Dometic Breathe Easy Portable Air Purifier

I live on a boat........A very big boat. I recently had to have both heads completely pulled out and installed new toilets and hoses...etc.

When I came by to see how the repairs were going I notice there was no odor. The repairman had the "Dometic Breathe Easy" plugged in. I now own the Breath Easy and it runs 24/7. It keeps my boat smelling fresh, no more of the common smells from cooking and salt water sea cocks, heads....etc.

I recommend this product to everyone. It really works.

Save 14% Off

Danby DDR3010E 30 Pint Dehumidifier

Exactly what advertised. Energy Star rated. Comparatively quiet, especially the compressor (can barely hear it start up and run). The fan noise is, again, fairly quiet compared to others I have had/heard. (But I wouldn't want to try to sleep in a room with any dehumidifier running) I think the water reservoir is appropriately sized for a 30-pint unit. Display tells you the current humidity level in the room. Have only had it for a month, so the true test will be durability. I've been extremely disappointed with another brand, having bought two of them and both failed in less than three seasons of use.

Save 11% Off

Green Mountain Sumatran Reserve Coffee

This is my favorite flavor for the Keurig. Very dark, rich flavor(but not a burnt flavor). Just smelling it would put me in a better mood. Highly recommend.

Frigidaire FRA18EMU2 18,500 BTU Window-Mounted Median Air Conditioner

I will start by saying that finally, after installing two of these units in my 1500 sf workshop, I am very happy with them. They cool and heat very efficiently and quietly and there are not many units on the market which have the power and features of this one.

However, it was a long road getting to the happy point I am at now. I initially ordered two of these from Amazon, and they arrived quickly but both turned out to have been damaged in shipping. This is partially the truckers fault but a good deal of the blame must be laid on the manufacturer who does not package this model with sufficient protection to withstand the typical abuse which cartons endure in truck freight. There is is only about 1/2" of styrofoam between the front and top of the unit and the inside of the carton, and no crush space whatsoever. So both units arrived with bent case frames and one also had a cracked front grill piece and bent interior pieces.

Amazon offered to replace them but were out of stock so after some discussion I agreed to keep the least damaged one (I was able to bend the case back into shape) of the two for a discount, ship back the other for a refund, and order a third unit from TheFactoryDepot, one of amazon's resellers.

Well, guess what? The third unit arrived damaged in shipping as well. After much more discussion, this time with TheFactoryDepot, they agreed to allow me to go pick up a replacement at their warehouse which was luckily only about 30 minutes from my home. This unit was undamaged and so I installed that one as well.

We weren't through with our troubles though because the 2nd unit I installed (the one we picked up at the warehouse) soon started displaying a trouble code on the panel and stopped cooling. So we had to call Frididaire to have it serviced under warranty. There 3rd party service company came to the house and repaired it but they had to order a part so this took about another 10 days. Finally, about 6 or 8 weeks after our initial order, we had two working units installed and they have been cooling and heating nicely for the past 2 to 3 months. The remote is great it has all the controls to change modes, and control heating, cooling, thermostat, fan speed, energy saver, timer, etc. This is important to me because my units are installed 7 feet from the floor (to the bottom of the unit), and I have never needed to actually get up on a ladder to fiddle with the front panel once you get the airflow louvers pointed the way you want there is no need for that.

I wouldn't recommend this model at all if there were a lot of alternatives, mainly because of the poor packaging, but if you need a heating+cooling unit this size and you are prepared to potentially deal with returns and repairs then this is the unit for you. I don't say that entirely facetiously once we got all the startup problems solved these are very nice units. If you can find it locally or can pick it up from a warehouse I strongly recommend that as the packaging is very poor. That's the main reason I didn't give 5 stars.

Save 8% Off

Omnipure K2533JJ Water Filter

We had a delivery issue, not the vendor's fault. However, they made it right immediately. If I must make a critical comment, it would be to define the filter connections as well as use the technical names. That will help us dummies.

Save 63% Off

Jarden SWM5251-UM Sunbeam Warm Mist Humidifier

My sinuses and eyes get really dry in the winter when the heater is running. I bought one of these exact same models (the 5251) 6 years ago under the Holmes brand name. I wasn't expecting much since many reviews of different sorts of humidifiers out there where often pretty bad. It seemed like many humidifiers require expensive filter replacements, difficult cleaning processes, and they often don't work for long. I am glad to report that after six years, this humidifier is still working flawlessly. It's really easy to clean (I just rinse out the sediment left after boiling off all the tap water). Very helpful with my dryness. I would never live through another winter again without a humidifier, and I've been very happy with this model.

