# Meaco DD8L vs Arete One

Source: https://dampanddry.co.uk/blog/meaco-dd8l-vs-arete-one
Published: 2026-10-11
Publisher: Damp and Dry

**In short:** Pick the Meaco DD8L if the room you need to treat is cold, such as a garage, conservatory or unheated bedroom, because a desiccant unit keeps extracting in cool air and adds some warmth. Pick the Arete One for a heated home, because a compressor unit draws fewer watts for the water it removes at normal room temperatures.

The DD8L and the Arete One are both popular Meaco dehumidifiers, but they use different technology and suit different rooms. The DD8L is a desiccant model that Meaco lists as ideal for unheated rooms below 10 °C. The Arete One is a compressor model for heated living spaces. This guide compares them on the points that decide the choice: the temperature of your coldest room, the watts each draws, the warmth they add and the noise they make.

## How they differ inside

The **DD8L** uses a zeolite wheel that soaks up moisture, and a heater that drives the moisture off so it can be collected. It does not rely on a cold coil, so it keeps working as the room cools. The **Arete One** uses a refrigerant circuit to chill a coil below the dew point, which works well in warm, humid air and less well in the cold.

Our [desiccant vs compressor comparison](https://dampanddry.co.uk/blog/desiccant-vs-compressor-dehumidifier) explains the physics in more depth.

## Listed specs

The DD8L listing gives 8 litres a day, 660 W, two fan speeds, an ioniser, an antibacterial filter, laundry drying and a timer, at 7.04 kg. The Arete One is not in our product data, so check Meaco's spec sheet for the size you want; as a guide, the newer Arete Two 20L is listed at 350 W.

|  | Meaco DD8L | Meaco Arete One |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Type | Desiccant | Compressor |
| Listed extraction | 8 L a day | Check size |
| Listed power | 660 W at full power | Check spec sheet |
| Best room temperature | Cold rooms, below 10 °C | Heated rooms |
| Adds warmth | Yes, noticeably | Slightly |
| Weight | 7.04 kg | Check spec sheet |

Key differences (DD8L from its listing; Arete One from Meaco's site)

## Your coldest room decides

Think about the room in January. If it is a heated lounge or bedroom at 18 to 21 °C, the Arete One will remove more water for each kWh. If it is a garage, a cellar, a conservatory or a bedroom with the heating off, the DD8L will keep working when a compressor unit would slow down and spend time defrosting.

The DD8L's heat is part of its appeal in cold spaces: almost all the electricity it uses ends up as warmth in the room. In a warm room, that same heat is less welcome, especially in summer.

[Best dehumidifiers for garages and cellars](https://dampanddry.co.uk/best/best-dehumidifier-for-garage-and-cellar)

## Running costs at your unit rate

Multiply the watts by the hours and divide by 1,000 to get kWh, then multiply by your unit rate from your bill. At full power the DD8L uses 0.66 kWh an hour. A compressor unit of a few hundred watts uses less per hour, though in a cold room it may need more hours to do the same job. Both have humidity control, so neither needs to run around the clock. Try the figures in the [running-cost calculator](https://dampanddry.co.uk/tools/running-cost-calculator).

Desiccant units often have a lower power setting too. Check the DD8L manual for the modes on your version.

## Noise, weight and laundry

The DD8L is light at 7.04 kg and easy to carry to a caravan or garage. It has no compressor, so the sound is mostly fan noise. Compressor units are heavier and should stand upright for a while after being moved on their side.

Both can dry washing. The DD8L's warm air helps in a cool room, while the Arete One is cheaper to run for laundry in a warm one.

- Garage, cellar, caravan, conservatory: DD8L
- Heated home, lowest kWh: Arete One
- Cold bedroom with heating off: DD8L
- Laundry in a warm room: Arete One

## Using both in one home

Some homes are best served by one of each. A typical example is a heated house with a damp, unheated garage or a conservatory that goes cold at night. An Arete One on the landing keeps the living space at a sensible humidity, while a DD8L protects tools, stored clothes or a car in the cold space. Each works where it is most efficient, and neither has to run long hours outside its comfort zone.

If you can only buy one and the house is mostly heated, start with the compressor unit and keep doors to cold rooms closed. If the main problem is a single cold room, start with the DD8L. In either case set a target around 50 to 60 % RH and let the humidistat do the work; see [what humidity to set a dehumidifier to](https://dampanddry.co.uk/blog/dehumidifier-humidity-settings).

## Frequently asked questions

**Is the Meaco DD8L better than the Arete One?** In cold rooms, yes. In heated rooms, the Arete One usually removes more water per kWh. Choose by the temperature of the room.

**Does the Meaco DD8L heat the room?** Yes. As a desiccant unit it releases the heater's energy into the room, so the air coming out is warm.

**Can the Arete One go in a garage?** In mild weather it can, but in winter its output falls and the coil may ice up. A desiccant model suits a cold garage better.

## Buying guides on this topic

- https://dampanddry.co.uk/best/best-desiccant-dehumidifier
- https://dampanddry.co.uk/best/best-dehumidifier-for-garage-and-cellar
- https://dampanddry.co.uk/best/best-dehumidifier-uk

## Sources

- [Meaco](https://www.meaco.com)