5 ways to use your dehumidifier to tackle this summer’s humidity, according to Meaco expert

The UK has been experiencing one of the hottest summers on record. While the sun has been scorching, the humidity has been quite intense, especially inside the house which gets increasingly uncomfortable, especially at night.

As reported by The Guardian, the June heatwave saw dew point temperatures – which indicate how much moisture is in the air – reach the low 20s. When air contains a high amount of moisture like this, it causes the body to get hotter and find it harder to cool itself, so to stay cool, it’s recommended to reduce the humidity in your room as much as possible.

One of the best ways to remove humidity from your home is to use a dehumidifier. Dehumidifiers are primarily used to remove damp and mould from houses, as well as speed up your laundry drying, but they can also help rooms feel less clammy and humid during the hotter weather.

To find out how to use your dehumidifier more efficiently, I spoke to Chris Michael, air treatment expert and co-founder of Meaco who gave five ways to use your dehumidifier to deal with summer humidity.

1. Run your dehumidifier before bed

High humidity can leave rooms feeling hot and sticky, but especially bedrooms. Having a hot bedroom and bedding can make it harder to settle comfortably at night which can disrupt your sleep, so running a dehumidifier in the evening can help.

To reduce the moisture level in your home before bedtime, Michael recommends to “keep the bedroom door and windows closed while it operates so that it can work on the air inside the room… position the dehumidifier where air can circulate freely around it and follow the manufacturer’s guidance on placement and operation. It can also be left on overnight to remove excess moisture from sweating and breathing.”

2. Use your dehumidifier with a fan

While fans create a cooling breeze and move air around the room, they don’t remove moisture, so to reduce humidity, try using your dehumidifier with your fan. “A dehumidifier can reduce the humidity while the fan provides airflow,” Michael explains. “Drier air can also help sweat evaporate more readily, which may make the fan feel more effective. The appliances can operate together, or the dehumidifier can be used first to prepare the room before the fan is switched on.”

3. Use your dehumidifier to capture allergens

Dehumidifiers are surprisingly effective for many different heatwave factors, especially if the higher temperatures are causing seasonal allergies to flare up. High humidity can actually cause pollen grains to become heavier which drop and cling to the floor of your home. The hot air can also trap allergens like mould and dust.

Using a dehumidifier “with dual HEPA air purification modes adds another benefit by capturing airborne particles such as pollen, dust and pet dander. This can help improve indoor air quality when windows are kept closed during hot weather or colder periods,” says Michael.

4. Make tweaks to your shower and cooking routines

Humidity can be increased by activities like showering and cooking, so to reduce this during the hotter weather, make small tweaks when doing these tasks. When showering, try to “keep the bathroom door closed during and after to stop moisture spreading into nearby rooms. Use an extractor fan where available and run a dehumidifier afterwards to treat the humid air.”

Similarly when cooking, “cover pans and use the cooker hood or extractor fan to limit the amount of steam released into the home.”

5. Look for signs of excess humidity

High humidity can affect your home without you realising it, as it doesn’t always show obvious signs. The reason for this is “warm air can continue to hold the moisture rather than forming condensation on windows or walls,” Michael explains. But if your bedding is clammy, or your room feels sticky and smells musty, this means the moisture level is too high.

To find non-visible signs of excess humidity, Michael recommends using a dehumidifier with a “built-in humidity display that can help households monitor conditions and identify when moisture is building up”.