Cool Mist Humidifier Review – Germ Guardian H2000 Ultrasonic Humidifier

Germ Guardian Ultrasonic Humidifier H2000The Germ Guardian H2000 has features of both a warm and cool mist humidifier. It is a popular model that is known for its low cost of ownership and ability to remain free of mold and bacteria.

Please note that you cannot purchase from this website. Click here to go to the official Germ Guardian H2000 page at Amazon.

Germ Guardian H2000 Ultrasonic Humidifier Features

  • Uses proprietary technology to stop bacteria and mold from growing in the water, keeping your room free from germs and other contaminants
  • No wicks or evaporating pads to replace or clean, which means you do not have any recurring costs after the initial purchase
  • Ultrasonic, so there is virtually no sound when operating
  • Notification of when the tank needs to be refilled with water
  • The option to function as a cool mist humidifier or warm mist humidifier
  • Weight: 8.8 lbs
  • Weight when shipped: 10.4 lbs.
  • Dimensions: 11 in. x 17 in. x 13 in.
  • Free shipping from Amazon

Here is a video of a Germ Guardian humidifier in action:

 

Click here for complete Germ Guardian H2000 information at Amazon

 
Germ Guardian Warm and Cool Mist Humidifier Description

The Germ Guardian H2000 is an ultrasonic humidifier that can operate on a cool mist or warm mist setting. The unit guards against germs by utilizing what it calls “nano-silver” technology, which uses small silver particles to stop the growth of contaminants like bacteria and mold within the humidifier. This means that you get the full health benefits of humidification without the risk of mold, mildew, and toxins that can occur in other humidifiers that need to be cleaned regularly.

Germ Guardian Ultrasonic Humidifier Reviews

The unit is generally seen as good quality and received many positive comments from people who purchased it. One person at Amazon called it the best ultrasonic humidifier of the last 10 years. People who own the humidifier like how well it runs, that it is user friendly, and how it cleans itself. Another reviewer believes this humidifier is helping alleviate his daughter’s croup.

One concern about this model is that the warm mist function does not do a great job of heating up the moisture, so reviewers see the H2000 as basically just a cool mist humidifier.

Click here to see all of the reviews

Perhaps the biggest benefit of the Germ Guardian 2000 is that it does not require the purchase of replacement wicks or pads. One of the reviewers mentioned that it costs him or her $150 a year to operate an evaporative cool mist humidifier, but your running costs for this model should be
$0. So even if you spend more money on this unit than you would on other humidifiers, you should make your money back if you keep your humidifier for at least a year.

One final note: the item is eligible for free shipping from Amazon, and you can get free two-day delivery if you are an Amazon Prime member.

Summary

Positives:

  • Much less cleaning when compared to most cool mist humidifiers, so even if you are not extremely vigilant, you can be at ease knowing that your humidifier is not contaminating your room with mold or other particles
  • No recurring costs for pads or wicks, so you won’t have to shop regularly and spend money on an ongoing basis
  • Unit is very quiet when running

Downsides:

  • Price: for a cool mist humidifier of the quality of the Germ Guardian H2000, and with no future costs like filters or pads, you will have to invest more up-front with this model. Some people will want the top features and be fine with the higher price tag, while others will want something less expensive.
  • Shape of the tank: Because the tank is rounded and has a handle, it can be difficult to set flat for filling. This is a little inconvenient when trying to add water to the unit.

Click here for the Germ Guardian H2000 Ultrasonic Humidifier page at Amazon

Cool Mist Humidifier Reviews – An Introduction

I know what you’re thinking, a whole site on cool mist humidifier reviews? Not what you’d expect, right? Well, my family owns two humidifiers and I’ve been happy with them and what they do for our health, so I figured I’d start this website.

My house gets dry, especially when the heater or air conditioning is running, so the humidifiers help my two sons with their breathing. This is especially true when my boys have the sniffles (or are sick with something even worse). The higher humidity eases their coughing and congestion without having to give them more medication than what’s absolutely necessary. Both of them also get bloody noses when the air is too dry, so the humidifiers help with that too.