Last year, I decided to get a second one (of the same model, the SWM5251) after moving into a new place with a bigger bedroom. The newer one is this exactly the same but under the Sunbeam brand name instead of Holmes. It's the exact same thing as my old one, so Sunbeam must have bought the technology rights from Holmes or something. Anyway, the Sunbeam is working well now on its second winter, and I expect it will continue to work for several more years just like my first Holmes unit has been doing.

Hunter 30890 Total Air Sanitizer

We just purchased the 30441 version of this model at Target. The 30441 model shares the same manual with the 30890 model. Don't know the differences, if any.

Here is my 3 day assessment:

1) First six hours of unit operation produced an unusual smell. After 24 hours, could not longer detect. I've worked with HEPA filters in clean rooms before, and the smell seems like that of a new HEPA replacement. There may have also been a bit of `electrical' type odor, but I no longer notice that.

2) On all three speed settings, the unit is louder than I would like. We located it far from our bed, so can run overnight on the number 1 setting. Since I have tinnitus, the white noise seems to help a bit with sleeping, but I still think it seems a bit louder than desirable on the lowest setting.

3) We have never used an air purifier before. We finally realized we needed this when I experienced a prolonged allergy attack lasting months which seriously affected my health. After only 12 hours, this unit had a noticeable effect on my breathing. We turned it off one night, and by the morning, I was having difficulty with breathing. The unit really helped me.

4) For comparison, we also purchased the Holmes HAP9726 (I'll review that unit separately) at Walmart. So far running about six hours in our living room, and seems to be working, but need to turn off for a day to test this.

Bottom line: The Hunter seems to be working for us. Like magic for me. I suffered for months, and when home, I can now breathe again.

Update after seven days:

I at first though the odor had disapared after about six hours, but after seven days, when entering the room where the unit is operating, I can still detect a very slight odor. (No odor at all from the Holmes model which is working well.). In terms of performance, the Hunter model still seems to be filtering well.

Update after about 20 days:

The odor from the Hunter unit is slowly going away, though I can't say for sure it has completely vanished. It appears some sort of volatile has been warmed off the unit, but is declining to the point that it may not be a problem. However, after comparing the performance of this unit against the Holmes, which we bought at about the same time, I would say the Holmes, while somewhat more noisy on its lowest setting, may be more effective at cleaning the air then the Hunter. We plan on purchasing another unit, and based on our experience with the these two, we will purchase a new Holmes unit. In less than an hour, the Holmes unit seems to very effectively reduce allergens to make the air breathable.

After about 30 days,

in the Hunter unit I may be hearing an infrequent arcing pop sound as reported by other reviewers. Only have heard this at night when the room is otherwise quiet. The Hunter unit is otherwise performing well, though it is still not certain to me that the odor has disappered. It may now have no odor, but not sure. The Holmes unit is still behaving well, and we still prefer it. Keep in mind it is slightly noisier than the Hunter unit.

Update after about 4 months:

Both the Hunter and Holmes units are working well. The apparent odor from the Hunter unit has completely disappearred. We smell nothing now from the unit. For a period, the Hunter unit began the arcing noise that annoyed other buyers. However, this only seems to be problematic on the high setting, and over night we leave the unit on the low setting, which doesn't create this sound, or is much more minor. We still think the Holmes unit is superior. After nearly continuous operation of both units in a very dusty locale, we still have no indication of the need to replace filters. The two units did improve our air quality. I have had no serious sinus problems since we got these.

Six month update:

We finally replaced the filter on the Hunter unit ($25+tax at Target). I am not sure we had to, but we were beginning to experience increasing light arcing sounds overnight. When we replaced it, my wife used a Swiffer® dust cloth to clean around where the filter had been, The filter is easy to replace. There is no odor from the new filter, so the original odor of the Hunter came from the Hunter unit itself. Note that this odor is now completely gone, so if you can wait 3-4 weeks after purchase, the odor that others complained about will disappear. The Holmes unit is not yet ready for a new filter as we use that in our living/dining room, mostly only in the evening. One does have to turn up the TV volume when the Holmes unit is operating.

