Pure Guardian H4500 144 Hour Ultrasonic Humidifier

When I first moved to the high mountains (8400') of Colorado, I used a wick-type humidifier constantly. I also had a nasty little cough that stayed with me for 18 months. Finally, I took my doctor's advice and junked the humidifier. End of cough, due to things growing in the unit. I have been shopping for humidifiers again for a while, and found them all to be lacking severely. Either they were the same type of filter construction that had caused my illness, or they were cheaply made, or low-capacity. This unit may have a tippy storage tank when turned upside-down to fill, but it is well made. The screw-on cap for the reservoir is sturdy and has a rubber gasket. There are carrying handles on the top and bottom of the water container to make it easy to manage, and it puts out a LOT of humidity. At 2/3 setting, it ran the humidity in my bedroom from 22 to 35% the first night, all while being completely silent. The (silent) piezo-electric ultrasonic element is the same as is used in the tweeters of my big PA speakers, and these are practically indestructible if kept clean. The huge water reservoir does mean that it is big, and the styling is retro, which is OK, I guess. More expensive units from the same manufacturer have useless and noisy digital features with the same overall construction. Overall, a solid five.

Update on 22Mar2012: This thing is great. The silver (yes, they impregnate the plastic with silver) added to the water chamber means that there is virtually no scum build-up inside. I did clean it once in the time I have had it. The little metal diaphragm of the ultrasonic element is brass not silver, so I do wipe that off every now and then, but this thing is fantastic. I always run filtered water in it. If you don't, you are either leaving the unfiltered residue in the tank, or blowing it out into your room! Give your sinuses, musical instruments and wood furniture a nice gift.

I bought this humidifier because it seemed perfect:

1, Large capacity 2 gallons or so lasts about 24 hours and isn't too heavy to re-fill

2, Cool mist OR warm mist capability I prefer warm mist, but the heating elements usually take too much cleaning

3, Virtually silent operation no loud fans, just the occasional bubble from the reservoir

4, Nice design

5, Great reviews durability and performance were both praised

6, Germ prevention not sure this is strictly necessary with a warm mist humidifier (boiling water, etc), but apparently a nice to have for cold mist humidifiers.

Believing this justified the cost, which is 2.5 times more than any other humidifier I've ever bought, I bought one. It worked pretty well for just less than 2 weeks. Then there was a loud popping noise and now it doesn't work anymore.

I will bother to exchange it for a new one, but I won't be buying any others from this maker. At the price, I would expect much greater durability (even the forty dollar humidifiers last a couple of years or so) and there should be an electronic humidistat so that you can regulate the humidity. This model only has a dial that seems to govern output. The model with a humidistat is twice the price (daylight robbery, instead of this one, which is merely standard burglary).

I'm upset with this product, but I'm even more upset with humidifier manufacturers in general. I know water and electronics don't mix, but what I'm discovering is that the only genuinely bulletproof humidifiers on the market are the buckets of water with fans ("evaporative"). Really?? That's state of the art for you guys? Can you at least hook up with Dyson and make the fans quieter?

--UPDATE--

I've now got a replacement and I've noticed a couple of differences: Firstly, the dial on the new machine does much more to regulate the amount of visible mist than the dial on my original machine. Second, the tank now lasts for at least three days instead of one or less. I already knew the original machine was faulty (it broke within 2 weeks), but based on this new information it looks like it was running at maximum, regardless of what the dial was set to. This leaves me with two important takeaways:

1, If you just bought the machine and want to know whether it's working properly, you should see a substantial change when you turn the dial, from almost no mist to lots.

2, Can the machine handle being left on maximum output continuously? I don't know, and after last time, I dare not risk it.

--UPDATE II: The sequel--

Well, the second unit that I received lasted the season and is now in storage, clean and dry. Cleaning is simpler than some of the humidifiers I've had in the past. There are no exposed tea-kettle elements, so it's just a case of washing in a weak vinegar solution. If it doesn't successfully start up again next season, I'll update this again. I will re-iterate that this humidifier is expensive. I expected it to work first time and it didn't. However, if it had I would have been as happy with this device as everyone else seems to be, so feel free to take my star rating with a grain of salt.

