Customer Reviews

AIR-O-SWISS 7133 Humidifier

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

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.

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.

The Air-O-Swiss AOS7133 "NEW" Ultrasonic Antimicrobial Cool/Warm Mist Humidifier possess the three primary elements that I was searching for in a room humidifier. 1) A large tank reservoir that was easy to fill, 2) a visible mist that makes it easy to see if the unit is working properly, and 3) a mold-resistant unit that is easy to maintain. In addition, it has a sensor that detects desired humidity levels and an option of cold or warm mist. An extra bouns is the unit's quiet operation that, while not exactly devoid of sound, produces the kind of ambient, soft noise that helps lull you to sleep.

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.

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.

I've tried a number of humidifiers over the years, and this is by far the best. It is a good size for a bedroom. I use it every night and for an hour or so during my son's nap each day, and I end up refilling the tank every day or so, depending on how dry the air is. I wouldn't want to leave the water sitting in there any longer, anyway. I like the smaller-sized water reservoir, as it's not too heavy when filled and it fits easily under the bath tap. The controls are easy to understand and use. I like being able to see and direct the mist. I like its thermostat and auto-shutoff. I like that it can deliver either warm mist or cool mist. I haven't had any problems with leaks or soaking the floor, as mentioned in another review. I have it on top of a chest of drawers, with a cloth placemat underneath it. I like that it tells you when it needs cleaning. It is expensive, but I don't regret the purchase and would recommend this item.

I've reviewed and tried several home humidifiers and find the model 7133 a strong contender for 'best of breed'. Since I use it in the bedroom, it had to be very quiet; which the 7133 is. It holds about 2 gallons of water which on a mid-setting both for the humidistat and the output control keeps the room (about 15' x 15') at 40% humidity (quite comfortable). On filling of 2 gallons (slightly less since the filter takes up a bit of room) runs for 24 hours at this setting. Since I only use in the evenings when I'm home, it lasts for 2 days. It also seemed to me that if you want a humidifier with a larger capacity, that it gets pretty heavy lugging that much water. 2 gallons seemed like a good compromise volume.

The filter has to be changed every 3-4 months, depending upon frequency and length of use. The unit comes with 1 filter. The silver stick that also comes with it, controls bacterial growth for up to a year. Materials and constructions are of excellent quality.

I checked out several reviews of the product; looked at an older Consumer Reports on humidifiers (it didn't rate this manufacturer), but it's report on other brands didn't really impress me, since so many don't seem to come with a humidistat (an important requirement in my view, since it helps keep the humidity level steady). I purchased it for $134.95 at a local retailer, and on-line prices seem comparable. So far, it appears to be fair traded. I highly recommend this product.

In the 20 years of using humidifiers, the Air-O-Swiss 7133 is the best we've ever used.

After our Hunter Care-Free Humidifier rusted and the motor seized up after 1.5 seasons of use, we researched and decided to go back to the ultrasonic type. The Hunter was loud and very difficult to clean. The Air-O-Swiss solves the two problems we've experienced with previous ultrasonic humidifiers: No more white dust, and no more mineral build-up inside the unit.

The instructions say to soak the demineralization cartridge for 24 hours before first use, and we did that. And we also placed the silver ionic stick in the basin. And in 2 months of almost continuous winter use, we've never had a problem with white dust. And except for rinsing out the unit now and then, this humidifier is the most care-free humidifier we've ever owned. No more scraping off the scaly mineral build up. And no white dust.

We keep the unit on a TV tray about 29" above the carpet floor. We have forced air heat, and our bedroom is about 250 sq.ft. Based on the measurements of a separate hygrometer in the room, we can get the relative humidity up to about 65% with all settings on full and the door closed, but we aim for about 50% relative humidity which the Air-O-Swiss maintains easily. We tried using the Air-O-Swiss in a larger room (about 400 sq.ft.) and it struggled to raise the humidity above 45%.

What's also nice is putting the heat on to warm up the mist. This was especially nice when we both had colds. Plus the room feels warmer with the warm moist air. Because it's an ultrasonic humidifier as opposed to the Hunter which was an evaporative humidifier, the Air-O-Swiss is MUCH quieter. No more loud fans. And the Hunter drew air in through its plastic grill which collected dust and was extremely difficult to clean. And the Air-O-Swiss is simple and easy to keep clean. If this Air-O-Swiss lasts 3 seasons, that it will end up costing the same as the other that only last 1.5 seasons. Time will tell.

I was really glad to have found this, even threw away our old humidifier that wasn't so great once I saw how wonderful it was. Then, exactly one week later, it simply quit producing mist. The customer service reps at Air-o-Swiss seemed hellbent on blaming me, making me waste a lot of time on the phone with them performing their stupid "fixes" (and, frustratingly, making me repeat the same ones every time I spoke to someone new). Now I get to mail it back to them with my own money (post office lines at holiday time - fun!) and do without until they get around to mailing one back. And no, they have not been apologetic in the least.