Duracraft DWM250 2-1/2-Gallon Warm-Mist Humidifier

My grandparents had a cabin in Canada, and their "humidifier" was a shovel full of snow in a big pot on the wood stove. Ah...those were the days. Fast forward to the present, in my home without a wood stove, to a complaining wife and stuffy newborn. What I thought was a seemingly easy task turned into a nightmare, thanks to the internet and Amazon reviews.

The type was easy. Cool mist is too moldy (unless they are kept clean, and let's be realistic, who actually cleans humidifiers?) and filters are pricey, ultrasonic has the added benefit of the "white powder" in the air and settling on everything, and the whole-home kind that are attached to the furnace ducts aren't really made for small heat pump HVAC like I have in my house. So, warm mist it was, and I started on my journey to find the perfect one.

And it was a journey. I found fancy ones with all sorts of features, and cheap ones that made steam. All had one thing in common, those that hated them and gave them one star, and those that loved them and gave them more stars.

Meanwhile, my wife borrowed her mother's humidifier, which happened to be a many year old version of this particular one. It's the same humidifier we've borrowed every year since my wife and I got married five years ago. After playing with the idea of a UV lighted, mineral pad soaking, multi-gallon capacity, built-in hygrometer monster, I decided to get two of these units instead--at a cheaper price. Why?

For one, my mother-in-law's unit still runs like a champ after all this use. We really only use it at night for sleeping. The trick is to fill it up and run it on high while getting ready for bed, and then turn it on low when going to sleep. The water lasts all night and it increases the humidity nicely.

For two, many of the features offered on more expensive models are all but useless. So many people complain about filling the things--is it really that hard to walk to the sink once a day? In order to kill airborne germs, a lot more is needed than the tiny UV light offered in other humidifiers. If the built-in hydrometer is out of whack, too bad! Mineral filtration pads? Unless a person is unlucky enough to live in a "liquid rock" area, a good wiping with paper towel soaked in vinegar once a week is all that's needed to clean the heating element.

Sometimes, less is more, and I believe this is definitely the case with humidifiers.

I really like this humidifier and have been on the very difficult journey to discover which humidifier will work for me, whether cool or warm mist is better and which actually does what it says the same as everyone else. I get frequent sinus infections and am in great need of a humidifier here in the northeast during the cold months with the heat. I just constantly don't feel good without one. For over 10 years I have used cool mist humidifiers. I honestly never considered a warm one. The last one I had was a Holmes and it was certainly not cheap. I took good care of it and it still worked only 1 year. The filters were expensive and the unit was very noisy Last year when it worked it worked well, but last winter it worked only half the time. I did not know where to turn.

A friend suggested a warm air humidifier and I looked into it and liked what I read. I then researched, reading reviews and customer comments even using Consumer Report. I kept coming back to this one and saw the definite mix of positive and negative reviews. I read all the negatives and saw that most were looking for the humidifier to do or be more than it said it was.

I live in a studio apartment and the humidifier says it is for rooms 400 to 700 square feet. Perfect for me. It also says that it runs up to 12 hours on one filling and it does. When I run it on the low speed it lasts 12 hours exactly. The directions also say to disinfect it before the first use. This is very important. With something like a humidifier it is very important to follow all directions. If you do not, you don't have a right to complain if it does not work correctly. This humidifier is very easy to clean/maintain and also very easy to fill. If you do not want to be filling it every 12 hours or more then get a different humidifier. For me, it is very simple and easy knowing I need to easily fill it every 12 hours.

The humidifier also makes no noise at all on either the high or low speed. I find that when running it constantly on low my humidity level is perfect and I feel great. This machine does exactly what it says it does so make sure that it will satisfy your needs. It is easy to use/maintain so much simpler than a cool mist humidifier. I will never return to a cool mist one again.

I highly recommend this unit and say just make sure it is what you want before purchasing. Hope this helps you with your humidifier decisions.

