Extractor Fan Vs Dehumidifier

Extractor fan pros and cons

An extractor fan installation at your Gomersal home has many benefits. Let’s explore the pros and cons:

Pros:

• Effective – An extractor fan removes the humid air from your bathroom swiftly and efficiently - and much faster than a dehumidifier! 
• Improved air quality - As an extractor fan removes the humid air from your bathroom, it replaces it with clean, fresh air. This improves the air quality throughout your home.
• Space saving – An extractor fan will either be mounted in the wall or ceiling of your bathroom, meaning no loss of valuable space. 
• Discreet – A properly installed extractor fan makes very little noise and is a subtle addition to your bathroom.
• Low running cost – An effective extractor fan costs less than 1p per day to run.

Cons:

• Requires professional installation – An extractor fan needs a qualified electrician to install it. This can be more expensive but assures you of a safe and effective result.
• Higher initial outlay – An extractor fan has a higher initial cost than a dehumidifier with the cost of the unit and the installation fee to consider but is a long-term investment.

Dehumidifier pros and cons

Let’s look more closely at the pros and cons of adding a dehumidifier to your Gomersal home.

Pros:

• Lower initial cost - The average dehumidifier will cost around £250.
• Easy to set up - A dehumidifier just needs to be plugged in and requires no specialist installation.
• Humidity control - A dehumidifier can be programmed to remove a moisture to a specific degree, and this can be customised to your needs. 

Cons:

• Bulky - Dehumidifiers are bulky pieces of equipment and take up valuable floor space. You can take my word for it that they hurt if you stub your toe on them too!
• Corded – Your dehumidifier has to be plugged in. Obviously, you can’t plug in in the bathroom so you will need a plug socket (and a convenient spot) nearby. This can be both inconvenient and a trip hazard. 
• Tank to Empty – Most dehumidifiers have a tank which collects the excess moisture. This must be emptied regularly – at least daily and sometimes more often - or the dehumidifier stops working. This can be 2-5 litres of water to carry to the nearest sink/drain. 
• Noisy – Whilst this varies from model to model, dehumidifiers can be quite noisy.
• Higher running costs – A 20l dehumidifier costs around 12p per hour to run. Whilst this seems inexpensive at first sight, running one for 12 hours a day, 365 days a year would cost you £526.60. An extractor fan would cost around £3.65 for the year!

Extractor fan or dehumidifier?

As you can see, both extractor fans and dehumidifiers have their benefits - and their downsides. So, which one is right for your Gomersal home? If you are suffering with damp that originates in the bathroom then an extractor fan is by far the superior choice. It will remove the humid air swiftly, before it has a chance to spread to other areas of your home. It makes little sense to use the less cost-effective option of a dehumidifier in this instance. We would always advise installing an extractor fan as your first step in controlling moisture levels. For many homes, particularly older ones, a dehumidifier is a great additional way to control high humidity levels. Older homes often suffer with damp conditions caused by poor air circulation and simply by the way they were built. If this sounds like your home, then a dehumidifier may be a wise investment too.

Extractor Fan Installation in Gomersal

Quality Electrician are your local extractor fan electrician in Gomersal. We have many years of experience in the effective installation of extractor fans. Our electricians are fully qualified, and NICEIC registered so you can be assured of a safe, high-quality installation. If you would like to learn more about extractor fan installation, contact us today.