Honeywell Top Fill Cool Moisture Console Humidifier

So far so good. Bought this to replace a leaky humidifier from another company. Even though i like the shape of the other one (tall and slender) I trust the Honeywell name and i'm hoping my leakage problem will stay away.I know this says its a top fill but it was a nice bonus once i got the unit and noticed that each tank can be removed and filled at the sink. There is no carry handle so be careful when moving to and from the unit.At the loudest setting, this thing hums. It is in our main room, once people start talking or if we have the tv/xbox on, you can barely notice the noise. Even when the Central Air/Heat is louder than this. I'm going to keep it at full blast for 2 more days before i try the lowest setting to see how well it maintains the humidity.If i had to pick on it:1. Great having removable tanks however too bad there isn't a handle built in for secure carry2. Wheels, the only wheeled one i saw was white, and this black works betting for our decor3. I would like to see them make something either tall and slender or short & wider. Luckily we remodeled our home and opened up more space. Having something designed like what i just mentioned makes it easier to hide.4. Washable filter. I hate having to buy filters. My Dyson has a filter that i can rinse off every couple of months

Pros:- Generates lots of humidity fast.- Auto shut off at desired humidity level.- Large capacity.- No white dust or visible mist.Cons:- Filters are expensive and can go bad very quickly.- Probably also need antimicrobial tank aid.- Not very quiet.- Is it really safe?I purchased this unit to reduce static electricity in a large multi room area of the house. I know that it produced *a lot* of humidity because I purchased a digital hygrometer that confirmed it (and the fact that it felt like I was in the tropics). As many others have said, the manual said it manufactured but Kaz. It was easy to assemble and the instructions were clear. The option to fill the tank and carry by the handle or fill through the top is a nice feature. I put the unit together and then used a pitcher to fill each tank, very nice for people that can't lift heavy objects. There is a float arm device that allows the water to come in from the bottom of the tank which *must* be pushed into place before putting the tank on or it can cause problems. There are air intake vents on both sides of the fan housing and the instructions clearly state that it needs 12" on both sides but I only had 4 inches on one side and it seemed just fine. The tanks are huge and I didn't run out of water in a 24 hour period; I only needed to refill the left tank. I'm sure this will depend on your own air's humidity level and how high you set your desired humidity, but if you check it occasionally it shouldn't be a problem. I never got to the point where it shuts itself off from lack of water, but the float mechanism seemed like it would work well. There is a desired humidity dial and 3 fan speeds: high, optimal, and quiet. These dictate how fast (and loud) the fan runs and therefore how quickly it generates humidity. The manual suggests that you should run it for one hour on high the first time you use it and then set it optimal. This does a good job of keeping the humidity level where you've set it. Quiet also works fine, it just comes on more frequently. To me, none of the noise levels are louder than your typical house fan. If you know what a large computer with high end graphics cards sounds like, that is what optimal sounds like to me. However, they aren't whisper quiet. If you are sensitive to noise, it will be noticeable.Overall, I really liked this unit. So why three stars? The manual says that the filter should last 30-60 days. It also says that the unit should be cleaned once a week. Now, the cleaning methods sounded like a huge pain (first descale with vinegar, then soak in diluted bleach - yuck) but I was willing to do it. However, the manual specifically tells you not to clean the filter. It says to replace it once it gets hard (from mineral deposits), starts to fall apart, or emits a foul odor. Well after following all the instructions carefully and using clean tap water, my filter was ruined in THREE DAYS. Indeed I did smell a foul odor and lifted the housing to find the filter looked and smelled like the top half had been dipped in pond scum. I immediately went to amazon to order another filter and found that they are $17! Even if I was willing to spend that much money every 3 days to keep the humidifier working properly and spend 30-60 mins cleaning it once a week, it poses a health risk. I had been having trouble breathing all day before I identified the smell and checked the filter. After I took the filter outside and aired out the house, I started to feel better. It does not seem safe to me and I won't trust a wicking filter again. I returned it that same day; I'll live with the static electricity. If you're going to use this, please consider immediately getting the Humidifier Tank Cleaning Cartridge for each tank and check the water and filter smell at least once a day. The manual recommends ProTec model PC-1, PC-2, or PC-1C which are supposed to last 30 days and do cost around $10.

I want to write a review to address concerns that others have had with tanks not emptying and leakage. I also had these issues but they were due to my own ‘user error’. Firstly you just use the official type E filters from Honeywell. I tried some 3rd party ones but they did not work as well as the official ones and would dry up too fast. You must ask make sure to completely soak and wet the filter when you first use and and do this again if it dries out. I rinse mine under a tap. The leaking was caused by myself changing filters and not inserting the filter correctly, the left paddle was unable to drop back down and the whole thing leaked out. Just make sure the filter is within the pieces of plastic that hold it in and does not stick out.I love everything else about this and reviewed it on my YouTube channel. It holds a lot of water, it’s quiet and it is very easy to refill the tanks either in a sink or while docked in the unit. I really love it and recommend it to everyone.There is a newer version but I’m told that it’s the same apart from the tanks are clearer so you can see how much water is in them.