Humidifier Reviews

I give this 4 stars, simply because for a few bucks more you can get the Honeywell HWM 2030 with variable humidity control (this only has high/low) and 3 gallon capacity (this has 2 gal.). However I opted to buy this one because I wanted something a little smaller and easier to lug around. I am DELIGHTED with it. Very quiet, very effective. In the past we've owned cool mist humidifiers which were a pain to clean and needed filters and/or bacteria-killing additives. Warm mist is definitely the way to go, and the Honeywell product line, based on my limited experience plus all the other reviews, seems like the best bet to me. I'm breathing better already.

I bought this product because of the brand name, the reasonable price, and the overall positive customer reviews. So far I've been very pleased. Except for the glug of the water going into the tray, the humidifier is extremely quiet. At least once I've forgotten it was even on. Unlike most people on here, my sinus problems arise in the spring and summer. I've found it to work satisfactorily when the air conditioner, fan, or window is open. Obviously it isn't as effective as when the windows are closed and the fan/AC isn't on.

I pretty much only use the humidifier at night and on the settings I generally use it goes through about 75-80% of a full container of water. It takes but a few minutes to refill and I do it before I go to bed at night. The cleaning also doesn't take very long even in a household with hard water. The pamphlet suggests a 20 minute soak in a vinegar/water solution. While it was soaking I spray CLR onto the "heating element" and used a toothbrush to scrub. I've also soaked it in a solution of CLR and water or used some of the vinegar/water solution. You may need a little bit of elbow grease, but by the time I was done the 20 minutes was about up. Minimal wiping was needed for the tray. I too am busy, but I was easily able to find 20 minutes to clean the humidifier.

The pamphlet also suggests sitting the machine on a tray or something similar, however I have mine sitting right on the carpet next to my bed. I've experienced no leaking or spills whatsoever.

I do agree that something beyond little dewdrops for the humidity control would be helpful, but I've set mine in the middle and have found that be just fine in either the high or low setting. I suppose it could be problematic if someone is running the machine 24/7 or needs a room to be at a specific humidity level, however that is not an issue in my case. Also, because I only run the machine at night and it's not cranked all the way up, I have not had any experience with the automatic shutoff.

I do agree that the machine itself does not seem to be made of particularly durable plastic and the vent doesn't seem to fit quite right. I expected the parts to lock into place better, but I have not experienced any problems as a result. If you plan to set the machine on the floor I would however be sure it won't be in an area where it risks getting bumped.

My only concern is the electricity usage. It doesn't mention it anywhere on the packaging or in the pamphlet. Two reviews mention it running in excess of 300 watts. Obviously I prefer to keep my electric bill as low as possible and with the added costs of running the AC or fan during the summer, I am concerned about the additional cost of running the humidifier.

3 gallon water dissapears in about 12 hours when it's on full blast and it's amazing where it's all gone. I would've imagined it would make floor and furniture spaces humid and wet. but no. it's almost hardly noticeable but definitely helps my sinus to breath better. I only use brita filtered water. so I don't have to clean up mineral deposit build up on the heating element. Yeah.. material used is definitely the cheapest plastic available on the planet. It probably won't last. but then it's 32 bucks to begin with so I'm not complaining. just another gadget from disaposable age.

I'm thinking about getting another one to really feel the humid.

I had a cool mist humidifier that was loud and very high maintence. It had a filter that cost as much as the unit itself. I started reviewing humidifiers on the net and found that the warm air ones were a better deal. The thing that I was most impressed about the Honeywell, was the fact it did not have a filter to replace, cleaning was very simple, and the large water storage tank. I have had the Honeywell now for about two weeks and love it. It is very quiet even on the high setting. High setting does however use more water, but low will go at least 12 hours with continuous running. When the humidifier reaches the set humidity level, it will shut off and come back on when the level drops again. The unit will also shut off when it runs out of water. I am looking at buying another Honeywell for another room.

I originally purchased the Hunter humidifier based upon internet reviews. It certainly worked in the beginning to humidify the room quickly. The problem is that the unit is pretty noisy when new, and became awful as time progressed. It's worth noting that I can sleep through almost anything, living in noisy New York City as I do. As such, I returned the unit and got a Hamilton Beach instead. I think that it is the better, and quieter, humidifier.

We purchased this humidifier and within 7 days, it was returned. The fans blades kept hitting on something inside the fan housing and on closer inspection, they have placed part of the electrical connection inside the housing and secured it with a plastic tighener - bad idea. The clicking sound drove me nuts. It sounded like the cards you would place on the rear tire of your bike when you were a kid. I have contacted Hunter about this problem and hope that they rectify it. The product works great and except for the noise, performed very well.

The unit makes a very loud, very annoying whiny noise. Even on the lowest fan speed, I can't sleep with it on, and if I am watching tv, I have to turn the tv volume up to hear over it. I have tolerated the noise for a full two days now, and the humidity has only increased 2%. It took about 36 hours to empty its water tank, so it's obviously not very effective at getting the moisture into the air. And as others have indicated, the water in the base of the unit is getting a little grungy looking. One more thing I wish I had considered when shopping for a humidifier, is that some put out warm mist while others put out cold mist. If you are cold natured like me, avoid the cold mist ones! I shiver every time I walk past it. Maybe if you plan to use it in the summer this would be refreshing, but in the winter this is not only unpleasant, but it doesn't make sense to have something that blows cold air into a house you are trying to heat. The one positive thing I can say is that the night light looks pretty cool.

I thought this humidifier sounded perfect--no filters, low noise, yearly cleaning. What a disappointment. It sounds like a constant running faucet and on any setting other than low, it sounds like industrial equipment. After one month, there was slime and mildew all over the inside. I would never recommend it.

I just got this humidifier yesterday and used it in my bedroom for the first night. I was able to sleep over the sound of the fan, but then at 6:00 AM I started hearing a lot of noise. At first I thought that the neighbors were playing the stereo. Then, I thought that someone was warming up a Harley in the parking lot. It turned out to be the humidifier. It was making a very loud vibration noise, which was even worse in the room below. I put it on a milk crate to get it off the carpet and put some padding underneath it. That helped, but if it doesn't any better in the next few nights, it is going back.

I have the yellow stuff in the water too, but it is just the anti-bacteria coating from the filters so it is not a problem.