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I have gone through quite a few humidifiers. I had one like this before, after a few years it gave in because I never cleaned it (shame on me). Then I tried a few ultrasonic (ultraexpensive) humidifiers, which really hardly bring the humidity up (I have a hygrometer). So I decided to buy this one again, and am as happy as with the first one. If you want your room to increase in humidity, forget about those ultrasonics and go for this one. Cheap and good.

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This is my third warm mist humidifier. They just don't last very long. The cool mist ones don't seem to make the room more humid. The last one I had (which looked similar to this) lasted two years, and the rubber stopper part at the bottom dried up during the summer (when it was not in use) and cracked. My first one only last one year. I am resigned to the fact that I will likely have to buy a humidifier every 1-2 years, so I'd better not spend a lot for them. This one works well, and on the low setting, can last 10-11 hours. This setting is enough for my medium sized room. On high output, it goes through the water very quickly, and if your room is small, will feel tropical. The one thing I don't like about this one is that after putting the dial on the desired setting, you still have to push a "start" button to make it start putting out mist.

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The plastic on this model is pretty thin and flimsy, so I'm always afraid I am going to accidentaly snap or crack a part (like the screw-on lid) and completely destroy the product or render it useless, but the overall engineering design is really good, it is still working after about a year, great for baby, great for me. For the price I am satisfied, but I wish they would make more of a "mercedes" model for a slightly higher price that uses the same design, maybe a little more technology for the controls and more durable plastic. I love the fact that the water tank is removable, fillable and sealed shut for the trip back to the unit, no pouring or spilling involved. I bought this model because it has the same water tank and mist tower design as a Sunbeam cool mist humidifier that my parents used on me as a baby (which I still have and use for my son), and that thing is damn near indestructible.

Venta Airwasher #6001040 8.8 OZ Venta Cleaner

This is a bottle of citric acid (the stuff that makes lemons sour) with a wetting agent that helps dissolve the minerals (scale, calcium carbonate) that deposit on the evaporator (the moving white plastic finned drum) of the AIRWASHER. Simply fill the bottom housing with fresh water, pour the entire contents (8 oz), turn to low setting; after 2 hours, dump out the water that now has loosened scale, wipe any remaining scale and don't forget to get the stuff on the bottom of the fan. No smell like the vinegar I used to use. Not harsh like "lime-away" bathroom cleaners. Our local water is hard and during the summer, molds (black and red) can bloom.

This one-use cleaning solution is run-thru the Venta Airwasher periodically to clean out the deposits and gunk. The product works well. Every few seasons, one should ship their Airwasher units back to Venta for their ultrasonic cleaning service. It's a bit pricey ($40? plus shipping one-way) but it comes back looking like new. They also replace several of the parts as part of this preventive maintenance.

As far as the folks giving this product 1-Star, they should learn how to read as the product description is quite clear. And you cannot blindly trust any of Amazon's add'l purchase recommendations. So I give those posters 1-star for their intelligence. Kinda reminds me of a deli review I read recently from some goof who gave the place the lowest rating simply because he thought the sandwich prices were too high (he walked away w/o even trying their food).

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I've used both vinegar and this cleaner. Vinegar worked just as well, and I prefer the smell of the vinegar to the chemical smell of this product.

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This is the first time we have used the Airwasher on our Venta Humidifier and it did a good job of cleaning out the accumulated grime. Unfortunately it is not usabled on the motor blades and it is difficult to use an old toothbrush to scrape off the grime on the fan blades. But the product did the job it was supposed to do.

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I use it once at the end of every season and does a wonderful job. I use half the bottle to soak the dish in hot water. The other half I use it to run the humidifier for 2 hours afterwards

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Honeywell H33030 Hoover Replacement Belts 40201030

I love Prime! I love the convenience of not having to go to 5 stores to find the right size and brand. I live in the country and its 15 miles to the nearest possibility.

