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Evening Standard

Lifestyle

Ellie Davis

MeacoCool MC Series 12000 air conditioner review: is this portable device heatwave-proof?

Meaco

As a nation, we Brits are well prepared for winter.

We are used to plummeting temperatures and have an arsenal of central heating, electric heaters, electric blankets and all the gear needed to keep us cosy and warm - but when the summer comes and the heatwave hits: we’re lost.

Thanks to climate change, we’re all seeing extreme weather grow in frequency. Last year’s swelter may not be as extraordinary as it appeared at the time - and that’s when you’ll be pleased you have an air conditioner to see you through.

I’d like to start this review by stating that while I like to consider myself technologically savvy, I am in no way skilled in any sort of installation or construction.

This feels like it’s some level of prerequisite when it comes to air conditioners as unlike fans that arrive ready to plug in and go, air conditioners generally need to have some access to the outside to expel the hot air and thus, come alongside a window kit to create a secure way to vent it outside. This is important to know, especially if, like me, you and tools don’t go hand in hand. So I was pleased to learn just how easy the MeacoCOOL MC Series 12000 BTU portable air conditioner was to set-up.

But I’m getting ahead of ourselves. Before breaking down each feature of this humidity saviour, first lets delve into the brand. If you’re not familiar, Meaco is an expert in all things air treatment - be it dehumidifying, purifying or cooling. The label has been on the forefront of the domestic cooling industry since it expanded into the sector in 2017, providing top of the range MeacoCOOL devices that sell-out in record timing.

To avoid disappointment, it is worth pre-empting the inevitable heatwave and investing early. This way, when the 40 degree temperatures arrive, you’ll be cool, calm and collected through work from home days and hot humid nights.

Unlike traditional air conditioning units, this is a portable option. This means that you don’t need it to be professionally installed like a fixed or wall-mounted device may require. This is possible to do yourself and can be moved from room to room as needed. The brand explains, “Portable air conditioners pull in air from a room and move it across a cold surface, which cools and removes any excess moisture from the air. Heat that is removed from the air is blown out of the room – along with the excess moisture – via a duct (normally out of a room window) and the cool, dry air is blown into the room”.

So is it worth the investment, read on to find out.

Specs

Weight: 29.5 kg
Dimensions: H76.2 x W35.3 x D47cm
Duct length: 1.8m / 71"
Approximate electricity cost: 46p/hour based on 34p/kWh
Energy rating: A
Maximum airflow: 410m³/ hour
Approximate room size: 20 - 30m²
Noise level: 51 dB (low fan), 53 dB (High fan)
Moisture removal: 1.6 litres / hour
Modes: Cool, fan, dry and sleep
Window kit tape included

Set-up

The MC Series 12000 BTU portable air conditioner is not a lightweight device. The portable air conditioning unit, accompanying kit and the box in which it arrives in are extremely heavy, so this is worth considering if you live on a high floor flat with no lift. Being home and receiving the delivery directly into the room in which you want to cool will save the beads of sweat forming on your brow and excacerbate the need for the cooling effect to follow.

You may feel slightly overwhelmed at first when unpacking the contents. Before you get to the unit, there’s a couple of tubes in various sizes (that will become the duct and drainage hose), the parts to create a window seal and some daunting looking plastic shelving-like plates. But as is the case with other Meaco products that we’ve tried in the past, it comes complete with a step-by-step instructions book that has simple language and pictures alongside it to ease the entire process.

When choosing its placement, you need a dry spot with no open flames. That’s pretty much the only requirement. The parts including the cord need to be away from water and you don’t even need to be that close to a plug if you employ an extension cord as long as it is the appropriate voltage. So away from bathrooms and kitchens is what is required with 50cm of space surrounding the exterior and you’re good to go. It is also important to have a sliding or sash window, rather than those that tilt or hang.

Creating the vent is a matter of twisting the various pieces together, placing into a sliding window and filling the gap with the plates and tape provided. The duct pipe is more flexible than it appears and can be extended outwards with all the parts to a length of 1.8m - it is fairly stiff but with a little elbow grease pulls apart. What seems tricky all fits together easily.

Functionality

The portable air conditioner has different modes. If you are intending on using it purely for Dry Mode or Fan Mode, you don’t need to vent it to the outside but you will need to connect the drainage pipe for the former. However to make the most of its full capabilities of Cool Mode, it is essential to have a way for the hot air to be expelled outside. This exact model doesn’t include a Heat Mode but this exists on the brand’s Cooling and Heating CH models.

The MC Series 12000 BTU portable air conditioner is operated through the control panel on the top of the unit as well as an accompanying remote, which both have similar buttons. On the machine, you’ll find the ability to set a Timer (between one and 24 hours), set the Speed of the fan (high, medium and low), Swing to turn the top air panel known as the louvre on and off (although this must be open while on), up and down, Sleep to reduce the noise level and dim the LED and Mode to switch between the aforementioned. There’s obviously Power too. No guesswork. Nice and simple.

On Cool Mode, you can give the feel of a fresh breeze or turn your room into the equivalent of a giant fridge between the settings of 16 and 32^oC. The unit will go into full force to achieve this temperature and then calm to just Fan Mode once it has achieved your optimal feel, automatically powering back up if the room hots up once again. The louvre mentioned earlier can change the direction of air flow. This feature is not about personal cooling, as you’d be better off investing in a tower or desk fan in that case.

This unit is all about lowering the temperature of your entire home. But before you break out in a sweat at the idea of your electricity bills, it is energy efficiency rated A so provides an affordable way to ensure you sleep well and throughout the night. It works best in open plan spaces, which is the set-up in which it was tested.

On Dry Mode, you are removing the need for an additional dehumidifying appliance as this portable air conditioner doubles up by removing moisture from the atmosphere to get to an ambient temperature through the fan. It is very important to have the drainage hose employed for this connecting to some sort of bucket or drain as the water needs to have a way of running out. It is also worth noting that the machine itself has a small internal reservoir that can collect water during Cool Mode. You can use the same drainage hose that you’d use on Dry Mode to empty this, which may be necessary on very humid days.

Fan Mode operates in much of the same way as a typical home fan by circulating air rather than cooling it. Sleep Mode comes particularly welcomed for the light sleepers for its ability to keep you at the optimal temperature without loud humming. This machine is not the quietest compared to others on the market. In fact, quite the opposite: when all is functioning, the machine is rather loud.

Design

This device follows suit with other Meaco appliances if you’re hoping for that matchy-matchy feel with its white exterior and minimalistic appearance. You’re not going to be showing off this household addition to guests and a sleek black colourway may be a little more subtle in the space than this model and its larger sizing. But if you’re after function over fashion, you’ll be thankful for its presence on hot summer’s nights.

Verdict

When it comes to room-filling cool air, this unit from Meaco is a powerhouse. The hard-working device is no wallflower both in its large size and multitude of functions yet does what it is suppose to and does it well. The ability to dry, cool and fan makes for a versatile machine that justifies its bulky presence and price tag. There are smaller models available but if you have a large open plan home to cool, call in the big guns.