Best Holmes Humidifiers
When you decide to tackle the quality of the air inside your home, there are many humidifiers and brands from which to choose. All the manufacturers will promise you the best quality for the best price, but how do you know you are getting value for money?
Holmes is one such maker with an impressive array of products available, but knowing which one is the best for you can be confusing. You could choose from their range of cool mist humidifiers or opt for something more substantial and buy a console model that offers greater room coverage. Then there are the warm mist models that are excellent at increasing the ambient temperature of the room, especially if you live in a colder environment.
In this article we look at four humidifiers that we think represent the best of what Holmes has to offer, and we give them a thorough examination by focusing on their strengths, weaknesses, and practicalities. We aim to show you why you should buy these humidifiers and what a difference they can make to your lives.
- 1.5-gallon capacity
- 3-speed settings
- 16-hour programmable timer
- Arm and Hammer baking soda and antimicrobial filter protection
- 1-year warranty
- 0.7-gallon water tank
- 24-hour runtime
- Variable fan speed
- Dishwasher safe components
- 1-year warranty
- Filter-free
- 24-hour runtime
- 1.2-gallon water tank
- Empty tank indicator
- 1-year warranty
- 2,000 sq ft coverage
- Triple layer filter
- 24-hour runtime
- Digital humidistat
- 1-year warranty
This cool mist humidifier has a humidistat with a digital display and a 1.5-gallon water tank that enables it to run for an impressive 48 hours continuously. It has been treated with the Arm and Hammer baking soda to reduce the risks of odors occurring, and the filter benefits from antimicrobial treatment to decrease the chances of mold and bacteria growth.
There are 3 speeds and a programmable 16-hour timer, as well as an automatic filter monitor that checks the condition of the filter and lets you know when it needs replacing. This humidifier is intended for larger rooms, and with a 2.4-gallon mist output per day.
Less impressive is the fact that the filters will need replacing every couple of weeks. In addition, for such a large unit, it’s unusual for it not to come equipped with a water tank empty indicator. When the tank runs dry, this humidifier keeps on running, which poses a fire risk if it overheats.
Pros
- Great coverage
- Easy to fill water tank
- 2.4-gallon mist output
- 48-hour runtime
Cons
- No water indicator
- Expensive filter costs
This compact Holmes humidifier is ideal for smaller spaces like an office, bedroom, or a nursery. It has an easy one step fill and clean system that enables you to fill the reservoir from the top of the humidifier with one hand. This means that spills should be a thing of the past, and there is no need to carry heavy tanks of water around your home. In addition, the water tank is detachable and dishwasher safe, so keeping bacteria and mold at bay should be a breeze.
Just because it is a small humidifier doesn’t mean that it lacks features; it has a variable speed fan to ensure that you get the humidification you want, and even though the water tank only holds 0.7 gallons, it should still run continuously on the lowest setting for 24 hours. On the downside, it has replaceable filters, so you need to factor in ongoing costs when you work out your budget. Moreover, the fan on this model is noisy on the highest setting, so it might not be suitable for the bedroom if you are a light sleeper. Issues have also been reported over the build quality.
Pros
- Compact
- Variable speeds
- Easy to clean
- Easy to fill
- 24-hour runtime
Cons
- The fan is noisy
- Build quality issues
- Replaceable filter costs
This ultrasonic model has a 1.3-gallon water tank, so it offers almost twice the capacity of the Holmes One Step Humidifier with a runtime is 24 hours. It has a variable mist humidistat, auto shut-off when the reservoir runs dry, and you can add aromatherapy tablets to help improve the scent of your room. This model also benefits from antimicrobial protection to control and reduce the growth of mold and bacteria, which means that the mist it emits is clean and virus-free.
On the downside, the water tank is prone to leaking, and you need to keep adding disinfectant tablets to keep the machine clean and functioning, which can be expensive as an ongoing cost. In addition, Holmes claims that this humidifier is virtually silent, but the fan is noisy and makes it impossible to run overnight in the bedroom.
Pros
- Antimicrobial protection
- 24-hour runtime
- Variable mist output
- 1.3-gallon water tank
Cons
- Noisy fan
- Build quality issues
- Prone to leaking
This console humidifier has the most extensive coverage of any featured on the list, easily coping with a space in excess of 2,000 square feet. Its two removable water tanks with large handles are easy to fill and transport. This model benefits from filters that have been treated with Arm and Hammer baking soda to help manage the spread of odors, and the filters are also triple layered to ensure that the mist emitted is clean and fresh.
This console humidifier also has a built-in water filtration system to remove any impurities, which mean that mist it expels is free from any elements that create white dust. It has an adjustable humidistat, a 24-hour runtime, and variable fan speed controls.
One negative of this model is that it leaves a lot of water residue on the floor where it sits. The filters are also expensive, especially when you take into account that you should replace them every 6 weeks. Finally, don’t expect this humidifier to be as portable as others featured, because it weighs over 16 lbs.
Pros
- 2,000 sq ft coverage
- Easy fill water tanks
- 24-hour runtime
- Adjustable humidistat
Cons
- Leaks like a sieve
- Expensive replacement filters
- Heavy
Comparison Chart
| Holmes One Step Humidifier | Holmes HM2610TUM Ultrasonic | Holmes Cool Mist Console | Holmes Cool Mist Comfort | |
| Tank capacity | 0.7-gallon | 1.3-gallon | – | 1.5-gallon |
| Humidistat | X | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Runtime | 24-hour | 24-hour | 24-hour | 48-hour |
| Coverage | 155 sq ft | 155 sq ft | 2,000 sqft | 300 – 500 sq ft |
| Digital controls | X | X | X | X |
| Price | $ | $$ | $$$ | $$ |
| Weight (lbs) | 4.4 | 5 | 16.9 | 8.76 |
| Dimensions | 12.4 x 12.4 x 9.5 | 10 x 10 x 14 | 19.5 x 19.3 x 13.7 | 17.5 x 12.8 x 14.4 |
| Warranty | 1-year | 1-year | 1-year | 1-year |
Final Thoughts
Holmes makes a great range of humidifiers, all of which are incredibly effective at regulating the moisture content of our indoor air, but we have to single out the Holmes Cool Mist Comfort as our HowToHome pick because it works well in larger spaces, is easy to clean and fill, and has a 48-hour runtime.
For those in the market for something a bit more special, then the Holmes Cool Mist Console is the one to consider because of it’s 2,000 square foot coverage that means that the whole house can benefit from controlled humidity. For the budget conscious, maybe the Holmes One Step Humidifier is the answer. It may not have the coverage of others on the list, but it is easy to clean and fill and will run continuously for 24 hours, meaning that you won’t need to rise in the night to refill the water tank.
Whatever model you choose, selecting the right humidifier depends on the environment where you live and the size of the home you live in.
