MeacoDry Arete One 10L Review
A compact and efficient dehumidifier
Verdict
A neat and compact dehumidifier, the MeacoDry Arete One 10L has all of the quality features of its big brother, bar the ability to automatically empty into a drain. Still, for smaller homes or for use in a specific area, such as a utility room, this dehumidifier is efficient and works automatically.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Works efficiently
- Simple to move
Cons
- Air purifier is a little basic
- On-body controls only
Availability
- UKRRP: £159.99
Key Features
- Water tankThere’s a 2.5-litre tank in the model that I’ve reviewed, with the machine able to remove up to 10-litres of water per day maximum
- ModesThis model can run in dehumidifying mode or fan-only mode, which is useful if you want to clean the air using the optional HEPA filter.
Introduction
The original MeacoDry Arete One was a large yet sensibly designed dehumidifier for larger homes, even giving the option to permanently feed water into a drain. Here, we have the MeacoDry Arete One 10L. It’s a more compact product, built for smaller properties up to two bedrooms, but it’s small size is also ideal for placing it in utility rooms or outdoor garden rooms.
Design and Features
- 10- or 12-litre versions available
- Humidistat built in
- Clothes mode
The problem with many dehumidifiers is that they’re bulky, fiddly to use and a pain to move around. The Arete series was designed to address just those issues, with the more compact versions following the same principles.
Here we have the MeacoDry Arete One 10L model; there is a slightly more powerful 12L model. Both sport the same design and are relatively small in size, much like an air purifier. The rating refers to the amount of water that can be extracted per day, but both have a 2.5-litre water tank.
Meaco has carefully designed this dehumidifier to make it easy to move around. First, it’s on casters; I found it effortless to wheel it around. Second, there’s a pull-up handle on the front, so the MeacoDry Arete One 10L can be lifted and positioned exactly where you want it. At 10.7kg, the dehumidifier isn’t light, but I had no issues lifting it.
In fact, this dehumidifier’s size means it can be used with the optional wall bracket (£29.99) to keep it out of the way.
This model has a 2.5-litre tank, in which water extracted from the environment collects. There is an adaptor to attach a garden hose for permanent drainage. The only requirement is that the hose runs downhill, either naturally or through the use of the wall mount.
You won’t find any smart controls here, but everything you could need can be found on the Arete One 10L’s top surface. The main button lets you cycle through your target humidity level, rising in 5% increments from 40% to 70%. Typically, you should aim for around 50%; but you can go lower for greater comfort mid-summer, or higher if you want to reduce moisture but minimise running costs.
There’s a Laundry mode, too, which aims for a 35% humidity level and is designed to help clothes dry faster. This mode lasts for a maximum of six hours, switching the compressor off at 40% humidity while continuing to run the fan to keep costs down.
Once the humidistat has reached the target level, the MeacoDry Arete One 10L turns off automatically; it will turn back on again when humidity rises. This means you can set and forget about this dehumidifier. The only thing you have to do is empty the tank when the warning light comes on. When the tank is full, the dehumidifier will shut down automatically.
There’s a HEPA filter in the box, whose use is optional. Its purpose is to filter out unwanted pollutants in the air, making the Arete One 10L something of an air purifier, too. There’s even a fan-only mode, so it will just purify the air. It’s a neat trick, but a totally manual one – and the MeacoDry Arete One 10L doesn’t offer any information on how clean the air actually is. If you want something that will react automatically to the environment, then opt for one of our best air purifiers instead.
Replacement HEPA filters cost £29.99 for a three-pack, with each filter lasting around three months. There’s also an optional charcoal filter (£39.99), which also filters out smells and VOC gasses.
Performance
- Works efficiently
- Relatively quiet
As is the case with all dehumidifiers, power requirements and performance will depend on relative humidity and temperature. For example, at 10ºC with 60% relative humidity, the MeacoDry Arete One 10L can extract 1.41-litres of moisture per day, running at 129W. Get up to 30ºC and 80% relative humidity, and the MeacoDry Arete One 10L will extract 10.42-litres of water per day, running at 199W. Typically, given the UK climate, this model will cost around 4p per hour to run.
Key to keeping costs down, then, is the MeacoDry Arete One 10L’s ability to turn off when it hits the right relative humidity. Testing in the Trusted Reviews Home Appliance Lab, I set the machine to a target humidity level of 55%. Within a couple of hours, the humidity had dropped from 67% to the target level, after which the MeacoDry Arete One 10L turned on periodically for short periods to maintain that level.
This makes the MeacoDry Arete One 10L pretty efficient, since it’s only ever running while it’s needed. Based on my tests in a room with a 20ºC temperature, this model needed emptying roughly only once every few days; if you set a lower humidity target and operate it at a higher temperature setting and humidity level, the tank will need emptying more often.
When the MeacoDry Arete One 10L does start up, you’ll be pleased to know that it’s quiet in operation, measuring in at 47.5dB via our decibel meter. We found it loud enough to hear while the compressor was on, but it’s a gentle, low rumble that fades into the background.
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Should you buy it?
If you’ve got a smaller home, up to two bedrooms, or a specific space, such as an office that you want to dehumidify, this is a great choice.
If you’ve got a larger property, then you may need a larger dehumidifier capable of removing more moisture per day.
Final Thoughts
A dehumidifier is a great way to keep a room feeling comfortable during hot weather – working alongside one of our best fans – while helping to deal with damp in the colder months. For smaller rooms and areas, the MeacoDry Arete One 10L does a great job: it’s relatively efficient, easy to use, and works quickly and automatically to keep the humidity at the right level.
How we test
We test every dehumidifier we review thoroughly over an extended period of time. We use standard tests to compare features properly. We’ll always tell you what we find. We never, ever, accept money to review a product.
Find out more about how we test in our ethics policy.
Used as our main dehumidifier for the review purpose.
We test energy usage to see how much each dehumidifier will cost to run.
We test how often the dehumidifier has to be emptied and how easy this is to do.
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FAQs
There’s a 12-litre version in this range, plus larger 20- and 25-litre versions as well.
Yes, but you need to buy the optional wall mount.
Full specs
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
