The best air washers

A relatively inexpensive (and by the standards of air washers, truly affordable) Philips brand humidifier is a device that provides natural evaporation of water. NanoCloud technology is implemented here, which essentially provides all the benefits of water humidification. The device does not involve heating the liquid, does not form a white coating when using tap water, and does not leave wet spots near the body due to excessively intense operation.

Philips HU2510/10 also helps clean the air by trapping dust and various pathogens. It is recommended to use the model in rooms with an area of up to 31 m² (or better yet, even less), while the body dimensions are more compact than many analogues - 32x18x18 cm.

The air washer supports 2 performance modes - gentle and turbo. At maximum speed, water consumption is 190 ml/h, respectively, a 2-liter tank is enough for about 10.5 hours of continuous operation. Gentle mode can be considered optimal for night use, because in it the noise level should not exceed 22.5 dB, and this makes the humidifier really quiet.

An additional advantage is low power consumption (11 W). So, even if the model works non-stop, it will “wind up” less than 8 kWh on the meter in a month.

To fill with water, simply remove the top part of the housing. This provides convenient access to the tank for cleaning the internal walls. It is recommended to soak the humidifying filter once a week with acidic detergents and dry it. True, such ease of care also has pitfalls. The humidifying filter is a consumable item that needs to be changed every 6 to 12 months. And its cost is about 30% of the price of the sink itself.

Another disadvantage is the lack of a hygrometer, that is, without an additional device, the user will not even know the approximate level of humidity in the room. Otherwise, the Philips HU2510/10 is an inexpensive, simple and convenient humidifier for small spaces.

The white humidifier from the Cooper&Hunter brand has a rounded body with dimensions of 36x23x23 cm. On the top edge there are touch buttons and a small display. It provides real-time humidity indication, allows you to set a 12-hour shutdown timer in hourly increments, and flexibly switch between operating modes. The Cooper&Hunter CH 3330EV Java also provides backlighting for the case, and it is also adjustable in brightness and can be turned off completely if unnecessary.

The air washer is equipped with a hygrometer, so it is able to maintain a user-specified humidity level. The target value can be selected from 40 to 75 percent in 5 percent increments. In addition, 4 manual modes are available with different intensity of fan operation (and, accordingly, air humidification).

At maximum power, the water consumption will be 330 ml/h, which will effectively eliminate dryness in rooms up to 44 m². At this intensity, the model will require frequent refueling (about once every 8 hours) and is noisy (up to 52 dB). True, the minimum speed (Low) actually corresponds to night mode with a comfortable 24 dB. It is also worth noting that the device is very economical, because its power consumption is only 12 W.

The sink has a collapsible design: to fill the 3-liter tank, it is proposed to turn off the device and remove the upper part of the body. But there is an alternative option for topping up “on the go” - through a special folding window on the side.

The device will not cause much trouble in maintaining it, because there is convenient access to the inner walls of the tank, and the humidifying filter only needs to be washed regularly with warm water. But it is worth considering that it requires replacement: it lasts from 4 to 8 months. If this is not a problem for you, then the functional Cooper&Hunter CH 3330EV Java is definitely worth a closer look.

Introduced in the summer of 2020, the Xiaomi air washer is an updated version of the popular model Smartmi Air Humidifier 2. The main change was the appearance of a screen that shows the current humidity level and information about operating modes. Plus, energy consumption has significantly decreased: it does not exceed 8 W, therefore, even non-stop operation will not lead to a noticeable increase in the amounts in payments.

Like its predecessor, Xiaomi Smartmi Air Humidifier 2 v2 is a smart humidifier. Thanks to Wi-Fi, the model can be controlled from a smartphone, integrated into the Mi Home ecosystem, and even set up various automation scenarios. By the way, things are already better with the localization of the branded application: Chinese characters are not found in the plugin, and the English-language interface is intuitive even with minimal knowledge of the language.

But the manufacturer abandoned the Bluetooth module in the second version of the humidifier, so the model will not be able to act as a gateway in a smart home.

As befits a washing machine, Xiaomi Smartmi Air Humidifier 2 v2 can not only increase air humidity, but also clean it. Large contaminants will be retained by the pre-filter in front of the fan, and the dust will remain in the 4-liter water tank and will not return back into the room. In addition, it is stated that there is an antibacterial coating on the inner walls of the tank, which should prevent the appearance of pathogenic organisms.