I neglected to add earlier that within our home we have central air/heat and we use the 3M Filtrete (UA03DC-6) FPR 10 air filter on our central air/heat. I also recommend this. It alone doesn't completely keep a local room clean like the Hunter or Holmes unit as it is not HEPA rated, but it is otherwise very effective, and good to use with HEPA type units like the Hunter and Holmes. For instance, during all of the fires in the west, we have occasionally been hit with heavy smoke now and then, and the 3M filter seemed to be very effective at taking this out of the air. After a month of on and off smoke, I looked at the filter and it was completely black. Evidently, it has a strong attraction for smoke particles. I want to emphasize, however, that my severe allergy attack which prompted us to buy the Hunter and Holmes happened while we were using this 3M filter, so, it alone, apparently doesn't take out all allergens. A HEPA type unit is more effective.

Update after seven months:

The new filter in the Hunter unit began the clicking noise from electrical arcing within about 10 days of use, and has become quite prominent, sometimes like a slow machine-gun repetition. I can deal with it, but it has annoyed my wife enough that we shifted the Hunter unit to out dining/living room, and moved the Holmes unit (HAP9726) to our bedroom. The Holmes HAP9726 is not quite as quiet as the Hunter, but it is a continuous din, not with spark-crackle-pop like the Hunter right now.

Apparently, Hunter filters do vary in their propensity to do this arcing, and in the case of my wife this sound would keep her awake, even when the normal fan sound did not. I would say the Hunter unit would be much more desirable if one could turn off the electrostatic portion of the filtering. Since the filters do seem to vary, some users may not immediately experience this problem, but may experience later when they replace the filter.

Note that the Holmes HAP9726 does have electrostatic action, but unlike the Hunter, one can turn it off, and you can have simple filtration, which alone is quite helpful.

Note that both the Hunter and Holmes HAP9726 have quiet controls, and one can make quiet adjustments while your partner is sleeping.

For the office, I purchased the Holmes HAP633-U unit from Walmart for about $60. This unit does not have quiet controls. It has a louder chunky click when changing settings and also, strangely, starts on a very noisy high and you have to adjust low. It is also quite a bit more noisy than the larger Holmes HAP9726 we have at home. There is actually a mild rattling of the fan mechanism, and it as well cyclically bellows mildly louder and softer. Even than though it a smaller unit, it is more noisy. I don't recommend the Holmes HAP633-U. I use it, but I often have to turn it off when anyone enters my office. If one compares the HAP633-U to the better HAP9726, it almost seems like they are designed on completely different principles of efficacy.

I want to make an observation on the air purifier use. My really sensitive allergy window is late August through early November. Our Hunter and Holmes HAP9726 units at home did help alleviate my condition, but did not eliminate it. Probably because I can't remain at home continuously. However, I also feel that these two purifiers (Hunter and Holmes HAP9726) on their own were not enough to fully clean the house. Next year, we plan on purchasing at least one more unit for the home, and starting next August, we have all run on maximum to see if they might help me better.

So, far, given all of our experience, I would most recommend the Holmes HAP9726. The Hunter might be better if one could turn off the electrostatic action, but one can't. Stay away from the Holmes HAP633-U; it is cheaper, but you can find better which will make you happier.

Update after eight months:

Just after seven months the Holmes HAP9726 unit seemed to be laboring with its fan action. I opened the case, and the filters were packed with dust. Evidently, the unit had filtered so much that it was now having difficulty drawing air. I replaced the HEPA and carbon filters with new ones, and the unit is now performing fine.

A note on the carbon filters for the Holmes HAP9726. I know something about how these are supposed to work to remove organic vapors, and I was extremely skeptical of their capability since it takes a lot of carbon to be effective, but originally (8 months ago) I installed anyway. When I recently opened the box to replace all of the filters, evidently the carbon filters mechanically trapped an enormous amount of dust on their own, and may have prolonged the life of the HEPA filters, so I recommend using the carbon filters for the HAP9726.

One other observation on the Holmes HAP9726: It takes air in from the side and blows filtered air upward. The Hunter takes air in from the side and blows filtered air sideways. The Holmes HAP9726 seems to do a better job of air circulation while filtering because of this side and up action.

