Holmes Cool Mist Humidifier Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've had a number of humidifiers and this one fairs favorably to most.First, it uses a cool air wick rather than a sonicator (which puts the water contaminants on your furniture and in your lungs) or a heater (which is inefficient, gets horrible mineral buildup which is very difficult to clean, and can cause fire hazards).It has a huge tank.And it has a thermostat so you can just turn it on and forget about it, aside from refilling it every day or two.It will get the humidity where you want it - not too dry, not too humid.For these reasons, I recommend this unit.

The downsides: It is not as nice as the model it replaced (which I also have) which looks almost exactly the same.The controls and display are a little less obvious - they added more functionality with too few buttons.That is easily dealt with by deciding how you want to use it and then always putting it in that mode.I like to set the fan to low or medium (so it is nice and quiet and you hardly hear it) and then set the humidity to 30, 35, or 40.As others here have mentioned, the hygrometer is a bit flaky.At times it is stable.At times it jumps around a bit.This can lead the system to turn on and off in response to changes in the measured humidity.It still gets the humidity to roughly what you set it to (as I've verified with a separate hygrometer).And if you don't have the fan set too high, you don't really notice that it turns on and off a bit more than it needs to.Mine has not turned on and off in short succession that frequently, although sometimes it does.It doesn't appear to impact its efficacy or accuracy, although if the fan is high and the room is quiet, it might really bug some people on the occassions it cuts on and off.Some people here report more aggressive cycling than I've observed.Sunbeam really should fix this and ponder a user interface tweak. The improvement over the previous model is that it continuously reports the hygrometer reading, which is really nice.

I'm giving this 4 stars because I still greatly prefer this over all the other humidifiers I've ever owned (and about the same as the model this one obsoleted).

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Product Description:
Features:Perfect for large rooms.Runs up to 48 hours per filling.Accuset digital humidistat.Filtered with arm & hammer baking soda.Filtercheck filter monitor.Run time: up to 48 hours.Settings: 3.

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Holmes HM5305-UC Warm Mist Humidifier Review

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(More customer reviews)I believe this item has received unfairly low ratings from other purchasers.Perhaps these reviews are from purchasers who have never owned a humidifier before, or who didn't bother to read the directions.I have owned three different humidifiers over the years, and this one has been overall the best.

I would agree the tank shape could stand some redesign. Like most humidifiers, you turn the tank upside down to refill, thus the top of the tank is best designed to conform to the shape of a tub or sink, so that it stays upright on its own while filling.This one does not do that, but it is still possible to prop it against the end of the tub to refill.

As for the other comments that have been made, of course it makes a gurgling noise.Water is dripping down into the base in order to be converted to steam. I have had the unfortunate experience of owning a humidifier that sounded like an 18-wheeler driving through my house--and believe me, this one is QUIET.
The only knocking noises I've heard were when the tank emptied while I was asleep and I didn't shut it off, AND I hadn't cleaned it in a very long time.

And of course the heating element is going to be hot right after you turn it off, and yes it could char a piece of wood if it came in contact with the heating element.The instructions CLEARLY STATE you must allow the heating element to cool before cleaning or refilling.I cannot imagine why someone would set something wet down on a wood table, or how the heating element came into contact with wood of one reviewer, as the heating element has a surrounding plastic framework that makes it difficult if not impossible to place anything directly against the heating element. Perhaps the user modified this plastic housing in some way.

Also, the tank cap has a mechanism that, together with the humidifier base, controls the amount of water that flows out of the tank.The only way this could malfunction and send water everywhere is if the cap was not screwed on properly (and just like a bottle of soda, if you don't screw the cap on properly, the bottle will leak), or if it is not placed on the base securely.

I have not found the recommended cleaning to be an issue.But then, I use the recommendations as a guideline, not a requirement.How much you cleaning you have to do depends on the condition of your water and your performance expectations.

The recommended "daily" cleaning is basically to remove the base reservoir and dump out any water and accumulated sediment.I actually only do this about once a week, and I have very hard water (lots of clay sediment and calcium.I cannot drink tap water, its that bad.)The recommended "weekly" cleaning is to fill the base reservoir with vinegar and soak for 20 mins, and wipe down the heating element and surrounding housing to remove any calcium deposits.I actually only do this about every 3 months.Sometimes I actually have to chisel off the calcium from the heating element!And with all this obviously poor maintenance, I have noticed no diminished performance!

I'm not sure what the 'reboot' requirement is, stated by one reviewer.The instructions clearly state that you should turn off the humidifier when you remove the tank for refilling, or when you are cleaning.This makes sense.Leaving it on without the heating element resting in a reservoir of water is like putting an empty pan on a hot stove burner.It will damage it.But turning it off for the few moments required for filling or cleaning is sufficient.No further effort is required.And I really don't understand how one is personally offended by an inanimate object.

