Having featured the EcoAir DC18 in a previous guide, another fitting unit worth looking at is the EcoAir Arion 26L. So far, this is the largest capacity model that EcoAir has to offer in their compressor dehumidifier range.
At first glance, it is clear that the Arion 26L is perfect for large homes. But, the functions this dehumidifier has to offer are just as impressive as its impressive water extraction capacity. Of particular note, this model does not use a lot of power. It only requires 257W, which rivals the energy-efficient but more feature-packed Meaco 25L dehumidifier.
In this guide, we’ll take a look at the key features of the Arion 26L, look at its performance and what functionality it provides.
EcoAir Arion 26L – Key Product Info
Prices & information last updated on 2024-07-27
Overview
The EcoAir Arion 26L features a rectangular, all-white design that is favoured by most dehumidifier manufacturers. Granted, it is not the most attractive dehumidifier in the market. But, the top part has an electronic control panel with touch buttons and a digital display, which gives the unit a modern look.
Air Flow
As expected, the EcoAir Arion has vents that allow air to flow through it for dehumidification. The internal fan pulls in air from the back vent. After removal of moisture, the fan pushes out drier air through the side grill. As a result, there should always be space around the unit (40cm clearance should be enough), so that it can function correctly.
Something you will notice about the EcoAir Arion’s design is that its air inlet and outlet are not louvered and adjustable. While you cannot control airflow, the unit is still powerful enough for reducing humidity and drying laundry.
Portability
If you are looking for a compact dehumidifier, then the EcoAir Arion might not be what you need. It has a gross weight of 17Kg, which definitely weighs in as one of the heaviest domestic dehumidifiers we’ve seen. The good news is that EcoAir have made some design considerations to make moving this hulk of a dehumidifier a bit easier.
The EcoAir Arion comes with four removable casters that swivel 360 degrees. Therefore, you can roll it on smooth surfaces with ease. Lifting it is not necessary unless when you have to go up a flight of stairs. In that case, the top part features an ergonomic handle for gripping as you carry the dehumidifier to where it is needed. The handle pulls up vertically and retracts back into place when not needed.
Storage
Just like the DC18 and DC12 dehumidifiers, the EcoAir Arion also has the cable tidy feature. What that means is there are two clips just below the rear vent where you can wrap the power cord. It’s a nifty feature to have and will come in handy as you move the dehumidifier around or put it away for storage.
Emptying the EcoAir Arion 26L Dehumidifier
One of the most outstanding features of the EcoAir Arion 26L is its large tank. Its capacity is 4.2 Litres, which is at the larger end of tank sizes for home dehumidifiers (but not as large as the 25L’s impressive 5L tank). That means you won’t need to empty the tank often.
The water container mounts through the front of the machine, and it is effortless to remove. You can even monitor the tank’s fill level by looking through a transparent strip located on the side. When it fills up, the dehumidifier will shut down. A light on the control panel will also turn on, signaling that emptying is required.
It is often easy to spill water while moving a full tank to the sink or drain for emptying. But, the EcoAir Arion comes with a covered container and a small spout for pouring. It even features a flip handle that you can hold when tipping over the tank to empty its contents.
When putting back the water tank, you have to slot it into place correctly. If you do not place back the container properly, the Water Full indicator turns on, and the dehumidifier will remain in shutdown mode.
Continuous Drainage
If emptying a dehumidifier is not the right solution for you, then you can use the continuous drainage feature.
Unlike other dehumidifiers that have the drainage connection at the back, the EcoAir Arion has one on the side. Before connecting a hose, first, you need to remove the water tank then lift the flip cover concealing the drainage outlet.
Included in the package is a connector that screws into the drainage outlet. The hose will plug into the drainage connector. We also noted that the latter accessory has a rubber gasket to prevent leakage, which is an excellent addition from EcoAir.
As long as a hose is connected, extracted moisture will drain continuously, and you won’t need to empty the dehumidifier tank. However, you must direct the tube down to a drain or sink and ensure that there are no sharp corners to inhibit water flow.
Water Extraction Rate
As the name implies, the EcoAir Arion dehumidifier can extract up to 26 Litres per day. That is relatively high compared to other compact models, and it makes this machine ideal for larger homes.
Keep in mind, though, that the claimed extraction rate is only achievable in ideal conditions. To collect 26L, the EcoAir Arion needs to operate at 30ᵒC room temperature with relative humidity hitting the 80% mark. The actual amount of water extraction will be much less in the average UK home since conditions do not get that hot or humid.
Other Features
1) Backlit Digital Display
The EcoAir Arion 26L comes with a simple LED and touch buttons. Everything is easy to use, thus reducing the need for continually referring back to the manual.
A range of indicator lights turns on as you interact with the various control buttons. On the display panel, the current abient humidity level is always shown. What’s more, the screen will also display some of the current setting information as you configure the dehumidifier. Unfortunately, it is a bit small, so people with vision problems might have a hard time reading this.
2) Humidity Extraction Presets
With the EcoAir Arion, you can set humidity levels to reach anywhere between 35% and 80%. When adjusting the machine to your preferred setting, the percentage reading for relative humidity can go up or down by 5% intervals. Any adjustments on RH will appear on the display panel. All you have to do is press the ‘+’ (plus) or ‘-‘(minus) buttons once the dehumidifier powers up.
