models, with most falling somewhere between 35 and 45dB. However, I tested the Challenge 0.5 Litre Mini Dehumidifier several times in my kitchen whilst cooking and found it collected excess moisture caused by steamy conditions efficiently. Humidifiers function by adding moisture to the air to prevent dryness that can cause irritation in many parts of the body. 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. It’s even light when it’s full of water, so if you need to move the unit before emptying it then this is easier done that with most units.On the automatic setting, the humidity level is set at 50% and can’t be adjusted and there is no indication of what humidity is achieved. I tested the Silentnight 39899 in two key areas of my home, the kitchen and the bedrooms. I found it really made a difference to reducing the condensation around my windows. Plus, the air felt fresher whenever it was running, and it did really well to help eliminate steam and fumes in the kitchen whilst cooking. The dehumidifier has an automatic shut-off feature which helps prevent the water collection reserve from overflowing once it is full. The dehumidifier will switch off and display a red light, which indicates that the machine needs emptying.

Run the dehumidifier on its lowest speed for long periods, or even 24/7. This will keep the moisture level in your home low without having to resort to using the highest setting. A low capacity model that can manage humidity in a small room with mild damp may struggle with multiple rooms. And if you want a whole house dehumidifier, it’s essential to choose one with a large capacity. One of the ProBreeze 1500ml Mini dehumidifier's biggest plus points is how compact and portable it is. It’s very lightweight compared to most, weighing in at just 1.85kg. Finding the best dehumidifier for your home depends a lot on the type of moisture issue you're trying to solve, so it's always worth speaking with the customer service department of the manufacturer you're hoping to buy from to ensure you have the right model for your needs.

Aroma Diffusers & Essential Oils

It has a 250 ml per day extraction capacity, so you can leave it running for a couple of days before it reaches its 500-millilitre capacity. Air purifiers help to clean the air, thereby reducing the chances of health issues caused by indoor pollutants which can trigger respiratory infections or aggravate symptoms in asthma sufferers. That said, if you find the Pro Breeze 12L Low Energy Dehumidifier on offer, and are willing to accept its flaws in exchange for its lower price point, this can be a great value buy that does the job and will make a big improvement to general damp issues.