|
114 of 116 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent so far, June 16, 2003
I bought this product because of the brand name, the reasonable price, and the overall positive customer reviews. So far I've been very pleased. Except for the glug of the water going into the tray, the humidifier is extremely quiet. At least once I've forgotten it was even on. Unlike most people on here, my sinus problems arise in the spring and summer. I've found it to work satisfactorily when the air conditioner, fan, or window is open. Obviously it isn't as effective as when the windows are closed and the fan/AC isn't on. I pretty much only use the humidifier at night and on the settings I generally use it goes through about 75-80% of a full container of water. It takes but a few minutes to refill and I do it before I go to bed at night. The cleaning also doesn't take very long even in a household with hard water. The pamphlet suggests a 20 minute soak in a vinegar/water solution. While it was soaking I spray CLR onto the "heating element" and used a toothbrush to scrub. I've also soaked it in a solution of CLR and water or used some of the vinegar/water solution. You may need a little bit of elbow grease, but by the time I was done the 20 minutes was about up. Minimal wiping was needed for the tray. I too am busy, but I was easily able to find 20 minutes to clean the humidifier. The pamphlet also suggests sitting the machine on a tray or something similar, however I have mine sitting right on the carpet next to my bed. I've experienced no leaking or spills whatsoever. I do agree that something beyond little dewdrops for the humidity control would be helpful, but I've set mine in the middle and have found that be just fine in either the high or low setting. I suppose it could be problematic if someone is running the machine 24/7 or needs a room to be at a specific humidity level, however that is not an issue in my case. Also, because I only run the machine at night and it's not cranked all the way up, I have not had any experience with the automatic shutoff. I do agree that the machine itself does not seem to be made of particularly durable plastic and the vent doesn't seem to fit quite right. I expected the parts to lock into place better, but I have not experienced any problems as a result. If you plan to set the machine on the floor I would however be sure it won't be in an area where it risks getting bumped. My only concern is the electricity usage. It doesn't mention it anywhere on the packaging or in the pamphlet. Two reviews mention it running in excess of 300 watts. Obviously I prefer to keep my electric bill as low as possible and with the added costs of running the AC or fan during the summer, I am concerned about the additional cost of running the humidifier.
|