This budget dehumidifier has been designed for the UK climate and the damp issues we face – and it shows with its powerful damp-busting performance

It has been cold and wet outside, so I've kept my wet washing inside. The stark difference in temperature inside and out has led to a buildup in condensation on the windows and walls, too.

This meant that I was only too pleased to try out the Devola DV12L Dehumidifier, RRP £158.95, at Airconcentre, and see how it stacks up against some of the best dehumidifiers on the market. I've given several dehumidifiers a run for their money, but none have been quite as compact as this one. I was curious to find out if size really does matter. I needed to reduce the humidity in the house and dry laundry, and on paper, this dehumidifier does both.

I tried it out for 12 days in our utility room to help dry 10kg of wet laundry at a time, and in my daughter's bedroom, where the bay window gets a build-up of condensation. To do this, I followed the Ideal Home dehumidifier testing process, taking note of how it can affect humidity levels and how easy it is to use day-to-day.

At a glance

The Devola DV12L Dehumidifier is a compact, easy-to-use unit. It flies under the radar from being recognised as a smart dehumidifier, too. This means that you can connect it to your home WiFi to control it on the SmartLife app.

It's one of three dehumidifiers in the Devola portfolio. Sitting alongside it are the Devola DV20L Compressor Dehumidifier and Devola DV25L Compressor Dehumidifier. These are both slightly larger than the DV12L and have a greater extraction rate. While the DV12L has a 12-litre/day extraction rate, the DV20L has a 20-litre/day extraction rate, and the DV25L has a 25-litre/day extraction rate. These two larger Devola dehumidifiers have an airflow of 180 m3/h, whereas the Devola DV12L Compressor Dehumidifier on test has an airflow of 100 m3/h, so it's not capable of drawing in as much.

I say this, but I was impressed by its effectiveness. It reduced the humidity level in my daughter's bedroom from 68% to 55% within an hour. It also dried smaller items of clothing (underwear and kids' clothing) within eight hours, which is quicker and cheaper than using the tumble dryer.

Specifications

• RRP: £159
• Type: Compressor
• Extraction rate: 12L/day
• Water tank capacity: 2L
• Recommended maximum room size: up to 200 sq.ft
• Noise level: 36dB
• Power: 185W
• Dimensions: H47 x 25.5W x 22Dcm
• Weight: 10.5kg
• Portable?: Yes, with smooth castor wheels and carry handle
• Automatic humidity sensor: Yes
• Laundry mode: Yes
• WiFi connectivity: Yes
• Timer: 12 hours and auto-off
• Operating temperature: 5 - 35 °C
• Additional features: removable water tank, continuous draining, digital display, washable filter, child lock, automatic shut off

Unboxing, set-up and design

Unboxing the Devola 12L Dehumidifier was easy. Its compact size meant that the delivery box could be easily lifted through from the porch to our utility room.

There was some snug-fitting packaging (non-recyclable) that secured it whilst in transport, and there were no fiddly bits to unravel.

Inside, you'll find the unit itself, a user manual, and a drain hose. The water bucket was taped shut, and the air vent was taped up too. With no set-up required, it was a case of "plug and play".

Measuring H47 x 25.5W x 22D cm, it's one of the most compact dehumidifiers that I have tested. It takes up very little space, so it can fit into the smallest of rooms, with a recommended maximum room size of up to 200 sq ft.

The control panel is located at the top of the unit, with the integrated handle located at the opposite end. At the front is a digital display that changes colour depending on the current humidity. Blue indicates room humidity less than 45%; green signals room humidity 45 - 65%; red signals humidity greater than 65%.

The 2-litre water bucket is located at the rear of the appliance. It has a handy water level indicator, so you can just about make out how much water is being collected. And it can be easily moved around the floor and between rooms on its four castors.

I could start using it right away, but to get the most out of it, I connected it to the Smart Life App. For me, this took less than one minute. I'd recommend reading through the connection instructions first, so they'll make more sense. And to activate WiFi on the unit, press and hold the timer on the control panel for 5 seconds.

If, like me, you already have the SmartLife app installed on your iPhone or Android phone, then you won't need to reconnect to your home WiFi because this data is already stored. Should you need to connect, the setup will take a little longer than the time it took me.