By the way, to partially address the comment I've had so far, this review only represents an n of 2 (not 1, smartypants). I think it's useful to tot up the star scores from all the reviews to get a reasonable proxy for the failure rate. For instance, if you do this for Samsung LCD televisions you get a 10% failure rate for a sample size that's approaching 1000. That compares pretty unfavorably with the other major marques like Sony and Sharp... but is borne out by what I've heard from sales people at electronic retail stores (ie, quasi-independent experts). Anyway, for this humidifier it's unclear because of the small sample size. At the time of writing, the failure rate looked like it was hovering around 20%, which doesn't sound great until you compare that to the failure rates of other humidifiers!

Bottom line: if I need another humidifier, this is my benchmark and I'd definitely consider buying it again ... from a store with a great return policy.

--UPDATE III: Comparison with SPT SU-4010--

I recently purchased the SPT SU-4010 from Amazon, which is another highly rated cold/warm mist humidifier. I like it for many of the same reasons that I now love the Germ Guardian. The chief difference is the SPT model is quieter (virtually silent) but puts out less mist over the same time period and has a smaller tank. If your [bedroom] is under 500 square feet and you need a silent humidifier, I'd recommend the SPT SU-4010. The ion exchange filter in that model even minimizes the "glugging" that is often the loudest noise from these type of humidifiers. If you have a larger room, or are aiming to maximize the volume of water you can get into the air over a given time, I still recommend the Germ Guardian. Note that I cannot yet speak to the reliability of the SPT SU-4010, but Consumer Reports rated it very highly. Please refer to my review of that model on this website if you'd like to progress updates for that model.

--UPDATE IV: Just bought another--

Saw a refurbished version of this Germ Guardian on an Amazon-affiliated website for half the price of a big warehouse store and bought it. Everything seems fine, although I've noticed a slightly disturbing difference in output from this one, which is now the third one of these I've owned. This one has to be cranked much higher to achieve the same mist in identical conditions. That could be because it's refurbished or it could be because there is a great deal of variability... Either way, something to bear in mind. I'm putting both away for the summer now so there won't be any more updates until next winter. I did a quick clean with a dilute solution of standard household vinegar and that should leave these ready to go then.

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This is our second humidifier we've purchased from this manufacturer. We originally bought the one with the alarm clock, which is a great product and now we decided to buy this one. It is much more powerful & keeps our house very comfortable. (the original one we bought is in our bedroom). It's definitely a benefit that you don't have to constantly buy new filters.

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As reported in other reviews, this humidifier will leave a while film if the water used is not filtered or distilled. This film is not as benign as described in some other reviews (explanation below). If I had easy and/or inexpensive access to filtered water I would give this product 5 stars it works great, virtully noiseless as advertized, and virtually maintenance free with there being no filters to replace.

I've got one at home and one at the office. The tap water I have access to at work is treated (clorine), but not softened, and it's likley rather hard considering all of the minerals in the water here. After a few days running in the office the white film appeared on nearly every dark surface in the room (especially computer keyboard, printer, phone). Then my printer in my office started malfunctioning, then our copier. The copier repairman discovered the white film inside the copier, fouling up sensors and causing malfunction. He told us we'd have to stop using the humidifier or it would continue to cause problems. I now know why I had to just spend $400 on a new office printer as well. This dust that is emitted from the humidifier can float through the tiniest of cracks and holes and can deposit on nooks and crannies everywhere plenty of places you can't reach with a dust rag, much less a Q-tip. Pressurized air dusting spray does not seem to remove the dust effectively either.

