Russell Hobbs RHDH2002 review
Russell Hobbs RHDH2002 20 Litre/Day Dehumidifier
By Tom Calder
The most capacity per pound here: 20 L/day at the industry-standard 30°C/80% condition, into the largest tank in the group, for well under what the desiccant units cost. Two honest caveats. At 47.5 dB it is the loudest unit on this page, and its own manual says not to place it where the temperature will fall below 5°C — so it is not the big garage machine its capacity implies. The defrost function protects its coils; it does not make it a cold-room unit.
- Best for
- Drying out a larger or wetter heated space, or a room after a leak.
- Skip it if
- You need it in an unheated garage
as of 4 Nov 2026, 19:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.We earn a commission if you buy through the retailer links on this page. It doesn't change our verdict. How we make money →
Researched, not used. We haven't used this product. This review is built from the maker's specifications, owner reports and our own sizing.
What we like
- 20 L/day — the highest capacity here and the cheapest per litre
- 3L tank, the largest in this group, so fewer trips to empty it
- Comfortably cheaper than the desiccant units
Worth knowing
- 47.5 dB — the loudest here; fine in a utility room, wrong for a bedroom
- The manual says don't place it where temperature falls below 5°C
- Russell Hobbs doesn't publish the test condition or refrigerant on its own pages, so the 30°C/80% figure is attributed to the industry standard rather than the maker
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Our review
A 20-litre compressor dehumidifier with a 3-litre tank, castors, a humidity readout and a laundry mode, rated at 30°C and 80% humidity in its own manual. The honest number is 47.5 dB, which puts it in the utility room rather than the bedroom. It suits a heated house with a wet room to dry out or washing drying indoors all winter, and nowhere that gets cold.
What the numbers mean
The manual's specification table settles what the retail page leaves open: 20 litres a day is measured at 30°C and 80% relative humidity, the industry test that flatters every compressor unit. A British room at 20°C and 60% yields far less, and Russell Hobbs gives no figure for it. Power input is 440 W, the refrigerant is 75 g of R290, the operating range is 5 to 35°C, and Russell Hobbs suggests rooms of 35 to 50 m². The target runs from 35% to 85% in 5% steps, and the display shows the room's level to within 5%.
In a British home
The manual asks for a spot that stays above 5°C, because frost forms on the coils below that; auto-defrost clears the ice but does not make it productive in a cold garage. Where it earns its place is a heated home with a damp problem: a kitchen without extraction, a bedroom wall that streams in January, or the first week after a flood or burst pipe. On first use the manual asks for 24 hours in continuous mode. Dryer mode runs flat out with the fan on turbo for up to 10 hours in a closed room, with clothes 30 to 50 cm away. Smart mode holds the room between 45% and 55%. For when a dehumidifier is the right answer, see condensation, damp and mould.
How it compares
The obvious rival is Meaco's 20L Low Energy in the comparison, which publishes 20.38 litres at 30°C and 80% and 8.48 at 20°C and 60%, with a 6-litre tank and a 46 dB maximum. The MeacoDry Arete One 12L removes 12.18 litres at the test condition and 5.23 in a cool room, with a 2.5-litre tank and 35 to 38 dB, for a room you sit in. For an unheated space, the EcoAir DD1 Simple MK3 desiccant is rated to 1°C.
Living with it
At 440 W it costs about 12p an hour at the Ofgem price cap unit rate of 26.32p per kWh for October to December 2026, roughly £2.80 a day in continuous mode; a humidity target keeps that down, because the compressor cycles off once it is met. The timer gives a delayed start or auto stop in half-hour steps to 10 hours and hourly to 24. The manual lists 15 kg (the product page says 14), 24.5 cm deep, 35 cm wide and 51 cm tall, and it sits on castors. The 3-litre tank stops the machine when full, and it waits three minutes before restarting. Continuous drainage takes a 13.5 mm hose to a drain below the outlet. The washable filter wants warm soapy water every 30 days. The guarantee is 12 months, with a free second year on registration; the maker under licence is G2S Ltd.
Safety
R290 is propane, and the manual is explicit: keep the vents clear, never cover the unit, use an earthed socket without adaptors or extension leads, store it upright, and keep it away from fire, baths, showers and flammable liquids. An EC code on the display means a refrigerant leak: stop and call support. Allow 20 cm clear at the sides and 40 cm above.
Our verdict
Buy it if you need a lot of water out of a heated space quickly, want castors and a laundry mode, and can park it in a utility room or hallway where 47.5 dB is background noise. Look elsewhere if it will share a bedroom or living room, where the quieter Meaco units earn their premium, or if the problem is a garage or caravan, where only a desiccant will do.
A researched review, built from the maker's specs, manual and UK listings; facts checked 21 Oct 2026. Sources: Russell Hobbs — 20L Dehumidifier RHDH2002 product page (features, noise, guarantee); Russell Hobbs — RHDH2002 instruction manual (specification table, positioning, modes, safety); Russell Hobbs — guarantees and extended guarantee registration; Ofgem — energy price cap unit rates and standing charges (1 October to 31 December 2026).
Who shouldn't buy this
Don't buy it if you need it in an unheated garage — capacity doesn't help when the manual rules out the temperature, so choose a desiccant unit instead.
Key specs
| Type | Compressor; manual states 5°C minimum |
| Extraction | 20 L/day (30°C/80%) |
| Tank | 3 L |
| Noise | 47.5 dB — the loudest here |
This is a Researched review: we haven't used this product. We check every specification against at least two independent sources, re-check the UK price on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and say plainly who it isn't for. Commissions never change a rating.
If this isn’t the one
Best for The best-value way to dry a cold garage, conservatory or caravan.
as of 4 Nov 2026, 19:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Best for Small flats and bedrooms where you want app control and a quiet unit.
as of 4 Nov 2026, 19:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Best for Cooler rooms, garages and whole-home use where a compressor unit struggles.
as of 4 Nov 2026, 19:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.Questions
How loud is the Russell Hobbs RHDH2002?
Russell Hobbs quotes 47.5 dB. There are three fan speeds, and the manual suggests low or medium at night once the humidity is under control, at the cost of a lower extraction rate.
Can the RHDH2002 be used in a garage?
Not a cold one. The manual's operating range is 5 to 35°C and it asks for a location that stays above 5°C; auto-defrost protects the coils rather than keeping extraction up. A desiccant unit is the right tool there.
How much does the Russell Hobbs 20L dehumidifier cost to run?
Rated at 440 W, it uses about 12p of electricity an hour at the Ofgem price cap unit rate of 26.32p per kWh for October to December 2026, less over a day once a humidity target lets the compressor cycle off.
Does the RHDH2002 dry clothes?
Yes. Dryer mode runs for up to 10 hours at maximum extraction with the fan on turbo. The manual says to close the room's doors and windows, hang clothes 30 to 50 cm away, and never lay wet washing over the outlet.
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