First impressions? I always love it when a smart device is easy to set up. There was minimal fuss, and very little installation was required. It looks neat and seems to have all the features and modes I need it to have.

Ease of use

The Devola DV12L Compressor Dehumidifier can be used manually or remotely. Easy.

On the control panel you have full access to everything that this dehumidifier can do. It has three programmes (nighttime, laundry and humidity), each with an individual button. You can also set the fan speed (low or high), timer and child lock. All the buttons are responsive.

If you prefer to use the app, then you have the added ability to control the unit remotely. You have full access to everything on the physical control panel. I would have found it helpful to receive a notification when the water bucket is full, and to see some historical data of humidity levels in the room, but as it currently stands, I still found the app a useful feature to have access to.

There is just one little quirk to be aware of in the app; "laundry" mode is "mode continuities", "humidity" is "mode normal" and "night time is "mode sleep". The difference between these modes is that laundry/mode continuities keeps the unit running until it's turned off or the water tank is full; humidity/mode normal keeps running until the set humidity is achieved; and nighttime/ mode sleep automatically switches to the lower fan speed (if operating on the higher speed).

Performance

I used the Devola DV12L Compressor Dehumidifier to dry laundry in our utility room and manage the high humidity levels in my daughter's bedroom. I tested all three modes (Laundry, Nighttime and Auto), and adjusted the humidity setting.

I first set up the dehumidifier in my daughter's bedroom to help remove moisture in the air, owing to a single-skinned wall on the bay window. I'd just wiped away mould from the walls and skirting, which still felt damp and cold, so time was of the essence.

The humidity reading was 68%, and the humidity indicator light was red. I set the desired humidity to 55% in Auto Mode, which is a good, achievable target for our home. It's a known fact that humidity levels above 60% can lead to mould growth, so I was keen to get below this figure and keep it that way.

Within an hour of running, the dehumidifier had dropped the humidity level in the room from 68% to 55% and automatically switched off.

I wanted to maintain this level of humidity through the night, so I switched to Night Mode. This meant that the fan speed was on the lower speed and the lights on the control panel switched off, with the exception of the power, mode and child-lock indicators. When the water tank becomes full, the full tank sound alert is inactive, but the water tank full indicator light stays illuminated to remind you that it needs emptying when you see it.

The lower fan speed setting kicks out a noise level of 43dB, which my daughter found was too noisy. I, on the other hand, found that this omitted sound was on a similar wavelength to white noise, so I set it up in my bedroom. This successfully kept the humidity levels at the desired 55% through the night.

The next day, I wanted to dry laundry in our utility room. I'm fortunate to have the space to hang washing on a washing line which spans the width of the room, so I located the dehumidifier not too far away from where 10kg of damp laundry was hanging.

I selected Laundry Mode. This meant that the unit continuously operated on the higher fan speed, and I was unable to change the humidity setting or fan speed. It'll keep running until you switch it off, or the water tank gets full, so I found it useful to be able to control it on the SmartLife app.

After eight hours, smaller items of clothing, including underwear and kids' clothing, were dry, and the indicator light had changed from red to green. Larger items of clothing, like adult-sized jeans and bedding, took just shy of 12 hours to dry.

Over the course of the two weeks I was testing this dehumidifier, I set up a schedule for it to switch on at 10:00 and turn off at 11:00 every morning. I used the SmartLife app to set this up, but it can also be set up using the timer function on the control panel. When the unit is switched off, the dehumidifier won't activate and, therefore, the schedule won't work.

If you have a young family, then I'd advise keeping the child lock on. This can be activated on the control panel or in the SmartLife app. Failing to do this will result in your little person taking control of the unit; the novelty will quickly wear off.

Energy use

If you're curious about how much a dehumidifier costs to run, it largely depends on its wattage. The higher the wattage is, the more energy it uses.

With the current energy price cap for October 2025 at 26p per kWh, I've calculated that it costs around 5p / hour to operate the Devola DV12L Compressor Dehumidifier on the higher fan speed, and 4p / hour on the lower fan speed. This is more than half the cost per hour of our tumble dryer, which I've calculated costs 21p per hour.