Serene House - Donut Black - Ultrasonic Scentilizer Aromatherapy Diffuser

As per the instructions, the effect is best with room temp water. With that said, the effect is quite nice, and the music is soothing. The aromatheray strength is dependent on the oil used and the amount, however, can be effective. The reason for four stars is no remote. You plug a small hole with a device provided to turn off the musice. THe power and music holes are recessed and somewhat hard to reach. THe inside white water container has a max fill line which is worthless. This is due to it being white also and virtually invisible. It would have made sense to make the max line more visible. I have read reviews complaining it is a high maintenecnce devise. This is not any harder to take care of than washing a cereal bowl. I would recommend this, it just has a couple quirks as noted.

#4223 Aprilaire Drain Spud

• For use with Aprilaire models 500, 550, 550A, 558, 560, 568, 560A, 600, 600A & 600M.
• This is the plactic fitting which attaches to the base of the housing of your humidifier.
• It is designed to allow for the connection of the 1/2" drain hose.

this is the right part. just make sure to look for the tab that lines up with the slot for installation / removal.

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It was a perfect fit and replacement for our AprilAire unit, The previous homeowner had cracked the piece and it was leaking out and burned out the transformer.

It took 2 minutes to replace!! very quick shipping also.

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Be detailed and specific. What would you have wanted to know before you purchased the product?

Not too short and not too long. Aim for between 75 and 300 words.

Cigar Caddy Waterproof Travel Humidors (10-40 Cigars)

This cigar caddy is a nice rugged design for someone like me in the military. You can count on your cigars being safe and not smashed while traveling around.

I love it. Holds at least 10 cigars, very well built. The snaps are well made, when its closed it won't open even if you throw it. Keeps cigars in perfect condition. Humidifier is small, but thats expected.

I took this with me on vacation. Loaded with 10 cigars, closed and threw in the baggage. When I got to my destination and tried to open it was almost impossible, I couldn't do it with my bare hands. Latches opened fine, but the box itself was sealed tight. This is because the air pressure in the cargo compartment on the plane had changed. This is of course a good thing. It speaks volumes because it means that the air inside the travel humidor stayed the way it should. I got it open with a key, the corners have tabs for this purpose, and it wasn't a problem at all. When I did open it, it kind of popped. If anything I was completely happy because it proves that this thing was working as designed, to be airtight.

Highly recommend.

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Works great, keeps the cigars fresh (great airtight seal)and crush-proof. Only thing is that if you smoke 60 ring stogies like I do, it only holds eight, not ten.

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Holds 10 churchill sized cigars comfortably. Have not checked the humidity with a hygrometer but the cigars seem fine. It seals air tight and will not leak or break.

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Works as deisgned and appraised, protects cigars and keeps 'em fresh. The caddie is quite bulky, so you may wish to opt for the 5-cigar version which doesn't seem that much bigger.

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Essick Air EP9500 Whole House Humidifier With Refill Indication

It is plastic, but it looks good, and is much better looking than competitive models. It is also very quiet on the 1 setting, and puts out a lot of moisture and the 9 setting, and can be set anywhere in between.

the major drawback is that there is no way to tell how much water is in the reservoir. The unit holds 3.5 gallons, so when it is empty, I add 3 gallons. I have to wait until it is empty to fill it (which can happen anytime) when I am not around, there is no easy way to top it off in the evening.

I purchased this humidifier for a library, which is primarily dark woods and the white 821-000 model which is a very good unit stood out like a sore thumb. Fortunately, both units take the #1043 replacement wick. The pictures I saw of the product depict a rather rich looking appearance, but in the flesh its not so impressive. The fill level is somewhat confusing. Its a 1" plate saying max fill. Fill to the bottom/middle/top of the plate? Nothing in the manual on the subject. Filling it is a pain with a little door that makes pouring in water a precision operation to avoid spills. In addition, I needed a flashlight to see the water level to prevent overfilling. I have 2 of the 821-000 models and they are much easier to use. They should make a dark colored version of it where white is not a good option. I have also found that filling the units with filtered water greatly extends filter life and efficiency. Otherwise, if the water used has a high mineral content it will turn the filter into a cinder block in short order.

