have grown in popularity in recent years as they help to reduce moisture in the home, great when there isn't on. With set to rise in line with the 6% price cap increase, choosing a dehumidifier that uses very little energy to run can help to solve various problems for a fraction of the price.

Last winter, I took the plunge and got , which continue to benefit me daily.

I haven't noticed much difference in my energy bills as a result of using it, but I have seen changes around my home. It helps to reduce window , which in turn reduces the risk of dampness and around my windows. It even speeds up the process of drying my on the clothes horse when I don't want to use the tumble dryer.

Moisture is always in the air around us, and it isn't just created by drying wet washing indoors. It can come from everyday activities such as cooking, breathing and bathing.

Chris Michael, air treatment expert and managing director at Meaco, said: "A dehumidifier helps households by removing condensation, stopping mould from forming and preventing damp smells, mildew and damage to soft furnishings, which can be costly to repair or replace."

The device also has a night feature, which signals the device to reduce its fan speed and turn off the display lights so you can place it in the hallway or bedroom.

This feature is so useful within my home as I now don't have to worry about breathing in any nasties and waking up with window condensation.

In fact, placing the device in the hallway means I don't wake up with any window condensation, although I still open them to allow fresh air into the home.

This particular model also comes with a H13 HEPA filter, which helps to remove moisture from your home whilst purifying the air you breathe. This can help to protect households from viruses and allergies such as pollen.

The description of the product reads: "A hybrid of two products, Arete saves you space, money and time. After five years of development, Arete outperforms its peers as a standalone dehumidifier and a standalone air purifier. One-touch controls, including Laundry mode and Night Mode, enable Arete to do the work for you.

"A 75% and better quality medical grade H13 HEPA filter cleans the air you and your family breathe."

Drying laundry in winter can be extremely tough, but it couldn't be easier with a dehumidifier, especially thanks to its Laundry Mode.

The smart mode runs continuously for six hours to help dry washing. When set to laundry mode, the device automatically sets a target humidity of 35% and increases its fan speed.

The device has two fan speed settings, and it automatically picks between them. If the dehumidifier reaches a level of 32% humidity before the six hours is up, the compressor will turn off to stop the air from becoming too dry, but the fan will continue to run.

When there is wet laundry in my spare room, the humidity can reach as high as 92%, which is the perfect breeding ground for mould.

Luckily, I don't need to worry about this when my dehumidifier is running. On average, I empty it twice a day, and it picks up exactly where it left off when the water collector fits back in.

Washing won't dry in six hours with the door open, but if you close the door, it'll be dry in no time. It's also super affordable, with Meaco claiming it costs 4p an hour to run.

Meaco has a wide variety of dehumidifiers, varying in price but the Meaco Arete One 12L Dehumidifier and Air Purifier currently retails for £179 on , or £169.99 on .

. Whilst this is an initial investment, I have used it every single day, even in the summer in my home.

There are, however, lots of other dehumidifiers on the market. .

John Lewis stocks various Meaco dehumidifiers, with prices starting at .

Robert Dyas stocks Meaco too as well as . It's currently being sold for £129.99.

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