I've got another at my home, 35 miles away, where our tap water is well water, which is untreated hard water. Here I've only noticed a small bit of the white film, on only a few of the darkest, shiniest surfaces. What appears on this humidifier that does not appear in the humidifier in the office, however, is a pinkish amber colored slime mold / mildew on the bottom side of the reservior (visible only when you refill the reservoir). This is probably becasue this water is not treated with clorine, and this part of the humidifier is creating a perfect breeding ground for bacterias, mold, mildew, etc. I'm not sure exactly what this slimy substance is, or if it's presence in the humidifier raises any health concerns. So I'm going to deduce that my water at home has less minerals in it that can turn into this white dust. I'm not sure if clorine in city water could also cause this white dust as well.

The bottom line is, if your water is perfect, this humidifier is close to perfect. If your water is not perfect, you may have some serious problems with this unit, and I would not reccomend it. I would strongly warn anybody against using this in a room with electronic devices if they are not totally sure their water is filtered properly.

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We wondered a bit about this product after reading a lot of reviews, but decided to buy it because we needed a humidifier and the price was right. We've had it running for several days now, and we are very pleased with it. The mist output is variable in quantity, and it can be either cool or warm. Some of the reviews we read said the warm didn't work, but I think they must have been expecting steam (which it doesn't do). The temperature of the warm is not a whole lot different from the cool, and you have to allow it 10-15 minutes in a closed room to take effect. The other comment that people had made was that the vents were at 180° from each other. Fact is, that you can turn the small one as well as the large one, so they can be adjusted to any direction you want. The tank has to be filled at the kitchen sink, but that's not bad because it sits upside down nicely supported by the walls of a double sink. The tank is heavy when filled, because it holds 2-½ gallons. With fairly high volume of mist, one tank lasted us about 48 hours. The mist from this is good enough that I have been able to sleep very comfortably without my nasal passages clogging up due to extreme dryness. I would highly recommend this product. It does what it is supposed to do. Don't forget to read the instruction manual!

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Honeywell Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier, HCM-350

I have had this humidifier for a few months now and use it in MY bedroom as well as my 15 month old twins' bedroom. I had an Ultrasonic humidifier (filter-less) but discovered the 'white powder' effect after using one (google it).

PROS:

(1) It's quiet! Yay!

(2) It doesn't change the temperature of the room even though it's a cool mist humidifier

(3) I use one of those gadges to see if it's humid enough in the room and this machine definitely works

(4) The filter doesn't need replacing THAT often (maybe every 6-7 months or so)

(5) The tank can sit in the sink to be filled and doesn't topple over

(6) Super easy to set up and use

CONS:

(1) It's pretty big and bulky

(2) I hope the UV light to kill germs is working because I don't see it anywhere

I would definitely recommend this cool mist humidifier though!

I live on the East Coast so dry winter air is a MAJOR problem for me. I have my humidifier running 24/7. I have tried many different ones, but this one is by far the best I've found so far. It's extremely quiet even on the highest speed, I can run it for 16 hours on the highest setting without having refill the tank, and the best part for me is NO WHITE DUST!!! I have very hard water but even with that there is never any white dust. If I need another humidifier in the future I would buy another one of these.

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This unit is comprised of four parts that are elegant in their simplicity and optimization. Part 1, the base "platter", is merely a simple piece of tough plastic (no motor, no switches, nothing electrical, no mounted parts at all) embossed to provide channels that conduct water from one end (where Part 2, the reservoir "jug", sits) to the other end where the water is absorbed up into the cylindrical wick "filter" cylinder (Part 3) where the powerful fan in the upper main unit (Part 4) pulls air through the moist filter perimeter and ejects it upward into the room. In my moderately large house (3600 sq ft) I have 4 of these units running, and the reservoirs (1+ gallons) have to be refilled every 12 hours (8+ gallons per day total) to maintain reasonable humidity in house. These work much better than my furnace-mounted humidifier.