The Arion 26L can operate using one of three fan speeds. So, after entering a preferred humidity setting, you also need to choose a fan speed. There is a ‘fan mode’ button for this function. Pressing it multiple times will illuminate three light indicators one at a time. These include the LEDs next to a single, double or triple fan icon, which represent the low, medium and high fan speeds respectively. The multiple fan speeds will come in handy when you want to save on energy or reduce sound output.
Another good feature of the Arion is that it comes with built-in presets. The ‘mode’ button (signified by a water droplet icon) allows you to choose a preset. Its selections choose a fan speed and relative humidity setting at the press of one button.
There are four preset options to choose from, with the first one being the economy mode. Its indicator light is next to the single water droplet icon. Selecting this option will program the dehumidifier to run at the lowest fan speed with relative humidity set at 55%.
Picking the indicator light with two water droplets next to it instructs the EcoAir Arion to run on medium fan speed with relative humidity set at 50%.
The third preset (three water droplets) sets the dehumidifier to run at 45% on high fan speed.
Lastly, you can press the mode function button a fourth time to illuminate the laundry mode. The LED indicator for this option is next to the t-shirt icon. On laundry mode, the dehumidifier will run to lower the relative humidity to 35% with the fan spinning at its highest speed.
3) Timer Function
Using the timer function, you can have your Arion 26L run for a limited period. After pressing the timer button, the next step is entering a preferred duration that the dehumidifier will remain in operation.
Simply hit plus and minus buttons and the selected run time will display on the screen. You can set the dehumidifier to run over a maximum duration of 24 hours. The shortest duration is 30-minutes. You can choose any other time preference, and adjustments are available in half-hour increments.
Once the chosen time lapses, the dehumidifier will turn off. So, you could have the dehumidifier running in the evening when everyone is at home and set it to turn off just before bedtime. However, keep in mind that the EcoAir Arion runs with no time limit when you select the laundry/continuous mode.
4) Child Lock Function
Do you have little ones at home who might try to play with the dehumidifier? Well, the EcoAir Arion comes with a child lock function to keep curious little fingers at bay.
It is quite simple to activate this function. Just press the humidity/timer adjustment controls (the plus and minus buttons) at the same time and hold for 3 seconds. The initials ‘LC’ will appear on the screen to let you know that child lock function is active.
Repeating the same process will deactivate child lock. This is necessary when you need to switch to different settings because none of the controls will allow for adjustments in child lock mode.
6) Filter Clean Indicator
The EcoAir Arion 26L comes with a basic air filter placed flush against the rear vent. This is only good enough to trap dust particles. The more advanced charcoal and HEPA filters are capable of removing bad odours and bacteria. For this, you will need to consider a more expensive option like the EcoAir DC202 Hybrid.
On the plus side, it is not so hard to monitor the filter condition on the Arion. The first LED indicator from the left turns on when the filter needs cleaning or replacement.
Cleaning the air filter is quite straightforward, as all you have to do is remove it for vacuuming. You can use a brush to dislodge any stubborn dust from the filter. The other alternative cleaning method is to wash the filter with warm soapy water. However, it has to dry thoroughly before being replaced.
Cleaning the filter is the only real maintenance the Arion requires and it should be repeated at least once every two weeks. Of course, the Filter Clean LED serves as a good reminder should you forget. Once the filter is clean you need to press the ‘Filter Clean Reset’ button to ensure you receive another reminder.
7) Automated Functions
EcoAir designed their 26L Arion dehumidifier with several functions that operate without your intervention. There are three automatic functions in total, which include:
- Auto-Defrost – It activates when the temperature falls below 15ᵒC. In this mode, the machine goes off periodically to protect the compressor coils from frost (which could damage the unit).
- Auto Restart – If the power goes off, you can count on the auto-restart function to save your settings. When the power comes back on, the auto-restart facility will conveniently pick up where the dehumidifier left-off.
- Auto Shut Off – As mentioned, the Arion 26L will turn off if the water tank fills up. It also switches off upon reaching your set humidity threshold. This helps save energy and it only switches itself back on when humidity rises again.
Customer Impressions
At the time of writing, there are only a few customer reviews for the Eco Air Arion 26L dehumidifier online. That notwithstanding, buyers seem to be happy with this model. If customer reports are anything to go by and considering the features on offer, it is evident that this unit from EcoAir offers excellent value for the price.
Conclusion
With its impressive extraction rate of up to 26L per day, the EcoAir Arion dehumidifier is suitable for big spaces and homes of up to 5 bedrooms. It features an impressive array of controls and is ideal for dealing with condensation damp problems across the home.
That said, due to the fact it is a compressor dehumidifier, we wouldn’t recommend using this unit in locations where the temperature can get quite low such as garages or caravans. Even though compressor technology is getting better at performing in these kinds of environments a desiccant model such as the Zambezi or DD122 would be a better choice.
- The most energy efficient 26 Litres/day domestic dehumidifier in the market with Intelligent sensor that detects and...
- Easy to use Electronic Control Panel with Child Lock Function, Clean Filter Indicator, Auto Shut Off & Auto Defrost.
- 4.2L water tank with continuous drainage option, concealed easy glide castor wheels and washable air filter.
Prices & information last updated on 2024-07-27
