Where shall I place my dehumidifier around the house?
We get lots of questions asking us how to use a dehumidifier and where best to put it around the house. It’s best to place it somewhere central in the house, being sure to think about where your sources of moisture are. Moisture problems like damp and mould are typically likely to arise in the bathroom, where showers and baths create lots of steam. And so, it is best to position your dehumidifier on the landing. Here, the dehumidifier will create a dry spot; and as long as internal doors are kept open, any moisture from the bathroom or anywhere else in the house, will migrate here. The dehumidifier will draw in the moisture, turning it into water.
If the unit is set up in a relatively permanent position and if you do not wish to empty the tank manually, you could set up your dehumidifier with continuous drainage. When using continuous drainage via a hose on its own, the water is drained from the dehumidifier via gravity. This means the hose must go downhill, without any kinks or blockages, to allow the water to flow. Ensure the end of the hose is lower than the drainage port and the water can flow downwards into a sink or drain. Because of this, it can be best to place the dehumidifier on the kitchen side (to give it the height), next to a sink, so the hose can drain the water straight into the sink and down the drain.
If the hose can only go uphill, then you could install a water pump. If you want to learn how to install this, you can watch our YouTube video.
The beauty of Arete®
In general, dehumidifiers need to be about 30 cm away from the wall. And if positioned in a hallway, landing, or a flat or small house, that means it’ll be in the way. Very annoying.
But that’s the beauty of Arete®, as this is the only dehumidifier that solves that problem. Designed here in the UK, this machine has been made with British and European customers in mind. We know that you’ll probably place your dehumidifier in a landing or a hallway, so we have worked hard to engineer an appliance that doesn’t take up unnecessary space and becomes a nuisance to own. With Arete®, you can put it right up against the wall, and it will still do the job.
What target relative humidity should we set our dehumidifier to?
The optimum humidity for UK homes is between 50%rh and 55%rh. This is dry enough to remove condensation and prevent damp and mould issues, but not too dry that it would cause other issues such as dry, itchy skin and sore throats.
In colder months, some people may find this target isn’t low enough to reduce condensation on their windows. In these circumstances, the target humidity for your dehumidifier to reach can be reduced to around 40%rh.
But in general terms, aim for 55%rh. That’s what museums use when they’re looking after their collections; so, if it’s good enough for museums, it’s good enough for us.
Can I move my dehumidifier from room to room?
You can. However, it is best to keep your dehumidifier in one place. This is because the dehumidifier brings moisture towards itself, creating a dry spot in the process. Let it do the job by leaving it in one place, and leaving all internal doors open. Get used to bringing the laundry to the dehumidifier, rather than moving the dehumidifier to the laundry.
What about the filter?
The dust filter is very important as it stops dust and dirt from getting into the machine. It is extremely important to clean the filter on a regular basis. Without regular cleaning, dirt and dust will build up over time and stop air passing through it. When the air can’t pass through it, the machine starts to use more energy, so your electricity bill will go up. It will also cause the machine to make more noise. So it’s in your vested interest just to keep the filter clean.
If you’ve got a HEPA filter, when it turns from white to dark gray, it’s ready to be disposed of in the general waste. It may not sound very environmentally friendly, but the filter collects all sorts of bacteria, which no one wants entering the recycling system. To deal with it correctly, it’s best to dispose of it in the general waste.
Save money on your heating bill with a dehumidifier
Having a dehumidifier in the home turns all damp air into dry air, which is makes it far easier for your central heating system to heat your home. This is because all of the extra moisture in the air needs to be warmed up before you can start to feel warm.
A dehumidifier keeps the relative humidity in the house at a sensible level. It’s not too dry that it will cause you any problems, but at a level where you won’t get issues of damp mold and condensation and one that makes your heating system more energy efficient.
With a dehumidifier, you’ll start turning down your thermostat, and you’ll save money on your heating bill. Yet another benefit that comes from owning a dehumidifier.
We’d love to hear your ideas and questions, so please feel free to share them with us by leaving a message in the comment section below.