As for the size of tank, and how long it lasts, that all depends on the settings you use, and the size of your room.The 36-hour timeframe advertised by the manufacturer is at the unit's lowest setting, as most manufacturers do.I keep mine set on low speed, with the humidity percentage at about 60%.This lasts 24 hrs.I definitely notice a humid feeling when walking into my bedroom where I keep the humidifer.My bedroom measures about 12' x 18', but I keep my bedroom door open always so the humidity isn't just staying in my bedroom alone.The packaging states accurately that this humidifier is intended to serve a medium-sized room, not a whole house or very large rooms.

I really love the fact that this model does not require filters. I've had humidifiers that require filters, and of course you can never find the filter when you need one, and they are often very expensive.I've also had a humidifier that advertised no filter required, then upon reading the fine print inside the box, learned that while a humidifier was not REQUIRED, it really needed one to function properly.

I replaced my last humidifier with this one because the lat model I owned had no controls other than on/off, and pumped out so much mist it soaked everything around it, and was a cold mist model that did not keep the calcium deposits inside the reservoir--everything that got soaked by the mist ended up with calcium residue on it that was impossible to remove.

All in all, a very good model.The only thing I would like better is a domed-top model that could rest easily in the tub for refilling.

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Product Description:
Perfect for medium sized rooms the Holmes Warm Mist Humidifier runs up to 36 hours per filling. No filters to replace and microban antimicrobial product protection insure carefree use.

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Holmes HM630-U Tower Humidifier Review

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(More customer reviews)In the past, I have been very disappointed with humidifiers.Either they leak or don't seem to do much of anything.However, this Holmes U Tower humidifier is sleek in design and has a few nice features such as:

- The two filters are easily accessible at the base of the unit.

- The tank is easy to handle, fill, and not too heavy to carry. If you have a small sink, you can always fill this slightly long tank in the bathtub or by using a teapot or water jug.

- You have the option to set the humdifier manually on low, medium, or high humidity continuously or you can set it to automatically go on at low, medium, or high at a pre-set humidity level. If you use the automtic feature, then the unit cycles on and off like a thermostat would (although it does that too frequently for my taste).

- In addition, the display shows the humidity of the room the unit is in, which is a nice feature.

- The humidity level increases pretty fast, which is not typical of other units I've experienced.

- According to the manual (I haven't tried this feature), you also have an hour timer option of setting the unit to turn on or off after so many hours.This means, for example, you can program it to turn off 5 hours later or turn on 5 hours later.

- The unit has a small footprint (see cavaet below), so it doesn't take up much floor space.

With regard to the operation of the unit, you must remember to press and hold the on/off button to turn off the unit.If you unplug the unit, the humidifier returns to its factory default settings so you'll have to quickly reprogram it every time.This is exceptionally easy to do, but some might find this annoying.

One very nice feature that remains in operation when turning off the unit from the front panel but leaving it plugged in is that the humidity of the room is always displayed.Obviously, you lose this benefit when you unplug the humidifier from the wall outlet.

When setting the unit to the automatic feature that enables it to operate like a thermostat, the unit may cycle on and off every few seconds or minutes depending on the humidity of the room, which means you'll hear the fan cycle on and off repeatedly.If this is likely to disturb you while sleeping, then just put the unit into manual mode as I find you can never have too much humidity in the winter anyway.Of course, make sure you have enough water in the tank to run all night.The tank is rated to hold water for 36 hours of continuous use.However, I have only been able to get 10 hours continuous use on a tank at the highest humidity setting - so keep this in mind when leaving the unit unattended.

I ordered the wick filters from the manufacturer because they are hard to find elsewhere; even though Wal Mart and other local stores carry the Holmes line, they don't necessarily sell all the filters for every model.The filters arrived promptly within a few days.

The box says the unit comes with a 5-year limited warranty but the pamphlet inside says a 3-year limited warranty.I called Holmes at 1-800-546-5637 and they confirmed it was actually a 3-year limited warranty, so don't be swayed by the box advertising.

There is one caveat that you might consider important, although this would not deter me from buying the unit.Since this unit is a tower model, it is easier to knock over (especially on an unsturdy surface such as carpet). You might want to take this into consideration in case you have young kids that run around or large pets that might wreck havoc in your house--meaning you may have to alter the placement of the unit to account for this scenario.My observation is that the chances of knocking this unit over are somewhat higher than the squat-to-the-floor models I'm so use to and which have been so ineffective.

Overall, I am very impressed with the unit compared to the four other humidifiers I've had previously.I had a Vicks humidifier, a different Holmes humidifier, a Hunter humidifier, and another one whose name I can't remember.I've always been less than satisfied, so this is a nice change. I've been so pleased with this unit that over six months later, I ordered a second one.

