Home Q&A: When and how should I use a dehumidifier?

Dehumidifiers draw moisture from the air, moisture that could lead to dust mites, fungi, mildew, and house moulds

It’s important to understand that dehumidifiers are only a stop-gap solution for handling chronic damp.

Dehumidifiers can be used all year round, depending on what you need them for. However, it’s important to understand that they are only a stop-gap solution for handling chronic damp. If you have condensation or other recognisable damp problems in one room or the whole house, and cannot track the reason, a survey by an engineer is the first point of call. Together with poor air exchange issues (not uncommon if your house is well insulated), it could be a simple problem with a leaking pipe or a blocked downpipe seeping water back into the walls, but you need to know. We’ve all lived in an old house with multiple energy issues that simply have areas that are perpetually damp without a dehumidifier running in the cold months. Here, a dehumidifier is a beneficial ally. 

A digital hygrometer costs around €20-€25, and you can use it anywhere in the house to measure the humidity in the air (40%-60% is regarded as normal).