The user has access to a separate automatic mode and three intensity levels for manual settings with a peak water flow of 260 ml/h. Accordingly, you will have to replenish fluid reserves no earlier than after 15 hours, and in practice, as a rule, even less often. By the way, there will be no difficulties with this procedure, because top water filling has been implemented.

Maintenance of the sink is simplified by the dismountable drum: for thorough cleaning, each evaporation disk can be removed, which is recommended to be done every 2 months or during long breaks in operation. There is also a special drying mode (in the Mi Home application): when activated, the humidifier will work for another 8 hours after running out of water to dry the drum and tray.

The disadvantages of Xiaomi Smartmi Air Humidifier 2 v2 include noticeable noise at maximum performance (up to 50 dB). Otherwise, the model looks like a balanced choice in terms of price and quality, especially if you're interested in smart features.

In terms of size, the Electrolux air washer is not the most compact (dimensions 47x42x28 cm), but due to its rounded shapes and laconic design it does not look bulky or awkward. And users receive a spacious 6-liter water tank, which does not have to be “filled up” often. Yes, and it is not necessary to bring it to the tap, because there is a top-fill function without the need to remove the mesh lid and/or turn off the device.

Electrolux EHW-600 operates in one of two available modes. At high fan speeds, water consumption reaches 350 ml/h, which should be enough to humidify rooms up to 50 m², and the noise level will not exceed 40 dB. At lower speeds, performance is lower, but noise also drops to 27 dB.

The device has additional cleaning systems. The air entering inside passes through a mesh pre-filter, which is responsible for retaining animal hair and large dust particles. Additional water purification is also provided: the delivery set includes an ionizing silver rod AG+, which prevents the appearance of unpleasant odors and the growth of bacteria.

Electrolux EHW-600 will also replace the fragrance. It is proposed to add essential oils to a special retractable aroma capsule and fill the room with pleasant odors.

The model solves the issue of maintenance, which is traditionally difficult for air washers, in an interesting way. So, the tray (water reservoir), container for aromatic oils and the drum can be placed in the dishwasher for washing. And the moisturizing rotating mat (a sponge that can be removed from the drum axis) can be cleaned in a washing machine in cycles up to 40 °C. And, by the way, all these components are not limited in service life.

The disadvantages of the humidifier include the absence of a hygrometer, that is, without additional devices it will not be possible to control the humidity level. Today, such solutions are becoming increasingly rare. But, in theory, without additional electronics, the Electrolux EHW-600 should last longer and please with its simplicity and reliability.

The specialized brand Boneco washer is an advanced class fighter against excessive dry air. The model is designed for large rooms with an area of 50 m² (or rather 125 “cubic meters”), which is why it is not small itself - 40x28x41 cm. It has a very spacious tank: in total with the capacity of the tray, the liquid supply reaches 12 liters. As a result, at maximum performance without refueling, the device will work significantly more than a day (34 hours), and at a lower speed - even more. The reservoir is transparent, equipped with a carrying handle, and has a fairly wide neck for easy cleaning of the inner walls.

Another feature of the Boneco W300 is water purification : the package includes an Ionic Silver Stick, which is placed in a tray and has an antibacterial effect.

The humidifier has two performance levels - daytime and nighttime. In the first, water consumption can be up to 350 ml/h, noise can reach 43 dB, and energy consumption can reach 23 W. The smaller mode is noticeably quieter and more economical - respectively 27 dB and about 12 W.

As an additional option, there is an aromatization function: special oils must be added to the compartment located in the upper part of the case.

This is not to say that washing and cleaning the device will be easy. But the engineers took care to reduce user effort as much as possible and even automate maintenance. So, for example, the tray, drum and container for aroma oils can be washed in the dishwasher, and the humidifying filter can be loaded into a low-temperature cycle (up to 40 degrees) in the washing machine. This component of the model is a consumable, but its service life is quite long - 2 years with constant use.

The disadvantages of the Boneco W300 include the lack of a hygrometer and the high price compared to competitors with similar functionality. But in any case, this is a device from a reputable brand that is ready to “work” for a really long time without refueling.