A fan won't stop you feeling sticky in hot weather – to tackle humidity at home this is what experts recommend you use instead
A fan may help circulate the air, but you'll need something else to actually lower moisture levels
I don't know about you, but whenever a heatwave like this hits, I'm always thinking about how to keep my homes comfortably cool and comfortable.
It's a no-brainer that investing in one of the best fans can help when the mercury rises, but what about when things start to feel humid? Will a fan still provide comfort or do you need something else to tackle excess moisture in the air?
I asked a fan expert to find out.
Can a fan help reduce humidity?
While a fan can help you feel cooler when things get humid, it can't actually help reduce the levels of moisture in the air.
'A fan does not remove humidity from the air, so it will not reduce humidity readings in a meaningful way explains Meaco's Chief Product Officer, Chris Michael. 'It can make you feel cooler because the airflow helps sweat evaporate from your skin, supporting the body’s natural cooling process.'
But that's not to say you shouldn't use your fan to help move moist air out of your home. 'On a dry day, with a window open, the fan speeds up air exchange by pushing humid indoor air out and drawing drier outdoor air in, which can help lower humidity over time,' adds Chris.
I've recently tested this Meaco Sefte fan and was very impressed by how powerful it was. If your home is feeling humid, opening the windows and setting this fan going on a medium to high speed will help draw in dry air from outside and push the moist air out.
What should you use to reduce humidity at home?
You have a couple of options to make your home feel less humid, and that's investing in either one of the best dehumidifiers or a portable air conditioner. But the right choice will depend on the humidity you experience at home.
If your home struggles with damp and condensation year round, then it's definitely wise to invest in a dehumidifier, which will remove excess moisture from the air. This can be especially useful if drying clothes indoors over winter just makes the moisture problem worse.
You can also use a fan to help your dehumidifier work faster and dehumidify your home more quickly.
If you need help deciding which dehumidifier to buy, these are some of our top picks.
The MeacoDry Arete Two is the best dehumidifier we've tested and for good reason. It's effective, both simple and quiet to use, and comes with a Smart Laundry mode to help speed up drying washing indoors. Plus it doubles as an air purifier.
A budget friendly option, this Dryzone dehumidifier also doubles as an air purifier, comes with a 2.2 litre tank, and can extract up to 12L of water per day. It'll automatically shut off when the tank is full too.
If you want to tackle year-round moisture issues, this desiccant dehumidifier is more efficient at lower temperatures than a compressor dehumidifier and can be used in cold rooms of 1°C and above.
However, if your home doesn't have an ongoing issue with excess moisture, and you are just looking for relief from the hot and humid days that we can see over the summer months, then a portable air conditioner may be a better investment.
This is especially true if it feels as humid outside as it does inside, as the air circulation provided by a fan may not provide much relief.
'If your goal is to lower humidity, use a dehumidifier,' says Chris. 'If the room feels hot and humid, a portable air conditioner often works best because it both removes moisture and cools the room.'
We're big fans of the MeacoCool MS Series portable air conditioners. They're easy to use, energy efficient, lightweight and compact. Different sizes are available to suit small, medium and large rooms.
Portable air conditioners can be pricey, so we definitely appreciate the affordability of this Pro Breeze model.