Finally, when I looked at the dust trapped on the HAP9726 filters, it was extremely fine. It is my perception that the HAP9726 is filtering out much finer particles than I see trapped on our 3M filter for our air conditioning system. Our 3M filter is in the ceiling, and the Holmes (and Hunter) are on the floor. Evidently, the smaller particles remain closer to the floor, or are not being taken out as well by the 3M filter for our air conditioner.

I now have enough experience and observation to advise you to take your money to Wal-Mart and purchase the Holmes HAP9726 if you can't find it on Amazon. It is cheaper than the Hunter unit we purchased, and overall is better.

I'll update this review in the future if anything changes, but this might be the final review update.

Save 35% Off

Atrix CYC-3 Turbo Cyclonic Vacuum

Attractive design, strong suction power, the cord retraction feature is very useful, the only negative is that the vacuum is very loud, however the cleaning power is more important and this vacuum delivers.

Save 16% Off

Hoover MultiCyclonic Canister

We have a 2000 sq. ft. home with 2 dogs and a cat so we tend to put our vacuum cleaners through frequent hard use. As such, we weren't looking to spend more than $200 on a cleaner that, in all actuality, would probably need replacing in 2 years. After a terrible experience with another vacuum (the Eureka 940A Pet vacuum CHEAP, awful, and useless after 1 month), we were looking for another that was 1) under $200; 2) a canister; 3) bagless; 4) had some quality construction and maintained suction. We saw the Hoover Multi-Cyclonic Canister at our local Target and were impressed with the feel and quality of it, but were a bit skeptical of what we would be getting for the $150 price. Amazon was pretty short on reviews, but the ones that were posted all had very positive comments (including a suspicious one that seemed to know WAY too much about vacuum cleaners and Dyson patents) so we decided to give it a shot. We're very glad we did this little cleaner has been awesome.

PROS:

Incredible suction. Does not lose power no matter how much pet hair we pick up and it does not clog.

Powered beater head. Most inexpensive vacuums have heads that rely on suction to turn the beater and slowly become less and less efficient as they lose suction.

Solid, quality construction. The hose leading to the beater is metal and all other parts are thick heavy-duty plastic. No cheap plastic parts.

Flared bristles on the beater bar. Great for cleaning all the way up to the baseboards without having to go back around the room with the crevice tool.

Standard hose attachment size. We've accumulated several attachments from previous cleaners that we like to use (upholstery brush, blind cleaner) and they all fit this new vacuum.

Easy to empty canister. No filters or lids to remove and it back on. Just push the button and dump.

Washable filters. Including a HEPA filter

Retractable cord.

THE SUCTION...again, it really is fantastic and stays that way.

Just a few CONS:

The cord is a bit short. An extra 3-5 ft would have been great

No swivel on the hose. It doesn't swivel/rotate at either end (where hose connects to vacuum or where hose connects to gun) so it tends to get tangled or bent and awkward at times.

The hose and beater portion only store/attach to the vacuum in one position. It would be great if there was another clip where you could attach the hose/beater to the vacuum while it was standing upright to save even more storage room.

Fixed beater bar height. We have all hardwood floors so this isn't an issue, but this might be a pain for someone that has a mix of hardwood and carpet or a lot of rugs.

Really, the cons aren't even that bad...more like "wants" if Hoover were taking suggestions to make this machine perfect. We've been really impressed and would recommend this vacuum to anybody. Highly doubt you're going to find better quality and suction for the price...that's probably the reason this is ALWAYS out of stock (we haven't seen it in stock at our Target in over 2 months). Buy this and treat yourself to a vacation ticket somewhere with the money you'll save over a Dyson or Miele!

Save 26% Off

Hisense DH-70K1SJE Energy Star 70-Pint 2-Speed Dehumidifier

This dehumidifier didn't work since day one. It ran but never extracted any moisture/water. Obviously a defective product. I called the manufacturer to use the warranty, and was told that in a case like this they tell the customer to return it to the place of purchase. I called Amazon, explained the situation, and they could not have been more accommodating. They sent me a return label and said I could return the product to them for a full refund. Great customer service.

Hamilton Beach Blue Humidifier Replacement Filter

I like the size of this humidifier/vaporizor, but it is a little noisier than I expected. I could not find the filters instore anywhere, which was very annoying but I think I saw them at WalMart recently. We run the vaporizor almost 24 hrs a day since our baby girl was born 2.5 yrs ago and I have used 4 filters. It's good for white noise too. Just remember to run it dry each time to make the filter last longer and prevent mildew from growing in the container.