Update October 2010 - Finally one of my unit's humidity sensors failed.However, since I've had this unit for several years that is to be expected.I can still use the unit to increase the humidity in the room but I just won't know what the humidity level is unless I look at my second humidifier.

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Product Description:
The smart Tower design of this Holmes Humidifier is perfect for medium sized rooms. It will run up to 36 hours per filling and features Arm & Hammer odor removal.

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Holmes HM495-UC Ultrasonic Medium-Room Humidifier Review

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(More customer reviews)I've owned this humidifier for over a year now and I am in the process of looking for it on sale to replace all my other ones in the home.It's filterless so I haven't had to worry about moldy smells or finding a filter in the middle of winter at ridiculous prices.Anywho, this one is in my kids' room and I keep it at a low setting and it gives off this soft hum that actually drowns out other home noises.I fill it up every third day and I haven't had problems with water spilling or any other malfunction (like I've read in other reviews).Once a month I clean the base with a clorox wipe and I'm set.I also add an anti microbial solution (from Kaz)every time I refill it and it helps keep it clean and odorless.

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Product Description:
Designed for medium-size rooms, this ultrasonic humidifier increases the benefits of good air quality and provides relief from some of the harmful effects associated with dry air. The unit produces a cool mist that can be seen and felt, plus it offers variable mist control with its easy-to-use control dial. A full tank will emit moisture for up to 24 hours, and the permanent filter washes clean easily and can be reused so it never has to be replaced. In addition, the filter traps impurities from the air thanks to its Microban antimicrobial protection, which inhibits the growth of odor-causing bacteria and mold. With its sleek attractive design and virtually silent operation, the humidifier measures 11-3/4 by 10-7/8 by 17-1/6 inches and carries a one-year warranty on parts and labor.

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The Holmes Group HWF64PDQ-U Replacement Wick Filter Review

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(More customer reviews)These humidifier wicks work OK, but they do not put out the kind of humidity that the original replacements do... I ordered four, which will probably take me through the heating season, but find that I now have to run another humidifier in a remote part of my apartment to really do the job... Note: The item now pictured is not the ones you will get... The ones being shipped now have a blue fabric-like covering... Again, they are good, but not quite as good as the originals, which have a mesh covering... (m.)

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Product Description:
Microban antimicrobial products protection. Reinforced for longer life. Fits Holmes model No. HM 1730, 1745, 1750, and 2200.

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Holmes HWF75 Cool Mist Humidifier Wick Filter Review

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(More customer reviews)I have been trying to use this filter for the past week. It will not WICK water. The top 3/4 of the filter stays dry all time. I have to take the humidifier apart every 15 to 20 minutes and turn the filter upside down to get any use from it at all.

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Product Description:
Honeycomb filtration to trap mineral pollutants found in water and help prevent them from entering your home. For optimum performance, replace filter at the beginning of each season or every 2 months depending on use.

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HWF65 Holmes Humidifier Replacement Filter Review

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(More customer reviews)Relacement filter does not have a mesh screen that surrounds the filter;the original Holmes filter does.

This filter lasted only 10 days in running the humidifier,then it was useless.My original Holmes filters

lasted approximately one month.This purchase was a waste of money.

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Product Description:
Honeycomb filtration to trap mineral pollutants found in water and help prevent them from entering your home. For optimum performance, replace filter at the beginning of each season or every 2 months depending on use.

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Holmes S1708 Bacteriostat for Cool Mist Humidifiers Review

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(More customer reviews)For several years we have used a large humidifier during the winter months.Despite frequent cleaning and care, we had to replace the humidifier filters every few weeks.We started using the Holmes Bacteriostat last winter and only had to replace the filter a single time, three-quarters of the way through the winter.

Follow the directions on the bottle and not only save money by not having to replace the humidifier filters as often, but it can also save you from breathing mold spores growing on an untreated filter (before the filter even looks like it needs changing).

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Product Description:
The investment in a cool mist humidifier in hot, arid climates can provide protection from static electricity while improving respiratory functions and soothing eczema and parched houseplants. Despite the numerous positive attributes, using a humidifier may also produce some harmful results. Without proper care, the humidifier becomes the breeding ground for assorted viruses, bacteria, algae, and mold. In other words, the soothing moisture released by humidifier may endanger household members more than heal them in the long run. Luckily, regular humidifier cleaning and filter replacement eliminates the spread of these unwanted elements. To stop bacteria growth in cool mist humidifiers, Holmes Products developed this Bacteriostat solution.
The 32-ounce bottle contains various chlorides to effectively kill bacteria and algae. Suited portable and stationary cool mist humidifiers alike, the bacteriostat should not be used for treating warm mist humidifiers. As with all chemical cleaners, read all safety guidelines with care prior to use and keep away from flammables and children. The bottle measures 9.25 by 3.13 by 2.94 inches and weighs 1 pound upon shipping.
Label Information
Ingredients
Dimethylbenzylammonium chlorides 2.25%
Dimethylethylbenzylammonium chlorides 2.25%
Inert ingredients 95.5%

Warnings
Keep this product out of the reach of children.

