The Meaco 12L Low Energy Dehumidifier will regulate the relative humidity in your home so that mould and condensation will be a problem of the past.
As the name implies this Meaco dehumdifier uses low running power as compared to other full-sized dehumidifiers. However this is not the only good point about this dehumidifier.
As long time readers of ByeMould know we are big fans of Meaco dehumidifiers. As a testimonial we currently have two Meaco dehumidifiers in our own home (the DD8L Compact and the DD8L Zambezi).
The Meaco 12L Low Energy operates on just 165w of power and when you combine this with Meaco’s Control Logic energy-saving technology, which can save up to 80% of operating costs against dehumidifiers without this feature, you are sure to save money from the moment you start using this dehumidifier.
The Meaco 12L is also part of Meaco’s exclusive ‘Platinum Range’ which focuses on low operating costs and quality construction.
Anyhow, let’s have a look at what makes the Meaco 12L Low Energy Dehumidifier great.
Features Of The Meaco 12L Low Energy Dehumidifier
- 12 Litre Capacity
- Simple style control panel
- Continuous Drainage
- Dust filter with optional HEPA filter
- Ideal for domestic Applications
- Just 165 Watts rated power consumption
- Unique Meaco Control Logic
- Digital Display to show current room reading
- Variable humidistat from 30 to 80%rh in 5%rh steps
- Louvre to direct the dry air at washing
- 1-24 hour timer
- Child lock facility
Meaco 12L Low Energy Dehumidifier Specifications
- Power Supply (Ph/V/Hz): 1-220~240V/50Hz
- Moisture Removal: 12L/Day
- 2.5 litre Tank
- Noise Level: 44 dB(A)
- Water Tank Volume; 2.5l
- Operating Range 5 – 35 °C
- Refrigerant R134a
- Net Dimension (W*H*D) 325mm x 248mm x 485mm
- Net/Gross weight 9.5 / 10.5Kg
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Meaco 12L Low Energy Dehumidifier
The best feature (amongst many) of the Meaco 12l Low Energy Dehumidifier is the fact that it operates on very low energy. We compared the Meaco 12L energy usage with its competitors and the Meaco 12L actually used the least power of all.
Utilising only 165 watts in operation and featuring the Meaco energy-saving feature Control Logic using the Meaco 12L dehumidifier will save you bundles in operating costs from the moment that you use the unit.
Extraction Rate And Water Tank
Extraction Rate
As can be assumed from the name the Meaco 12L Low Energy Dehumidifier collects up to 12 litres of moisture per day.
However please be aware that the Meaco 12L Low Energy Dehumidifier is a compressor dehumidifier so it may not collect as much moisture as a desiccant dehumidifier. Our general rule of thumb is to half the compressor extraction figure so that it may be comparable to desiccant units. In the case of the Meaco 12L the unit is roughly equivalent to a desiccant 6 litre model (obviously this varies between brands and conditions etc). Therefore your actual extraction rate, when the dehumidifier is used in UK temperatures, will probably be well below 12 litres.
The advantage of compressor dehumidifiers is that they operate best in warmer temperatures and are more efficient than desiccant dehumidifiers in temperatures over 20°C. However due to their compressor parts compressor dehumidifiers are heavier and noisier than desiccant units.
The water tank is 2.5 litres large which is large for a dehumidifier of this size however it sits snugly at the bottom rear of the dehumidifier. The tank can easily be pulled out of the dehumidifier. It can also be reinserted very easily. There is also a nice lid to prevent spillage.
If you want to use the Meaco 12L in an isolated area such as a rental property, holiday home, boat, garage or caravan etc then you will be pleased to know that there is a continuous drainage option.
The drainage option allows you to fit a hose to an outlet that bypasses the water tank and flows the collected water into a sink or drain. Therefore you can leave the dehumidifier run non-stop without emptying the water tank.
Note that this unit does not come with a hose for the continuous drainage function. Meaco says that this is because most people do not use it and it the hose only ends of in landfill. If you do want to use a hose simply use a piece of common UK garden hose. The advantage of this is that you can cut the length of the hose exactly according to your needs.
One further point to mention is that when the water tank is full the unit will automatically stop operating so that no overflow or spillage can occur. A warning light will alert you that the tank is full and the tank must be emptied for operation to continue.
