Now that the weather has turned and winter is on the horizon, it’s more important than ever to know what humidity a room should be. Too humid, and you risk living in a mouldy house full of warped furniture and struggling asthmatics. Controls moisture levels - This dehumidifier helps to reduce any moisture related issues which can damage your interiors including wallpaper peeling, unsightly stains, furniture damage and musty odours. The green light lets you know when the unit is on and the indicator light turns orange and automatically shut off when it is time to empty the tank

Still, the CONOPU dehumidifier performed well during testing. I used it mostly in the kitchen to try to eliminate build up of condensation when I was cooking, and it worked really well at removing some of the excess moisture. In the bedroom, it got rid of some of the morning condensation but I have quite a large room so it struggled to keep up, and unfortunately its noise levels meant I opted not to leave it running all night long. More on that below. Ease of use: Like all of the low cost dehumidifiers on our list, functionality is basic, but that does make operation hassle-free. There is just one on/off button which you’ll find at the top of the dehumidifier. When it’s in operation a blue LED light will light up so you know it’s working. Performance: If you’re looking for a small dehumidifier, then the Russell Hobbs RHDH1061G is about as compact as it gets, measuring just H22 x W14 x D14cm and weighing in at 0.9kg. However, despite it being small, it still feels robust and well made. Noise levels: Along with the Silentnight 39899 I found this one of the quietest low cost dehumidifiers in this round up. It produces 35dB of noise whilst operating, but I didn't really hear it running at all. A couple of times, I even had to lean in to make sure it was actually switched on!Can help allergies - Allergens and allergy triggers such as dust mites, mould and mildew thrive in humid environments with poor air circulation such as bathrooms. By reducing the level of humidity and moisture, this dehumidifier will help to reduce allergy triggers and deter household pests while also improving your air quality Performance: Also capable of reducing moisture in a 15m² space, the Silentnight 39899 600ml Dehumidifier just does so at a slower rate than the ProBreeze 1500ml Mini dehumidifier, extracting 0.3L of water from the air per day in contrast to the ProBreeze's 0.5L. I tested the Silentnight 39899 in two key areas of my home, the kitchen and the bedrooms. I found it really made a difference to reducing the condensation around my windows. Plus, the air felt fresher whenever it was running, and it did really well to help eliminate steam and fumes in the kitchen whilst cooking. Energy use: The Silentnight 39899 600ml dehumidifier also scores highly on energy efficiency. Although, as with the ProBreeze 1500ml, it's a shame there aren't any automatic humidity sensors so that the dehumidifier only switches on when it's needed (the MeacoDry Arete One Dehumidifier is our top recommendation in this respect), despite the fact it has to be left running, energy use is still relatively low thanks to its 23W energy use. That means it doesn't even cost 1p per hour to have running.

Noise levels This dehumidifier uses a Peltier condenser that means there's no noisy compressor to disturb you, however, that doesn't make the ProBreeze 1500ml Mini dehumidifier totally silent, there's still the noise of the fan to adjust to. I left it running in my bedroom overnight, and although the 40dBA noise is noticable and initially bothered me, I soon zoned it out. Plus, there’s no varying fan speed which means its white noise is easier to ignore.The appliance works to extract this moisture from the air, in turn helping you prevent dampness in your living space. This also makes it a great option for allergy sufferers, as the dehumidifier cleans the air of dust, mites, mould and mildew that thrive in humid environments.

Noise levels: The official specifications say that this dehumidifier is 37dBA but I barely heard it. I didn’t even realise it was on when I was in the room. It runs so quietly, you occasionally hear the odd drip as the water hits the already collected water in the tray but that’s about it. It’s ideal for use when you’re working or overnight as it won’t disturb the peace.Quiet and portable - While small, this dehumidifier can still operate in areas up to 15m², making it perfect to hide in small spaces out of the way. The dehumidifier is easy to transport from room to room thanks to its light weight and at only 35db, the appliance runs quietly so you can still have a restful night’s sleep Energy use: The one thing that sets this mini dehumidifier apart from its competition is its energy use. At 100W, this compact dehumidifier uses double the energy of the other low cost dehumidifiers in our round-up. Then there's noise levels to consider, although as most of cheap dehumidifiers use Peltier condensers noise levels are already lower than more powerful compressor dehumidifiers. All dehumidifier's should give their operating volumes (measured in dB) in the specifications.

If you think you may need an even larger dehumidifier, our guide to ' How big of a dehumidifier do I need?' can help).

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However, if you're able to extend your budget a little then it’s well worth looking at the Meaco Arete One Dehumidifier. This is more of an ivestment, but is our top-rated dehumidifier overall. Plus, it's quiet, easy to use, works superbly and is very energy-efficient compared to other compressor models. Its Smart Laundry Mode also makes it one of the best dehumidifiers for drying washing indoors. There are 10, 12, 20 and 25L models available, and, all offer a built-in air purifier that means they improve indoor air quality in more ways than one. You can get the full details in our MeacoDry Arete One Dehumidifier review. How we tested The main downside of a low cost dehumidifier is that the low price tag reflects a low extraction rate, which means they don't have the power to remove that much moisture from the air.