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Ideal Home tested the £182.99 Meaco 12L Low Energy Platinum Dehumidifier for 10 days and reported that it lowered humidity at home and helped dry laundry. The review cites a running cost of 4p per hour, while also noting practical drawbacks including a difficult-to-remove water tank and no castor wheels.
Ideal Home’s 10-day test of the Meaco 12L Low Energy Platinum Dehumidifier, listed at £182.99 by Meaco, found that it reduced humidity in the tester’s home and helped with laundry drying. The review says the unit costs 4p per hour to run and also has an air-purifier mode, though the tester found that mode made little difference to a burnt-toast smell.
The reviewer tested the 12-litre compressor model in a three-bedroom home, first in a utility room and later in a north-facing bedroom and near a bathroom. The test ran for 10 days, with the machine used to lower humidity, assist with laundry and try its air-cleaning function. Ideal Home reports that humidity fell within a few hours, but does not provide measured readings or a detailed comparison with other models.
The unit measures 48.5 by 32.5 by 24.8 centimetres, weighs 10 kilograms and has a 2.5-litre water tank. Its stated extraction rate is up to 12 litres a day, and the recommended maximum room size is 50 square metres. Features include an automatic humidity sensor, timer, child lock and a continuous-drain option; the hose for that option is sold separately. It has no Wi-Fi connection or dedicated laundry mode.
The review describes the dehumidifier as easy to carry between floors because of its compact size and handle. It also identifies limitations: moving it around a room is less convenient without castor wheels, and the tester found removing the tank awkward and pouring out collected water messy. The article lists a 41-decibel noise level and says the model has a Quiet Mark award.
Lower Humidity Without Constant Drying
For households dealing with condensation, damp air or indoor laundry, a dehumidifier can offer another way to manage moisture when wet or cold weather makes drying outside difficult. The review’s account suggests this model may suit people seeking a portable appliance for several rooms, rather than a permanently installed unit.
The reported 4p hourly running cost is a central selling point, especially for buyers weighing dehumidification against frequent tumble-dryer use. That figure is presented by the source, but actual costs depend on electricity rates, operating time and conditions in the home. The review does not provide a direct, measured cost comparison with a tumble dryer, so the claim should not be read as a guaranteed saving for every household.
Its extra purification function broadens the product’s stated use, but the tester’s burnt-toast trial did not show a clear benefit over opening windows. That distinction matters: the review found value in humidity reduction and laundry support, while the evidence it describes for odour removal was less positive.
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What the Ten-Day Test Covered
The source presents the appliance as one of two models in Meaco’s Low Energy Platinum range; the other is a 20-litre dehumidifier and air purifier. Both are marketed for damp, condensation and mould control. Ideal Home’s report concerns the smaller 12-litre model, not the full range.
The tester followed Ideal Home’s dehumidifier testing process and used the controls on the appliance, with the child lock often enabled. The unit includes a HEPA filter for its air-purifier mode. To test that function, the reviewer deliberately burnt toast with the windows shut and compared the outcome with simply opening the windows. The reviewer said the machine did not make much difference to the smell.
The report also describes the appliance as useful for drying laundry, but says it was not the most efficient dehumidifier the reviewer had tested for that task. It gives no measured drying time or quantified comparison, and the model does not have a dedicated laundry mode. The review’s findings are therefore a household test, not a published laboratory comparison.
“I’ve found that it has reduced humidity levels throughout my home within a few hours”
— Ideal Home reviewer
Costs and Results Depend on Use
The source gives a 4p-per-hour running-cost figure but does not specify the electricity tariff, calculation method or conditions behind it. Readers cannot use that number alone to predict their own bills. Actual energy use and moisture removal may vary with room size, temperature, humidity and how long the unit runs.
The review reports humidity reduction within hours but does not state starting and ending humidity levels, nor does it quantify how much faster laundry dried. It also does not provide a controlled comparison with other dehumidifiers. The article’s observations should be treated as the reviewer’s results in one home, rather than a guarantee of performance in every setting.
The supplied material does not establish how well the purifier handles pollen or other airborne particles in routine use. The reviewer says the function may be useful in spring and summer, but the reported toast test did not show much effect on that odour. The price and availability may also change after the review was published.
Check Current Price and Room Needs
People considering the appliance can check Meaco’s current listing for the price, availability and running-cost details, as the review’s £182.99 price is not a live guarantee. They should compare the 12-litre extraction rating and 50-square-metre recommended room size with the rooms they intend to use it in, and account for the 2.5-litre tank and the separately sold drainage hose if continuous drainage is needed.
Ideal Home’s source material reports a completed 10-day test and does not announce a further test or product update. Any later assessment would need to clarify measured humidity changes, laundry-drying performance and the basis for the hourly cost estimate before making broader comparisons.
Key Questions
How much does the Meaco 12L dehumidifier cost?
Ideal Home listed it at £182.99 at Meaco when the review was written. The price may change, so check the retailer for the current amount.
How much does it cost to run?
The review gives a figure of 4p per hour. It does not state the electricity tariff or calculation used, and real running costs vary with energy prices and operating conditions.
Can it help dry laundry?
The reviewer said it helped wick moisture from the air while laundry was drying, but also described it as less efficient for laundry than some other dehumidifiers tested. The model has no dedicated laundry mode, and the report does not give a drying-time measurement.
Does the air-purifier mode remove smells?
In the reviewer’s burnt-toast test, the mode made little difference to the odour compared with opening the windows. The source does not establish how it performs against other smells or airborne particles.
What are the main practical drawbacks?
The reviewer found the water tank difficult to remove and messy to empty. The unit also lacks castor wheels, which can make it harder to manoeuvre around a room, despite its carrying handle and 10-kilogram weight.
Source: idealhome.co.uk
