If you’ve invested in a dehumidifier to tackle condensation and damp this winter, you’d be forgiven for plugging it in wherever there’s a free socket and leaving it to get on with the job.
But where you put it can make a huge difference to how well it works. A dehumidifier needs to draw air in and push drier air back out, so tuck it in the wrong corner, push it up against a wall or leave it beside a radiator, and it could struggle to pull much moisture from the air at all.
To help you get the most out of your unit – whether it’s one of the best dehumidifiers on the market or a budget buy – we asked the experts where it should (and shouldn’t) go, room by room.
Where is the best place to put a dehumidifier?
The best place to put a dehumidifier will depend on whether you’re tackling one problem room or the whole house. Here are the 4 spots where experts say it will work hardest.
1. A landing or hallway
If you’re trying to lower humidity across your whole home, the experts agree that a central spot is your best bet.
“A central position, usually the upstairs landing or hallway, works best,” says Chris Michaels, founder of Meaco. “With internal doors open, the dehumidifier can draw moisture from the bedrooms and bathroom without needing to be moved. The same principle applies downstairs, where a hallway position can serve the kitchen and living room.”
Pros: Treats several rooms at once and keeps the unit out of the way.
Cons: How effective it is will vary depending on your home. As Scott Byrom, energy and appliance expert at The Energy Shop, points out, “the results will depend on the size and layout of your home and the capacity of the unit.”
Chris and his partner Michelle started Meaco in 1991. Meaco is now regarded internationally as a major player in the dehumidifier industry selling to 20+ countries throughout Europe, North America and South Africa. Meaco sets the benchmark for quality and development in its sector, leading by example and reducing the energy consumption of its appliances.
Scott Byrom has shaped the UK energy market since 2006, when he helped launch energy switching at MoneySupermarket.com. He pitched QR codes on energy bills at Number 10 and regularly comments on energy for national newspapers, Sky News, BBC News and GB News.
2. The bedroom
“A bedroom is often one of the best places to use a dehumidifier because of the constant moisture we add to the air while we sleep through our breathing,” explains Jack Duffy, small appliance expert at AO. “If you regularly wake up to condensation on windows or notice the room feels damp, a dehumidifier can help create a more comfortable environment and reduce the risk of mould developing over time.”
Pros: Targets moisture right where it’s created and can help stop window condensation before it starts.
Cons: Some models can be noisy. “Some models produce a low level of noise, which may bother light sleepers,” says Jack. “If you’re concerned about that, I’d recommend running it during the day or choosing a model specifically designed to operate quietly.”
Noel Fok, CEO and co-founder of EcoAir, adds that desiccant models tend to be quieter, running “at levels as low as 33dBA, so if noise is an issue, check before you buy.”
At the forefront of the air purification industry, EcoAir manufactures and supplies a range of environmentally friendly air treatment products, including dehumidifiers. Noel is the designer behind several of the brand’s top-selling products and has been instrumental in the development of EcoAir’s desiccant technology.
3. A utility room
“If you’re regularly drying clothes indoors, the utility room is arguably the ideal place for a dehumidifier,” says Jack Duffy. “Wet laundry releases a significant amount of moisture into the air, and if that moisture isn’t managed, it can quickly spread throughout the home and contribute to condensation and damp problems elsewhere.”
To stop that happening, Chris Michael recommends placing your dehumidifier, “near the clothes rack, with the door closed,” so it can tackle the moisture before it escapes into the rest of your home.
Pros: Speeds up drying times and stops moisture spreading to the rest of the house.
Cons: These rooms tend to be tight on space. “Utility rooms are often compact spaces,” explains Jack. “If the appliance is squeezed between other household items or positioned too close to walls or washing machines, airflow can be restricted and the dehumidifier won’t perform as efficiently as it should.” So, if you’re planning a new laundry space, it’s worth factoring in room for a dehumidifier alongside your small utility room ideas.
4. The kitchen
Noticing steamy windows while the pasta's on? You’re not imagining it. “The kitchen is another room that produces a surprising amount of moisture,” says Jack Duffy. “Cooking, running the dishwasher or even just boiling the kettle, all release water vapour into the air. A dehumidifier can help manage that excess humidity and reduce condensation on colder surfaces.”
If you have an open-plan kitchen-diner, moisture can drift into the rest of the space too. That’s when a dehumidifier positioned nearby, rather than squeezed between appliances, can really help.
Pros: Helps reduce condensation on colder surfaces such as windows and external walls.
Cons: It shouldn’t be your first line of defence. “Cooker hoods or kitchen extractor fans will typically be more effective than relying solely on a dehumidifier,” Jack adds. “Think of it as a useful backup rather than a replacement for proper kitchen ventilation.”
Shop dehumidifiers
Designed for spaces where temperatures are regularly lower than 15°C, this dehumidifier works very effectively and is lightweight to manoeuvre.
This is a brilliantly effective dehumidifier, perfect for anyone living in a medium- to large-sized home. Despite this, running costs are super low – just over 6p per hour.
What is the best position for a dehumidifier?
Once you’ve chosen the best room for a dehumidifier, the next question is where in that room to put it, and according to the experts, the key is giving it plenty of space to breathe.