Reservoir refill process is, take a 2 gallon plastic bucket of water to humidifier, lift out reservoir, lift off main unit, put wick filter in bucket to soak, make a trip to sink to refill reservoir jug, put wick filter back in place, put main unit back in place, drop reservoir jug into main unit, move on to next humidifier. In a 4-month heavy heating season, you'll need new throw-away wick filters ($9) at the outset, and half-way through. (The manufacturer-supplied wick filters are the only item that can be improved on. Don't buy Honeywell's replacement. Get Sunbeam SWF-227. They're 5-1/2" instead of 5" tall, but after they're soaked, you can easily squish them down.)

At end of season, clean platter and reservoir in the dishwasher if you like, and wipe down underside of main unit surfaces with a damp cloth. Not absolutely necessary, the surfaces don't accumulate deposits that much. The only other thing you'll need to replace periodically is the special UV lamp that shines down from the main unit into the water channel to kill any stray incoming bacteria/virus.

Get humidified, and stop the itching.

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I've been through about a dozen different humidifiers over the years. It gets extremely dry here in the winter so we run these all the time.

Sound: For those of you that appreciate white noise to help you sleep, this probably won't be enough for you. This is the quietest humidifier I've found.

Refills: On the highest setting this will last around 18 hours so I can easily run it for two nights without refills. On a lower setting, running only at night, I'd imagine you could get away with refills only every 4 nights or so. The handle design is the most comfortable and well balanced of any humidifier I've ever owned so trips to and from the sink aren't so awkward. The lid is extremely easy to get off/on and my husband never over tightens this one. The fill tank opening is not only easy to get into but very large so a gushing flow from the tub can fill it up very quickly.

Air Quality: I don't know how it does it, but it does the best job of any humidifier I've ever owned. You will never have water condensation around the base (or anywhere else for that matter). The air never gets too heavy with moisture that it feels muggy (although I've never tried it on high in a room smaller than 10x10). But it makes a very noticeable difference to my comfort and breath-ability during colds. Because the air output is straight up, you don't have to worry about having it too near dressers or bed linens or anything else getting too wet.

The only downfalls are the price (most expensive in a lot of stores) and the size. It is pretty large. But I think the size is worth it as it is used for a more powerful fan and a large water tank leaving refills less frequent.

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"THIS UNIT DOES NOT PRODUCE A MIST."

This is not a "Cool Mist" system, it is a cheap (fiber) wick humidifier with a variable speed (3 position) fan. The wick sits in a pool of water, and a fan draws air over the saturated wick.

Our physician's orders strictly specified a cool mist system, and not a wick humidifier and the owner's manual even states "...unit does not produce a mist." The wick will become contaminated, and will grow mold on it over time even with the UV sterilizer in the water tray.

I cannot and would not recommend this unit to anyone. Certainly not someone with small children who need a "cool misting" system.

Am returning it as soon as I can get an RMA from Amazon.

If I could give negative stars for false advertizing by Honeywell, I would.

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Summer Infant SwaddleMe Appliqued Cotton Knit, 7-14 pounds

We started using this swaddle when our now 10-week old baby was 1 month (before that it was too big for her) and so far we like it. The fabric is soft and light and the design makes it easy and fast to swaddle your baby. The design is super cute too. The one draw back? The Velcro on the chest area is VERY noisy so usually the baby gets startled when we take her out of this swaddle. Love the purpose of the Velcro, but hate the noise. I don't know of a better/ not so noisy way to accomplish the same objective but I hope they come up with it.

Overall, good product.

I won't review the basic SwaddleMe product here, since there are tons of reviews elsewhere. This one shares the same basic design (same components, tabs, & velcro placement) and works just as well.

This particular item is one of the higher end / more expensive applique models. The material is super soft, and the design is absolutely ADORABLE! I find myself reaching for this one whenever it's clean .. and the other more basic SwaddleMes are just backups for when this one's dirty. This also washes well, just be sure to close the velcro tabs before putting in and not to wash/dry together with anything really delicate that it might get stuck to.

