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Ideal Home tested the Meaco 12L Low Energy Platinum Dehumidifier for 10 days and reported that it reduced indoor humidity within hours and helped dry laundry. The review lists an estimated running cost of 4p per hour, while noting that the 2.5-litre tank can be awkward to remove and empty and that the air-purifier mode made little difference in a burnt-toast test.
Ideal Home has reviewed Meaco’s 12L Low Energy Platinum Dehumidifier, reporting that it lowered humidity in the tester’s home within hours and helped remove moisture while laundry dried. The review lists a price of £182.99 and an estimated running cost of 4p per hour, while flagging practical drawbacks including a difficult-to-empty water tank and no castor wheels.
The reviewer tested the compressor dehumidifier for 10 days in a three-bedroom family home, first in a utility room and then in other rooms. It was used to reduce humidity, assist with laundry drying and test its air-cleaning mode. Ideal Home says humidity levels fell within a few hours, and that the appliance helped draw moisture from the air around drying clothes. The review does not provide measured humidity readings or a quantified drying-time comparison.
Meaco lists the unit’s extraction capacity as up to 12 litres a day, with a 2.5-litre water tank and a recommended maximum room size of 50 square metres. It measures 48.5 by 32.5 by 24.8 centimetres, weighs 10 kilograms and has a stated noise level of 41 decibels. Features include an automatic humidity sensor, timer, child lock and continuous-drain option; a hose for continuous drainage is sold separately. The model has no Wi-Fi connectivity or dedicated laundry mode.
The reviewer found the unit easy to carry between floors using its handle, but said moving it around laundry in a room was less convenient without wheels. The water tank filled quickly during testing and was difficult to detach and pour from, according to the review. In a test using deliberately burnt toast, the air-purifier mode did not appear to clear the smell much better than opening the windows.
Humidity Control Without Dryer Costs
For households dealing with condensation, damp conditions or indoor laundry, the review offers a practical account of a smaller appliance’s performance beyond its headline extraction rating. The reported 4p-per-hour running cost may make regular use attractive compared with a tumble dryer, but that figure is the source’s stated estimate, not a universal cost: actual electricity expenses depend on the user’s tariff and how long the machine runs.
The test also shows why specifications and convenience matter alongside energy use. A 2.5-litre tank can require frequent emptying when moisture is being extracted quickly, and the reviewer’s difficulty removing it may affect day-to-day use. The results are one reviewer’s experience in one home, not evidence that every room or household will see the same humidity reduction or laundry-drying performance.
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How the Ten-Day Test Worked
Ideal Home describes the 12L model as one of two appliances in Meaco’s Low Energy Platinum range. The other is a 20L model that also offers air purification. The review positions the smaller unit for rooms such as bedrooms and living rooms, and notes that colder, wetter weather can make indoor laundry drying and condensation harder to manage.
The tester used the unit in several locations and tried its available modes, including air purification. The model has a Quiet Mark award, which the source says reflects acoustic standards, and a stated operating temperature range beginning at 5°C. These are product specifications or certifications reported by Ideal Home; the hands-on review does not compare the unit’s measured performance against every competing model.
““I’ve found that it has reduced humidity levels throughout my home within a few hours.””
— Ideal Home review
Performance Beyond One Household
The review does not publish before-and-after humidity readings, the duration required to dry a specified laundry load, or a direct energy-use comparison with a tumble dryer. It also does not state the electricity tariff or calculation used to arrive at the 4p-per-hour estimate, so readers cannot treat that figure as a guaranteed cost in their own homes.
The burnt-toast test is a single, informal check and does not establish how the HEPA-filter mode performs against pollen, dust or other airborne particles. Results may also vary with room size, temperature, ventilation and moisture levels. The source gives the product price as £182.99 at the time of its review; current prices and availability may differ.
Check Price and Running Costs
Readers considering the appliance can compare its current price, room requirements and drainage setup with their own needs. The stated continuous-drain option requires a separately sold hose, while the tank must be removed and emptied when full. Households should check the manufacturer’s instructions for placement, filter care and safe operation.
Any further assessment would benefit from published humidity readings, timed laundry tests and a clearly stated electricity tariff behind the running-cost estimate. Until those details are available, the review supports a qualified conclusion: Ideal Home found the unit helpful for humidity reduction and laundry, but reported usability limitations and mixed results from its air-cleaner test.
Key Questions
How much does the Meaco 12L dehumidifier cost?
Ideal Home listed it at £182.99 at the time of its review. The current retail price may vary.
What does it cost to run?
The source gives an estimated cost of 4p per hour. The review does not specify the electricity tariff used to calculate that figure, and actual costs depend on local rates and operating time.
Can it help dry laundry?
Yes, the reviewer said it helped remove moisture from the air while laundry was drying. The article does not give a measured drying time or a quantified comparison with a tumble dryer.
Does the unit include a continuous-drain hose?
No. The model has a continuous-drain option, but Ideal Home says the hose is sold separately. Otherwise, water collects in the 2.5-litre tank, which the reviewer found awkward to remove and empty.
Did the air-purifier mode remove the burnt-toast smell?
The reviewer said it made little difference in that test compared with opening the windows. That single test does not establish how the HEPA-filter mode performs against other particles or allergens.
Source: idealhome.co.uk