Save 51% Off

Miele S2121 Olympus Canister Vacuum Cleaner

I underwent a long and arduous search for the best vacuum, and I finally found it. I read a ton of reviews and looked at lots of models, and am very happy with my choice. However, we've only had it for a few weeks, so perhaps I'll find fault later on, but for now, my husband and I are both thrilled with this vac. It's light, easy to maneuver and great on our hardwood floors and rugs. Even though there is no brush roller, it still works well on all our rugs, which are mostly orientals and some with a fairly thick pile. One caveat: Make sure you use the switch on the vac head to go from hardwood to carpet, or else it will make that terrible scraping sound another reviewer wrote about. Once you hit the switch it works fine, so I guess that person just didn't notice the switch. It's nice and quiet and also works well on cat hair. The only criticism I have is that the vent blower on top of the vac can blow dust a bit but that's only when you are holding it at odd angles, like on the stairs. Once I was aware of that, I was able to turn it to avoid the issue. The cord was long enough for me; didn't have that issue as others have. I love that it has a holder to keep the wand upright when you need to stop and move something-you don't have to find something to lean it on. Overall, I'm VERY pleased!!!

NOTE: Amazon lists a suggestion to buy vac bags at the same time, but it listed the wrong kind of bag. This machine takes G/N bags and not the other kind as was listed.

Save 9% Off

MicroLux ML4000D Series Home HEPA Ionic Ozone Generating Air Purifier Cherry

I've tried at least 5 different brands of HEPA air purifiers (with fan(s)) before finding this one. The number one reason that I disliked all my previous purifiers is NOISE. I'm quite sensitive to certain types of noise, including fan noise. At one point I gave up getting a fanned purifier and got a passive electrostatic-plate purifier for years. However, the passive purifier never works to my expectation (it still works, just not very efficiently).

But after getting a cat for 1.5 yrs, I decided it's really the time to use a more efficient air purifier. After going through many reviews and ratings on Amazon and many other websites, I still bumped into two disappointments (Honeywell HHT-011 and Bionaire BAP-1700) -it seems that my tolerance of noise is much less than average users. Then I found MicroLux ML4000DCH at the 3rd try. I was very skeptical at the beginning because I can't find any info about MicroLux on the web at all, but due to desperation and reasonable pricing, I still decided to give it a shot -and so glad that I did. The unit is quiet enough at its lowest setting not to bother me (Bionaire BAP-1700 gave me really weird dreams during sleep; Honeywell HHT-011 was placed away from me in the living room after running it for 5 mins in my bedroom). Moreover, Microlux ML4000 is the only purifier with more than HEPA filter and Ionizer of all three. Plus it has the lowest power consumption.

In short, I would recommend this purifier to anyone with sensitive ears but still wants clean air.

Save 58% Off

Essick Air 1041 Replacement Console Wick

I am writing this review to counter its current 1-star rating (from a review based solely on a marketplace SELLER and not the actual product).

This product is what it is ~ a replacement wick for some Bemis and Essick humidifiers. We bought this for our Bemis ED11-800 and our Bemis 4D7-800 and it works great. No white dusts. We had tried cheaper replacement wicks and they just didn't work as well.

Amazon definitely had the best price at the time we got these at under $13 shipping included PLUS a 4 for the price of 3 promo.

Save 15% Off

IQAir® New Edition GC MultiGas Air Purifier

I'm in my second year of dealing with my neighbor's unbelievably bitter, nasty fireplace smoke. He's down on his luck and burns wood in an old stove. Things are so bad, I may buy him a new furnace but he hasn't paid his mortgage and I don't feel like giving the bank a new central heating system.

What you need know about this unit. I assume you know anything under $350-400 is worthless. Oreck, Sharper Image, Seen On TV, Ronco, Popeil etc. are of no value whatsoever. Honeywell units with charcoal have the right idea but at that price, you don't get enough charcoal to last for more than a few weeks. I started my odyssey with a AustinAir which is pretty good for the money but the wood smoke killed the 2-year filter in 6 weeks. (Note that AA now has a HealthMate Plus that has potassium permanganate and should do a better job with smoke). Long story short, I finally forked over the money for the IQAir and haven't looked back. This year, I'm getting a second unit while I wait for the bank to foreclose on my neighbor. There really isn't anything bad to say about the IQ Multi-Gas but in my experience, it puts out a sort of "sweet" smell. Almost like vanilla. I'm not crazy about it but it's not a problem. It might be, if you have extreme sensitivity, though. One other thing; although the IQAir costs a ton and as with all good units, the filters are $300, the IQ filters seem to really last. I'm starting my second winter on the original cylinders so it may turn out to be cheaper than the Austin Air in the long run.

