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Will a dehumidifier get rid of damp?

Don't let it put a dampener on your home...

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Finding damp in your house – whether you own it, or you’re just renting – can be a big problem. Especially if you don’t do anything about it. Ignoring it completely means it’ll get worse in the long run. But what actually is damp? It’s where you’ve got water, condensation and moisture becoming an issue in your property.

Carpets. Walls. Fabric. Furniture. Damp can spread across all of them. And that means you’ll be left with rooms that smell and look horrible. It can even cause damage to the infrastructure of your building too.

Then there’s your health to think about. Damp usually leads to black spot mould. And this mould shoots tiny spores out into the air – which can give you a sore throat, a runny nose and/or scratchy eyes. Plus, if you already have an existing health issue (like asthma), the damp can make it worse.

So, here’s how you can use a dehumidifier to help tackle your damp problem…

What causes damp?

Damp can be caused by a lot of different things. Here are a just a few reasons why it happens:

  • Leaky pipes – this one’s pretty self-explanatory. Busted pipes in your walls will leak water. And that steady stream of water will eventually lead to damp

  • Clogged gutters – if your gutters are full of gunk - or are damaged and not draining water properly – rainfall will build up in them. And because there’s nowhere for the water to go, it could seep into the inner walls of your house. Leaving you with damp

  • Condensation – this is the most common cause of damp. When moist, warm air in a room meets a cold inner wall, condensation forms. If condensation then sits on the wall for a while (and you don’t get rid of it) damp patches will appear

Does a dehumidifier help with damp?

Yes, a dehumidifier can help with damp. It’s worth saying though that a dehumidifier isn’t going to be a total fix for your damp problem. And it won’t stop it entirely. It’ll only be a temporary solution if you don’t get to the root of the issue.

You’ll need to properly find and stop whatever’s causing the damp – whether that’s a serious leak, or bad ventilation. That way you can make sure it doesn’t happen again. But you might need to contact a specialist to give you a hand.

You can use a dehumidifier to fight and reduce the impact of different kinds of damp though…

  • Rising damp – this is exactly what it sounds like. It happens when moisture in the ground comes up through your floor or walls. A dehumidifier won’t eliminate the cause of the damp, but it will help to lower the amount of moisture in the air – and stop mould from growing on any surfaces

  • Penetrating damp – caused when water starts leaking into your place through cracks in the roof or walls. You can use a dehumidifier to dry out the surfaces, but you’ll need to look into what’s causing the leak to solve the damp completely

  • Airborne damp – usually happens wherever there’s high humidity. Use a dehumidifier to remove the moisture from the air, improve your air quality, and stop mould from growing

  • Condensation damp – when moist, warm air meets a cold ceiling, wall or window, water droplets form. And these droplets will eventually lead to mould growth. With a dehumidifier, you can tackle condensation before it becomes a problem by lowering the level of moisture in the air

The best dehumidifier for damp

Before you pick a dehumidifier, you’ll need to think about the size and shape of your room. If your room is massive – and you buy a small one – it’s not going to be very effective. But while the bigger, more powerful dehumidifiers are better at removing excess moisture, they’re usually noisier. And they’ll use more energy too. So, have a think about what’s going to work for your space before you take the plunge.

How does a dehumidifier work for damp?

Dehumidifiers work by getting rid of excess moisture that’s in the air. And that can help to stop mildew and mould from growing, as well as reducing any musty smells.

It does this by drawing in air from the room it’s in, which is then passed over a cooled coil. As the air moves across it, any moisture that’s in the air then condenses and gets collected as water droplets. The dry air is then reheated and shot back out into the room. And with less moisture now in the air, it’s less likely that you’ll end up with damp. It can slowly dry out any existing areas of damp too.

How to use a dehumidifier

Here’s what you’ll need to do:

1. As we’ve mentioned already, make sure your dehumidifier is big enough to suit the size of your room (and the size of your damp problem)

2. Put it in the right position. You’ll want to place it wherever the damp is worst – with enough room around it for better airflow. This will help it to be as effective as possible

3. Shut any doors and windows. And keep them shut for a long period of time if you can. It’ll stop any more moisture from coming into the room while the dehumidifier works its magic

4. Choose the right humidity level. A lot of dehumidifiers have settings where you can pick a certain level of humidity. For damp walls, you’ll want to set it to around 50%. The dehumidifier will then be able to remove moisture from your room without over drying it

5. Empty the water tank every so often. You’ll keep the dehumidifier working properly if you regularly check and empty the tank.

Don’t have a dehumidifier?

Here are some top tips to prevent damp without one:

  • Regularly air out your home – opening your windows every so often lets damp air out. If it’s a bit colder (and your windows have them) you can always open up your trickle vents instead

  • Wipe away condensation ASAP – when you spot condensation on your windows, get rid of it right away. It’ll stop black mould from showing up

  • Check your gutters and drains – clear out any moss and leaves that might be blocking them. Otherwise, rainwater can build up and cause a leak

  • Heat each room – with the current cost of living, this isn’t always possible. But if you can heat each room every so often (it doesn’t need to be on the whole time), you won’t have any cold spots. And damp thrives in these

  • Touch your walls and window frames – quickly run your hand over your window frames and walls. You’ll be able to easily tell if they feel damp. Then you can treat any issues before they get worse

  • Don’t dry clothes on radiators – drying wet clothes like this creates more moisture. Use a clothes rack or airer if you’ve got one instead

  • Install double glazing – it’s worth it if you’ve got the money. They’ll help to keep your place warmer. And that’s good because you won’t have cold surfaces – which are a breeding ground for condensation.

  • Check that your tumble dryer and washing machine are externally vented – if they’re not, you’ll basically be pumping more moisture into your house every single time you put a wash on

  • Look at your roof and insulation – This is easier to do in your loft (if you have one). Check your roof for any missing tiles or leaks. And look at your insulation too to make sure it’s dry. If it’s been installed badly, it can lead to damp

  • Shut the door when you have a shower – and leave it shut after you’re done too. Then you can open a window or use your extractor fan to remove any leftover moisture

Need some help picking the right dehumidifier? Head on over to ShopLive. Our in-store experts can point you in the right direction. And you won’t even need to leave the sofa. Nice.

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Fight back against damp!