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Reading the reviews of this product, I was hesitant to purchase it, but comparing the other humidifiers on this site, I couldn't find one that was any better. That being said, I was afraid to buy it on line in case it needed to be returned so I purchased it locally. A couple of comments regarding it performance:

Noise: Sounds like a pedestal fan, or box fan, really not that big of a deal for us. After a couple hours you forget that its actualy there. There are about 10 fan levels, you realy don't need that many, but it is nice to turn it down, if your listening to a movie, and then pump it up when you need the extra moisture.

Filling the tank: The one feature I really like is that you just pop open a small door, and using a pitcher, fill it up, it holds 3 gallons. With our wood stove running non stop, and the humidifier set on medium to high fan level, we go through about 3 gallons every 24 hours, and it keeps the main living floor at 45 to 50 percent humidity.

The unit keeps our 1700 sqft, 2 story house comfortable, we keep it by the stairs, so that the natural draft distributes the mositur evenly.

One complaint, I wish it had a water level window, you don't know its full untill water is running on the floor, so we just put a gallon in it in the morning, and one at night, or just wait till it runs out completly.

The remote control is usefull, but not nessecary. It is nice to see the humidity is on the other side of the room, not just right at the machine.

The tile top is extremely fragile, be carefull.

The plastic consol is just that plastic, not bad, but not great, though since it is a pedestal, it is not very obtrusive.

We;ve been running it for 2 months now on well water and np problems, the wick still works and it does a good job. The concept is simple, a fan blowing across a large wick, like an auto air filter. Its not flashy, but it does it job.

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This unit looks nice and that is where the value ends. The door in the front pulls down for you to fill the unit, unfortunetly there is no gauge as to how much water is needed. Fill it to high and the unit overflows, and stops working. The only way to determine how much water is needed is to take teh full lid off. In addittion witht he way the fill door is set, there is a high probablility the water will spill out as you lift the fill container (one you use) higher. Looks nice and that is it.

Now the unit I do recomend for one from the same company that is easy to fill and runs for a long time is the Essick Air 4D7 300 Whole-House Console-Style Evaporative Humidifier. I purchased both of them and this one is much easier to work with. It has two large fill tanks that last a long time (depending on how dry your place is) comes with a hose that mkaes it easy till fill, water is in sealed container as you move it from fill source to unit. Bigger and not as nice looking at the EP9500 but a better choice.

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This humidifier is a good size if you're looking for a whole house humidifier with a small footprint. It appears to have a woodgrain look in the photos, but it doesn't. It's just brown plastic...really cheap looking brown plastic. Having said that, it is slightly more attractive than the gray plastic humidifiers and does blend in a little better than one of those. The granite tile for the top is an actual (relatively thick) granite tile, which was surprising to me. Honestly, I think it makes the plastic look even cheaper by comparison though. I do give them props for putting it on rolling casters. It's really easy to shove into a closet if you're having company and don't want to look at an ugly appliance.

I've only had this for about a week now, but it seems to do the job fairly well. The air doesn't seem quite as chilly since I've been humidifying it; which is why I wanted a large humidifier. You can set the desired humidity and the system will turn itself on and off to maintain that. You can also adjust the fan speed at 9 levels. It is fairly loud even at the lowest speed, but not overly distracting.

EDIT 1-21-2012: The humidity sensor on this thing is useless. Sometimes it will come on for about 10 seconds, then shut off and do that continually. It loses a star for that as this feature doesn't seem to work correctly. I just turn it all the way up when I want to humidify and off when I don't.

Others have commented on the fill door being useless and I have to agree. You can use it, but unless you take the top piece off, there is absolutely no way of knowing how full the tank is. I find it easier to just open it up to fill it rather than guess and risk an overflow. The top piece pulls right off, so this isn't much of a hardship.

I keep my reviews up to date and will share additional comments, good or bad, if my experience with this appliance changes.

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