We know how unpredictable the weather in the UK is. One day it’s sunny and it feels like living in a sauna, and the very next day (sometimes in the next 5 minutes), you would be freezing or getting that raincoat out from where you stashed them.
The worst impact of this chameleon like UK weather? It’s dealing with damp, condensation, or trying to dry laundry indoors this winter.
And if you’re going through the same just like me right now, you’ve probably heard of the Meaco Arete One too. It’s easily one of the most popular dehumidifiers in the UK. But with UK energy bills rising, the biggest question on everyone’s mind is: How much does it actually cost to run?
In this guide, I’ll break down the exact running costs for the Meaco Arete One (10L and 12L models) using the official Ofgem electricity price cap of 26.11p per kWh so you know exactly what to expect on your next energy bill (that is if you buy it today!).
Meaco Arete One Running Costs – The Core Answer
To run the calculation, you only need three values:
- The Wattage: How much power the machine pulls (found on the manufacturer’s box or website).
- The Time: How many hours it runs.
- The UK Energy Cost: The current average cost of electricity in the UK under the Ofgem price cap, which is 26.11p per Kilowatt-hour (kWh).
Here is the formula that I used to calculate the price (based on the current UK Ofgem price cap of 26.11p per kWh):
Cost = Wattage of Appliance/1000 * Hours Run * Price per kWh
In the table below I’ve compared the running costs for Meaco Arete One 10L vs 12L. Hopefully, you’ll find this data helpful.
Meaco Arete One: 10L vs 12L Running Costs Comparison (UK)
| Running Time | 10L Model Cost (136W) | 12L Model Cost (151W) |
| 1 Hour | ~3.6p | ~4p |
| 4 Hours (Drying a wash load) | ~14p | ~16p |
| 8 Hours (Overnight use) | ~28p | ~32p |
| 24 Hours (All-day damp control) | 85p | 95p |
As you can see, the difference in electricity bills between the 10L and 12L models is practically pennies. Running the 12L model for a full 24 hours costs only 10p more than the 10L model. Because the 12L model extracts moisture faster and has a slightly better fan reach, it is almost always worth spending the tiny extra bit on running costs for the improved performance.
The Dehumidifier vs. Tumble Dryer
We all know that a standard UK tumble dryer is expensive. It uses roughly 2,500 to 3,000 Watts of power, costing roughly 65p to 80p per single hour. And we have been paying this amount in every electricity bill.
But after I was finished with these calculations, I realised that I could run the Meaco Arete One for nearly 20 hours for the exact same cost as running a tumble dryer for just one hour.
Conclusion
My verdict is that the Meaco Arete One is incredibly efficient and costs less than £1 to run for a full 24 hours. If you are trying to stop mold or dry clothes on a budget, it is an investment that pays for itself over the unruly UK weather and not just during winter.