A quiet compressor dehumidifier for damp three- and four-bedroom homes, with a HEPA filter Meaco rates H13 and a purifier-only mode.
Updated
- 38 dB(A) Noise at lowest setting
- 3 months Filter life (maker's estimate)
- 20 L/day Dehumidifying
- 4.8 L Water tank
Pros
- Removes up to 20 L a day at 30°C/80% RH, or 12 L at 27°C/60% RH
- HEPA filter in the box, plus a mode that filters without drying the air
- 38 dB on its low fan; Night mode turns the display lights off
- Five-year Meaco warranty once the unit is registered
- Sits flush to a wall; 4.8 L tank pours from either corner
Cons
- No published CADR; its 160 m³/h top airflow cleans the air slowly
- Sold as H13, but Meaco's filter page quotes 99.75% at 0.3 µm, below that class
- HEPA filter due about every three months; no sensor, app or filter reminder
- No drain hose in the box: continuous drainage needs a 12.5 mm garden hose
- Best for
- Damp three- or four-bedroom homes that want one machine to hold humidity down, dry washing and filter fine dust and pollen-sized particles.
- Not for
- Anyone mainly after fast air cleaning, smoke or odour control in a big living room: a dedicated purifier moves far more air.
Our verdict
The Arete One 20L is a compressor dehumidifier that also filters the air, so judge it as a dehumidifier. Meaco rates it at 20 litres a day at 30°C and 80% RH, 12 litres at 27°C and 60% RH, and 8.5 litres at 20°C and 60% RH, closer to a British winter. For a whole house, the manual suggests a central spot such as a landing.
As a purifier it is modest. Meaco publishes no CADR, only an airflow of 145 to 160 m³/h, and a unit can’t deliver more clean air than it moves, so a room clears far more slowly than with a purifier. Meaco calls the filter H13, but its filter page quotes 99.75% at 0.3 microns, while its own help centre says H13 means at least 99.95%: read it as a fine filter, not a proven H13 stage.
It is easy to live with: 38 dB on low, a Night mode that turns the display lights off, a 4.8-litre tank that pours from either corner, and Quiet Mark accreditation on Meaco’s page. If mould is the worry, our guide to choosing an air purifier or a dehumidifier for mould sets out what each can do.
Filters and running costs
Change the HEPA filter when it turns from white to grey, which Meaco puts at roughly every three months. It comes in packs of three (MeacoDryArete20L/25LHepaFilter, shared with the Arete Two), and an active charcoal filter can go in its place for smells, with no change interval given. The washable dust filter in front needs cleaning at least every two weeks; Meaco says skipping that could invalidate the warranty, as can non-genuine parts or a smart plug. Rated power is 250 W, so eight hours of drying uses at most about 2 kWh. Our filter finder lists the Arete filters by model.
Living with it
Of the 53 owner reviews we read, mostly on Meaco’s Irish store and Hughes and mostly from the first weeks or months of ownership, eight praise how much water it collects and five how quickly it dries washing indoors. Four describe it as cheap to run so far, and two say one unit handles a whole house. The reservations are single reports: a faint swish on the night setting, an occasional vibration and a new-machine smell that faded within days. We found no reports of faults, but few owners had had it long.
Meaco MeacoDry Arete One 20L Dehumidifier and Air Purifier specs
- 38 dB(A) Noise at lowest setting
- 3 months Filter life (maker's estimate)
Heating, cooling, humidity
| Dehumidifying | 20 L/day |
|---|---|
| Water tank | 4.8 L |
Cleaning
| Main filter | HEPA-type (class not stated) |
|---|---|
| Clean air delivery rate (CADR) | not listed |
| Recommended room size | not listed |
| Activated carbon (odours, gases) | No |
Noise and power
| Noise at lowest setting | 38 dB(A) |
|---|---|
| Power on lowest setting | not listed |
| Power at top speed | 250 W |
| Noise at top speed | 40 dB(A) |
| Standby power | not listed |
Filters
| Filter life (maker's estimate) | 3 months |
|---|---|
| Replacement filter | MeacoDryArete20L/25LHepaFilter |
Controls
| Air-quality sensor | None |
|---|---|
| Auto mode | not listed |
| App control | No |
| Ioniser | None |
Size
| Height | not listed |
|---|---|
| Weight | 15 kg |
Warranty
| Warranty | 5 years |
|---|
Manufacturer figures, checked 2 Nov 2026. — means not listed.