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Meaco 12L Filter
The Meaco 12L Low Energy Dehumidifier is sold with a standard dust filter and this is fine for most people. However if there are people in the home or office that suffer from airborne allergies then you should also purchase a HEPA filter which kills bacteria and germs etc upon contact.
If you do buy any anti-bacterial filters remember that they should only be cleaned by giving it a quick hover. Do not wash the filter in water as the germicidal effect will be washed off.
Control Panel
The control panel is laid out in two rows and is very easy to understand and operate.
Top Row
Very briefly on the top row, moving left to right, we have:
Defrost Light: The defrost light comes on when the rods and coils in the dehumidifier get too cold. The unit stops operating until the rods and coils ‘defrost’ or rather ‘warm up’ again.
Defrost mode is a major drawback of using compressor units in colder temperatures as the unit will spend a lot of time not operating but in defrost mode. You will probably start noticing the unit going into defrost mode often at temperatures of below approx 16°C.
Timer Light: The timer light alights when the timer is set.
LED Digital Display: The LED display shows the current humidity level and timer settings. At ByeMould we love both a LED display and an actual humidity level reading (for obvious reasons).
Dehumidification Light: THe dehumidification light shows that the dehumidifier is working as it should and it not in defrost mode when the unit ceases to dehumidify.
Water Bucket Full Light: This light comes on when the water tank is full. The tank needs to be emptied for the unit to start operating again.
Bottom Row
Timer Button: Allows you to set the timer
Up & Down Buttons: These buttons allow you to change the humidity settings to your preference. Also pushing both buttons at the same time enables ‘child lock’ which freezes all buttons on the control panel so that they can’t be pressed by little fingers.
On / Off Button: This is self-explanatory
Adjustable Louvre
The Meaco 12L Low Energy Dehumidifier comes with an adjustable louvre.
The louvre combined with the timer feature makes for a great combination for drying clothes indoors. You can aim the louvre to blow the warm air generated by the dehumidifier over the clothes and you can use the timer to turn the dehumidifier off automatically so that you can go out and enjoy yourself while your washing dries.
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Meaco Control Logic Energy Saving Feature
Meaco’s Control Logic feature make Meaco dehumidifier the most efficient dehumidifiers on the market today. Meaco themselves estimate that a user of a Meaco dehumidifier which features Control Logic will save up to 80% of operating costs.
Here’s how Control Logic works.
Let’s say that you want a relative humidity level of 50%.
A dehumidifier without Control Logic will reach the set humidity level but unless you are monitoring the humidity level and are there to change the setting then the dehumidifier will just keep operating.
With Control Logic once the set humidity level is reached the dehumidifier turns itself off automatically for half an hour. It then turns itself on in fan mode for 5 minutes to sample the air.
If the humidity level has fallen or stayed stable then the dehumidifier turns itself off for another half hour. Conversely if the humidity level has risen the unit will automatically toggle into the best setting to bring the relative humidity back down to the target setting before turning itself off for another half hour.
As you can see if the humidity level stays stable the unit only operates for 10 minutes out of every hour in fan mode. This is very efficient in terms of humidity control as well as cost control.
Final Thoughts
We are very, very impressed by the combination of a very low operating wattage and Meaco’s Control Logic technology. We also like the louvre, timer, LED display panel, child lock facility and the continuous drainage facility.
If you have a smaller house or apartment and want a dehumidifier with low running costs then look no further than the Meaco 12L. For those with a larger house check out the Meaco 20L Low Energy Dehumidifier which won the Which? Best Buy award in 2015.
Reviews
The Meaco 12L Low Energy Dehumidifier has a 90% satisfaction rate on Amazon with over 70% of reviewers being 100% satisfied with the unit. Here is what purchasers are saying:
- “I bought one of these about 3 months ago and can only say good things about it”
- “Within 24 hours had emptied the container three times. Its like living in a different home”
- “brilliant product couldn’t be without it. Didn’t realize how bad the damp was in the house”
- “This is a brilliant item. I live in a very damp house, and am pleased with the results”
- “I live in a large L-shaped bungalow with 3 beds and it has managed”
- “I have been using this for a couple of months now and it is worth every penny”
- “In my old mid-terrace property with no cavity walls – condensation is no longer an issue”
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We hope that you found this Meaco dehumidifier review useful. If you have any questions please let us know in the comment section below and we’ll do our best to answer them.