Following a very rainy 2024, demand for dehumidifiers soars
Dehumidifiers are more in demand now than ever. Galaxus sold 91 per cent more of the appliances in 2024 than in the previous year – and five times as many as in 2020. The boom is being driven by new buildings with improved insulation. Added to this was a very warm 2024, which brought a lot of humid air our way from the Mediterranean.
Condensation on windows, mould in corners, stains on the ceiling. 20-25 per cent of people struggle with dampness in their homes (linked article in German). If you don’t react quickly, you risk both damage to the building and interior design, but also health consequences. According to the relevant authorities, mould irritates the eyes, skin and respiratory tract, and spores can trigger allergies. Mould is particularly dangerous for people who suffer from cystic fibrosis, chronic asthma or a weakened immune system. But sprays, brushes and wall paint can often quickly remedy the symptoms. Still, it’s all caused by moisture. And it seems ever more people are combating this with dehumidifiers. In 2024, Galaxus customers in Europe and Digitec customers in Switzerland bought 91 per cent more of these devices than in 2023, totalling several tens of thousands of units. Compared to 2020, five times as many dehumidifiers were sent through the post.
Daniela Sanzoni oversees the dehumidifier range on Galaxus and Digitec. She sees two main reasons for the boom: improved insulation in new and renovated buildings as well as the increasing frequency of storms, or high humidity respectively (article in German).
When airing out your house isn’t enough
«Modern houses and flats are designed for energy efficiency,» says Daniela. «They’re sealed down to the last window pane to save heat and electricity.» As a result, however, there’s also a lack of fresh air entering interior rooms from outside. The result: a poor indoor climate. Humidity is also too high in many places since we let in air the wrong way or too infrequently. In winter in particular, Daniela recommends so-called shock ventilation, where you open windows or doors across from each other all the way. According to the relevant authorities, the rule of thumb is to open all windows and doors for five to ten minutes three times a day. «If that’s not enough, a dehumidifier can help,» says Daniela.
Extreme weather boosts demand
Last year, however, the weather also had a strong influence on demand. High water temperatures in the North Atlantic and Mediterranean meant that not only warm, but above all humid air from the south-west reached us in Germany this year, as ZDF.de reports (page in German).
From mid-May, there was also heavy rainfall in southern Germany and from June in Switzerland, causing rivers and streams to rise dramatically. Floods caused major damage to settlements and infrastructure. This was exacerbated by the fact that the spring was already rainy and soil was wet as a result.
According to figures from MeteoSwiss, it also rained a good six per cent more last year than the long-term average. By contrast, 2022 was a particularly dry year. This is all reflected in the sales data from Galaxus. «The storms and generally very high humidity have triggered a boom in demand this summer,» says Daniela. Flooded cellars, muddy garages and soaked living rooms finally had to be dried out again. Two years previously, however, the same appliances were in particularly high demand in winter.
Have you recently bought a dehumidifier? What experiences have you had with mould? Any tips for the Community? Let us know in the comments!
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Alex Hämmerli
Senior Public Relations Manager
Alex.Haemmerli@digitecgalaxus.chAt digitec and Galaxus, I’m in charge of communication with journalists and bloggers. Good stories are my passion – I am always up to date.
