Germ Guardian H-3010 Ultra-Sonic Humidifier Review

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(More customer reviews)Humidifier

As I write this there have been numerous reviews of this product.Some of them very glowing and some of them quite negative. I will try to avoid either extreme and focus on some things I haven't seen reviewed yet.

*SIZE:When I opened the box I was truly surprised. In the photos this looks to be the size of a table radio.Wrong! It is easily twice the size and not easily placed on most night stands.

*SOUNDS:As claimed, the unit is virtually quiet in operation.

*VISUAL: Nice very heavy-grade plastic construction, nice packaging. Most drug-store humidifiers are very thin all plastic, this unit feels well built and solid.Cool retro look to it.

*CONTROLS:Everything you would want or need, EXCEPT for one.Read on for details.

*USER MANUAL:Pretty basic. Misses a lot of important details, like what is that center column and do you remove it to fill the tank, because it seems to want to be removable for some reason. And the chrome thing at the top ... is it supposed to rotate to direct the mist in different directions?Wouldn't it be nice if the manufacturer told us it was okay to do that?

*MISTING:After all, that's what you buy a unit like this for.Well, it's true that some very cheap units can put out a stronger mist, but remember this is an ultrasonic unit, which has numerous benefits (like no wicking filter). The mist can be adjusted from "just barely there" to a heavy mist that honestly scared me every time I entered the room that I was seeing smoke from a fire.

*EFFICIENCY:I filled the tank and had it on the entire first night.In the morning it looked like the tank was empty and I thought that's just about what I would expect. However, looking at the tank again I realized that the water level had only gone down slightly.It turns out the tank is so large that I have only had to fill it a couple of times a week. I consider that excellent.

*GOOD THINGS:I have had several humidifiers and was disgusted by the mold and mildew that grew on the wicking filter. This is healthy?Ultrasonic humidifiers work a different way and tend to be cleaner.This unit takes that one step beyond and I have confidence I am breathing air that is as clean as possible out of a humidifier, especially if I clean it out occasionally.

*BAD THINGS:The evil BEEP sound every time you push a button!If you have a sleeping partner they will NOT sleep for long if you need to make any adjustments.That goes for people trying to sleep anywhere in your house. The beep volume should be 2% of what it is.Since the manufacturer was thoughtful enough to include a mode that turns the disco lights off if you prefer while sleeping, they should have included a switch to turn off the beep. This is not unique to this product, several Chinese-made consumer electronics products ranging from toasters to food steamers to clothes irons have a beeper that all seem to made by one diabolical company who also makes industrial smoke alarm beepers.The volume and tone are unnecessarily loud.This humidifier doesn't even need to beep at you in the privacy of your bedroom, the status lights are enough.

*EASE OF OPERATION:Why does EVERY humidifier have to have a tank that you remove, turn upside down, and try to fill under a faucet?What is wrong with a fixed tank and a cap like the gas cap on your car that you twist off and use a pitcher to fill? There would be far less chance of leakage, and it would be much easier to fill. Kudos to the manufacturer on this one in that the tank is made of heavy-duty plastic with a strong, secure carrying handle.But once you get it to the sink, that carrying handle makes it impossible to hold or lay flat, so you somehow have to try to balance the entire tank while filling it, without dropping it as it gets increasingly heavier. Then there is that flimsy spring valve that every humidifier seems to have.There just has to be a better way.The good news is that mine hasn't dripped more than a few tiny drops and is totally drip-free in operation.

*DOES IT WORK?After a few nights running it at a medium speed with the bedroom door closed, I find I wake up with less of a dry throat and breathing easier.I feel more rested as well. I live in one of the driest places in the country and I think this is a very effective humidifier.I am considering buying another for the office where I spend much of my day.

SUMMARY:WAY larger than it looks. Excellent cold and warm misting.Extensive controls.Premium construction.Large water tank.Cool, retro styling, doesn't look like a medical device. Virtually silent operation.Sketchy instruction manual. Insanely loud function beeps when buttons are pushed. Could be easier to fill.

RATING:Having researched humidifiers extensively I rate this as a solid 4. What kept it from a 5 is primarily price ... this is at the stratosphere of the market and, while you get more value that the cheap drugstore units, no humidifier should cost over a hundred. I also feel it is necessary to deduct a point to give the message to the manufacturer that the loud confirmation beeps are not necessary and they are really annoying.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Germ Guardian H-3010 Ultra-Sonic Humidifier

Product Description:
The Germ Guardian Humidifier uses nano-silver technology to prevent microbial growth within the unit, stopping mold growth for a healthier breathing enviroment. The ultrasonic technology with option for warm or cold humidification set this humidifier above the rest. Warm humidification maintains an 80 degree temperature to kill low-temperature bacteria. This unit offers you a low water indicator that lets you know when it's time to refill the container, a variable spray function allows you to adjust the volume of spray output. The quiet operation makes this a great humidifier for any room.

