Desiccant Dehumidifiers

Ideal for household use, workshops, or utilities where you need humidity managed. The Meaco DD8L is our original model and goes a step beyond basic moisture removal by including a dust filter and built-in ioniser, helping to reduce particles such as dust, pollen, and other allergens in the air.

The Meaco DD8L is a great option if you’re spending regular time in the room and want both humidity control and an extra boost to indoor air quality. The built-in ioniser releases negative ions that attach to particles in the air, from dust and pollen to bacteria and viruses. This causes them to cluster together so they’re easier to remove. This process also disrupts the surface proteins of viruses and bacteria, reducing their ability to survive. The result is cleaner, healthier air for you and your family.

View DD8L

A reliable desiccant dehumidifier and a firm customer favourite. The Meaco DD8L Junior is a fantastic introduction to Meaco’s desiccant range. It delivers the same core moisture control technology as the full DD8L, but in a smaller package. That makes it ideal for storage spaces, garages, boats, and caravans – any small, cold space where you don’t spend long periods of time.

View the DD8L Junior

Our Zambezi desiccant model with 6 world firsts. The Meaco DD8L Zambezi Dehumidifier boasts unique control features, and a built-in daily run timer (avoiding potential damage from plug-in timers).

The Meaco DD8L Zambezi is the first domestic desiccant dehumidifier to have: 

• A digital display
• The exclusive Meaco Energy Saving Laundry+ mode
• The Meaco Turn Me On function
• The unique Meaco 20+ Control
• A Daily Run Timer, On Timer and an Off Timer
• Two-year warranty

Each unit features a unique display with an emotive elephant face. This is a tribute to “Zambezi,” the orphaned elephant supported through the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation. It’s a small detail that makes the Zambezi not only a powerful dehumidifier, but also a reminder of the conservation work your purchase helps to support.

View the DD8L Zambezi

A desiccant dehumidifier removes moisture using an absorbent material and internal heat element.

Extraction performance stays consistent, even below 10°C and the outgoing air is typically 10–12°C warmer than the air going in which adds comfort in colder spaces.

This makes it a superb choice for managing humidity in a garage, boat, caravan or as a laundry shortcut.

Air passes over a rotating wheel coated with a desiccant such as zeolite which captures moisture, then a small heater warms and dries the wheel, to collect water into the tank.

A dust-filter protects the internals from larger particles like dust and allergens like pet hair and dander. Many of our dehumidifiers also have an anti-bacterial ioniser which cleans the air as the unit dehumidifies. An internal fan circulates the air and the unit sends dry air into the room that is usually 10–12°C warmer. Our Meaco DD8L Pro comes with a 3-year warranty so you can buy with confidence that your dehumidifier will offer high performance for years to come.

Yes, desiccants are actually the fastest dehumidifier solution to dry your washing! They provide dry air, strong airflow, and gentle warmth which leads to clothes drying within hours in a closed room. This reduces reliance on tumble dryers and avoids adding excess moisture to your home, created by hanging laundry on radiators.

Using a dehumidifier is cheaper than a tumble dryer too. The average UK tumble dryer costs approximately £1.50 per load of washing, and the high heat can be damaging on fabrics. A dehumidifier costs as little as 24p on a Laundry Mode cycle of 6 hours and the gentle airflow and moisture extraction means your clothes even last longer too. A desiccant unit, specifically, will dry your laundry faster than ever thanks to the additional warmth. Over a year, you could save £300 by drying your washing with a dehumidifier.

Read more about the fastest way to dry washing with The Meaco Way.

Desiccant models are best in low-temperature or unheated spaces where compressor units struggle. They’re also perfect for boosting your laundry drying, giving you less time drying, more time living.

Think garages, sheds, workshops, boats, caravans, basements, conservatories, and utility rooms. In all of these spaces, temperatures can dip as low as 1°C. A desiccant dehumidifier keeps extracting moisture consistently across that 1–20°C range, helping to prevent condensation and mould even in the coldest conditions.

It’s important to focus on choosing the best dehumidifier for your application, for it to deliver the best extraction rates for the lowest cost to run. While traditionally more expensive to run, a desiccant dehumidifier is designed to be efficient in conditions where a compressor struggles. In those environments, a desiccant will reach the target humidity faster, protect your possessions, and save you from the far higher cost of repairs or replacements caused by damp and mould.

For example, many boat owners use desiccant dehumidifiers to comply with insurance requirements for protecting delicate onboard equipment. It’s not just about the electricity you use, but about safeguarding valuable items and keeping humidity under control day after day.

Our DD8L Pro also has a Smart Energy Mode which puts you in control of your energy consumption and running costs. Premium performance, tailored to your priorities for better air, lower bills.

At Meaco, we’re always transparent. You’ll find up-to-date running cost estimates on every product page, calculated against the latest UK energy price cap, so you can make an informed decision.

Read more about choosing between compressor and desiccant dehumidifiers on our blog.

The biggest advantage of a desiccant dehumidifier is its consistent performance in cold environments. Unlike most compressor units, which lose efficiency as the temperature drops, desiccant models keep extracting moisture even below 10°C. That makes them ideal for garages, basements, conservatories, or any unheated space where damp, mould, or condensation can take hold. (Our Arete® range is the exception here — it’s engineered to run effectively at much lower temperatures than a traditional compressor dehumidifier).

Desiccant units are also lighter and easier to move than compressors, which is handy if you want to shift them between storage areas, boats, caravans, or different rooms in your home. Another plus is the gently warmer air they release. Because they recycle the heat used in the drying process, the air that comes out is usually 10–12°C warmer than the air going in. In colder spaces, that extra warmth adds comfort while also speeding up moisture removal — and even drying laundry faster.

It’s not just about solving problems once they appear. Desiccant dehumidifiers also provide preventive protection. For example, if you own a classic car such as a Morris 8, the interior is often made with organic materials like fabric and carpet. If mould sets in, it can be dangerous for the vehicle’s condition. By controlling humidity from the start, a desiccant unit helps protect prized possessions before damage occurs.

Yes, the ideal conditions for mould growth is 58%RH so using a dehumidifier to keep your home’s humidity between 45–55 %RH makes it much harder for mould to keep coming back. With a dehumidifier, we can help tackle the source of the problem not just the symptoms. Keeping your humidity well managed will give you cleaner, better air and reduce damp, mould and condensation.

Setting Smart Humidity controls and using continuous drainage where possible will make day-to-day use even easier. Just remember, a dehumidifier manages excess moisture but can’t fix things like leaks or rising damp, so it’s always worth tackling those issues separately as well. Read more about controlling mould on our blog.

Most Meaco dehumidifiers have a built-in timer. These timers are designed to safely switch the unit on and off at your chosen times without harming the electronics.

We advise against using a plug timer with your desiccant unit and to rely solely on the dehumidifier’s own timer if you need to schedule your day. These cut the power at the socket, creating repeated hard restarts that can damage the unit and shorten its lifespan. Our desiccant dehumidifiers are designed with a switch off period to allow the internal components to cool down safely. You will hear the fan running but always allow your desiccant dehumidifiers to fully switch off after tapping the off button. It’s safe, reliable, and protects your investment.

Desiccant dehumidifiers are built on a simple, durable design with few parts that need replacing. With regular care, such as cleaning the filter, keeping the airways clear, and using continuous drainage if possible, they’ll keep running smoothly for years. The desiccant wheel itself never needs replacing in normal household use, so maintenance is minimal.

At Meaco, most of our desiccant models come with a two-year warranty, DD8L Pro comes with a three-year warranty. You know you are buying a reliable dehumidifier and we are on hand to help with any questions.