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Short answer: for a room or garage that drops towards 10°C or below, a desiccant model. Meaco's own tables show its compressor models removing about a third as much water at 10°C as at 20°C; every desiccant model we list is rated to work from 1°C. They draw more power: 231 W to 735 W against 151 W for a 10-litre compressor model.
What Meaco publishes at 10°C
| Model | Name plate (30°C, 80% RH) | 10°C, 60% RH | 20°C, 60% RH | 10°C, 80% RH | 20°C, 80% RH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meaco Arete One 6L | 6 L | 1.25 L (90 W) | 2.63 L (101 W) | 1.76 L (91 W) | 4.71 L (104 W) |
| Meaco Arete One 10L | 10 L | 1.41 L (129 W) | 4.34 L (151 W) | 2.3 L (129 W) | 7.25 L (157 W) |
| Meaco Arete One 12L | 12 L | 8.33 L (157 W) | 5.23 L (151 W) | 3.77 L (131 W) | 8.33 L (157 W) |
| Meaco Arete One 20L | 20 L | 3.4 L (180 W) | 8.5 L (216 W) | 5.68 L (184 W) | 14.02 L (225 W) |
| Meaco MeacoDry ABC 10L | 10 L | 1.55 L (128 W) | 4.48 L (152 W) | 2.28 L (129 W) | 7.32 L (159 W) |
| Meaco 12L Low Energy | 12 L | 1.62 L (138 W) | 4.92 L (157 W) | 3.94 L (142 W) | 8 L (163 W) |
| Meaco 20L Low Energy | 20.38 L | not published | 8.48 L (219 W) | 5.86 L (165 W) | 13.74 L (228 W) |
| Meaco Arete Two 10L | 10 L | not published | 4.19 L (136 W) | 2.26 L (120 W) | 6.99 L (142 W) |
How we compare: criteria, sources and dates
Meaco's "Water removal performance" tables, read November 14, 2026. The Arete One 12L line shows more water at 10°C than at 20°C, which looks like an error on Meaco's page. No other maker in our list publishes a figure at 10°C.
Models rated for cold, by lowest working temperature
Every model whose maker publishes a minimum working temperature of 3°C or less. Ebac's compressor models (3°C) are the only compressor models in this list.
| Model | Type | Lowest temp | Extraction (as published) | Power | Per hour [calc] | Price (Nov 14) | Seller |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EcoAir DD1 Mini | Desiccant | 1°C | 6 L/day (20°C, 60% RH) | 270 to 442 W | 11.6p | £179.94 | EcoAir store |
| EcoAir Piccola | Desiccant | 1°C | 5 L/day (20°C, 60% RH) | 200 to 320 W | 8.4p | £199.98 | EcoAir store |
| EcoAir DD1 Simple MK3 | Desiccant | 1°C | 7.5 L/day (20°C, 60% RH) | 300 to 580 W | 15.3p | £199.98 | EcoAir store |
| Pro Breeze 10L Desiccant | Desiccant | 1°C | 10 L/day (conditions not published) | 630 W | 16.6p | £199.99 | Pro Breeze store |
| EcoAir DD1 Classic MK6 | Desiccant | 1°C | 7.5 L/day (20°C, 60% RH) | 300 to 580 W | 15.3p | £229.98 | EcoAir store |
| EcoAir DD2 Simple | Desiccant | 1°C | 9 L/day (20°C, 60% RH) | 260 to 570 W | 15.0p | £229.98 | EcoAir store |
| EcoAir DD128 | Desiccant | 1°C | 8 L/day (20°C, 60% RH) | 331 to 623 W | 16.4p | £239.94 | EcoAir store |
| EcoAir DD3 Slimline | Desiccant | 1°C | 10 L/day (20°C, 60% RH) | 420 to 670 W | 17.6p | £259.98 | EcoAir store |
| Meaco DD8L Pro (desiccant) | Desiccant | 1°C | 7.97 L/day (20°C, 60% RH, top fan speed) | 231 W | 6.1p | £259.99 | Meaco UK store |
| EcoAir DD3 Simple | Desiccant | 1°C | 10 L/day (20°C, 60% RH) | 420 to 670 W | 17.6p | £269.94 | EcoAir store |
| EcoAir DD3 Classic MK3 | Desiccant | 1°C | 11 L/day (20°C, 60% RH) | 420 to 735 W | 19.3p | £329.94 | EcoAir store |
| Ebac 2150e (12L) | Compressor | 3°C | 12 L/day (conditions not published) | 150 W | 3.9p | £179.99 (out of stock) | Ebac store |
| Ebac 2650e (18L) | Compressor | 3°C | 18 L/day (conditions not published) | 190 W | 5.0p | £215.99 | B&Q |
| Ebac 4150 (12L) | Compressor | 3°C | 12 L/day (conditions not published) | 190 W | 5.0p | £219.99 (out of stock) | Ebac store |
| Ebac 4650 (18L) | Compressor | 3°C | 18 L/day (conditions not published) | 190 W | 5.0p | £309.99 (out of stock) | Ebac store |
| Ebac 2850e (21L) | Compressor | 3°C | 21 L/day (conditions not published) | 190 W | 5.0p | £309.99 (out of stock) | Ebac store |
How we compare: criteria, sources and dates
Before you buy for a garage
- Drainage. A garage is rarely checked daily: most models take a hose for continuous drainage (Meaco, Pro Breeze, EcoAir list it; EcoAir's DD1 Mini page says "Drainage Hose: NO").
- Heat. Almost all of a desiccant's several hundred watts end up as warmth in the space: useful in a cold garage or conservatory.
- Cost. Eight hours a day for six months at 26.32p per kWh: £89 for the Meaco DD8L Pro (231 W), £104 to £170 for the EcoAir DD1 Mini (low to high), £242 for the Pro Breeze 10L Desiccant (630 W) [calc]. Check yours on the running cost calculator.
- Pro Breeze's advice, on its 10L Desiccant page: desiccant models suit "garages, basements, conservatories, utility rooms and outbuildings", and are more effective "below 15°C/59°F".
More on the trade-off: compressor vs desiccant. Every model: the comparison.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best dehumidifier for a cold room or garage?
A desiccant model, on the makers' figures: every desiccant model we list is rated to work from 1°C, against 3°C to 15°C for compressor models. The cheapest in stock on November 14 was the EcoAir DD1 Mini at £179.94; Meaco's DD8L Pro (£259.99) publishes the lowest wattage among them, 231 W.
Will a compressor dehumidifier work in a cold garage?
It will run down to its rated minimum (5°C for Meaco and Pro Breeze, 3°C for Ebac, 15°C for EcoAir's compressor models), but it removes much less water. Meaco's own table for the Arete One 10L gives 4.34 litres a day at 20°C and 60% RH and 1.41 litres at 10°C.
How much does a desiccant dehumidifier cost to run in a garage?
Its watts times your unit rate: 6.1p an hour for the Meaco DD8L Pro (231 W), 7.1p to 11.6p for the EcoAir DD1 Mini (270 W low, 442 W high), 16.6p for the Pro Breeze 10L Desiccant (630 W) at 26.32p per kWh [calc]. Many desiccant models stop when they reach the humidity you set, as compressor models do.