Best Essick Humidifiers
Essick Air Products, Inc. is a well-loved manufacturer of cooling, humidification, and heating products for application in both commercial and residential buildings. Founded in 1939, this Arkansas-based company has been in the business for several decades and has built a solid reputation for their innovative range of products that range from tabletop humidifiers to whole-house humidifiers. Across the board, Essick Air takes pride in providing affordable, high-quality solutions to common household air quality problems.
This article takes a closer look at Essick Air’s humidifier line, AIRCARE, which offers humidifier product designs that epitomize both form and function without being too expensive. Those interested to learn more about Essick Air’s BEST AIRCARE humidifiers can read on to learn about overall strengths that these models can offer.
- Cool mist, evaporative whole house humidifier
- Covers up to 3600 sq. ft.
- 3.6 gallon-tank capacity
- Automatic humidity control
- Low water and check filter indicators
- 2-year warranty
- Cool mist, evaporative whole house humidifier
- Covers up to 2600 sq. ft.
- 2.5-gallon tank capacity
- Automatic humidity control
- Low water and check filter indicators
- 2-year warranty
- Cool mist, evaporative whole house humidifier
- Covers up to 2300 sq. ft.
- 6-gallon tank capacity
- Automatic humidity control
- Low water indicator
- 2-year warranty
- Cool mist, ultrasonic humidifier
- Covers up to 750 sq. ft.
- 1-gallon tank capacity
- Optional night light
- Compatible with essential oils
- 1-year warranty
- Cool mist, evaporative whole house humidifier
- Covers up to 3600 sq. ft.
- 5.6-gallon tank capacity
- Automatic humidity control
- Unique wood design
- 2-year warranty
- Cool mist, evaporative whole house humidifier
- Covers up to 1000 sq. ft.
- 2-gallon tank capacity
- Automatic humidity control
- Check filter indicator
- 2-year warranty
The MA1201 from Essick Air has long been a crowd-favorite and with good reason: it’s an incredibly well-rounded humidifier with a bevy of features to boot. In terms of capacity, the MA1201 is one of the most powerful evaporative humidifiers on the market and is capable of covering 3600 sq. ft. of space with a 3.6-gallon tank capacity.
Considering how powerful it is, it’s no surprise that the MA1201 is a pretty bulky humidifier. If you’re interested in this unit, be prepared to move around some of your furniture to make some space for it! In addition to its size, it makes a lot of noise even on the lowest setting, so you probably won’t want to use this at night.
These flaws can easily be overlooked, though, especially when you take into consideration the impressive qualities of the MA1201. For such an affordable price, you get an effective whole house humidifier that has automatic humidity control, is easy to maintain, and energy efficient.
Pros
- Whole house humidification
- Affordable
- Large tank capacity and humidity output
- Easy to maintain
- Automatic humidity control
- Energy efficient
- Durable
- No white dust
- Casters for mobility
Cons
- Loud
- Dated design
- Large and bulky
- Need to replace wick filter regularly
The MA0800 is another popular whole house humidifier from Essick Air which is akin to smaller version of the MA1201 and shares many of that model’s features. The main difference between them, though, lies in their capacity: the MA0800 has a smaller tank capacity of 2.5 gallons and a room coverage of 2600 sq. ft.
Unfortunately, their flaws are also pretty similar: the MA0800, despite having a smaller capacity, is still very loud. It also features the same large frame, bulkiness, and dated design as the MA1201. In fairness to the MA0800, however, at this price range it’s pretty difficult to find any other whole house humidifier that’s as robust, effective, durable, and reliable as the MA0800. So, if the MA1201 is a little too expensive, you might want to consider the MA0800.
Pros
- Whole house humidification
- Affordable
- Large tank capacity and humidity output
- Easy to use and maintain
- Automatic humidity control
- Durable
- No white dust
Cons
- Loud
- Large and bulky
- Dated design
- Need to replace wick filter regularly
If you’re miffed by bulky frame of both the MA1201 and MA0800, then feast your eyes on the 826000, which is marketed as a space-saving variant because it’s sleeker and thinner than their other whole house humidifiers. In terms of capacity, it’s pretty similar to the MA0800: it’s capable of covering 2300 sq. ft. of space and boasts an enormous 6-gallon tank.
Unfortunately, the 826000 is priced a little higher than MA0800 even though it has no automatic humidity control. In fact, the 826000 doesn’t have a lot features, and loudness is still an issue. Overall, the 826000 is a good option if you’re looking for a whole house humidifier that doesn’t take too much space at home. It’s incredibly easy to use with its analog controls while also being powerful, energy efficient, and effective.
Pros
- Affordable
- Space-saving design
- Easy to use
- Top fill reservoir
- Whole-house humidification
- Large tank capacity and humidity output
Cons
- Loud
- No automatic humidity control
- Need to replace wick filter regularly
The AURORA from Essick Air is unique in that it’s an ultrasonic humidifier. The Essick brand tends to specialize in whole house evaporative humidifiers as ultrasonic humidifiers from Essick Air aren’t as popular. You can’t deny, though, that they’re just as reliable and effective.
The AURORA is considered a budget humidifier that retails at less than $50. While this is clearly an advantage, it also means that you’re not getting much in terms of features and capacity. For example, this model offers no automatic humidity control for this model. When compared to other humidifiers of its calibre, though, the AURORA definitely excels.
In the end, the AURORA is a great cool mist ultrasonic humidifier that’s perfect for penny-pinchers. For a humidifier that has a 1-gallon tank capacity and a room coverage of 750 sq. ft., you’re definitely stretching your dollar well with the AURORA.
