Duracraft's DH-822 Humidifier won't leave you high and dry
Written: Jan 28 '07
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Pros: Simple to use, works well, inexpensive.
Cons: Mineral deposits and dust. The fan slowly died on me.
The Bottom Line: If you're looking for a simple humidifier to make the air less dry, this works well.
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| Jellyn's Full Review: Duracraft DH-822 Humidifier |
I'm about to throw out my Duracraft DH-822 humidifier, so I thought I'd get in a review before it's gone for good.
That wasn't a very promising opening, was it? But I've actually had this humidifier for over 5 years and it's served my purposes pretty well.
What is It?
This humidifier is a base full of water, a filter to wick the water up, and a fan that blows over the top of the water. I really think it's the wicking of the filter that's providing the moisture to the air. It has a plug, so you'll want to place it near a wall with an outlet.
This doesn't spit mist into the air or anything like that. It's rather like having a bowl of water and a fan next to it. The water eventually evaporates into the dry air and makes it a little more comfortable.
It's made of durable plastic and has a simple on-off switch.
What's it Like to Use?
There's basically two ways to fill it. You could get a pitcher or other container of water and pour it into the humidifier. I've found it's just as easy to carry the base of the humidifier to the sink and fill it there. Be sure to soak the filter when you do this.
You just have to make sure it's turned off, then lift the top off. That's the part with the fan in it. Then carry the base wherever you like. It's not too heavy to carry even with water in it.
I've found if I have to fill it every couple of days. Obviously this will vary based on how long you run it and how dry your air is.
I keep it on a towel-covered milk crate. Not very elegant, I know. It gives it a bit of elevation off the floor without endangering any furniture with water marks. Not that that's a real risk if you're careful, and the towel is really unnecessary.
Does it Work?
It works for me. When I don't have it on, I wake up with a sore throat or stuffed nose. Sometimes in the middle of the night. When I have it on, I'm much more comfortable.
It doesn't make the room overly wet or anything like that. My books aren't suffering from proximity to it.
I will note I do have this in a bedroom and a relatively confined space. Any humidifier is going to work less well in a larger area.
Does it Get Icky?
Yes, it does. I've used a bacteriostat liquid to keep it from growing unwanted bacteria, and that's worked fine. However, there's mineral deposits from the water and dust from the air gets onto the blades. You can take it apart a little bit to clean it, but I've never been able to do as thorough a job as I'd like. And you do need a screwdriver.
You'll also want to replace the filter with a new, fresh one when it gets all icky and crusty. This doesn't seem to be an actual filtering filter though, so it's not that it's catching dirt and has to be replaced for that reason.
Why are you Throwing it Out?
Perhaps a year ago, the humidifier's fan started to die. Maybe because of the dust, maybe the motor was just wearing out. I tried to clean the blades, but I couldn't do a perfect job. Perhaps a squirt of oil would've done it some good, but I didn't have any. Plus there's only so much care and attention a relatively cheap machine like this is really worth.
The fan seemed to do better with a physical nudge to get it going and when it warmed up. However, eventually it just got worse and worse. The fan wouldn't really move at all and the whole thing would start to heat up. Not good.
It was quite quiet to use until the fan started to go, then it got rather louder. The slowing and speeding up and stopping and starting were more annoying than the sound itself.
A Christmas present will be replacing this, so I can now throw it out without suffering from dry air.
How Much Did It Cost?
This was a gift, so I'm not entirely certain. However, I think it was about 30 dollars. I couldn't find one for sale online in a quick search, so my guess will have to suffice.
Do you Recommend It?
I do recommend it. It's a relatively simple humidifier that's worked well for a number of years and it wasn't overly expensive. The cost of filters is minimal.
I might think twice about putting it in a room with small children or rambunctious pets, only because of the potential for the water to slosh up into the motor or electronics. That'd only be if it was knocked over while plugged in and turned on, though, so it's probably a quite small risk.
My new humidifier is a Honeywell, but I'd definitely go for a Duracraft again without hesitation.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 30.00
Battery Life: N/A
Noise Level: Almost noiseless
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Epinions.com ID:
Jellyn
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Location: New Hampshire
Reviews written: 210
Trusted by: 46 members
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