The EcoAir ECO DD122 Simple Dehumidifier certainly comes with a lot of great features and positive reviews. You might also hear it simply referred to as the DD1, since EcoAir recently changed its name.
It forms part of the every popular DD122 range by EcoAir and is the more basic version of the DD122fw Classic. Compared to its larger brethren the DD122 Simple lacks the digital control panel and ionizer of the Classic.
Despite these shortcomings, it is rated as one of the top dehumidifiers in the UK, and for good reason. EcoAir furnishes their dehumidifiers with some impressive ‘core’ features. And, the DD122 Simple is not lacking this department – even under the shadow of the Classic. It strikes an excellent balance between performance, features and cost. In this guide, we’ll take a look at the key features of the DD122 Simple you should know before buying.
EcoAir ECO DD122 Simple (DD1) – Key Product Info
Prices & information last updated on 2024-11-10
Design & Overview
If your home is suffering from excess damp or humidity and decent dehumidifier is a must. The problem is that, in the recent past, many were unappealing beige boxes. But we think the EcoAir DD122 bucks this trend and, for a dehumidifier, it’s quite a stylish unit.
The sides of the unit feature soft blue panels and the top-mounted Louver is made of the same transparent blue plastic. This breaks apart what would otherwise be a boring white box.
Portability
The top of the appliance is home to both the control panel and the folding carry handle.
Because the carry handle is a proper handle, (opposed to indented grips or openings in the side of the device) it makes moving the DD122 much easier. Especially when moving it up or downstairs.
In our experience, those units that feature a recessed grip as a carry handle can sometimes feel unstable as though they could slip out of your hand. This is especially true in heavier units.
When you combine this with the fact the DD122 only weighs 6kg this dehumidifier is easily transportable around the home. It is also one of the lightest we’ve seen and weighs 1.8Kgs less than the very light Zambezi by Meaco.
Portability is an important consideration because dehumidifiers really are multi-functional devices. They can be used to not only dry damp rooms but also dry washing and reduce humidity in bathrooms after showering. As such they are often moved around the home to where they are needed.
Water Collection
Moving to the base of the unit we can find the DD122’s water collection tank. This can hold a reasonable 2 litres between empties.
Emptying the tank can is simple and it can be easily slid out from the side of the unit. The tank features a folding top-mounted handle, this makes for easy carrying and emptying.
The more you look at this machine the more you see well-considered features that set it apart from the competition. One feature in particular we noticed was the anti-drip mechanism. This stops water leaking from the machine when the collection tank has been removed. This is a problem some other dehumidifiers can sometimes suffer from. Often these units require you to wait several minutes for the dehumidifier condenser coils to drain before removing the tank.
Safety Features
To prevent the tank overfilling and leaking the DD122 Simple will automatically shut itself off when the tank is full. This is a feature common to many dehumidifiers.
Finally, we come to the anti-tilt mechanism inside the machine. This ensures if the device is tipped over or knocked it will switch itself off automatically. Safeguarding you and the machine – a feature with obvious benefits.
How To Use The DD122 Simple
Rotary Dial
The rotary dial at the top of the device has a lot of features compacted into just one dial.
Whilst this may seem odd we think this is actually an advantage and allows for easy operation. With a simple twist, you can configure the device to operate in virtually any condition.
1) Regular Modes
Starting from the off position which is the furthermost anti-clockwise position you can move through a variety of settings. These range the the highest relative humidity (RH) of around 80% to 60% relative humidity (indicated by a single water drop), to medium humidity of around 50% RH (indicated by two water drops), to low relative humidity which is around 35% RH (indicated by 3 drops).
EcoAir used to indicate the RH on the control panel as a percentage. But a recent update uses water droplets instead of percentage levels. Which is a shame since this makes the control panel slightly less intuitive.
2) Laundry Dry/Boost Mode
Finally, you can move the dial around to it’s highest setting (IE most powerful humidity extraction) which is the ‘laundry dry/boost’ mode. Whilst in this setting the machine will run continuously no matter what humidity level is reached. This is ideal for drying washing indoors on cold winter days. It prevents the build-up condensation of windows and walls that drying washing on radiators can produce.
We wouldn’t recommend using this setting for extended periods because it means running the machine on ‘maximum’ which may cause it to essentially wear-out sooner. It will also cost more to run in this mode. Use it to help with excessive humidity problems and then switch it back to a lower setting.
With the exception of the laundry setting the machine will automatically turn itself off when the required humidity level is reached, helping save money.
