The most common dehumidifier problems, from 7,460 verified buyers

1. The most common dehumidifier problem owners report: “Removes too little water for their home”, raised in 28% of the 1 to 3 star reviews, followed by “Broke down or developed a fault” (17%).
2. What happy owners praise most: “Pulls out a lot of water and dries washing fast”, in 28% of the 4 and 5 star reviews we read.
3. 96% of verified buyers rated their dehumidifier 4 or 5 stars, against 93% across every product type in our study; dehumidifiers rank 6 of 37 for happy buyers.
4. 3% gave 1 or 2 stars, about 1 buyer in 33.
5. Across the 13 dehumidifiers with 30 or more ratings, the share of happy buyers ran from 76% to 100%.
6. Paying more did not disappoint more buyers: the pricier half of these dehumidifiers had a median of 99% happy buyers, against 98% for the cheaper half (up to £200).
7. Owners agree with experts here: models whose expert reviews earned our “great choice” verdict had a median of 97% happy buyers, against 82% for “good with caveats”.
8. Buyers in Asia, Africa and Oceania were the happiest (99% at 4 or 5 stars), and buyers in the US and Canada the least (88%).

Share of the 328 reviews of 1 to 3 stars that raise each problem, grouped across models. What to check before you buy.

1. 1. Removes too little water for their home28%
   Came up on 11 models
2. 2. Broke down or developed a fault17%
   Came up on 8 models
3. 3. Noisy16%
   Came up on 7 models
4. 4. The pump, hose or bucket gives trouble12%
   Came up on 5 models
5. 5. Leaks5%
   Came up on 2 models

The problems above, most common first, and how to avoid each one. Our advice; the order comes from the reviews.

1. 1. Removes too little water for their home (28% of complaints)

   Size it for the room and the damp: daily extraction figures are measured in warm, humid lab air, so in a cold home expect much less. Desiccant models do better in unheated rooms and garages.

2. 2. Broke down or developed a fault (17% of complaints)

   Faults usually show in the first weeks, so buy from a shop with an easy returns policy, register the guarantee and keep the receipt. A longer maker's guarantee is worth paying a little for.

3. 3. Noisy (16% of complaints)

   If it will run near a bedroom, a desk or the TV, look for a published noise figure (in decibels) and read what reviewers say about it on its normal setting.

4. 4. The pump, hose or bucket gives trouble (12% of complaints)

   Check the tank size and whether it can drain through a hose to a sink, so you aren't emptying it twice a day.

5. 5. Leaks (5% of complaints)

   Check the tank sits fully home and the hose is pushed on firmly; keep it level, and empty it before moving it.

Share of the 1,220 newest 4 and 5 star reviews we read that praise each point.

1. 1. Pulls out a lot of water and dries washing fast28%
   Came up on 16 models
2. 2. Quiet15%
   Came up on 13 models
3. 3. Easy to set up and use13%
   Came up on 12 models
4. 4. Handy app and smart features5%
   Came up on 6 models
5. 5. Hose drain or built-in pump, so less emptying3%
   Came up on 4 models

Regions with 30 or more ratings, by where the shop is. Shops in each region sell different models, so a gap can come from the models as much as from the buyers.