Pros
- Affordable
- Large room coverage and tank capacity
- Optional night light
- Compatible with essential oils
- Quiet
- No white dust
- Aesthetically pleasing
Cons
- No automatic humidity control
- Fewer features compared to other products
The Credenza is undoubtedly one of the most unique whole house humidifiers on the market today. It has a beautiful wooden exterior that makes it seem like a huge table or bureau that would fit in perfectly with any wooden furniture you may have at home. Aside from being easy on the eyes, the Credenza is also incredibly powerful: it is rated to cover entire homes up to 3600 sq. ft. in size with its dual 5.6-gallon tank.
The Credenza gives off a very premium feel, which is why it’s no surprise that it also comes with a pretty lofty price tag. The Credenza is easily the most expensive humidifier in this list. In addition to that, the Credenza also takes up a substantial amount of space due to its dual tank system (two 2.8-gallon tanks). As with the other humidifiers, these flaws are quite trivial and are to be expected from whole house humidifiers in general. Overall, if you’re looking to splurge on your next humidifier purchase, then you might want to consider the Credenza as a premium humidifier that is as powerful as it is elegant.
Pros
- Whole house humidification
- Large tank capacity
- Unique wooden design
- Refill hose allows for easier filling
- 9 fan speeds to choose from
- No white dust
- Casters for mobility
Cons
- Expensive
- Takes up a lot of space
- Loud
- Need to replace wick filter regularly
The 7D6100 is one of Essick Air’s smaller humidifier models and is marketed as a tabletop unit. Despite its small size, the 7D6100 is surprisingly able to humidify large areas up to 1000 sq. ft. with its 2-gallon tank. It is also incredibly affordable, considering its capacity and features.
Unfortunately, despite being a smaller unit, users still complain that the 7D6100 is quite loud. There have also been claims that the 7D6100 isn’t as durable as its larger counterparts and that it can be quite difficult to fill due to its irregular size. If you’re looking for a smaller humidifier from Essick Air, though, then the 7D6100 7D6100 is still definitely one of most high-performing humidifiers of its calibre. It has automatic humidity control, a digital display, four output levels to choose from, as well as indicators for low water and filter change.
Pros
- Affordable
- Large room coverage and tank capacity
- Automatic humidity control
- Sleek and compact
- Easy to use/maintain
Cons
- Loud
- Durability issues
- Difficult to fill
FAQ
How often should I change my wick filter?
Wick filters can last anywhere from 1 month to 3 months, depending on how often you use your humidifier. When left unchecked for long periods of time, wick filters can become breeding grounds for bacteria and mold or mineral build up, all of which will lead to clogging. A clogged wick filter will greatly impede the performance of your humidifier and cause it to work harder than it should. This, in turn, will cause the humidifier to use up more energy and burn out more quickly.
You can prevent this by checking the wick filter regularly for signs of bacterial and mold growth, which is characterized by a darkening of the filter. Keep an eye on the humidity output of your humidifier as well: a humidifier with a dirty wick will work more slowly even on the highest setting and will take a longer time to empty the tank than normal. Some wick filters can easily be cleaned simply by rinsing them under running water and then allowing them to soak in a mixture of water and white vinegar for 30 minutes. If the humidifier still isn’t performing as it should even after you’ve cleaned the wick filter, then you know it’s time to replace it.
How should I clean my humidifier?
Generally, manufacturers will suggest thoroughly cleaning the humidifier once a week with white vinegar and bleach. The white vinegar is for descaling the humidifier and removing any mineral deposits that might have stuck to the walls of the water tank and other parts of the humidifier. The bleach is for disinfection, making sure that the humidifier is free from any bacteria or mold. For safety purposes, it’s important to rinse the humidifier parts after bleaching so that you don’t end up inhaling any harmful chemicals.
How does an evaporative humidifier work?
Evaporative humidifiers are the oldest and most common type of cool mist humidifiers. Similar to the age-old concept of placing a jar of water in the middle of a room to naturally add moisture to the air through evaporation, evaporative humidifiers use a wick filter that absorbs water from the tank and filters out impurities before the fan helps the water from the filter evaporate out into the room.
Why are evaporative humidifiers so loud?
Evaporative humidifiers are the noisiest out of all the portable humidifiers because they use internal fans to generate airflow and blow moisture into the air. The noise they make is often likened to white noise because it fades into the background. Some people can handle the noise and find it soothing, while some might find it too loud.
What type of water can I use with my humidifier?
While tap water is more accessible and affordable, experts would always recommend distilled water instead. This is because tap water contains minerals that can create deposits inside your humidifier that promote bacterial growth. When released into the air, these minerals settle on your furniture as “white dust”. You may also breathe in some minerals that are dispersed into the air which can aggravate existing respiratory diseases. Distilled or demineralized water has a much lower mineral content compared with tap water; you can also use a demineralization cartridge if you want to use tap water.
Final Thoughts
When you hear “Essick Air,” you can expect humidifiers that are powerful, high quality, and affordable. Essick air is one of the leading manufacturers of whole house humidifiers today thanks to their unrelenting desire to provide affordable air quality solutions to homeowners everywhere.
If we had to pick our favorite, it would have to be the MA1201 whole house evaporative humidifier. In terms of well-roundedness, the MA1201 ticks all the right boxes: it is reasonably priced, it provides you with a bevy of features that help boost convenience, and it is able to single-handedly humidify entire residences.
