EVDC300 Energy Smart Evaporative Humidifier – Whole Room Moisture Control with Quiet, Efficient Performance

Function: Our space is 1200 square feet, and we have this in our great room with high ceilings. Our previous humidifier was rated for 500 square feet, and barely kept our apartment at 27% humidity at 68 F. It also took 24 - 48 hours to raise the humidity a percentage or two. This one raised the humidity from 10% in about 8 hours, it's kept the humidity about 30 - 32% since, in the middle of winter with our heater running full blast. Many places recommend 40 - 50% humidity, but I notice a real difference around 30%. 5/5 Water Refill: My unit is on a floor that isn't even, so one tank empties first. The tanks are 1 gallon each, and easy to pick up with a handle. I refill them in the bathtub. 5/5 Cleaning: One thing I love is this unit is designed to be cleaned. The lid to the tanks is the entire bottom of the tank, which means the inside of the tanks are easy to reach and scrub out. The top of the unit with the fan lifts up out of the base, which makes cleaning the base easier (and everything is accessible to your scrub brush). 5/5 I have read that wick-based humidifiers raise the humidity faster when the air is dryer, and slower when the air is already humid. This seems in line with my experience, and I don't really think it's too bad if it keeps things from getting too humid. Sound: This unit uses a fan to pull air in through a wick, which humidifies the room. The sound is similar to a box fan, which is a sound I find relaxing. There are also some "glug" sounds when air enters the tank. No points off for sound, but it's not silent, it might be better in a hallway outside your bedroom if you're sensitive to sound but want it nearby. Longevity: We've had the unit for over a month now, so no score here yet. Overall - I like the design, it looks nice, functions well, and was reasonably prices - so a win-win for us.

TL;DR: the EVDC300 works great and is a bargain, considering the satisfaction guarantee from Vornado. ---- It's a bit of a long story: I moved to this humidifier after being frustrated by how difficult to clean my ultrasonic (misting) humidifiers were. They turned black and gray after only a week, and with three in the house, I don't have the time to clean them. Research and Decision-Making I learned from Consumer Reports that every ultrasonic humidifier they tested spewed at least some bacteria into the air, but the evaporative ones didn't. That made me interested in evaporative humidifiers like these (EVDC300). I really wanted to buy from Vornado, but these didn't have as high a star rating as I typically look for. After hours upon hours (an embarrassingly long time!) of research, I decided to try them. The product has a strong guarantee on it ("5 Year Satisfaction Guarantee" is printed on the box), so I figured any issues I have could be mitigated by the manufacturer. Purchase and Initial Experience I bought three EVDC300 units right away. One of them continually turned off (as some others in the reviews experienced). I called Vornado and after a little back and forth they sent me a replacement unit. Performance and Satisfaction I've been using the humidifiers for almost a month. They have kept visually clean. I don't see any bacteria/mold growth. They're easy to fill. They reached and maintain the humidity set point (confirmed by a third-party hygrometer). Downsides (outweighed by the upsides) Filters need to be replaced every so often. And the fan can be loud if the room is well below the humidity set point. I don't mind either of these if it means I'm not breathing mold and that the humidifiers essentially keep themselves clean. I'm a happy customer and want to buy more.