Maintaining a home dehumidifier

When a dehumidifier's output drops noticeably after a full damp season, the compressor is rarely the problem. Far more often it is a filter and a water tank that have gone months without cleaning. Routine maintenance takes about ten minutes and adds substantially to the life of the machine.

How often to clean the filter

The filter catches dust from the incoming air and should be vacuumed or rinsed every two weeks. Near a busy road, or in a home with pets, weekly is better. A clogged filter does not only reduce output — over time it also forces the compressor to work harder than it was designed to.

The tank and mould

The water tank is where mould establishes itself most readily, particularly if the machine runs for over a week without being emptied. Empty and rinse it daily, and once a month scrub it thoroughly with a diluted neutral detergent to stop a slimy film of scale building up.

Where to put it

Leave at least twenty centimetres between the air outlet and any wall, or the machine simply draws its own damp exhaust back in and the middle of the room never dries out. Avoid running it inside a closed cabinet as well: poor heat dissipation shortens the compressor's life.