As the UK endures another chilly winter, homeowners are increasingly relying on dehumidifiers to safeguard their properties from rising damp and mould. These popular devices are crucial for combating excess moisture generated by daily activities such as cooking and drying laundry indoors.
Mastering Your Dehumidifier's Placement
While many households now consider running a dehumidifier a standard winter practice, not everyone uses their appliance to its full potential. For optimal results, manufacturer Ebac UK has issued a set of guidelines, emphasising that strategic placement is key.
Central to their advice is the recommendation to move the device around the home rather than leaving it in one spot. A crucial tip focuses on protecting specific walls. "Easterly-facing walls get less sunlight, so they suffer most from condensation," Ebac explains. "Move your dehumidifier between rooms with easterly-facing walls to fully protect your house from damp and mould."
Essential Rules for Effective Use
Beyond directional advice, Ebac's list of '10 rules for using a dehumidifier' includes several other important steps. Homeowners are advised to keep the unit away from walls to avoid blocking the air intake and exhaust vents, which would reduce its efficiency.
It is also vital to keep interior doors slightly ajar while the device is operating. "Dehumidifiers can’t attract the moist air with the doors closed!" the firm states, noting that an open door allows for sufficient airflow for the machine to work properly.
Other rules cover setting the correct humidity level, regularly emptying the water container, maintaining cleanliness, and adhering to all safety instructions. Ebac champions a preventative approach, suggesting dehumidifier use is particularly important when air-drying clothes inside.
The Hidden Danger of Indoor Drying
This final point is underscored by academic research. A 2014 study from the University of Manchester found that drying clothes on racks or radiators can increase moisture levels in a home by up to 30%. This environment can become an ideal breeding ground for mould spores, including aspergillus fumigatus, which can cause serious lung infections.
Professor David Denning, an expert in infectious diseases at the university, highlighted the scale of the issue. "It's estimated that as many as 87 per cent of us dry our clothes indoors in the winter," he said. "One load of wet washing contains almost two litres of water, which is released into the room."
His professional advice offers a clear warning: "My advice would be when in doubt, dry wet washing outside, in a tumble dryer or in a well-ventilated indoor space away from bedrooms and living areas. Be safe rather than sorry." For those needing to dry clothes inside, using a dehumidifier correctly can be a critical line of defence against the associated risks of damp and mould.
