Meaco 20L LE Low Energy Dehumidifier

Left to its own devices, my house is a very damp, mould-inviting house. After my previous dehumidifier went to the dehumidifier graveyard I needed to find a replacement. After researching alternatives, including the previous one I had, I settled on a Meaco 20L LE Low Energy Dehumidifier.

It won a Which? Best Buy award for 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017, so it’s definitely standing out from the crowd. In addition it won some international awards to add to its credentials.

My old dehumidifier was a desiccant one, which didn’t use a compressor and cold surface to remove moisture from the air. It worked by using a desiccant wheel to absorb moisture from the air. The desiccant was refreshed by heating, to continue the process again. Supposedly desiccant dehumidifiers are lighter and quieter than compressor-based dehumidifiers.

There is definitely a weight difference between my old EcoAir DD1 CLASSIC MK5 Desiccant Dehumidifier, at 6kg, and the Meaco 20L LE Low Energy Dehumidifier, at 12.5kg. However, it hasn’t proved to be a problem as the device is quite mobile. The wheels on the bottom allow it to be manoeuvred around my carpeted house quite easily.

Noise Level

When it comes to noise, my old EcoAir model was listed as 34dB(A), and the Meaco 20L LE is listed as 46dB(A) maximum. Personally I don’t notice the difference, as it’s the fan in the device that’s the main source of noise. If I have the fan up high, it’s noisier. If down low, it’s quieter. I have it on when working in the room, but do turn it off if I need to make a call. I also leave it running at night, and don’t notice it working away.

Performance

What does really stand out is the sheer performance of the dehumidifier. It sucks water out of the air so easily. I’m emptying the 6 litre tank on regular basis, every day or so. The tank pulls out easily, but one area of concern is the strength of the carry handle for the tank. 6 litres of water weighs approximately 6kg, apparently. I would have preferred to have a more substantial handle to carry the tank to my sink. I will see how this goes long-term and update this review if it proves to be a weak point.

The water tank does have a viewing window to check the level of water, but I haven’t got down on my hands and knees to check it. I wait until the dehumidifier gets full and it sounds an alarm, lights up the “tank full” light, and stops.

The fan has several speeds, but I tend to leave it on the top setting. The air coming out is a couple of degrees warmer than going in, so it will warm a room ever so slightly. My old desiccant dehumidifier used to warm the room significantly, which would prove a problem on occasions.

HEPA Filter

The machine pulls air in via the back. There is the possibility to add a HEPA filter within, which will also operate as an air purifier. The set I bought included a free HEPA filter, although I understand that not all do. The Meaco website states that using the filter effects the performance of the dehumidifier by increasing energy consumption by 5% and reducing dehumidification by 9%.

As these are True HEPA filters they conform to international standards to capture 99.7% of particles that are 0.3µm or larger. They are the best filters for cleaning air that are currently available for a dehumidifier, apparently.

The Meaco 20L LE Low Energy Dehumidifier is intended for a 3 to 5 bedroom house, so may be a bit overkill for my 2 bed bungalow. But I did want something that could cope with the moisture in my house, which it does with ease. Officially the energy use is 219 watts, which has been independently tested. Meaco state that this would equate to 3p per hour, based on 15.32p/kWh at 20°C and 60%rh (relative humidity). I haven’t checked my own energy consumption, but I certainly haven’t noticed it spiking.

Features

Meaco state the features of the dehumidifier as:

• Digital display to show the current room reading
• Variable humidistat from 30 to 80%rh (in 5%rh steps)
• Automatic, motorised louvre to direct dry air through a wide angle
• Turn off with 1 to 24 hour timer
• Child lock facility
• Strong carry handle
• Easy glide castors

Their “Smart Control” logic allows for a balance between saving money and moisture extraction. You set the required humidity level and when reached it switches to fan-only mode. It actually goes slightly below your desired humidity, and switches back on when it goes slightly above. You can also use the Meaco 20L LE Low Energy Dehumidifier as a dehumidifier in the Autumn/Winter and as an air purifier only in the Spring/Summer.

If you have a damp problem in places like kitchen cupboards, or perhaps a caravan, you may wish to read my review of the Kontrol Moisture Absorber Trap…