However, it's not perfect. A powerful extraction rate of 20L, plus that Laundry boost mode, means higher running costs. This dehumidifier guzzles 440W of energy compared to the 20L MeacoDry Arete One's 216W. What the Pro Breeze 20L Premium does offer is a more generous water tank of 5.5L compared to the 20L MeacoDry Arete One's 4.8L, although in practice we didn't find ourselves emptying the MeacoDry that much more frequently. The sleek and modern unit with navy blue exterior stands out from the crowd in all the right ways, and whilst it doesn't have built-in wheels like most dehumidifiers of this size, the integrated carry handle and mid-weight build make it relatively easy to transport from room to room. If you want a more compact build, then there is also a 12L and 14L model available. Of course, with the cost of living and climate crisis, it's important to take into account the energy usage of any home appliance, and you'll likely be wondering how much a dehumidifier costs to run. Whilst this dehumidifier doesn't offer a specific laundry drying function, we still found it helpful at drying wet washing, although it took longer to do so than the MeacoDry Arete One Dehumidifier or Pro Breeze 20L Premium Dehumidifier with Special Laundry Mode which both offer a speedy dedicated laundry-drying boost mode.

On laundry mode, I put two loads of just cleaned washing on a clothes horse, letting the MeacoDry Arete One do its job. Once the laundry mode cycle had completed, the washing was dry. Performance can vary, depending on the relative humidity, the room in which you have the humidifier and the temperature. In terms of running costs, Meaco says that the 20L unit costs 3.3p per hour based on 15.32p / kWh – and remember that the Smart Humidity Mode means that you probably won't be running the unit 24/7 unless you have a serious humidity problem, in which case a dehumidifier may not be your best long-term solution. The Arete One also has an automatic shut-off function when its water tank is full. At this point, the unit will beep and a red light will be displayed to alert you that the tank needs emptying. This is a useful feature that cheaper dehumidifiers tend not to have, and gives peace of mind that your home's flooring isn't going to be damaged by any overspill. There's also a small window on the front of the dehumidifier that shows you the current water levels. Tina also took note of how straightforward the dehumidifier was to set up, empty and what it’s like to use day to day. For comparison, Pro Breeze's most energy-effecient comprssor dehumidifier, the Pro Breeze 12L Low Energy Dehumidifier, uses 220W to the MeacoDry 12L Arete One's 151W, and costs roughly 6p per hour to run.The Pro Breeze Low Energy dehumidifier also has several other issues that the MeacoDry 12L Arete One does not, as you'll find out in my Pro Breeze 12L Low Energy dehumidifier review.In fact, this is the quietest compressor dehumidifier I've tested, far outperforming any of the other models we've tested on this front.

However, if you're looking for a dehumidifier for use in a cold climate, the EcoAir DD1 Simple MK3 Dehumidifier's 1ºc operating temperature is hard to beat. It's also worth considering noise levels and energy consumption before you invest in a dehumidifier. What's the quietest dehumidifier? This dehumidifier is really easy to move around. It’s not light, in fact, it weighs 10.9kg, but there is a handy retractable handle situated on the top of the machine, which makes lifting it a lot more comfortable.

What we don’t like

During our testing process we found it really easy to use and operate, and our reviewer loved the Smart App connectivity (something few dehumidifiers offer) as it gave her a lot more control over how she could use the machine, saying 'the in-App experience is fantastic, the menus are really clear, and changing the settings is simple'. It’s certainly an effective dehumidifier. In a small bedroom with damp and mould issues, I saw the humidity fall from 67% to 52% within a couple of hours, and I had to force the target down to 45% to keep the purifier busy.