Vornado Evdc 300 Energy Smart Evaporative Automatic Shut-off Humidifier

4.04.0 out of 5 stars

8 product ratings

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6 reviews

by thtomgr.gqlyvme6i28 Jan, 2020Most favourable review

Great little machine!

My condo has hot water heat and the air was extremely dry and uncomfortable. After a few days and several gallons of water, the humidity is up to 45% . It is not only easier to breath but it feels warmer with the same heat setting! And no white residue left behind like an ultrasonic unit.Read full review

Verified purchase: Yes • Condition: new • Sold by: spreetail

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by vadeltachi06 Jan, 2021Most critical review

Expensive humidifier; significant design flaws. Not recommended.

This is an expensive humidifier that performs no better than ones half the price; however, there may be some energy savings that offsets the higher cost. This humidifier is rated to use 8.5 watts where similar models use up to 50. Given that the typical user may use a humidifier for 5-6 months a year, I cannot justify the higher costs.

On the negative side:

-- The eco branded humidifier is made of mostly non-recyclable hard plastics, including ABS which may contain carcinogenic components. It's not clear if these components off-gas into your air or water, but between water (which is an effective solvent) and air moving through the humidifier, there is some risk you should evaluate before purchasing this humidifier.

-- The small wick / filter is expensive at about $7-10 each. Since these act as a basic air filter and collect minerals in your water, they need frequent replacements. If you have soft water, the salt used in the softening process can foul the wicks even faster. Moreover, since the wick is always wet, it can be a breeding ground for molds and other undesirable things. Keep in mind that these may not be filtered out of the air blowing through the humidifier. Also, it's not clear what the wicks / filters are made from.

-- The water tank design is a complete failure. Based on the numerous warnings in the manual and on the tank itself, it's clear this is well known by the manufacturer. It is essential that you exercise GREAT CARE when removing or positioning the water tank into the humidifier. It must be removed or inserted without any twisting or you risk a leak. In addition, the gasket used to seal the lid to the tank is cheap, poorly attached, and can wear out or become misaligned and cause a leak. BE SURE you read and understand the direction and follow them precisely when doing anything with the water tank. If you don't you risk a significant leak and resulting property damage. This is a mortal design flaw and must be addressed by the manufacturer.

-- The small, easy-to-lose or misplace user manual is well written; however, it's printed in an additional language we don't understand, It's not printed on recycled paper, and the glossy paper it is printed on is not recyclable where we live. This is odd given this is marketed as an eco product.

-- There are no QR codes on the humidifier to help locate user manuals and troubleshooting materials on the internet.

-- There are no indications that the humidifier can be repaired, so one must assume that it's a disposable appliance. Very unfortunate for an eco-marketed product.

-- The lighting is supposed to be controlled by a dimming light sensor. The sensor is either defective or not working properly as the light doesn't dim on our humidifier. There is no adjustment, calibration, or means to turn the light off (other than by turning the humidifier off or unplugging it). The light shines brightly through the water tank which is a needless feature. There should be a better dimmer, an adjustable dimmer, or a means to disable the light entirely without turning the humidifier off. This is especially important if you use this humidifier in your bedroom and don't want the added light. It could be a benefit / replacement for a night light -- it's that bright.

-- The fan is cheap, poorly designed. very loud when on all but the lowest speed, and vibrates. The fan should be redesigned and engineered so that it is fully balanced to eliminate vibration and minimizes air whooshing noise. If you like loud white noise sounds, then this could be a benefit.

-- The eco mode is not the default mode and must be manually selected each time the power is turned on. Odd for a product marketed as an eco product.

-- The only way to access the lowest, quietest fan speeds is by accessing the eco mode.

-- The three manual fan speeds do not modulate; the eco mode modulates the fan speed based on the difference between measured and desired humidity levels.

-- The built-in humidistat measures humidity between 5 to 10 percent higher than the actual room humidity we measure with a calibrated humidistat. There is no way to calibrate the humidifier's humidistat.

-- Even worse, the humidistat is apparently located too close the the air exhaust which causes it to sense the exhaust humidity and short cycle. This results in frequent start and stop cycles and is yet another fatal design flaw.

-- The humidity level adjusts only in 5 percent increments and includes a constant-on mode. This can be dangerous in cold climates as it can cause condensation.

On the positive side:

-- The humidifier emits no white dust.

-- The air emitted from the humidifier is chilled during the evaporation process, so this can act as a swamp cooler in hot and very dry climates.

-- When using the eco mode, the lowest fan speed is quiet but with minimal humidification.

-- The water tank is easier to clean than most humidifiers, but its design flaws (see above) far outweigh this benefit.Read full review