Slide Switch
To the right of the rotary dial is a slide switch which controls the speed of the fan. This also impacts on how quiet the unit is too.
1) Economy Mode
When in the left position the fan is in economy mode. This is ideal for normal day to day use. It causes the appliance to run quietly and also means it will cost less to run too!
2) Turbo Mode
When flipped to the right position the device is essentially in ‘turbo’ mode, which is a noisier and less energy efficient. The two settings are quite handy. They allow you to get a boost of power when needed, to deal with excessive damp or humidity problems quickly, and then return to a normal mode for daily use.
Indicator Lights
To the left of the dial are two indicator lights. The top light indicates when the tank is full or hasn’t been inserted correctly and the light beneath is a basic on/off indicator light.
Performance
This is where this type of dehumidifier really comes into play with some impressive points that set it apart from refrigerant models.
Noise
First, let’s start with the noise, it comes in at an almost whisper-quiet (well, almost!) 34dBa. This is one decibel quieter than Meaco’s ABC dehumidifier and is very impressive considering the ABC is new to the market and pitched for its quiet operation.
The quiet operation is due to the technology desiccant models use to remove excess water from the air. They basically use a fan to draw in the humid air over a hygroscopic material that absorbs the moisture.
This is vastly different when you compare this to another type of humidifier; refrigerant/compressor units. These utilize a compressor system to cool a series of pipes/heatsink. This is why desiccant models are much quieter and also much lighter – it is the compressor unit which introduces the weight and noise.
Operating Temperatures
Next, let’s look at where you can use it and the temperatures it can operate in. Without sounding like too much of evangelist for desiccant dehumidifiers they do come out of top here too; and can operate quite comfortably in temperatures down to 1, right up to 35 degrees Celsius.
This means you can use the EcoAir in places where the temperature could drop overnight. For example, in your garage or an outbuilding near the home. Desiccant dehumidifiers do not experience the freezing problem refrigerant models do in lower temperatures which cause them to lose efficiency or stop working altogether.
Water Collection (24Hrs)
Over the course of a day, this unit can collect up to 7 litres of water at 20C with a relative humidity of 60%. This specification is also an accurate measurement within UK climate boundaries. For example, the average temperature within a UK home should be around 20C and the ideal relative humidity within a UK home is 50% – 55%.
And, when you consider that over the course of a typical winter day (the time of year most dehumidifiers are typically required) two people will produce around 1.2 litres of excess moisture, which cannot be absorbed by the home. This dehumidifier is ideally suited to pick up that excess moisture. Plus it would also have just under 6 litres in spare capacity after collecting this excess moisture, meaning it would certainly prevent any damp or mould problems occurring.
Finally, we reach economic performance, or how much it will cost to run!
The nature of the technology used means desiccant dehumidifiers are more costly to run than their refrigerant counterparts so it is worth bearing this in mind before purchasing (but, it is still only pence per hour). Many people have reported that only a few hours use per day does not produce any significant increase in their bills, so it would only be a real consideration if you need it running for extended periods every day.
The Filter
The filter is worth mentioning because comes complete with an anti-bacterial and anti-fungal filter as standard. This is a very nice inclusion as some dehumidifiers only come with a basic dust filter.
The removal of not only dust but also bacteria and fungal spores, will help with the odours associated with excess humidity and also help improve the quality of the air.
The filter has also been designed in such a way that it traps and destroys the bacteria/spores by breaking them apart and absorbing the elements of the cell. This is particularly beneficial for those people who suffer from breathing conditions such as asthma which can be aggravated by excess debris in the air.
The filter is also easy to clean by simply vacuuming it or by giving it a gentle brush.
EcoAir DD122 (DD1) Pros and Cons
What We Think
This device is really simple to use and has some impressive features. It’s quiet, yet powerful operation, and it’s two-year warranty makes the EcoAir ECO DD122 Simple a dehumidifier that is definitely worth checking out if you’re looking for a solid device that can be easily moved around the home and can get the job done without being too complicated.
- Powerful extraction of up to 7.5 Litres of moisture at cold temperatures as low as 1 degree Celcius. Desiccant...
- Silver Filter included. 2 litres tank capacity with optional Continuous Drainage (1 metre hose supplied).
- Powerful laundry function with turbo and quiet modes; Super Quiet mode at 34dBA; Adjustable Louvre for concentrated...
Prices & information last updated on 2024-11-10
