Mediocre at Best

I recently got the opportunity to try this unit out. Because I didn't actually purchase the unit, I was willing to try it out even though I had heard some not-so-flattering things about the unit. It wasn't on my dollar! I wouldn't mind a little humidity as your body needs moisture to function properly, but the minute you shut the windows and turn the heat on, you start to reduce the humidity in your home from the optimal level of around 40-50% down to almost 20%. The result? Dry air, which deprives your lungs and respiratory system of moisture, and makes you prone to illness and the common cold.

I eagerly opened the box and was turned off by the color, a dull tan color that reminds me of old hospital equipment. The look of the unit isn't very attractive and looks like something that should be in my Great Grandmothers bedroom. Not very nice for a 20-something like myself. Removing the unit from the box was difficult as the unit is large and awkward. The edges are roughly tapers, making a grip hard to accomplish.

Once out of the box, I read through the instructions, following them to the "T" to operate the unit. The first section of the instructions "Filter Facts" is pretty much a plea to the consumer to only by HOLMES brand filters and not the generic ones. The Pre-Operating instructions state to install the wheels to ensure mobility and convenience of the unit. My unit was missing a wheel and so would tip when left to it's own devices. I then took off the wheels to level the unit back out. The instructions then advise you on how to fill the *heavy* tanks.

With everything set, I was ready to run this monster. You plug in the unit and have to let the unit run constantly for 30 minutes for the wick filter to absorb the water. This unit is a cool mist humidifier, also known as an evaporative wick unit. A cool mist humidifier uses the evaporative wick filter that soaks up the water from a tank and then a fan is blown on the filter, pushing cool air out and producing a clean, invisible, cool mist. Unfortunately the wick filters only last between 4-8 weeks, depending on usage and water conditions. They will eventually turn brown because minerals and impurities in the water are trapped and remain in the filter thus ensuring the cleanliness of the mist. A red or orange color indicates rust in the pipes or a high iron content in the water. Once the filter is a dark brown or beige and the top is hard, it's time to change the filter. The unit takes a model HWF75 filter which is $19.99 for a two pack or $29.99 for 4 if you order directly through the company. The unit has a built in filter check monitor that I don't trust. It told me the brand new filter that came with the unit was bad and needed changing, so I did. The second filter read bad as well.

Enough about filters. I ran the unit and found it rather noisy, like the fan blades were hitting on something. The lowest speed wasn't so bad, but I wouldn't keep it any higher than that. There are a total of Three speeds. The motor is powerful and while the moisture output was great, It is too loud for a living room or bedroom.

One feature I liked about this unit is that it is treated with Microban. This is a protective anti-microbial additive that is in the humidifier plastic to protect key parts for the growth of bacteria, mold, and mildew. There is no odor emitted and it is also sprayed onto the filters.

Some General Info:
The HM3500 holds 6 gallons total but has a 9 gal daily output. One refill can last a little over 48 hours. It advertises the ability to effectively humidify an area between 1700 and 3400 square feet. The unit runs on 120 Volts and consumes 60 Watts. It it about 20 pounds and has dimensions of about 20.4" x 13.5" x 18.7". A 5 year manufacturers warranty is included.