Forming part of Meaco’s Platinum range of dehumidifiers the Meaco 20L is the bigger brother of the Meaco 12L. Being the next step-up in Meaco’s range it comes with several notable improvements when compared to its predecessor.
The first is the adjustable 2-speed fan setting compared to the 12L’s one. The next improvement is a motorised louvre to improve airflow distribution. Lastly, is the volume of air it can move per hour. The 20L can produce an airflow of 160m3/hour compared to the 12L’s 100m3/hour.
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The reason these enhancements are important is because sufficient airflow is key to reducing damp and removing condensation. Therefore this plays a significant role in how effective the dehumidifier will be. It is improvements such as these that resulted in the 20L winning the Best Buy award from independent consumer research company ‘Which’ for both 2014 and 2015.
Despite, its powerful metrics the compared to the 12l, the 20L is an energy efficient unit which means it will cost less to run than virtually any other dehumidifier available today.
But does this make it worth the extra money? Let’s dive into our review of the 20L as we see exactly what this unit can do!
Meaco 20L Platinum – Key Product Specifications
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Prices & information last updated on 2024-07-27
Meaco 20L – Basic Features & Overview
The Meaco 20L is a big unit! It measures 38.5cm wide by 59.5cm tall and 29cm deep and weighs a hefty 13.6Kgs.
Due to its bulky size, some people could find the 20L difficult to move. To combat this problem Meaco have furnished the 20L with a folding carry handle, which is located on top of the unit. The handle feels very solid and is more than sturdy enough to support the full weight of the 20L.
It even arrives with casters pre-fitted to the base of the unit. These are discreetly hidden and came as a surprise to us when we found out we could simply wheel it around.
The wheels are firm enough that the unit won’t roll all over the place with the slightest push but still can be moved with ease.
In some of our previous guides we have noted that, even though casters were available for the dehumidifier in question, they had to be purchased separately. So, it’s good to see Meaco have included them ready-fitted to the 20L.
Looking at the rest of the case it smacks of high quality. The plastic has a sturdy, high quality feel to it and everything is incredibly well constructed and doesn’t have the flimsy, bendy feel we have noted in some sub £100 units.
Filtration System
![Meaco 20L Low Energy Dehumidifier and Air Purifier 2 in 1- Dehumidifier For Medium to Large Size Homes - Controls Humidity & Cleans Air All Year Round with HEPA filter [Energy Class A] White](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51NCJs1KMLL.jpg)
Around the back of the 20L, you’ll find the units dust filter. This requires cleaning every couple of weeks to help keep the unit performing at maximum capacity. For those of you with allergies, you’ll probably already know what a HEPA filter is and we were pleased to see that the 20L features a ‘True HEPA’ filter.
A true HEPA filter catches most of the allergens in the air such as pollen, fine dust and pet dander – effectively cleaning the air as it operates. This kind of filter will also help prolong the life of the unit by preventing large volumes of dust from being sucked into the appliance as it operates.
Water Collection & Emptying The 20L
At the base of the unit is a huge 6-litre water collection tank. It features a handy water level window at the front so you can easily see how much water the dehumidifier is collecting. During our test, we regularly used this window for just such a purpose.
Once full it can be removed by simply pulling it out of the front of the device using the two recessed handles on either side of the unit. A folding carry handle completes the tank and made it very easy for us to carry it to the sink and empty without fear of spillages.
Energy Efficiency
Generally speaking the more powerful the dehumidifier the more energy it will consume, and the more it will cost to use.
This is not the case with the 20L. It is one of the most energy efficient dehumidifiers available right now and costs considerably less to run than its peers, according to a performance report by Meaco.
Rated at just 255 watts power consumption the 20L costs 3.88 per hour to run – based on 15.32p/kWh. Based on these figures this makes the 20L cheaper to run than many 10 litre units.
Controls
The main control panel for the 20L can be found on top of the unit and, like the panels found on its predecessors, it is simple and intuitive to use.
We found the 20L easy to setup right out of the box and got the basic functions working without consulting the manual. The icons used to denote particular features are understandable and the bright segmented LED display is easy to read.
Let’s take a more in-depth look at each of the panels controls in turn…
1) Fan Speed:
The first button you’ll arrive at on your journey across the control panel is the fan speed button. This unit has two fan speeds – high and low. Pressing this button will illuminate either the high or low fan speed indicator icons located above the button.
Fan speed is an important feature to consider because it not only affects the dehumidification process but also the noise the appliance generates.
On high speed, the machine obviously makes more noise, but it is far better at dealing with damp and condensation quickly. However, this noise might not be suitable for use, say, in your living room where the unit might be too noisy and the low speed setting here would be preferable.
2) Timer:
Next up is the timer button, this works in conjunction with the up and down arrow buttons located immediately to the right.
Pressing this button once will cause its corresponding indicator LED to flash and the LCD display will show a double zero ’00’. By pressing the up and down arrows the 20L can be set to run for a fixed length of time ranging from 1 – 24 hours. After the set time has elapsed the 20L will automatically switch off.
