Brits swear by surprising hack to keep energy bills down during cold weather

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The UK is still in the grip of chilly weather, and if you’re refusing to turn the heating on, then you’ll want to listen to this.

After energy bills shot up once again on January 1, British twenty-somethings turned to a surprising gadget to keep costs down, and have been sharing their excitement over on TikTok.

Yes, we're talking about dehumidifiers, and people can't believe how much they have been a 'life saver' this winter.

One TikTok user shared, "I used to live in an old flat and would get so excited emptying [my dehumidifier] every morning!" Another added, "I consider this my prized possession."

A third raved: "My dehumidifier gives me butterflies I swear. Beep at me King, I'll empty your tank."

With hundreds of five-star reviews, the dehumidifier everyone is banging on about is made by Meaco, £189.99 for a 12L model. The small but mighty gadget has gone down extremely well with customers in case you hadn't gathered, as it has allegedly saved them a huge amount of money on energy bills.

If you're looking for something more purse-friendly, then one of Amazon's top-selling models is the 1200ml EasyAcc model currently down to £38 on Amazon.

So, how can a dehumidifier help to slash heating bills?

When we think of damp and humidity, our first reaction is likely mould, but it can also lead to higher energy bills. That’s because humid air contains water which takes more energy to heat in comparison to dry air.

A dehumidifier will work hard to reduce humidity levels inside the home and according to the Energy Saving Trust, it could reduce the thermostat by 2°C - saving up to 15% on energy bills in total. Not too shabby at all.For instance, drying a load of clothing indoors can add up to two litres of water to the air. Without a dehumidifier, radiators will have to work harder to tackle the excess moisture - ramping up your bills in the process.

The Meaco 12L Low Energy Dehumidifier and Air Purifier in particular has garnered glowing reviews online and according to its product description, it costs just 4p an hour to run. That's because it only uses 157 watts every 60 minutes which is relatively low. The dehumidifier will effectively control indoor humidity therefore preventing damp and mould. In turn, it will slash your heating costs too.

Where to buy the dehumidifier everyone is raving about

The Meaco Low Energy Dehumidifier is now available on the Meaco website for £189.99. With a 12-litre capacity, it’s designed for flats and small homes. It’s one of the most affordable models on the website and is used as a low-cost solution to drying laundry and keeping the home dry. Alternatively, over on Amazon the smaller EasyAcc model is a more purse-friendly £38.

Your housemates will thank you.