I spent £180 on a dehumidifier for mould and condensation — my 5-year verdict - The Mirror

After battling severe mould problems, I splurged on a proper dehumidifier. Five years later, this is how much it's helped reduce mould and condensation

The stench of the mould I discovered in my spare room is something I'll never forget. The revolting odour from the powdery green mould that had taken over my red slippers still sends a shudder of disgust down my spine.

It was 2020, just a few weeks before Christmas. I was hunched over in the spare room when a peculiar black line on the wall caught my attention - three-dimensional and squiggly, like a pencil-thin worm wriggling out of the wall.

To investigate further, I moved a cardboard box aside, only to uncover a cascade of black mould on the wall. The dampn was so severe that a patch of paint about 10 inches wide had bubbled and distorted. Beneath it, the skirting appeared to be sweating beads of black mould, but that wasn't even the worst part.

We traced the mould along the wall into the spare room closet. Illuminating the darkness with the torch from my phone revealed a toxic-smelling, powdery mould blanketing our possessions like nuclear fallout.

Once everything had been sprayed, discarded, and cleaned, it was time to call in the heavy artillery. Moving house wasn't an option, and despite our tight budget, investing in a high-quality dehumidifier became a necessity. After extensive research, I narrowed it down to the Meaco DD8L dehumidifier.

Why I bought (another) dehumidifier

If you've ever raised concerns about damp with an estate agent, they'll likely suggest "just airing the room out" or "popping on the radiator" as if it's really that easy to solve. But common sense measures simply can't remedy buildings that are fundamentally unfit for purpose.

What I wasn't aware of at the time was that external walls are well-known culprits for damp, particularly in poorly insulated properties that are all too common across the UK. Placing anything close to (not even touching) these cold walls creates a damp pocket that encourages mould growth.

Sadly, I'd already discovered that items like shoes, backpacks, and Ikea bedside tables could become breeding grounds for mould.

For anyone trapped in a mouldy living situation, I would recommend desiccant dehumidifiers. Most people will be familiar with cheaper traditional dehumidifiers that passively soak up moisture from the air. I'd already tried the £12 Unibond Moisture Absorber and the £35 Pro Breeze dehumidifier. Neither made any real difference.

It wasn't until Mouldmageddon 2020 that I looked into dehumidifiers properly and discovered the type that more effectively tackles damp, mould, and condensation. What's more, desiccant dehumidifiers release warm air, so they provide a bit of heating and help laundry dry quicker.

Many desiccant dehumidifiers cost over £100, with Meaco — the brand I kept spotting on Which?, Good Housekeeping, Reddit and Mrs Hinch Facebook groups — priced at nearly £200. It was a substantial amount of money, particularly at that point in our lives, but we took a calculated gamble.

Meaco dehumidifier: a five-year review

For five consecutive winters, my Meaco dehumidifier (currently selling for £20 cheaper on Amazon than when I got it) has become my old reliable.

Condensation

You could see the difference it made just looking from the outside of the building. While the windows of neighbouring flats were awash with droplets of condensation trickling down, ours stood out.

We witnessed a significant reduction in condensation, often by more than half. I switched it on every night starting in October and going through March.

However, it wasn't a miracle cure. Despite our best efforts, including the use of the Meaco DD8L,, we continued to grapple with mould and condensation. Although this model is recommended for flats or houses with up to five bedrooms, I found the dehumidifier's effect was generally limited to the room it was placed.

Damp and mould

We ran it on the lowest setting overnight, positioning it in the doorway between the spare room and hallway to combat the worst of the humidity and warm up the chilliest part of the flat.

During the day, we switched it on as required in the open-plan kitchen/living room, an area particularly prone to damp (we once discovered mould sprouting in the crevices of a ceramic plate), or stationed it next to the laundry rack.

Heating

The dehumidifier proved to be an unexpected help for laundry, halving the usual drying time from four days to two. It also contributed to heating cost savings by emitting a consistent flow of warm air.

Noise

Generally speaking, desiccant dehumidifiers are quieter than compressor ones, which is one reason why I opted for the former.

On the lowest fan setting, it produces a gentle white noise effect and I didn't mind leaving the bedroom door ajar with it in the hallway outside. The noise increases with the medium setting and the highest fan setting (marked with a laundry symbol) is quite loud.

All things considered, it collected a full 8L tank of water roughly every other day. Pouring all that water down the drain is incredibly gratifying.

Specifications

The Meaco DD8L boasts three fan settings (including a turbo-charged laundry setting), four humidity settings, and four timer options, allowing you to tailor it to your specific needs and budget. According to Meaco, it costs 8p an hour to operate on the lowest fan setting, based on 27.03p/kWh.

The humidifier will automatically switch off once the target level has been achieved and will check the humidity every half an hour, switching itself back on as required.

Cons

The only drawback we've encountered is that it can leak sporadically, perhaps about 5% of the time. This issue comes and goes and we haven't determined the cause. We place a couple of paper towels underneath it just to be safe.

The Meaco DD8L dehumidifier is available for purchase on Amazon.

What are compressor or desiccant dehumidifiers?

What's the difference?

A compressor dehumidifier operates by generating a cool surface. When the warmer, moist air in the room encounters this surface, condensation occurs and water is extracted.

This explains why compressor dehumidifiers aren't as effective in chilly rooms - the interior of the dehumidifier needs to be cooler than the surrounding air.

On the other hand, desiccant dehumidifiers function consistently regardless of room temperature. They contain a desiccant wheel that soaks up moisture from the air, much like a sponge.

The reason they release warm air is due to the desiccant being reactivated by an internal heater and fan.

Here's a guide from Meaco based on the average temperature of the room you plan to use it:

• Below 10°C: desiccant dehumidifier only
• Between 10°C and 15°C: desiccant dehumidifier or a large compressor dehumidifier (20L or 25L)
• Above 15°C: desiccant dehumidifier or any size compressor dehumidifier (10L, 12L, 20L or 25L)
• As a rule of thumb we would always recommend a desiccant dehumidifier if the room temperature is below 10°C, a desiccant dehumidifier or a large compressor dehumidifier (either a 20L or 25L) if the room temperature is between 10°C and 15°C and any type of dehumidifier, including a small compressor dehumidifier (10L or 12L), if the room temperature is above 15°C.