A dehumidifier is an electrical appliance that draws moisture out of the air and collects it as water in a tank, lowering the relative humidity of a room. A compressor dehumidifier passes damp air over a cold surface, where the moisture condenses; a desiccant dehumidifier uses an absorbent wheel that an internal heater dries out again. The manufacturer Meaco recommends a desiccant model for spaces below 10°C, where compressor models struggle.
At Wigwam
You can keep a unit dry without a dehumidifier, and that’s the approach we suggest. Our units are clean, dry and secure, and at Chipping Norton and Shipston-on-Stour we insulate our containers to stop condensation. Our units have no power sockets, so a mains dehumidifier isn’t something you can run in one, and for everyone’s safety nothing is ever left running.
Instead, a few simple steps do the job:
- dry everything before it goes in, including fridges, freezers and washing machines;
- lift things off the floor and leave gaps around stacks and at the walls;
- use breathable covers rather than plastic sealed around furniture;
- stand a few tub-style moisture absorbers clear of your things, and put silica gel sachets in closed tubs of tools, electronics, books or photos;
- keep a small battery hygrometer in the unit, so you can see the humidity when you visit.
Storing a dehumidifier
If you’re putting your own dehumidifier into storage, empty its tank and let it dry out fully before it comes in, as you would with any appliance that holds water.
Not sure whether your things need more than this? Call us on 0800 2545585 and we’ll talk it through.
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