Dehumidifiers

Key statistics

My dehumidifier is an essential household item: 48%

I believe my humidifier protects me and my family from ill health: 48%

You get what you pay for in terms of a dehumidifier’s efficiency: 40%

My home needs a dehumidifier because it’s damp: 38%

I have bought a dehumidifier based on its energy rating: 32%

I worry about the cost of my dehumidifier’s power consumption: 28%

I would have more than one dehumidifier if I could afford it: 25%

I find the noise of my dehumidifier off-putting: 20%

There are a few reasons why a dehumidifier can be a useful appliance in NZ home:

• Dampness: Dehumidifiers help eliminate dampness, a perennial problems in many NZ homes
• Mould: Dehumidifiers combat mould and mildew. A damp home creates the perfect conditions for mould and mildew to form, but they struggle to form in less than 50% humidity
• Dust mites: These are invisible occupants of your bedspreads, mattresses, curtains, carpets, etc. While they can live in dry homes, they prefer damp conditions When they multiply, they can trigger allergic reactions
• Musty smells: Musty smells are caused by the growth of mould and mildew
• Health: A dry, warm home is a healthier home, for all family members
• Condensation: Condensation usually appears in the form of foggy windows, and can lead to wood shrinking, damp patches on walls and peeling wallpaper

Don’t forget, as well as using a dehumidifier, it’s essential to get good airflow moving through your home. This can be achieved easily by opening your windows for around 20 minutes each day.

Refrigerant dehumidifier

Works by condensing moisture out of the air. Damp air is sucked into the dehumidifier and is cooled to below its dewpoint temperature using the same processes as a fridge. This causes condensation to drip into a water-holding pan, which can either be emptied manually, or automatically through a hose. These are the most common types of dehumidifiers. They work better in higher temperatures and at increased humidity levels, although can be noisier than desiccant dehumidifiers.

Desiccant dehumidifiers

The humid air moves over a rotating wheel made of a water-absorbing material. The dry air is blown back into the room, while the water-absorbing material is heated, causing it to release its water into a collection tray. Absorption models are more complicated in their design and can be less energy efficient. However, absorption dehumidifiers work better at lower temperatures, which make them a good option for use in colder climates.

Buying a dehumidifier:

• The best models have a digital humidistat, which his like a thermostat for humidity
• Check for literage, the amount of water the dehumidifier can remove from the air over 24 hours. The bigger the number, the better the machine
• Look for a good Star Energy Rating – it will cost you less to run
• Don’t buy a machine unless you’ve heard it running and are happy with its noise level

   Using a dehumidifier:

• Wash air filters once a month to help the fan operate efficiently
• Keep an eye on temperatures. Most dehumidifiers operate less efficiently when the temperature falls below 18C
• Maintain good air-flow. Keep your dehumidifier away from the wall for good air circulation.

Canstar Blue surveyed 2581 New Zealand consumers across a range of categories to measure and track customer satisfaction, via ISO 26362 accredited research panels managed by Qualtrics. The outcomes reported are the results from customers who had purchased a dehumidifier in the past two years. In this case, 278 New Zealanders. Brands must have received at least 30 responses to be included. Results are comparative and it should be noted that brands receiving three stars have still achieved a satisfaction measure of at least six out of 10. Not all brands available in the market have been compared in this survey. The ratings table is first sorted by star ratings and then by mean overall satisfaction. A rated brand may receive a ‘N/A’ (Not Applicable) rating if it does not receive the minimum number of responses for that criteria.

2018