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Aprilaire RP-58 Humidistat Control #58 Review

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(More customer reviews)This is the new and improved Aprilaire #58 humidstat control. This replaces the RP #56 control they previously used in the model 700, 760 etc. The 56 worked fine for me for a few years before it got fried. It was automatic and could be used with the outdoor temperature sensor. The new one is much improved. It has a cleaner, neater design that incorporates an lcd display, three indicator lights which signify humidifier operation, water panel replacment and one to signal for dealer service in the event of failure. Upon inspection it seems to have a redesigned circuit board with surface mounted relays (quieter than the older model I may add)and adds the ability to interface with Aprilaire thermostats namely the 8570 which allows the thermostat to communicate with it and relay indoor humidity and outside temperature as well as control it without having to go directly to it. This is nice because in most application installs the humidstat is located near the humidifier on the return plenum.

Sometime in 2006, Aprilaire redesigned the humidifers and removed the 24volt control inside the humidifier(#4238)and changed the color from almond to grey and slightly changed the case styling. This helps in determining whether a customer/user has an older or newer unit. There is an A/B switch inside the humidstat that must be set to B if one owns an older humidifier and damage could result if that switch is in the wrong position, so before powering on everything make sure of that.

This humidstat also differs from old models in that it requires 24volt power (2va to 10va) depending on the model of humidifier you own. You can use your furnace terminal accessory board or heat pump air handler board but instead I opted for a plug in 24v 40va transformer. By interlocking the humidifier with a relay in a box and an existing air flow switch on the return and using a plug in transformer I was able to totally bypass messing around inside the the air handler. The previous installation job consisted of using an aprilaire #50 current sensing relay and this is what failed. I would definately recommend using a plug in transformer, a relay in a box (aprilaire rebadges one #4851)and if necessary an air flow switch. The advantage is that the relay will allow the humidifier to run anytime there is a call for humidity not just during the heating cycle. The current sensing relay is only rated for 50 watts while the #4851/RIB is rated much higher. Using an external transformer makes the install easier and allows for anyone to replace it if it goes bad. Strip two thermostat wires and crimp around the terminals and tighten. Plug in and your done. There is a little screw terminal that controls the panel time replacement indicator and for the 700 it should be turned to C. Make sure you follow the directions related to your equipment. In my case Heat pump. Since I did not use the 24volt strip inside the handler I had to jumper the WG/CF to common. Be sure to download the RP-58 Addendum as this has additional information to help with your install. This humidstat has changed and the same configuration cannot be copied and used on this one as the terminal designators have changed as well. I would recommend hooking up the outdoor temperature sensor if feasible as this would make it truly automatic and one would probably never have to make any adjustments at all.

Once in operation it is quieter, has a nice lcd blue backlit display which displays the relative humidiity and the level of humidity as you turn the dial (1-7) and an illuminated led that shows humidifier operation.

If you own an older model (remember almond color) aprilaire humidifier 700, 760 and even 400 - 600 series (check compatibility before buying) and you are in need of a new humidistat or want one with automatic control then this is the one you should buy. It might be slighty more expensive than a RP-56 but it is worth it and comes with a 5 year warranty as all of Aprilaire products now do. These guys are great btw, they know indoor air comfort and can easily be reached by telephone and email, unlike Honeywell.

Be Well My Friend!

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Product Description:
The new Aprilaire #58 automatic humidifier control works in conjunction with your furnace to control the operation of the humidifier. The control senses indoor RH and outdoor temperature and automatically adjusts the operation time of the humidifier to provide the optimum humidity level in the home. The digital readout on the control displays the RH level inside the cold air return. Can also be used in manual mode when it is not possible to run wire to outdoor sensor. This controller mounts on return ductwork.New lighted display includes indoor relative humidity readout, service indicator light, water panel change light, and indicator light. In order for the humidifier to operate, the furnace blower must be running and the humidifier control must be calling for humidity. NOTE:control must be continuously powered for proper functionality - separate 24 volt transformer may be required.Includes:ControlOutdoor SensorManual Mode ResistorManual Mode StickerInstallation InstructionsOwners ManualFor use with models: 110, 112, 220, 224, 400, 440, 445, 445A, 448, 500, 550, 558, 560, 560A, 568, 600, 700, 760, 760A and 768Unit dimensions - 5 15/16" W x 4 1/4" H Requires round 3/4" hole for duct mounting.

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Holmes Cool Mist Humidifier Review

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(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 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.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Holmes HM630-U Tower Humidifier

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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