DEHUMIDIFIERS have soared in popularity as a cheaper alternative to tumble dryers – but they could actually be adding to your bills.
They are used to help get rid of damp in homes, especially if you dry your clothes inside.
It comes as households are looking to switch off their heating and tumble dryers as energy bills soar, and dry their clothes using cheaper methods.
Using a dehumidifier for six hours a day costs around 8p, according to experts at Uswitch.
This is considerably cheaper than the cost of running one cycle in the tumble dryer, which costs £1.44.
But keeping your dehumidifier in the wrong place could be causing it to run inefficiently.
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And if you have it on without it actually contributing anything, then you're essentially wasting money.
For example, using your dehumidifier for 12 hours a day would cost you £58.40.
But if you needed to have it on all day as a result of running it inefficiently, this amount could double to £116.80 a year.
Gareth Kloet, an energy spokesperson for Go Compare, said that knowing where to position the gadget is important to make sure it runs efficiently.
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He said: "To make sure your dehumidifier is working as well as possible, we recommend making sure it has space around it, rather than placing it against a wall for instance.
"If your dehumidifier is pushed against a surface, this will force the appliance to work harder to generate the necessary air flow."
When it comes to what room to keep it in, you should think about where you are likely to see the most moisture in your home.
"This will help the device quickly and efficiently extract this water from the air," Gareth said.
"If you enjoy taking long showers, you might choose you place yours in the hallway outside the bathroom.
"Or, if you cook a lot of meals on the hob, placing your dehumidifier in the kitchen could be a better option.”
More ways to save on energy
Putting the heating on is one of the biggest drains on your energy bill anyway, but sometimes you're inadvertently doing things that can increase your bills.
For example, there's one fact in particular to know if you want to stop spending unnecessary money – don't dry your clothes on the radiator.
If you do, it keeps the radiator from working properly and you might need to leave the heating on for longer to feel its effect.
Potentially, up to £55 could go down the drain every year as a result.
Of course, it could be more or less depending on the size of your home, your provider and how much energy you normally use.
Clothes dryers don't need to cost the earth either – there's one from Dunelm that will set you back just £12.
Also, letting heat escape through your chimney could throw away up to £300 a year.
That's if you don't have something to block the opening whenever you turn on the heating.
A damper is a seal for your chimney to ensure cold air stays out and warmth from indoors can't escape.
You can install one by yourself if you're used to carrying out small DIY jobs – you shouldn't need any tools to help.
It should fit right up into the flue system which sits above the smoke chamber.
Hopefully it'll slide in comfortably, but there might be a few screws to tighten if your damper comes with them.
But that's the most you'll need to do.
We've seen dampers from the likes of Amazon for £22, but don't forget about added delivery costs.
However, bear in mind it'll cost an average of £250 to have someone come in and fit it for you, which could be quite pricey.
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Don't forget to do regular annual boiler service checks either – they could actually save you up to £550 a year.
For more energy-saving tips, make sure to read through our handy guide.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected]
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