Holmes HM495-UC Ultrasonic Medium-Room Humidifier
by Holmes
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Holmes HM495-UC Ultrasonic Medium-Room Humidifier
Customer Review: Good product for the price
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought this humidifier because--
1. I wanted to spend less than $45;
2. I wanted a cool mist humidifier;
3. I wanted "no-filter" convenience; and
4. I wanted an ultrasonic humidifier.
I had never owned a humidifier previous to this one and so far (after one week plus), I am very happy with it. I run it at low to medium speed and it does a great job. I keep it on a plastic tray on the floor when it's running (the instructions say not to set it on wooden furniture, floors, etc., without protection)and I keep it 4 feet from the wall (also per instructions). It it almost quiet (but noisy enough to keep me awake if it's not in the hall just outside my bedroom. If you like "white noise," you'll be happy). It does not leak (at least not yet). It's a little bit of a pain to refill but that presents no major problem. I clean it whenever the water level gets low. Again, that's not a real problem. It runs for a long time (2-3 nights) without refilling if you don't run it on high speed. The mist is fine, not thick, and seems to spread out into the room(s) well. I did buy a hygrometer (a device that measures humidity, as, inconveniently, there is not one built into the humidifier). My dry eyes/mouth/nose problems are much improved. I'm hoping that this coming winter will therefore be one without sinus infections. For the money, I can't imagine that many other humidifiers could beat this one. They all seem to require a certain amount of maintenance.
Customer Review: Good for dry sinuses at night
Summary: 4 Stars
I've owned this humidifier for about six months and I'm relatively happy for the money spent (I paid $39.99). It emits a fine mist that keeps my sinuses moist at night, a huge help over the winter months especially. It is also whisper quiet.
I have a deep kitchen sink so no worries about filling it up, but like most reviewers say, it is a little awkward. I'm a 6'0" tall manly man so I don't really have an issue lugging it about, but I can see where some sweet little old ladies, small children with fumbly fingers, and diminutive pets might have trouble with it.
My only real complaint is that the bottom reservoir never truly empties out, so you end up with about a 1/4" water in the bottom unit (the part with the electrical cord) that requires emptying, as well; otherwise you end up with this yucky, quasi-brackish water in the bottom that I'm concerned I might be breathing in. Because of this, I've noticed that a ring-like black plastic plug in the bottom is beginning to deteriorate, too. I imagine the humidifier will likely need replacing in another 6-12 months because of this. By that time, I won't give a hoot, though, because I'll be moving on to a high-tech ultra ULTRA sonic model that will blow jets of refreshing mist straight up my nose holes while I sleep. Nice image.
Usually I rate my satisfaction with a product by hoping I don't feel screwed 2-3 weeks after buying it. In this case, all in all, the Holmes HM495 is a worthwhile purchase.
Customer Review: It works fine...
Summary: 4 Stars
Had it for about 30+ days; it is on 8 hours a day. Here's my review: It is quiet, the quietest of this size. (I've owned 7 humidifiers in eight years). Set on high, it is still quiet and I am a very light sleeper. The unit feels and acts solid--nothing rattling or buzzing. It is simple to operate and easy to maintain. The mist settings go from low to high in six increments. There is appropriate mist out-put for every setting: low was faint, medium was steady, and high really kick them mist up into the air.
To remove the tank from basin for refilling, just lift up. The reservoir, standing up-right, has a handle on top; refilling is from the bottom by unscrewing the bottom cap. Reset the tank back onto the basin and the unit is ready to go. Only one flaw: the tank in its upside down refilling position cannot stand on its own and there is no handle or gripping mechanism to help you support the weight of the gallon+ water that is filling up inside the tower. I manage to overcome this little obstacle by graspping the inner rim of the refill opening (like grasping a horizontal pipe) while resting the reservoir tower on whatever surface is available. A full tank last for 7 days on low. I only have to exercise my finger gripping power once a week. Other than this issue, this unit is great.
Customer Review: Loved it so much I bought it again
Summary: 4 Stars
There are several reasons that I REALLY like our Holmes HM495 Humidifier, and a couple small reasons that only allowed me to give it a 4 star rating.
Pros: No filters to change (I was absolutely sick of cool mist humidifiers with filters that kept getting nasty and crusty after a few uses), great output/humidifies a room well, easy to transport/doesn't spill (I saw this as a common complaint with other models), easy to fill, only have to fill once a day.
Cons: It mists really well, but doesn't blow very far, and settles back to the ground. We've solved this problem by putting the unit on top of a towel to prevent the carpet from getting wet. We had to replace our humidifier after a year and a half because the rubber valve in the tank that allows water out into the base had completely disintegrated, leaving the entire tank unusable. When I called to see if I could purchase a replacement tank I was told they don't sell accessories for this particular model. Fortunately a new one isn't too expensive ($39.99 at Target) so we went that route. If it had lasted longer it would have gotten a five-star rating! :-) I do highly recommend it!
Customer Review: Puts water into the air, but has some flaws.
Summary: 4 Stars
Pros:
Large capacity, so doesn't need to be refilled that often
Good range of settings
Very quiet
No filter to replace
Can put a LOT of moisture in the air
Not too expensive
Cons:
Mist is not dispersed very well, so area around it tends to get WET except on the lowest setting - putting a fan behind it would help, but that's more noise and electricity use
Can't be refilled unless you remove the tank from the base, and the full tank is rather heavy - not a problem for me, but I wouldn't buy one for my grandmother
The top of the tank is very rounded, so there's no easy way to balance it while it's being refilled
In our situation - young, strong people who keep the humidifier near a sink on some old built-in shelving made nearly waterproof by decades of coats of paint, and who REALLY don't want extra noise in that area - this seems like a pretty decent humidifier. But I can see how some of its design flaws would really be a problem for other people.