One other thing that may or may not be of interest. The IQ units disperse the "cleaned" air in a 360 pattern. So, wherever you position the unit, some of the output will be directed at you. At the highest speeds this can be a little drafty but not that much, since the air dispersed in all directions. In contrast, the Austin Air collects incoming air from all directions but disperses through a single opening on one side. Wisely, they've angled the slats so the air goes up and won't blow on you if you're in bed but still the Austin is more of a directional blower than the IQ Air.

Berkey Light with 2 Black Filters

I question where some of these reviewers got their information about performance tests. Check out .

On one of the tabs you'll find analysis results.

The FAQ page says: "There are simply too many varieties of pharmaceuticals that could end up in drinking water. By too many I mean it is impossible to test for them all. However, we do know from testing, that the purification process used by the Black Berkey elements remove more pollutants than any other system available on the market today." It also describes a test you can do by adding red food coloring to the water to be sure the filter is working. Any filter that will remove red food coloring has to be pretty effective.

Regarding the high TDS rate one reviewer mentions, the FAQ page says, "Berkey purification systems do not remove the beneficial minerals from the water but they do extract harmful heavy metals such as lead and mercury as well as sedimentary minerals such as iron oxide. Therefore, the TDS (total dissolved solids) reading will not typically change much unless there are a lot of heavy metals or sedimentary minerals in the source water."

About viruses, the FAQ page says: "Berkey is the original North American distributor for British Berkefeld, a company who makes the finest ceramic water filter available. These ceramic filters are excelent at removing harmful bacteria from sediment heavy, contaminated drinking water. It soon became clear to Berkey that a more powerful filter was needed, one that not only removed bacteria but was also in addition able to remove chemicals, viruses, heavy metals fertilizers and a long list of additional contaminants from your drinking water. After many years of research Berkey developed the Black Berkey purification element. This filter gives you all of the benifits of the ceramic filter with the added abilities mentioned above. Black Berkey purification element signifigantly raised the bar to a level that no other gravity flow water filters are curently able to attain."

These filters are used all over the world by aid agencies. You won't find any filter on the market that will purify better. Certainly not simple charcoal filters like Pur. On this page: it explains that a water filter has to remove 99.99% of pathogenic bacteria. To be sold as a "purifier" it has to remove 99.9999%. "All Berkey systems that contain the Black Berkey elements are classified as water purifiers. In fact Berkey Water Purifiers remove 99.9999999% (log 9 reduction) of pathogenic bacteria. To our knowledge no other water filtration device in the world can match that claim."

I have had a Big Berky for 2 months, due to a cancer diagnosis my treatment plan requires drinking pure water with no added fluoride and no residual agrotoxins, etc. The Berkey filters were the best solution I could find of anything on the market and we're loving the water and quick and easy system.

Save 14% Off

pureguardian FLTDC Humidifier Decalcification Filter

I know that ultrasonic humidifiers leave white dust. However, this filter is supposed to eliminate that problem. I've tried these types of filters in other ultrasonic humidifiers (Crane for example) and they work. But this one, does nothing. What a shame. We love the humidifier, but wish the filter actually worked. It's a lot of work to clean up the dust all the time. Especially on drapes, curtains, etc.

Save 30% Off

Generic Dyson DC-07/DC-14 Replacement HEPA Filter

Not OEM, and does not come with rubber seal required for proper fit. I had to scrape off the old one and glue to the new filter, not what I expected.

Holmes HM5305-UC Warm Mist Humidifier

I believe this item has received unfairly low ratings from other purchasers. Perhaps these reviews are from purchasers who have never owned a humidifier before, or who didn't bother to read the directions. I have owned three different humidifiers over the years, and this one has been overall the best.

I would agree the tank shape could stand some redesign. Like most humidifiers, you turn the tank upside down to refill, thus the top of the tank is best designed to conform to the shape of a tub or sink, so that it stays upright on its own while filling. This one does not do that, but it is still possible to prop it against the end of the tub to refill.

