AIRCARE MA Whole-House Console-Style Evaporative Humidifier (Console)

Whole Home Humidifer... yes finally! This claims to cover over 3000 sqft and it does! I have an open, vaulted ceiling open floor plan. I placed this in the kitchen central to the main living areas (not including the upstairs) and it easily covers the 2000 sqft of main living area to include a master suite that sits right off the great room with little effort. It works so much better than the ones that spit out mist as this one is evaporative and the fan disperses the moisture out into the air better. It is quiet for the type of humidifier it is aka it uses a fan to blow the moisture throughout the home. Noise: It’s quiet. Based on the unit sitting approx 17ft from the tv and main living area: The noise is barely detectable at fan speed F1 (unless your home is super quiet as in no tv or radio). Fan speed F2 is like a very subtle white noise again nothing that impacts everyday living in the home. After a few minutes of F2 you won’t notice it. Fan speed F3 is noticeable but again I can still watch tv without it annoying me. Fan speed F4 (max) is loud and I only used that for about an hour on initial set up. Efficiency of Fan Speeds: I find that the unit works best at F1 and F2 unless I have a drastic drop in humidity (the unit might run out of water as I sleep or if I’m out running for the day). The Auto Setting: This setting works great but you must be sure to have independent Hygrometers in your rooms to gauge the humidity because the one that is on the cord reads higher because of it’s close proximity to the unit than 10, 20, 30ft from the unit. I have one set near where we sit most of the time as well as one in the master suite. Be sure to use the salt/water n cup method to test your hygrometers as they can vary. My living room one is digital and reads 1 to 2 lower than what the actual humidity is so I just add 1 or 2 to whatever it is displaying. The hygrometer in my master reads 3 low. In my home the unit hygrometer that is on the cord reads about 6 to 7 higher than the area we are actually sitting in. Once I figured that out I was able to set the unit on Auto at 60 and it keeps my area around 53 to 55 humidity depending on outside temps and how much my heat or fireplace is running. These settings will vary from owner to owner so be sure to test your hygrometers and then vs the cord hygrometer and see what works for you. I have asthma and 48 to 55 is a comfortable level for me but if higher than say 58 for too long and i can start having issues as anything higher than 60 can start to produce mold and mildew issues. —With all that being said about the fan speeds and the use of auto I tend to like manual control and use the F1 to F2 as my homes needs change. At night or if I’m going to be away for the day I will use Auto mode to be sure that the humidity won’t get too high. Filling the unit: the side container that comes off is easy to handle and easily fits over/in a kitchen sinks to fill. On initial set up you will need to do two full fills and if you are like me after the second one glugs (it does gurgle on fill up) in i then top off the container. Maintenance: This unit is easy to maintain and clean to include the filter it comes with. I did purchase the bacteriostat to add to my tap water fills. I only use about 1/8th of the cap per fill up of the tank. It would cost me too much to purchase distilled water for my homes needs as I do fill it first thing in the morning and then just before bed (about 14 hours later). That can vary depending on the fan speed you’re running. Every morning I flip the filter to keep one end from drying up more than the other. I recommend doing a full clean of the unit about once every 5 to 7 days. Cleaning it is very easy. The base Is light with very few grooves in it and it is easy to clean in a kitchen sink. I use dawn dish soap but I know others use vinegar. Either works as there is very little to no build up cleaning it at this frequency. It’s is important to keep it cleaned, remember you and your family are breathing the air that comes from it. Filters: The manufacturer of the filters state that one filter can do one full season. I personally will require a filter every two months because I’m very cautious about what I’m breathing and after a couple months the filter will start to dry out, get yellow and even brown. That is what it is supposed to do, it’s catching the bad stuff so you don’t breathe it. Once mine begins to look more yellow than white I change it. You don’t have to, it is just something I do and the filters are not expensive for the peace of mind it gives me. Warnings: I noted some reviewers saying that the casters for the wheels crack the unit so I decided to not use the wheels. The unit does not require the use of the wheels. Mine sits on my kitchen tile level and it moves with ease. If you want to give it a little lift or you are placing it on a wood floor then I would recommend getting the felt round pads that you can stick to the bottom of things for protection. Wallyworld sells them and they are very inexpensive. Wrap up! This unit exceeds my expectations. It is quiet and efficient in comparison to many other more expensive units I tried before this one that claimed extra large square footage and efficiency.