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Honeywell HC-14 Replacement Filter for Holmes Cool Moisture Humidifier Review

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(More customer reviews)This Replacement filter works perfectly on my Honeywell HCM-6000. I found that the filter will last longer if you flip it every other water fill up. This will not allow any one side to stay in the water too long and turn sour.

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Product Description:
Keep your Honeywell Holmes Cool Moisture Humidifier in good working order with this single replacement filter (model HC-14). The Protec Antimicrobial Treatment helps prevent the growth and migration of mold, fungus, algae and bacteria on the filter. The filter material is reinforced for maximum efficiency and longer filter life, plus the Dry Lift Handle helps to keep hands dry and clean while changing your filter. This filter is also equipped with an Air Washing prefilter to help trap dust before it enters the filter.
It fits the following Honeywell humidifier models:

Honeywell HCM-6000 Console Series
Holmes: HM3500 Series, HM3600 Series

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Holmes HWF100 Humidifier Replacement Filter, Set of 3 Review

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(More customer reviews){NOTE: the Holmes HWF100 and Bionaire BWF100 are interchangeable}

I bought a bionaire humidifier that uses 2 of these wicks.They're a necessary evil, because the humidifer wont work without them.

My humidifier (a Bionaire BCM645) is basically a glorified self-refilling water bowl, with a pair of wicks dangling down into the water in the lower backside of the unit ... the wicks absorb water upwards, and the humidifier (basically a vertical tube with an exhause fan up up equipped with a humidistat) draws airflow in crosswise through the body of the wicks down below in order to blow humidified air out the top ... it's a simple design that sorta works.

The problem is that mineral deposits build up in these glorified (and overpriced) sponges, and they lose their ability to wick water upwards fast enough to keep up with the rate of evaporation ... the result is that they become dried out and crusty (and slowly stained with mildew), and only stay wet on the part that's dipped in the water.

Now, here's the annoying part, and why I only gave this product 3 of 5 stars ... they're needlessly fragile by design.The manufacturer WANTS you to keep reguloarly buying replacement sponges, just like inkjet printer manufacturers want to keep selling you overpriced ink cartridges.Even though I have fairly soft water, and use a carbon block filter, these wicks only seem to last me about 2 weeks per pair, by default, before they lose their ability to absorb/wick moisture and/or fall apart.Perhaps someday someone will make longer-lasting reuseable cloth replacement filters, but as of this writing, there dont appear to be any available ... because it's against the manufacturer's fiscal interests to make and sell such.

You can save money 2 ways:

1) SHOP AROUND:you can save as much as 50% by shopping around for the cheapest supplier, and scoffing at any implied manufacturer product loyalty.How ?The replacement filters for Holmes (HWF100) and Bionaire (BWF100) are functionally identical and interchangeable.They come 6 to a package (3 pairs).

2) RINSING: These wicks are rather fragile - resist the urge to wring them out when rinsing them, or you'll damage them. Instead, fill a sink with body-temperature water, let them soak for 5-10 mins (to let the deposits soften & par-dissolve), then gently press them flat (while submerged) a few times. Then drain them (dont wring them) and reinstall. That should extend their performance by another week or so. Each subsequent rinse will yeild only half the benefit though.At best, you'll be able to double their lifespan.

Bottom line: I dont really recommend these wicks ... but if your humidifier requires them, there isnt much choice.However, if you use the tips I listed above, you can save up to half the cost, and make them last as much as twice as long.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Holmes HWF100 Humidifier Replacement Filter, Set of 3

Product Description:
Maintain healthy indoor air quality with this three-pack of replacement humidifier filters. They install easily and feature a reinforced outer layer for extra durability. To help humidifiers run more efficiently, the filters trap mineral deposits from the water, plus they come treated with Arm & Hammer Baking Soda and Microban Antimicrobial Product Protection for enhanced performance. A new humidifier filter should be installed at the beginning of each season and replaced every two to four weeks depending on usage. The filter works with Bionaire humidifier models BCM4600, BCM645, BCM646, BMC5520, BCM5520RC, BCM5521, BCM4600, BCM5520RCU, BCM6000, BCM6010, BCM6010RC, BCM6610RC, BCM7203, BCM7203RC, BCM7204, BCM7205, BCM7207, BCM7305, BCM7305RCB, BCM-7305RC, BCM7306, and BCM7307. It also fits Holmes humidifier models HM729, HM729G, HM630, HM7204, HM7305/RC, HM7306, HM6000, HM6000RC, HM6600, HM6005HD, and HM4600/HD. The three-pack of humidifier filters measures approximately 5-3/5 by 4 by 7-4/5 inches.

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