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Plus expert advice on keeping humidity and mould at bay in your home. - by Jessica G. Lynch
They say when it rains, it pours...and in the past couple of years, boy do we know it a thing or two about heavy downpour. If you're feeling uncomfortably sticky and moist in your home; or noticing the couch, your clothes, or even the walls feel damp, it might be time to invest in a dehumidifier.
"Dehumidifiers maintain control over the humidity levels in your home by removing excess moisture from the air to help prevent mould, mildew, dust mites and allergens from becoming prevalent in your home,"says Appliances Online category expert Colin Jones.
Differing from portable air conditioners and evaporative coolers that work to cool a room, often with moisture, dehumidifiers work by sucking air through sensors to extract moisture from the air. This moisture then goes into a water storage container which you empty when full.
"Due to their portable nature, dehumidifiers are great to use in various parts of your home that may have issues with moisture or mould.
"Depending on where your dehumidifier is placed, the storage capacity and the amount of moisture in your home, it can help to save you time, money and effort in the long run."
Mitsubishi Electric.
The best dehumidifiers to shop in Australia 2024
To help you the humidity and mould in your home at bay during the wet season, we've rounded up some of the best dehumidifiers currently on the market.
Breville The Smart Dry Plus Connect white 3.5L dehumidifier, $442 at Appliances Online
Awarded the Sensitive Choice by the National Asthma Council Australia, this dehumidifier is a perfect buy for households with sensitive lungs. Featuring a pre-filter for dust and pet dander, two-stage air filtration, carbon filters for odours and smoke and humidity controls, asthmatics at home are in good company. Also with laundry, night and time modes, plus a child lock, this model truly has all the bells and whistles.
"Works like a dream," wrote a five-star reviewer, "It’s been terrific this wet summer!"
Key features:
- 3.5L water tank
- Recommendedfor rooms up to 50m2
- Wifi control via mobile app
- Amazon Alexa and Google Home compatible
- Two-stage air filtration
- Two-year warranty
Also available at:
- $499 at The Good Guys
- $499 at Breville
Tenergy Sorbi 1L air dehumidifier, $300.92, Amazon
Compact and user-friendly, this dehumidifier is ideal for small rooms (like bathrooms, bedrooms and wardrobes) that might be in need of a little TLC come the wet season. Withan LED indicator, auto shut-off, water level sensor and a HEPA filtration system to remove airborne pollutants from the air, this lightweight unit is small but mighty.
"After I plugged the dehumidifier in right when I received it, I noticed the difference in the room within an hour...now the whole room feels like a normal space after 24 hours," wrote a five-star reviewer.
Key features:
- 1L water tank
- LED indicator
- Auto shut-off
- Ultra quiet operation
- Ideal in spaces up to 19m2
- Two-year extended warranty when you register your unit
Breville The All Climate dehumidifier, $399, The Good Guys
The All Climate dehumidifier is a top seller - and not without reason. Perfect for both warm and cooler environments, this environmentally-friendly model works to automatically keep the ideal humidity of a room, according to its temperature. By producing negative ions that attach to floating particles, this dehumidifier also removes dust and allergens from the air - as well as reducing pet dander, odours and smoke.
"I love that it turns off when full, that it is quiet and I'msurprised how much liquid it collects," wrote a reviewer who gave five stars.
Key features:
- 2L water tank
- Two-stage air filtration
- Pre-filter for dust and pet dander
- Ideal for rooms up to 25-50m2
- Two-year warranty
Also available at:
- $399 at Amazon
- $409 at Appliances Online
- $424.35 at Big W
Ausclimate NWT Supreme All Seasons 50L dehumidifier, $685.73 (usually $729.99), Amazon
Suitably named Supreme All Seasons, this energy-efficient dehumidifier is ideal for most climates, and within open plan areas up to 105m². With variable humidity settings, 24-hour timer, full water tank auto shut-off, auto pump-out drainage system and more useful features, you (and your washing) will quickly feel dry and cosy all year around.
"It's a big unit for domestic use so it's a bit loud but it is super efficient which i was looking for," wrote a five-star reviewer.
Key features:
- National Asthma Council Australia Sensitive Choice-approved
- CHOICE Recommended
- Product Review 2022 Dehumidifier Award-Winning Brand
- 50L capacity
- Ideal for spaces up to 105m²
- Auto pump-out drainage system
- Full tank auto shut-off
Mitsubishi ElectricEV38HR 38L dehumidifier, $1299, Bing Lee
Creating a comforting inside environment is made a breeze with this dehumidifier that features multi-stage filtration, a high speed motor and a convenient timer mode.
Key features:
- Air purification mode
- Auto eco mode
- Drying inside mode
- Four 360° wheels
- Child lock
- Hourly time control
- Two-year warranty
Also available at:
- $1733 at Appliances Online
Kogan mini dehumidifier 2L, $72.99, Kogan
Send mould and mildew packing with this quiet mini dehumidifier from Kogan. Featuring a timer control for four and eight hours, a 2L water capacity and a LED display, this humble unit works hard to help your space feel less musty, and more fresh.
"Small, but efficient for a smallish room. Easy to operate, easy to clean water out. Great product for living in the tropics!" wrote a five-star reviewer.
Key features:
- 2L capacity
- Timer
- Quiet operation
- Clothes drying function
- One-year warranty
Where and how do you use a dehumidifier?
"These units are best placed in rooms that have a lack of ventilation or excess moisture," Appliances Online category expert Colin says, "On high humidity days, you may want to consider using these between 10 to 12 hours a day, even 24/7 if your unit has the capacity".
"Most dehumidifiers use little power, which will allow you to operate these for long periods of time. Having a unit such as a portable dehumidifier will help in protecting parts of your home and clothing."
Colin recommends:
- 6-10L capacity dehumidifier for cupboards or wardrobes
- 10-25L capacitydehumidifier for small areas
- 20-35L capacity dehumidifier for medium areas
- 35L+ capacitydehumidifier for large areas
How can I tell if humidity is damaging my home?
Colin highlights there are several signs that high humidity levels are having an impact on your home and belongings, these being:
- Water stains on your walls or windows
- A musty smell from a specific area
- Small amounts of mould beginning to appear
- Windows beginning to look foggy and small amounts of running water
- Your skin feeling tight, clammy and sticky
Related articles:
- The best air purifiers to improve the air quality of your home
- The best tower, desk and pedestal fans for summer
- The best ceiling fans to buy in Australia
- Health
- Better Life
Jessica G. Lynch is a senior shopping content producer across all the Are Media digital brands with a focus on Gourmet Traveller and Better Homes and Gardens. When not writing, she might be taking a dip, hula hooping or talking someone’s ear off about the live action Scooby Doos.