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69 responses
Hi, I’ve just bought and had delivery of arête one 10litre. We have had damp issues in our front bedroom and less so in our back bedroom. It’s a Victorian house so we expect this and try to keep air flow running around freely. We’ve set up the dehumidifier in the front bedroom first as mould has formed again on our walls and hoping we can wipe this down and it won’t come back after using the dehumidifier. We would then move the appliance on to our landing. Would that be what you recommend to do?
Cassandra,
Thank you for your question. For the best location, we recommend positioning the dehumidifier somewhere central, like a landing or hallway. As long as the internal doors are open, the moisture will naturally migrate towards the dehumidifier for processing. This will help tackle the damp across multiple areas of your home more effectively. You can still use it in the front bedroom to target the mould, but moving it to a more central location afterward should improve the overall humidity levels throughout the house.
Kind regards,
Omar@Meaco.
Hi. We have 2 bedrooms and a box room upstairs, along with the bathroom. One of the bedrooms gets very damp – wet wall and window in the morning for around 7 months of the year. The other bedroom gets the same but to a lesser extent. I was going to put an Arête 12 on the landing between the 2 rooms. Would I need an Arete20 instead? Also they are my teenagers’ bedrooms so the doors are closed at night. Would this set up work? I dry washing on radiators around the house which I know adds to the problem. I thought i could use the Arete for this as well. What do you suggest? Thank
Hi Catherine,
What is the average temperature of your house and how many people live there? We’ll then be able to advise on the best model for you.
Thanks,
Siobhan
I’m waiting for the Meaco Arête Two 20L to come in stock then we shall purchase. Should we run it day and night, I get confused. We live in a bungalow which has a long corridor with rooms either side and get condensation on windows in the morning, (weather permitting). We are at home all day and normally have heating on but it’s turned off at night.
Lesley,
Thank you for your question, we would say – The dehumidifier knows best! This is what we mean:
It’s best to just let the dehumidifier run on Smart Humidity Mode. Set the dehumidifier to 55%rh and then just leave it. Let it decide when it must run and when it should turn off, that is best for your home and for your own health.
I hope that helps, if you have any other questions feel free to get in touch.
Omar@Meaco.
Thank you Omar. Can you tell me the difference between the meaco arête one and two as I think the one is in stock. We don’t need to dry washing with it as we have a heat pump tumble dryer. I know the two you can use with App but not sure we would use that. Is the two more efficient or is it just that it’s been updated
Hello,would one of your dehumidifiers be any help in trying to get rid of dust mites? I was thinking of putting a dehumidifier in a room,closing the windows and doors and leaving it working for a couple of weeks to try and kill any dust mites by making the air too dry for them.I hope you can help,thanks.
Tommy,
Thank you for your question. While dehumidifiers can help reduce humidity levels, which in turn can create an environment less favourable for dust mites, they are not specifically designed to “kill” dust mites, if you do proceed with a dehumidifier, consider the Arete range, ensuring you also make use of the HEPA filter.
Run the unit with a HEPA filter which removes 99.7% of particles as small as 0.3µm micrometres, this includes mould spores, pollen, dust, pet dander, dust mites and more from the air.
I hope that helps,
Omar@Meaco.
Hi, I have a two-bedroom house (two bedrooms and a small bathroom upstairs, and the lounge, and kitchen downstairs). One of the bedrooms is quite bad for condensation in winter, but so is the downstairs. If I purchase the MeacoDry Arete One 12L Dehumidifier/Air Purifier – maybe place it at the bottom of the stairs in the lounge, would that be fine to cover all rooms? or do I need two?
Megan,
Thank you for your question. Placing the dehumidifier on the landing is a good starting point as it can help cover all rooms. However, if the condensation issue is more severe in one of the bedrooms, especially overnight or in the mornings, I recommend positioning the unit closer to that room with the door ajar during the night. This will help target the humidity in that area more effectively.
If you’d like, you can also consider the 20L that will provide faster results.
I hope that helps,
Omar@Meaco.
What size dehumidifier would I need for a one bedroom bungalow
Barrie,
Thank you for your question. For a one-bedroom bungalow, the size of the dehumidifier you’ll need depends on factors such as the level of humidity in your home and the specific conditions (e.g., dampness, ventilation, or number of occupants). As a general guideline, a 10L to 12L dehumidifier is typically suitable for smaller homes or apartments. If you have high humidity or a damp environment or colder temperatures, you may benefit from a larger unit (such as a 20L) for faster moisture removal.