As for the other comments that have been made, of course it makes a gurgling noise. Water is dripping down into the base in order to be converted to steam. I have had the unfortunate experience of owning a humidifier that sounded like an 18-wheeler driving through my house--and believe me, this one is QUIET.

The only knocking noises I've heard were when the tank emptied while I was asleep and I didn't shut it off, AND I hadn't cleaned it in a very long time.

And of course the heating element is going to be hot right after you turn it off, and yes it could char a piece of wood if it came in contact with the heating element. The instructions CLEARLY STATE you must allow the heating element to cool before cleaning or refilling. I cannot imagine why someone would set something wet down on a wood table, or how the heating element came into contact with wood of one reviewer, as the heating element has a surrounding plastic framework that makes it difficult if not impossible to place anything directly against the heating element. Perhaps the user modified this plastic housing in some way.

Also, the tank cap has a mechanism that, together with the humidifier base, controls the amount of water that flows out of the tank. The only way this could malfunction and send water everywhere is if the cap was not screwed on properly (and just like a bottle of soda, if you don't screw the cap on properly, the bottle will leak), or if it is not placed on the base securely.

I have not found the recommended cleaning to be an issue. But then, I use the recommendations as a guideline, not a requirement. How much you cleaning you have to do depends on the condition of your water and your performance expectations.

The recommended "daily" cleaning is basically to remove the base reservoir and dump out any water and accumulated sediment. I actually only do this about once a week, and I have very hard water (lots of clay sediment and calcium. I cannot drink tap water, its that bad.) The recommended "weekly" cleaning is to fill the base reservoir with vinegar and soak for 20 mins, and wipe down the heating element and surrounding housing to remove any calcium deposits. I actually only do this about every 3 months. Sometimes I actually have to chisel off the calcium from the heating element! And with all this obviously poor maintenance, I have noticed no diminished performance!

I'm not sure what the 'reboot' requirement is, stated by one reviewer. The instructions clearly state that you should turn off the humidifier when you remove the tank for refilling, or when you are cleaning. This makes sense. Leaving it on without the heating element resting in a reservoir of water is like putting an empty pan on a hot stove burner. It will damage it. But turning it off for the few moments required for filling or cleaning is sufficient. No further effort is required. And I really don't understand how one is personally offended by an inanimate object.

As for the size of tank, and how long it lasts, that all depends on the settings you use, and the size of your room. The 36-hour timeframe advertised by the manufacturer is at the unit's lowest setting, as most manufacturers do. I keep mine set on low speed, with the humidity percentage at about 60%. This lasts 24 hrs. I definitely notice a humid feeling when walking into my bedroom where I keep the humidifer. My bedroom measures about 12' x 18', but I keep my bedroom door open always so the humidity isn't just staying in my bedroom alone. The packaging states accurately that this humidifier is intended to serve a medium-sized room, not a whole house or very large rooms.

I really love the fact that this model does not require filters. I've had humidifiers that require filters, and of course you can never find the filter when you need one, and they are often very expensive. I've also had a humidifier that advertised no filter required, then upon reading the fine print inside the box, learned that while a humidifier was not REQUIRED, it really needed one to function properly.

I replaced my last humidifier with this one because the lat model I owned had no controls other than on/off, and pumped out so much mist it soaked everything around it, and was a cold mist model that did not keep the calcium deposits inside the reservoir--everything that got soaked by the mist ended up with calcium residue on it that was impossible to remove.

All in all, a very good model. The only thing I would like better is a domed-top model that could rest easily in the tub for refilling.

Save 38% Off

Dyson DC35 Animal Digital Slim Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

As an owner of a Dyson DC25 Ball vacuum cleaner I was already a loyal fan by the time that I got a chance to own this item. The DC25 is a great vacuum, however any full-sized upright model has limitations. They are large, heavy and need to be plugged in. Also, even the best of them are difficult to maneuver into small corners and under furniture without using additional accessories attached to a separate hose. The Dyson DC35 Animal augments a full sized upright by being small, lightweight and cordless.

I decided to make a video review to show the DC35 in action. I hope that it helps you in finding the right vacuum for your needs.

Note: When viewing the finished video I noticed that I accidentally said "childrens", I guess as a plural of children (?!?) I don't think that I have ever said that before. Oh well, sorry about that.