Martin Lewis has some big news for fans – and it’s not just one demon appliance you need to be wary of
According to Martin Lewis, Brits can save on energy costs by using a dehumidifier to dry their clothes rather than relying on a ‘demon appliance’.
This winter, as ever, households will be grappling with the challenge of drying laundry indoors. This often leads to issues such as mould, condensation, mildew and musty-smelling clothes. However, the Money Saving Expert founder has cautioned that tumble dryers aren’t the solution for those watching their energy bills, as these ‘demon appliances’ rack up substantial running costs.
Martin recommends switching to dehumidifiers, which cost considerably less to operate whilst still drying clothes efficiently and preventing mould, dampness or condensation.
During an episode of The Martin Lewis Podcast available on BBC Sounds, Spotify and Apple Music, Martin Lewis identified ‘demon appliances’ that consumers should avoid, reports the Express.
Tumble dryers featured prominently on this list, with their notorious reputation for expensive operation, sometimes reaching costs of up to £1 per hour. As an alternative, Martin advocated for using a dehumidifier.
He explained: “Many dehumidifiers have different wattages – the one I checked out was 200W. Once we know it’s 200W and we know a kilowatt is 1,000W, which is how electricity tends to be priced, we know this is a fifth of a kilowatt.
“And you pay roughly 34p per kilowatt per hour. A fifth is 7p, so you’re going to pay roughly 7p per hour to run a dehumidifier at 200W, assuming it uses full power the whole time.”
However, energy costs have dipped slightly since those calculations were made, meaning it will now only cost about 5.5p an hour based on this winter’s unit prices of 26p.
In comparison, energy supplier Utilita estimates that running a tumble dryer can cost anywhere from 53p to £1 an hour, which is ten to 20 times more expensive. Quite the demon appliance indeed.
So, what’s the best or most affordable dehumidifier? One dehumidifier by Meaco, the DD8L model (currently £199.99 on Amazon), got good marks in my five-year review: “My trusty Meaco dehumidifier has been a good investment, I’m relieved to say. Using the dehumidifier nightly from October through to March, we saw a significant reduction in the build-up of condensation in the room, often by more than half.”
There’s also the the Pro Breeze 12L dehumidifier which comes with built-in laundry drying settings and a 12-litre tank, allowing you to run it multiple times before needing to empty the tray.
Devola offers a larger 20L model that also includes an air purifier, enabling you to enhance the air quality in your home while simultaneously removing moisture and drying your clothes. The 20L model is priced at £144.99, or you can opt for the smaller 12L size for £101.99. Both models feature a quiet run mode at just 38db, quieter than a fridge.
Lastly, the EcoAir DD1 7L (£179 on Amazon) is a bit smaller, but its slim profile makes it a better fit for living rooms. It comes with a laundry setting and operates quietly at just 34db, making it the quietest model of these options.