With it taking 8 hours to dry laundry, costing 40p, it saves me 23p compared to using the tumble dryer on a 3-hour drying cycle.

Noise levels

Advertised with a noise level of 36dB, the Devola DV12L Compressor Dehumidifier is certainly quiet. On paper.

The reality is that on the low fan speed, it has a noise level of 43dB, and on the higher fan speed, it's 48dB. I can also hear that it's running when I'm sitting in our dining room, underneath the bedroom it's set up in or down the hallway from the utility room.

It's not a bad thing, just not what I was expecting. This noise level is equivalent to a quiet street, so it's not too distracting. Just switch on the radio or television, and you won't notice it.

Portability

The Devola DV12L Compressor Dehumidifier has smooth-glide castors and an integrated handle to make it easy to move around. Its compact size and 10.5kg weight mean that it can be rolled between rooms on the same level, or carried up the stairs, to a space where it's next required.

Maintenance

The Devola DV12L Compressor Dehumidifier requires regular maintenance, but don't take this as a thumbs down because what's required is fairly obvious and easy.

When you notice that the illuminated water tank button on the control panel is illuminated, or that the unit stops working due to a full water tank, then that is the time to empty it. The removable water tank slides out of position, but there's no handle, so it's difficult to pour out the water without it going everywhere. For longer-term use, the continuous drainage hose will mean that the need for emptying the water tank is eradicated.

The air filter will require regular attention, too. Dust collects on the filter and restricts the airflow, reducing the efficiency. This filter is removable, which is accessible by removing the filter frame. You'll then just need to use a vacuum cleaner to gently absorb the dust on the surface. If it's very dirty, then wash it with water and a soft detergent. Just make sure that the filter is dry before slotting back into place.

Comparisons with other dehumidifers

The Devola DV12L Compressor Dehumidifier is the most compact, effective and cheapest to run dehumidifier I have tested thus far.

For example, the DREO Smart Dehumidifier 512S was effective at reducing humidity levels, but it was dearer to run, noisier and didn't have a dedicated nighttime mode. It does have a larger 3.4-litre water tank, though, which may better suit some homes.

I also liked the Ebac 4850e dehumidifier for its ability to reduce humidity levels, but it doesn't have any castors, which makes it difficult to move around. And no nighttime mode. It has the same running costs as the Devola 12L Compressor Dehumidifier, though (5p / hour) and has a larger 3.5-litre water tank.

And while I haven't personally tested the Dryzone dehumidifier and air purifier (a colleague has), it's quieter than the Devola and doubles as an air purifier, too. The Pro Breeze 30L High Capacity Smart Dehumidifier has a huge water tank, which may suit homes that know for certain that they don't want to set up continuous drainage in the short or long-term.

How does the Devola DV12L Compressor Dehumidifier rate online?

Available to buy direct from Devola and resellers, including Amazon and B&Q, you can check out with the Devola DV12L Compressor Dehumidifier relatively easily. This also creates a space for other customers to share their experiences of using the unit.

Amazon have the greatest number of product reviews, with 1, 187 in total. Overall, customers find the dehumidifier effective, with one mentioning it works well for laundry during the winter months. Its compact size, straightforward operation, and value for money are also appreciated. However, the noise level receives mixed feedback, with some finding that it operates virtually silently, while others say it's noisier than expected.

This mixed feedback is echoed by a couple of customers sharing on the Devola website, too, although they are in the minority because most speak highly about the effectiveness and compact size.

B&Q customers echo this praise. One says: 'Really impressed with this Dehumidifier, very quiet, easy to move around...', while another shares: 'Cheap to run... The laundry setting does not dry as quickly as it says, but it still cuts the drying time considerably.'

Verdict

If you need a dehumidifier in your life, then make the Devola DV12L Compressor Dehumidifier the one. It's really easy to set up, cheap to run, effective at reducing humidity, and it doesn't take up much space.

While the app could do with some alignment with the modes on the unit and the ability to record data, it does do enough to control this dehumidifier remotely. For £159 (when not on sale), it's one of the most affordable options available and will be money well spent, in the short and long-term.