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Pros: Really cute, well made, not too thick or thin

Cons: My son seemed to grow out of this item very quickly... which was surprising because my son was not a large baby. He's in the 50-75% for height and 10-25% for weight. Nevertheless, we stopped using this item after about a month and a half because it was just too small for him.

I thought these Swaddleme blankets would make life easier, so I purchased a few, but at the end of the day, it wasn't worth it. Receiving blankets worked way better for us.

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The Owl one is adorable but the color is WAY wrong on here. It's not yellow at all. It's a very lime green which is adorable but a bit of a misrepresentation and doesn't fit as well for a girl now.

The material is lovely and good for summer swaddling. The process is AMAZINGLY simple vs. doing it with just a blanket. It's idiot proof and even first time Mommy proof for messing up. It's also great to not have to keep readjusting it when you're carrying the baby.

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I've used a few different types of swaddles and I definitely do like the Summer Infant SwaddleMe 7-14pds. I actually like it more than my Miracle Blanket swaddle but there are a few things I don't like about it. 1) The material isn't that soft. It just feels a bit cheap. 2) My daughter is able to break free of the swaddle and get her arm/hand out of it sometimes. But she might just be the next Houdini because I have yet to figure out how.

I do like the design of the Summer Infant SwaddleMe 7-14pds swaddles (I have the Happy Hippo) and overall my daughter does sleep better when she in this swaddle. I'd definitely buy this item again. And the only issue I have with the velcro is that I have to make sure it won't snag on the other clothes when I'm washing it. But it is a little loud when I am taking my daughter in and out of the swaddle but the noise doesn't bother her or me. Overall this a good buy in my opinion.

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Hamilton Beach True Air 05920 Blue Humidifier Filter

I have been using this humidifier for 5 years. Here's how I keep the filter fresh.

I fill the tank at night before bed, run it on low, and by the next night the tank is empty and the filter is all dry. I flip the filter, fill the tank, and start over again. If I need to add water more frequently (on a dry day or if I want higher humidity), I still have to LET THE FILTER DRY OUT and FLIP the filter BEFORE I add new water.

So, I run it 24/7, and it lasts about 7 to 8 weeks because

(1) I let the humidifier run until the filter is bone DRY for EACH tank of water.

(2) I flip the filter every time I put a new tank of water on it.

(3) I put the tank and tray in the dishwasher once every 7 to 10 days.

These are what the instructions say to do, and I have found it WORKS! I need two or three filters per season.

If you keep adding water without letting the tray and filter dry, your filter will get stinky and yellow in 2 weeks and you will be unhappy!

If you find the filter is soggy, let the humidifier run until it dries out. Make sure there is no water in the tank and tray, and it will dry out faster in the humidifer (20 30 minutes on high?) than in the air.

Don't be unhappy: let the filter dry out between tanks.

First the reviewers that recount experiences of bad smells from their filters need to undrstand that wick humidifiers, like the HB 05920 and 05921, require that an anti-bacterial solution be added to the water tank when filling. This solution, I use "Golden Solution" (try Google), prevents mold and algae from forming on the filter and in the tank. This prevents the odors and gets you a couple months out of your filter if you run your unit 24/7 like me.

Second there are other replacement filters on the market that are the same size as the HB True Air replacement filter and cost half as much.

I use two HB True Air humidifiers and usually stock up on 4 filters each for the 6 months they run continously in my loft. I have a couple True Air filters and a couple Best Air filters right now and cannot tell the difference between them when it comes to performance. The name brand True Air's keep their shape better, but for nine bucks, I'm not worried about the asthetics of the inside of my humidifier.

Hope this helps those who use these filters.