Simon Oram, senior category manager for electrical at City Plumbing, recommends placing the unit “in a central location with free airflow, ideally on a flat, level surface near the source of moisture or cold spots prone to condensation. Keep it at least 30cm away from walls, furniture, and curtains to ensure intake vents and outlets aren’t blocked.”
For drying laundry, he says to put it next to your clothes airer rather than directly beneath it, where drips could land on the unit.
Simon Oram is senior category manager for electrical at City Plumbing, one of the UK’s leading plumbing and heating merchants. He oversees its electrical range, including dehumidifiers and ventilation products.
Where are the worst places to put a dehumidifier?
Just as important as knowing where to put a dehumidifier is knowing where not to. Put it in one of these spots and it could end up working harder for very little reward, or not be safe to use at all.
1. Inside a bathroom
It might seem like the obvious choice, but a bathroom is one of the worst places for most dehumidifiers. Your bathroom extractor fan should be doing the heavy lifting here. “If you have a good extractor fan, that should still be your first line of defence,” says Jack Duffy.
If you do want extra help, the safest option is to position your dehumidifier just outside. “We don’t recommend using Meaco dehumidifiers inside a bathroom, as they are not IP-rated for bathroom use,” says Chris Michael. “Positioning one outside, with the bathroom door open, is best.”
If you’re set on using a dehumidifier in the bathroom itself, Noel Fok says you’ll need “a water-resistant dehumidifier, with a high IP rating (IP24)”.
And if you’re still battling mould in your bathroom, it’s worth checking for the signs your extractor fan isn’t working properly.
2. Next to a radiator
It’s tempting to tuck a dehumidifier beside a radiator, especially if that’s where you dry your washing. But it’s one of the most common placement mistakes, and it can throw off its readings.
“Keep it away from direct heat sources, such as radiators, which can affect the conditions around its humidity sensor,” cautions Scott Byrom. And Simon Orman agrees that positioning it right next to a radiator “misleads the unit’s internal humidistat.”
That’s because warm air can hold more moisture than cool air, so the air right beside a radiator reads as drier than the rest of the room. Your dehumidifier may think the job’s done and switch itself off early, leaving damp corners and cold windows untouched.
3. Tucked into a corner or a cupboard
When floor space is tight, it may seem like a good idea to hide a dehumidifier out of the way – whether that’s behind the sofa or inside a cupboard. But keeping it out of sight can also keep it from doing its job.
“The most frequent mistake is pushing the unit directly flush against a wall or tucking it into a tight corner, which stifles air intake and lowers efficiency,” says Simon Byrom. A dehumidifier needs a steady flow of air moving in and out to work properly. Block its vents and it will have to work harder, for longer, to make any difference to the room.
Cupboards are a particular problem. “If you’re trying to dry a whole room, shutting the unit inside a cupboard will limit its effect,” says Scott Orman. “Some models are suitable for drying enclosed spaces, but only when used with the required clearance.”
So if you’re tackling damp in a wardrobe or understairs cupboard, check your model’s instructions first. Otherwise, give it a spot with at least 30cm of clear space around it, as Simon recommends.
Short on space? The Pro Breeze Osmo is a plug-free moisture absorber that’s ideal for wardrobes, cupboards and bathrooms. With no electrics, it’s safe near water, and its 700g tablet absorbs moisture for up to 100 days.
4. In draughty or cold, unheated rooms (with the wrong model)
According to Simon Byrom, dehumidifiers are, “largely pointless in open, draughty, or outdoor-vented spaces (like an open garage or a room with open windows), as you will end up trying to dehumidify the outdoor air.”
Similarly, if you’re putting a dehumidifier in a cold room – like a garage, loft or unheated spare room – the type of dehumidifier you use is important. “A desiccant dehumidifier is recommended for any spaces where the ambient room temperature is likely to fall below 15 degrees Celsius, as its performance will remain consistent at temperatures as low as 1°C,” explains Noel Fok. Compressor models, on the other hand, “will become less effective as temperatures fall.”
FAQs
Should you keep doors open or closed when running a dehumidifier?
The answer will depend on what you’re trying to achieve. If you want to dry out the whole house, the experts recommend keeping doors open between rooms to support your appliance and help humidity balance naturally. But if you’re targeting one room, such as when drying laundry, they say you should close the door.
Likewise, you should always keep external windows shut while the unit is running. “Keep external windows and doors closed while it’s running so you’re treating a defined space,” says Scott Byrom. “You should still ventilate your home regularly and use extractor fans when cooking or showering.”
Can a dehumidifier draw moisture from other rooms?
Yes, to a point. “A dehumidifier can have wider impacts beyond the room it’s placed in,” says Jack Duffy. “Moisture naturally moves around a home as air circulates through hallways and open doors, so a unit can gradually pull moisture from neighbouring rooms too.”
But if you’re dealing with one specific problem area, he adds, “you’ll usually get better and faster results by putting the appliance directly where that moisture is being created.
For larger homes, one unit may not be enough. “Larger homes with several different floors could benefit from 2-3 smaller dehumidifiers if humidity is an issue throughout,” says Noel Fok.
Before you plug your dehumidifier in and forget about it, take a minute to think about where it's going. A few centimetres of breathing space, a shut window and a spot away from the radiator could be all it takes to make it work harder for you. If you're still fighting a losing battle with moisture, find out which condensation hacks actually work and which are a waste of time.
