Our regular readers will know that health is one of our favourite topics to write about. When Meaco informed us that they had launched their Armin® evaporative humidifiers, which could lead to healthier skin and can help with poor sleep, allergies, asthma, and more, we were eager to get our hands on one.
We’ve been writing about Meaco’s products for almost a decade, and for good reason: the company is regarded as the UK’s leading air treatment specialist. Admittedly, we are always confident when trying any of the company’s products, as in the many years we’ve been writing about them, none have failed or given us any cause for concern.
When we were informed that the new Armin® evaporative humidifier family was launching, and armed with the knowledge that the company’s products have never failed to impress us, we could not pass up an opportunity to try the latest addition to their ever-growing range.
UK Air Quality
Many people who live outside the UK likely have a romanticised vision of the country, imagining historic buildings, chocolate-box cottages, castles, beautiful rolling countryside with the purest air, bunnies hopping and deer grazing. I’m sorry to burst readers’ bubbles, but it’s not like that in much of the country.
Like every developed nation, the UK has hundreds of congested, sprawling urban areas, with streets crammed with commercial and residential properties and roads jam-packed with vehicles. One of the products of this is alarmingly poor air quality.
Supporting this, a few days ago, the British Government’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and UK Health Security Agency released a press release titled “Better alerts to make air quality part of everyday conversation,” which focused on an Expert-led review to boost public awareness about air quality.
The news release stated, “Air pollution is not just an environmental problem but has major implications for children, older people, and those with respiratory and cardiovascular issues.” Given that the UK government has doubled down on its concern, the timing for this feature couldn’t be better.
The Meaco Armin® Evaporative Humidifier
Currently, the Armin® Evaporative Humidifier family consists of two models: the Armin® 680, designed for spaces up to 89m², and the Armin® 300, suitable for room sizes up to 44m². The Armin 300 measures 270 x 228 x 278 mm, and the 680 is 338 x 343 x 285 mm (HWD). Given the layout of our property, we opted to test the 680 model.
Knowing if the air quality in your home is poor is far from simple. However, there are some physical indicators, which include lethargy, difficulty concentrating, and frequent headaches. Winter is often the time when these symptoms might be more apparent, as when it’s colder, general humidity is lower, and when the heating is on, it reduces the moisture further. Breathing this dry air in the home will be doing the mind and body no favours.
The Meaco Armin® addresses this by creating balanced humidity, minus the drawbacks of ultrasonic humidifiers, such as high maintenance and the production of white limescale dust.
In areas with hard water, people using ultrasonic humidifiers are likely unaware that each time they use their ultrasonic ‘health-boosting’ products, they are pushing out minuscule mineral deposits into the air, which will eventually settle everywhere in the house, waiting to be breathed in.
Hard water is a widespread issue, with around 6 in 10 UK households, particularly in the southern, central, and eastern parts of the country, experiencing it. This results in more frequent filter replacement and higher maintenance costs, which nobody wants.
Evaporative Air-flow Design
It’s in the design stakes where the Meaco Armin humidifiers show their superiority.
Among the many standout features of Meaco’s unique evaporative air-flow design are the removable evaporative filter pads, which not only remove limescale and impurities but also last twice as long as those in traditional ultrasonic humidifiers. The clever design means that Meaco Armin humidifiers don’t emit droplets (mist) that could carry viruses, limescale, or bacteria around a room; instead, owners will experience pure, perfectly humidified air.
In addition to the above, the Meaco Armin humidifiers boast industry-leading Silvertex® technology. This technology prevents bacterial growth using silver ions, resulting in healthier and cleaner humidity without the need for additional chemicals.
Using the Meaco Armin 680
Setting up the Meaco Armin for use was super easy. All we needed to do was lift the body off the base, remove the packaging from the filters, put them back into the base, plug it in, and fill the reservoir with water, which had to be done via a pull-out panel on the side or by lifting the body.
On the top of the humidifier is a small LED panel and four raised buttons, which allow you to access the different modes: Night Mode (Sleep), Meaco Control Logic, which balances efficient humidification with low-cost usage, and Turbo Mode, which delivers fast-acting evaporation.
As most of our tests were performed in the evening, we frequently found ourselves using the night mode. We placed Armin in our hallway with the doors open, and the low noise emitted meant that each time we passed, we found ourselves double-checking that it was still operating.
The minimal noise generated in Night Mode (24dB) makes it an ideal companion in the bedroom, where it will no doubt help people get to sleep. While on the subject of sleep, dry air worsens snoring, COPD and nasal polyps, so having the Armin in the bedroom will help reduce congestion and irritation.
Although much of our use was in Night Mode, we did try the Smart Humidity and Turbo modes. Although the noise was slightly more noticeable, it was not distracting or disruptive.
Final Thoughts
The new 680 and 380 humidifiers boast a sleek, fuss-free design that allows them to blend into most rooms in the home, where they’ll go about their business quietly enhancing the environment.
Before writing this piece, I assumed that humidifiers were pretty much all the same. However, I now know that the way ultrasonics operate has the potential to do me more harm than good. Armed with this knowledge and not being a risk-taker, it’s clear that Meaco’s evaporative air-flow design is a safer way forward when it concerns health.
Overall, the 680 we tested matched our high expectations. My only minor criticism is with the button keypad, which I found a little ‘fiddly’. However, that is just my personal preference.
I’ll conclude this review of the Meaco Armin® evaporative humidifier by answering a hugely important question: “How much does it cost to run?” The good news is that, according to Meaco, their evaporative humidifiers will cost less than 1 pence per hour to run, thanks to Meaco’s energy-efficient fan technology.
Meaco’s new humidifiers come with a three-year warranty and are available at www.meaco.com. The 680 model is priced at £179.99, and the 380 is £129.99. The website also provides more information on each model, product videos, and a full rundown of all the specifications.
You must be logged in to post a comment.