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I've been through so many humidifiers that get moldy and nasty so that you just have to throw them out. My sister spent a lot of mony on a Hunter that is supposedly clean free, but it always had mold in the standing water when I lifted the tank for refill. This Hamilton Beach is a wonder. I use it every night year round. If you follow the directions and put the parts in the dishwasher once a week and turn the filter every time you refill the tank it works like a charm. The only time I have had a filter go bad is when I go on a trip and it just gets moldy. I haven't found a way around that. But otherwise, I can use one for months without a problem. It's all in following the directions. And it helps to change the water in the tank at least every other day. I recommend this item to everyone.

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I got my humidifier a week ago. And my filter already changed his color to yellow. Plus adds some bad odor to the air coming from humidifier. So be ready to get a couple of this filters if you using humidifier a lot

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Does it's job. If you have the Hamilton Beach 05920 Cool Mist Humidifier, then sooner or later you'll need more of these depending on how & how often you use your humidifier.

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Mist Fountain- Round

I had almost the exact same diffuser years ago. I used it daily and loved it. One day, the inner LED piece broke and that was the end. I couldn't find a replacement. I also could not find the same diffuser. I have been all around looking for something similar, and I just happened to find this nearly exact replica! There is a small improvement with this model -it has an on / off switch. My old one had no switch, it had to be pulled from the outlet.

So far, so good. It works just like the old one -an ever-changing rainbow of color and a fine mist helping my dry air. The bowl sits in a metal frame, the cord runs through the bottom of the bowl.

I knew what this product looked like but anyone unfamiliar should know that the bowl itself is a milky white, not colored as in the picture. The LEDs inside automatically change color and it cycles through tons of colors, green just one of many.

Thank you for making this product available!

after i found it did not work ,( 3 little red llights came on, no other colors and NO MIST), I was sooo disappointed and just wanted to swap out the 'mister disc' for one that does work so i would not have to ship the whole thing back, but was not allowed to do that! I am now afraid to order another cause I see someone else had the same problem, so are they all defective?

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I like this lamp and have even received some compliments. It doesn't seem to generate as much mist as I thought, or rather the mist doesn't linger as I thought it might, but it's still cool and the colors are great. May buy another. One should note that the mist is wet though and will leave moisture on a table. I think this is best on a corner shelf perhaps.

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I was so happy to get this. got it all together and it won't work. Tried aND TRIED. Figure it is because it is from Germany and

the electricticy has something to do with it. My son in law is coming down to see what is wrong. If he cannot fix it I will ship it

back. Very disappointed.

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These lamps are spectacular, smoke, colors. I love mine. You should use distilled water to prevent mineral build-up.One piece light and water pump is easily replaceable if neccesary.

Air-O-Swiss AOS 7133 Ultrasonic Humidifier - Warm and Cool Mist

I had been pricing and comparing the substantial number of humidifiers on the market and I am glad I settled on the Air-O-Swiss. Despite its higher price, I am quite satisfied with its functions, control, design and specifically, its quiet operation. I was looking to pay between $70-150 for a quiet, low-maintenance model to add humidity to my [very dry] 10x12' bedroom. I purchased it at a local store for the same price as listed on Amazon; I am glad I was able to see [and hear] this model in operation.

There is NO sound, even at the highest setting. I'm a light sleeper and cannot fathom a bedroom appliance that even approaches a dull hum.

The visible mist generated by this model is pleasant for me and my pets.

I have been refilling each morning, as I have had the device on a high setting and running nonstop.The compartment becomes about half-empty after a full day at this setting. Refilling is a snap.

The ability to have cool and warm settings is a big plus, since the jury is still out regarding the negatives and rewards of either mode.

The system has been running clean and I am certain this will continue to be the case with a modicum of effort. The cost of the filter and the silver stick is not intimidating and the recommended three-week maintenance check is reasonable.

The design is quite fetching. Minimalist and fetching.

I have it sitting on the floor and there is no dampness on the carpet as mentioned by owners of other brands. This tells me that this model is doing a good job of propelling the mist into the air.

My roommate recently paid $29 for a smaller Holmes humidifier. The Holmes is downright deafening and I am sure she would have paid the difference for an Air-O-Swiss. Silent operation is really important.