Timers are a hugely beneficial feature because they allow you to use the dehumidifier at night or whilst you’re at work, for example, and allow you to keep a lid on the running costs.
3) The Up and Down Buttons
When not being used to set the timer, the up and down arrows are used to set the desired humidity level. The target humidity can be set in 5% increments from CO (continuous operation) up to 80% RH (relative humidity).
The generally agreed RH level for the home is 55% which is where we would recommend you set the machine. Of course, on colder days or to dry damp problems in your home faster, you will need to lower this to around 45% or use the CO (continuous operation) mode.
You can also use these buttons to activate a child-lock safety feature by pressing them both simultaneously.
4) Louvre Swing Button
By default, when you switch the 20L on the louvre swings open fully and stays in an open position for maximum airflow. Switching this on causes the motorised louvre to spring into action and it gently arcs back and forwards for better air distribution.
5) Indicator Lights
Above the power button, you’ll find the ‘tank full’ and ‘defrost/dehumidifying’ lights. The tank full light will, obviously, illuminate when the machine is full – but this might take some time thanks to its huge 6-litre water tank.
The defrost/dehumidifier light will illuminate a steady orange when the machine is actively drawing water from the air and flash when it is in defrost mode.
As with many dehumidifiers, this feature actively ensures that the unit does not decline in performance and prevents the formation of ice on machines internal components. This prolongs the life of the machine and ensures it remains as effective as possible – even in lower temperatures.
Meaco Control Logic
We would be remiss if we didn’t mention Meaco’s ‘Control Logic’ system.
This energy-saving feature ensures the unit only works when needed. Once the relative humidity falls 3% below your target threshold the dehumidifier will stop drying the air but, continue to run the fan for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes have elapsed, and the RH is stable, the unit will go to sleep for 30 minutes.
After 30 minutes the device will wake up and sample the air by switching on the fan for 2 minutes. If the unit detects that the relative humidity has risen 3% above the desired threshold it will begin to dry the air again automatically. If not, then the device will go to sleep for another 30 minutes.
This smart feature ensures the 20L keeps you home dry using the most energy-efficient means possible.
Performance & Test Results
Good airflow is one of the keys components in reducing damp and condensation within the home.
To meet this requirement the 20L features a top-mounted louvre which emits a continuous, powerful stream of air (160m3/hour).
Directing this flow towards damp spots can help them quickly dry-out or, when directed towards the room in general, can help with overall drying.
To test the 20L Platinum we setup a humid test environment within a kitchen. Several pans of water were gently boiled over 30 minutes to simulate cooking and to increase the RH of the room. During this setup condensation formed on the outer-facing walls and windows. In addition, wall-mounted cupboards close to the cooker hob accumulated moisture and felt damp to the touch.
So how did the 20L perform in this balmy environment? The answer is: very well.
The 20L was switched on and allowed to level out for a minute. After which the humidistat on the device read at 86% relative humidity (RH). This is very humid and, given that mould and mildew can develop at around 65% RH, represents conditions within the home that are unhealthy.
Within 10 minutes the 20L had the reduced the RH to 70% and held it at this level whilst we continued to simulating cooking conditions. This is impressive performance considering the already high starting humidity within the room and continued introduction of moisture into the air.
After switching the pans off the 20L was able to quickly and effectively reduce the humidity with the room. Within 30 minutes it had brought the RH down to 56%. Which is around the generally agreed ideal RH percentage within the home.
Within 40 minutes virtually all of the condensation had gone from the windows and walls. The excess moisture on the cupboards had also dried. Overall the 20L hugely outperformed another dehumidifier we tested: the Ebac 2650e. Which was unable to fully remove the condensation from the kitchen when tested in virtually identical conditions.
Given the results of our test, we would agree with the Meaco’s recommended home size for the 20L. It should be able to adequately cope with moderate to severe damp in flats and houses of up to 4/5 bedrooms. It is also a good choice for general use in the home, such as drying laundry and reducing humidity caused by showering and cooking.
Pros and Cons
What We Think About The Meaco 20L Low Energy:
It’s hard not to be impressed with the Meaco 20L Platinum.
The high quality build, easy setup and impressive performance alone make this dehumidifier one of the most impressive we’ve tested. But, once combined with Meaco’s energy saving Control Logic technology and useful features such as the timer and laundry dry mode, it is one of the best upper-mid range dehumidifiers you can buy.
![Meaco 20L Low Energy Dehumidifier and Air Purifier 2 in 1- Dehumidifier For Medium to Large Size Homes - Controls Humidity & Cleans Air All Year Round with HEPA filter [Energy Class A] White](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31tqWiHhkAL._SL160_.jpg)
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Prices & information last updated on 2024-07-27
Looking For a Cheaper Dehumidifier Than The 20L?
The 20L is an incredibly impressive dehumidifier. However, its price does put it at the more expensive end of domestic dehumidifiers.
If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly, yet effective, dehumidifier we’d recommend the eleqtriQ 10L or the DD122 Simple.