This review is for the Aircare MA1201 Whole-House Console Humidifier. The unit functions flawlessly and in our 2,500sq ft home, it took only about a day (24 hours and a few refills) to hit the humidity level we set (We were at 32% and our goal was 50% humidity). Unit turns on about four times per day, usually a couple times at night although it is fairly quiet (unless it hits F3 or 4) so it doesn't disturb our sleep even though it's only about five feet from our bedroom door (which we keep open at night). Now that the humidity level is regulated, we're using about one full tank per 24 hours, although I make sure it's filled up first thing in the morning and again just before bed. The tank is easily filled from a sink by laying the tank flat and filling it up. The cap is a screw on type with rubber seal that works very well. We've had zero leaks from the unit and the tank. Occasionally I'll see a drip or two while carrying the tank - usually because of some residual water trapped near the release valve on the bottom or some water runoff from being careless when I refill it. (Speaking of the release valve, don't do what I did to check how it functions and push on it with your finger...not unless you want water running down your hand. You have been warned.) We've been using city tap water and have yet to need Sunbeam Humidifier Bacteriostat Solution, which we have on hand, just in case. The unit should be broken down and thoroughly cleaned at the end of each season it is used. Wiping down with a towel inside and out should be sufficient, however I usually use a disinfectant spray to be sure it stays clean. It should also be inspected weekly to avoid any mold or mildew buildup. If any is found, the Bacteriostat Solution I mentioned works well and is also sold here on Amazon. Discard the wick/filter after each season - trust me, they're inexpensive and it's far easier than trying to dry one out and store it without it turning into crumbs. When we bought the humidifier, we got a spare wick, so the next season we wouldn't be in a panic trying to order one at the last minute. Some tips for those who have a hard time getting or keeping the humidity up in your home, especially during the winter months: Your HVAC is most likely taking the moisture out of the air. The more your heat runs, the dryer your air will get. If you run your HVAC fan constantly, you will *never* reach a humidity level over about 38%, especially if you have a high MERV rated filter - they do not have a very breathable fabric like low rated filters and can absorb some moisture out of the air. If you're having a really hard time getting the humidity level up in your home to start, turn on the humidifier and turn off your heat for a few hours during the day (provided it's not sub-zero outside and don't let the temp drop to an unreasonable level!). You should notice your humidity level climb pretty rapidly and as a side benefit, the more humidity in the air, the warmer the air will feel. (71-72° was our comfort zone until we got a humidifier, now we're fine at 68-69° and keep it at 66° overnight.) Another tip is to set the fan to Auto instead of a fixed setting. On the humidifier, the fan control button will cycle through F4, 3, 2, 1, A (Auto) for each time it's pressed. Set it to A and once the humidity is where you want it, you'll notice it will run quieter or not at all for a good portion of the time. This saves money on the electric bill (and the humidifier will save money on the heating bill as well!) and saves some wear and tear on the unit. Finally, make sure to give the unit some decent clearance from walls and furniture (and anything else you don't want being hit with moist air, like say a computer?). The instructions say to keep it at least 4" from the walls, I'd say make it at least 6" and do not keep it near electronics of any kind, just to be safe. I hope you've found this review helpful and enjoy your new humidifier.

I bought this to humidify 1000 sq ft. I went from 30%RH to 45% in about 2 hours - very efficient machine. We have electric heat in that building so the humidifier runs quite a bit. This humidifier runs on 3 fan speeds or "automatic" which is what I use. The highest fan speed is fairly loud but it rarely kicks in on automatic mode. You can set it anywhere between 35% and 65%. If you are debating a smaller unit I recommend this one - it will run less frequently and actually humidify a small home or entire floor.

I've purchased several of these humidifiers for myself and others. With the rising popularity of heat pumps that dry the air out, I find it necessary to add humidity back into the air. This style worked well in two homes. Instructions were very useful.

El mantenimiento es muy difícil ya que la "mecha" (lo que absorbe el agua para que el aire se humidifique) se rompe con mucha facilidad al abrir el humidificador para ser limpiado. Esta "mecha" no es barata.

Humidifier works great for small household. Use in open kitchen/dining/living room and works well. Only use in winter when temperatures drop below - 10 Celsius. Only issues: must use filtered water or filter will not last and must use a bactericide or mould/mildew will form. Also if your house is very dry you will have to fill daily. Pros: easy to fill, easy to clean, filters easy to find at most hardware stores or on-line.

For years I struggled to keep my basement at the comfortable humidity level (very dry in the winter with in-floor heating) and never could find a unit that would maintain the proper level UNTIL NOW!! This baby does that and is very quite, easy to use --- fill and forget it I say! So far, it has worked really well, I have absolutely no reservations about buying this humidifier!!!