I hope that helps,
Omar@Meaco.
Hello, we have just purchased one of your dehumidifiers, please can you confirm – when we are having a shower our bathroom currently gets very damp and full of condensation. Should we keep the door closed and the window open when having a shower so that it gets all steamed up and wet and then take in the dehumidifier afterwards or should we keep the bathroom door open and the window closed while showering with the dehumidifier on outside on the landing? Thank you.
Maria,
Thank you for your recent purchase! To help reduce condensation in your bathroom, we recommend keeping the bathroom door closed and the window open while you’re showering. This will allow the steam to escape, preventing it from building up inside. Once you’re done with the shower, you can then move the dehumidifier just outside the bathroom, or leave it where it is and open the bathroom door, to help remove any remaining moisture in the air.
I hope that helps,
Omar@Meaco.
I live in a 3 bedroom bungalow and, because of window and some ceiling condensation in cold weather, have purchased my very first dehumidifier, the Arête 2. Two of the bedrooms face north west. I have situated the machine in an inner hall, leaving bedroom doors open, and set to the recommended level of 55.
It
Rosemary,
Thank you for your recent purchase of the AreteTwo dehumidifier. We appreciate you taking the time to update us on how you’re using it in your home. It sounds like you’ve set it up thoughtfully to address the condensation issues in your bungalow. If you have any questions or need further advice on maximizing its effectiveness, feel free to reach out. We’re here to help!
Kind regards,
Omar@Meaco.
Hi,
I have a six bedroom house (2 loft rooms)- I have bought humidity stats that show I have very humid bedrooms ranging from 60-70% every morning. We dry our washed clothes in the cellar which is very warm as our hot water tank is situated there, but when measured the humidity there is only 43%. So I’m not sure why my bedrooms are so humid with the windows trailing with water every morning in winter. I was looking to buy a 12l Arete 2 model and to place it on the first floor landing, which incidentally has a humidity of around 50%. The landing is outside the first floor bathroom and in the common area for four of my bedrooms along with the staircase that goes up to the 2 loft bedrooms.
Would the 12l model be good enough to do all six rooms? Do I need to get individual room dehumidifiers? If I use one dehumidifier on the 1st floor landing, do I need to keep the doors of the bedrooms open throughout the night?
Many thanks.
Mas,
Thank you for your question! Based on the size of your home and the humidity levels you’ve described, a single 12L model will likely not be enough to effectively manage the humidity in all six rooms. The 12L model is suitable for smaller spaces, generally up to a 3-bedroom property. For a larger home like yours, especially with multiple bedrooms and loft rooms, you’ll need a more powerful solution.
You have a couple of options. One would be to use two 12L dehumidifiers, strategically placed, which would help cover more areas and keep humidity levels in check across multiple rooms. Alternatively, you could consider the 25L Arete, which is our largest model and is designed to handle larger spaces.
As for the rooms, leaving the doors open overnight, can help with air circulation and allowing the dehumidifier to draw moisture more effectively from the surrounding rooms.
Let me know if you need further clarification or assistance, otherwise, I hope this helps!
Omar@Meaco.
I have 3 bedrooms upstairs and 2 bathrooms upstairs 3 living rooms downstairs kitchen and bathroom, would a 20L be fine .. also my laundry is usually dride in kitchen would it best to have the dehumdifier in the hallway?
Jay,
Thank you for your message. Based on the size of your property, the 20L dehumidifier would be the best option. It will be able to handle the larger space effectively, especially with the multiple rooms and areas you have.
For drying laundry, placing the dehumidifier in the kitchen or hallway would work well. However, the smaller the space, the faster it will dry your clothes, so many users find it effective to place the dehumidifier in a small bedroom with the door shut to create a more confined space for quicker results.
The 20L model will efficiently tackle humidity across the entire house, but for laundry drying, try to use it in a smaller room if possible, as it will speed up the drying process.
Let me know if you need further clarification or assistance, otherwise, I hope this helps!
Omar@Meaco.