A desiccant dehumidifier differs in that it uses an absorbent material or chemical dessicant to extract moisture from the air. This means they can operate efficiently in lower temperatures, down to just 1°C, and are useful for garages, basements, conservatorys, or unheated rooms in the house over winter. However, they're usually more expensive both upfront and in terms of running costs than a compressor dehumidifier, so unless you're looking to remove damp at cold temperatures you're generally best off with a compressor model. The cheapest and smallest dehumidifiers on the market can often only extract 0.5L of water from the air per day – in many cases even less – but larger and more powerful dehumidifiers can extract up to 25L per day which can make a huge difference to your home's health if you struggle with damp issues and condensation. A compressor dehumidifier is the most common type in the UK as it works best in higher temperatures, such as in a heated home. It's also worth considering noise levels and energy consumption before you invest in a dehumidifier. There are a few key things you need to consider when shopping for a dehumidifier, and various features you need to weigh up the importance of in terms of quality. Here are the sort of things you should be looking at when considering the best dehumidifier for your needs:

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Most of the dehumidifiers in our round-up feature automatic shut-off functions that mean they automatically switch off and sound an alarm or activate a warning light once the tank is full. However, a small capacity tank potentially increases the amount of time the dehumidifier will be out of operation before you notice and empty the tank.

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Laura is also a freelance journalist and has written articles for publications including the Daily Mirror, the i, Metro, Stylist and Happiful magazine. Why you should trust us As Chris Michael, Managing Director of the air quality brand Meaco says, inside the home, 'excess moisture in the air can come from drying clothes in the house, boiling vegetables, putting the kettle on, bathing, showering, open flame gas style heating, damp clothing, breathing, and the damp British weather.' Type: Thermo-electric peltier dehumidifier | Extraction amount: 500ml | Tank capacity: 1500ml | Dimensions: H30 x W21.8 x D6.3cm | Weight: 1.85kg | Power: 40W | Cost per hour: 1p | Noise level: 33dB | Max room size: 150sq/ft | Laundry mode: No | Warranty: 1 year What we like That depends on your humidity levels and what you’re trying to achieve. You don’t always have to leave your dehumidifier on, but you may want to if your damp problem is severe. Also, it can be cheaper to run them at night.

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We’ve got a Meaco Arête One dehumidifier. It’s quiet enough to run overnight in the bedroom." (Tried and tested by Mumsnet user Catmummyof2 ) Our verdict Like compressor dehumidifiers, Peltier dehumidifiers also use a condensation process to remove moisture from the air. However, they do this via a thermoelectrical process rather than using refrigerant and a compressor, so they're generally a lot quieter and more economical to run. The downside is that they're far less powerful, so Peltier dehumidifiers tend to very small and best for localised areas of moisture – they won't be powerful enough to help with damp in a large room or entire house. Humidity levels: Relative humidity (RH) should sit between 30 to 60%, and most models have a built-in humidistat to keep the room at your chosen level. Devices with an auto-setting monitor adjust the moisture levels in the room, which can save on electricity. Noise: A dehumidifier's noise levels can fall between 34dB to 60dB - 34dB being a whisper and 60dB being the same as a normal conversation. If you choose to run your dehumidifier at a lower fan speed, it will make less noise but may be less effective. Think about where you are using it and whether it will disturb you. A dehumidifier's extraction rate is an average of how much moisture it can remove from the air during a given timeframe. Most commonly this is measured in litres per day, so an extraction rate of 10L/per day means the dehumidifier should be able to extract 10 litres of moisture within 24 hours if running continuously. In practice, this also depends on the humidity levels of the room, and the ambient temperature.

Type: Air ioniser | Extraction amount: 20 litres | Tank capacity: 3 litres | Dimensions: D24.5 x W35 x H51cm | Weight: ‎15.6 kg | Power: 260W | Noise level: 37dB | Max room size: 70m²| Laundry mode: No | Warranty: 2 years What we like If you don’t want to think too hard about your usage, a device with an auto setting will be more efficient as it will only come on when the humidity levels go above your RH setting, saving you from wasting energy. How much does a dehumidifier cost to run? If you’ve noticed that there is a lot of condensation on your bedroom windows in the morning, it might be time to buy a dehumidifier. During the night, we sweat (a lot more than you might think) and breathe out warm air; this adds to the moisture in our room. However, dehumidifiers can be noisy, especially the compressor type, and with sleep already at a premium, finding one that doesn’t keep you awake is an absolute must! That’s where the Silentnight dehumidifier comes in.

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Type: Compressor Dehumidifier | Extraction amount: 300ml | Tank capacity: 600ml | Dimensions: H22 x W14 x D14cm | Weight: 0.9kg | Power: N/A | Cost per hour: N/A | Noise level: 35dB | Max room size: 15m²| Laundry mode: No | Warranty: 2 year What we like Research your energy tariff and see if your electricity is cheaper at certain times, such as at night. If so, you could time it to come on during those hours. Alternatively, consider using it when your home is most likely to have high humidity levels, such as when you are showering, cooking or have the heating on. All that said, the Russell Hobbs RHDH2002 20L dehumidifier still impressed our review team during testing. So, if you’re looking for a powerful dehumidifier with a cheaper upfront cost, the Russell Hobbs RHDH2002 20L is well worth considering. That said, dehumidifiers aren’t the most stylish-looking devices. Hence, you’re unlikely to want a large unit sitting in the middle of your lounge but still think carefully about its placement. If the moisture comes from a leaky window or front door, place it near them. And, whilst this Russell Hobbs number is cheaper upfront, running costs are higher, with the 20L dehumidifier using 440W of energy compared to Meaco's 20L Arete One which uses 216W on average. Plus, the Arete One offers a built-in air purifier which this model does not.I also have a Karcher window vac. It's brilliant for clearing condensation and also for cleaning the windows.” Rated by Mumsnet user Clarice99 Our verdict The advantages of this type of dehumidifier are that they tend to be larger, more energy efficient and much more widely available. The problem is that they don’t work well in lower temperatures as the coils need to be colder than the room, or they start to freeze. Once that happens, a compressor dehumidifier focuses on de-frosting itself over reducing humidity, so they aren’t a great option for garages or cellars. They also tend to be much noisier, and depending on your noise-level preference, this can irritate people. Should you leave a dehumidifier on all the time?