Good budget humidifer?

[Human Bean]

I'm looking at getting a humidifier. It needs to humidify a large space. I'm trying to get the absolute cheapest I can get. I only need it to humidify. I don't need a remote, or app, or filter. I want to avoid a model that requires you buy things that get spent and worn out, like filters. Also, the more quiet it is, the better.

Any ideas, things to look out for or, things to avoid?

Any help appreciated.

[TheGITM]

You can get really cheap, but it will require more attention. I'm looking at something like what's in the below link. I can just get a 5-gallon carboy and replace it when the water level gets low.

Click Here

[mrghostwalker]

I stopped using ultrasonic humidifiers, as they left a white mineral film on everything- especially wood.
I picked up two evaporator type humidifiers from Walmart. The only drawback is they do need filters/wicks.

[TheGITM]

Originally Posted by mrghostwalker

I stopped using ultrasonic humidifiers, as they left a white mineral film on everything- especially wood.
I picked up two evaporator type humidifiers from Walmart. The only drawback is they do need filters/wicks.

That's a good point. To avoid that you can use distilled water, or add a splash of vinegar.

[fpuhan]

I fear you are going to be searching far and wide for a device that meets your needs.

How large an area? How often are you willing to refill the tank(s)? Do you mind white mineral dust all over everything (and I mean EVERYTHING)? What do you consider inexpensive/budget?

Long-term, the best solution may be one that costs a little more up front, but makes up for it over time. Most of the guitar stores I visit have humidifiers in their acoustic guitar rooms that are fed water from the water supply and have inline filters that don't require frequent changes (but as always, YMMV). Pay in advance, set it and forget it, or pay less now and pay over time. And pay, and pay, and pay.

[Bluenose]

I have the big Aircare evaporative type humidifier that humidifies about a 600 foot square room and I have to fill the tank at least once a day sometimes several times when it's real cold outside. I've changed the filter/wick once this winter. It has a fan that runs quite a bit depending how dry the air is. I gave up on the mist type. YMMV

[jimmy bookout]

I have this humidifier, it works great and has been dead reliable for 5 yrs. now and counting. That said, I only use it during the winter months, in the summer I have to dehumify!!!

https://aircare.com/humidifiers/credenza-696400hb/

PS. This is probably more than you want to spend but, IMO, cheaping out on a humidifier is like running regular gas in your Ferrari. You can get away with it for a while but the piper MUST be paid eventually

[BlueBowman]

Originally Posted by Bluenose

I have the big Aircare evaporative type humidifier that humidifies about a 600 foot square room and I have to fill the tank at least once a day sometimes several times when it's real cold outside. I've changed the filter/wick once this winter. It has a fan that runs quite a bit depending how dry the air is. I gave up on the mist type. YMMV

Aircare for the win. The MA0800 model works amazingly well for me, and I find it to be a bargain at it's $120 price point (Lowes). I only have to humidify 200 square feet though, so I can leave this model running on low most of the time.

[Human Bean]

Originally Posted by fpuhan

I fear you are going to be searching far and wide for a device that meets your needs.

How large an area?

quite large, maybe 500sqft

How often are you willing to refill the tank(s)?

Daily, if necessary.

Do you mind white mineral dust all over everything (and I mean EVERYTHING)?

My current humidifer has some like that inside it, but it doesn't appear on everything else. That sounds less than desirable, so i'd rather avoid it.

What do you consider inexpensive/budget?

The absolute cheapest that can accomplish the task.

Long-term, the best solution may be one that costs a little more up front, but makes up for it over time. Most of the guitar stores I visit have humidifiers in their acoustic guitar rooms that are fed water from the water supply and have inline filters that don't require frequent changes (but as always, YMMV). Pay in advance, set it and forget it, or pay less now and pay over time. And pay, and pay, and pay.

I don't want one that gets direct water supply. i don't mind cleaning filters, but i'd rather not have filters that require being thrown out and replaced.

[Robin, Wales]

I like reading these posts and trying to imagine living somewhere where I would need humidification. We have between 70% and 91% forecast for the whole of this and next week - and its winter! Cold, miserable and damp basically. Oh, and that's summer too!!!!

[Pdubs76]

Originally Posted by BlueBowman

Aircare for the win. The MA0800 model works amazingly well for me, and I find it to be a bargain at it's $120 price point (Lowes). I only have to humidify 200 square feet though, so I can leave this model running on low most of the time.

I have the same. Pretty reliable, and easy to fill. Wicks are a bit pricey though. I usually go through two per season.

[Jamolay]

Originally Posted by Pdubs76

I have the same. Pretty reliable, and easy to fill. Wicks are a bit pricey though. I usually go through two per season.

Have you tried soaking them in vinegar? I soak wicks in water with a couple of cups of vinegar and get a few more uses out of them. Cheaper than buying new.

[srbell]

I have two of the Aircare evaporative humidfiers for my house. Seems they were around $120 each. Yes, they do have a wick in them (it's not really a filter) but that's what keeps it from putting all of the white mineral dust all through your house. The air blows through the wick taking the moisture with it but leaving the minerals behind. The more mineral-rich your water is the more often you'll need to replace the wick. I can get by with one wick each through the winter, or possibly two if used heavily, which would mean through a very long, cold winter in my case. Distilled water would eliminate the dust issue and make the wicks last pretty much indefinitely, but the cost would be prohibitive - many times more than just replacing the wicks. I replace the wicks when they have caked up with mineral deposits.

[Charlie Bernstein]

I've just bought 'em off the shelf at the nearest drug store. Humidifiers don't need precision engineering. The cheap ones work fine.

[Bluenose]

You know you need to change the wick when the humidifier struggles to keep the RH up. I have soaked them in vinegar to get a little more use out of them but considering the investment(s) I'm protecting the cost of a new wick is not a big deal IMO.