The only possible shortcoming is the hygrometer. It is not entirely intuitive: the machine is to shut off after the desired humidity percentage is met, yet I have yet to see the model shut itself off. Turning it off manually is not a big deal.

I took a big step purchasing an air purifier, but this purchase has made a significant difference in my bedtime and bedroom comfort. I've had some winter nights with seriously labored [allergy, smoke and pet-related] breathing but I find this device has given me a little peace of mind and tangible change.

With not having much experience with buying humidifiers, I purchased this one based on some online research and with the help of user reviews. I was very worried about the noise factor that comes with having a cool mist humidifier but this one passes with flying colors. I'm a very light sleeper and require almost total silence in order to fall asleep. I can't even tell that this machine is in the same room! I love the fact that it can be switched from cool to warm mist at the press of a button and that I can control the amount of mist and how fast or slow it comes out. The only downfall that I've experienced is how difficult it is to keep clean. The still water that sits in the unit's base will have a black build up. This same build up is located at the base of the blue, water-holding section, as well as the tube and attachment the mist comes out of. The machine comes with a small brush, which does not do the job. By running pressurized water over the build up and using a long tubular bristle brush I can get the unit semi-clean. If any one has a better method, please let me know.

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This product has a fatal flaw it has a mechanical hygrostat to control humidity. It's basically a spring loaded device. It doesn't work reliably. You set the humidity level one day, but as the spring adjusts to its own tension, its humidity control stops being accurate.

I had to return my unit 3 times. Each time they replaced the return with a brand new unit. But each one eventually manifested the same problem. *It is a design defect.* Fortunately, the device has a three-year warranty. If you are the type of person who demands that their purchased products work as expected, you will need this warranty. I had to return my unit at the end of every season.

Unfortunately, the company threatened to stop honoring the warranty because I had returned the unit so many times. Rather than send me a unit which would work reliably, they took the tact of blaming me for returning the defective units. They never claimed that the units that I returned were working at spec.

You may not notice the problem if you have the unit in a large room, but in my case it was used in a small, approx 8' x 12' room with a closed door. At the lowest humidity level setting, the room would eventually get very humid, the level couldn't get dialed down, and I had little control over the level of humidity. Because the unit doesn't have a digital readout of the humidity level, most people wouldn't notice this. But I checked the level against a stand-alone humidistat.

If the hygrostat worked, I'd give the unit 4 stars it's otherwise a fine device. I'd echo the sentiment about the tank. I think someone in Marketing told the engineers to design the tank with a visually appealing rounded top. But it's a pain to refill. You have to always hold onto it while filling it. It will not stand up on it's own. It is cumbersome to refill and will fall over if you let go of it. It's always a two-handed operation to fill.

My advice would be to try one of their units with a digital humidity level readout. I haven't tried them myself, but I'm guessing that the hygrostat on those models will be more accurate and thus, useful.

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I am very happy with this purchase. I can't imagine another unit outperforming this one.

Pros:

1)High design; the prettiest, sleekest humidifier you'll find. Everyone who sees it compliments me on it and it's become a very popular acquisition.

2)High output: produces a thick, steady stream of humidity. When on highest setting, outpaces volume of other cheaper units.

3)Great customer service: I had a hairline fracture in the water tank and the Air-O-Swiss folks replaced it within days; it was very fast service and completely hassle free.

Cons:

1)After 2 weeks, I discovered a fracture in the water tank causing water to leak out onto the table.

2)No hygrometer/hygrostat display so there's no way to know for sure what degree of dryness you need to compensate for.

3)Water tank is a little on the small side and needs to be refilled often Very often if highest volume setting is used.

Want Air-O-Swiss AOS 7133 Ultrasonic Humidifier - Warm and Cool Mist Discount?

This humidifier is fantastic but I cannot get rid of the white dust. Despite the fact I'm replacing the desmineralization cartridge regularly, this humidifier is producing a lot of white dust.

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