Where to buy the Meaco MeacoDry Arete One 20L Dehumidifier and Air Purifier
- Meaco£259.99Go to Meaco (opens in a new tab)
- Hughes£259Go to Hughes (opens in a new tab)
- Marks Electrical£259Go to Marks Electrical (opens in a new tab)
Prices and stock change; the retailer’s page is always the final word.
What owners say
Owners bought the Arete One 20L for damp, condensation and drying laundry indoors. Most reviews come from early ownership and are very positive: drier rooms, washing dry within hours, quiet running and lower running costs than older units. Reservations are single reports: a faint swish in sleep mode, occasional vibration and a new smell that faded.
What owners like
- Pulls plenty of water from damp homes and keeps humidity down
- Dries a load of washing indoors within hours
- Cheaper to run than the older dehumidifiers owners replaced
- Quiet in everyday use
- One unit can cover a whole house from a central spot
Often mentioned in the 53 we read
- Dehumidifying (mostly positive; 9 of 53)
- Laundry drying (mostly positive; 5 of 53)
- Noise (mostly positive; 4 of 53)
- Energy use (mostly positive; 4 of 53)
- Value (mostly positive; 3 of 53)
- Room coverage (mostly positive; 2 of 53)
Based on 53 owner reviews and forum posts we read across Meaco, Meaco Ireland (Feefo), Hughes (Feefo), and Meaco blog Analysed
Our summary of what we read, in our own words, not quotes. Individual reviews and posts stay on the sites where they were written.
Meaco MeacoDry Arete One 20L Dehumidifier and Air Purifier questions
How often should I change the HEPA filter in the Meaco Arete One 20L?
When it turns from white to grey, which Meaco puts at roughly every three months depending on the room; you can vacuum it lightly between changes. Meaco sells it in packs of three as MeacoDryArete20L/25LHepaFilter, and the same pack fits the Arete One and Arete Two 20L and 25L. The washable dust filter in front of it lasts the life of the unit but needs cleaning at least every two weeks.
Can the Arete One 20L clean the air without drying the room?
Yes. Hold the Smart Humidity button for two seconds and the display shows AP: the fan then runs through the filter without the compressor drying the air, which suits summer. Hold it again to go back to dehumidifying. With the HEPA filter fitted, the unit also filters whenever the fan runs in any other mode, so you get some air cleaning while it dries.
What hose do I need for continuous drainage?
A standard garden hose with a 12.5 mm internal diameter, which isn’t supplied. It fits the right-angle adaptor stored in the tank lid and must run downhill without kinks. If you need to drain upwards to a sink or window, Meaco sells an Arete pump that sits in the tank, is powered by the dehumidifier and comes with 3 m of 9 mm hose.
What humidity should I set on the Arete One 20L?
Meaco recommends 55% RH, which is where Smart Humidity mode starts, and keeping homes between about 40 and 60% to limit condensation and mould. The target steps from 40 to 70% in 5% steps, plus a continuous setting. Below about 45% RH it collects little water, because there isn’t much moisture left in the air to remove.
Does the five-year warranty need registering?
Yes. Meaco’s terms say the five years on Arete models apply only once the unit is registered online. Filters, the tank and the hose adaptor are wear parts and aren’t covered. Fitting non-genuine components, repairs by anyone Meaco hasn’t approved, or switching the unit on and off with a smart plug or plug timer all void the cover.