The main goal of this Cool Mist Humidifier Reviews website is to help people to find the right humidifier for their purposes and enjoy the benefits of owning one. At the same time, I want to let people know that you need to actively take care of your humidifier to avoid certain health hazards; there is nothing difficult involved, but a lot of people don’t realize that you need to do it. I wasn’t aware of most of this when I bought my first one, but now I know a lot more about humidifiers so I am sharing it here.

Most of the content of this site will be reviews of specific cool mist humidifier models, as well as articles with guidance on other issues like what features are good and how to maintain your humidifier. I hope to look at different brands and do comparisons, like matching up a Vicks cool mist humidifier against one from Holmes, for example. I might also compare cool mist humidifiers with warm mist humidifiers, or ultrasonic humidifiers with evaporative ones.

I hope that Cool Mist Humidifier Reviews becomes a website that people can rely on. I will do my best to make the posts useful, and I welcome any feedback you might have.

Cool Mist Humidifier Safety – 9 Tips to Protect Your Health and Investment

Once you have purchased a cool mist humidifier, there are several issues that you should keep in mind to make sure you get the most value for your investment. You want your humidifier to last as long as possible, and you don’t want to expose yourself or your family to any additional health hazards. Here are nine tips for using your humidifier safely, many of which are based on guidelines from the EPA:

  1. First off, you might want to check with your doctor to confirm that using a humidifier is appropriate for you, especially if you have a history of respiratory problems. If you run a humidifier and begin to experience negative symptoms, stop using it and consult a medical professional.
  2. Instead of regular tap water for your humidifier, use water that has been distilled or demineralized. You don’t want deposits building up in your unit over time. Using distilled water will reduce the amount of bacteria that can grow in your humidifier, and it can prevent mineral deposits from being propelled into the air and onto surfaces within your home. In addition to the water you put in your cool mist humidifier, you can minimize deposits by following the instructions of the manufacturer and use recommended filters with your unit.
  3. If your cool mist humidifier model calls for filters or cartridges, be sure to follow the schedule and change them in a timely fashion. In cases of heavy use or a dirty environment, you might have to replace filters more often than the manufacturer recommends. Be sure to calculate the cost of replacement filters when comparing humidifiers before purchasing, as not all humidifiers have filters that need to be replaced (see this review, for example).
  4. You also should change the water within your humidifier frequently. Doing this is another way to prevent the development of mold, mildew, and bacteria in your humidifier that can end up in the air in your home. Dump out the water from the reservoir everyday, and try to dry as much of the unit as you can.
  5. If you change the filters and water, you will have a cleaner humidifier than most people, and it should last a long time. Another necessary step is cleaning your humidifier regularly. Don’t go more than three days without cleaning your unit according to the instructions of the manufacturer. Some cool mist humidifiers should be cleansed with bleach or a hydrogen peroxide solution. After cleaning, rinse the tank well so your humidifier doesn’t fill your room with chemicals.
  6. If you plan on not using your humidifier for several days, be sure to clean and dry it well and place it in storage. Once you are ready to run it again, clean it once more and start fresh with new filters and cartridges.
  7. Another tip is to monitor the area of your room near the humidifier. You want to make sure that there are no leaks in the unit, and you don’t want your cool mist humidifier to drench your carpet, walls, furniture, or anything else. Excessive moisture will lead to mold, mildew, and associated health problems.
  8. Along the same lines as the previous point, do not allow the relative humidity in your room to go above 50 percent while using your cool mist humidifier. Some humidifiers have hygrometers built in to measure humidity, or you can buy or borrow one that is separate from your unit.
  9. If you follow all of these tips, your humidifier should last a long time. However, there still will come a point when the best cleaning or safety tip is to simply replace your humidifier with a new one. If you notice mildew or other deposits in your unit, or perhaps your model is just difficult to clean or dry, consider throwing it away and investing in a new one.

By following these cool mist humidifier safety tips, you can be sure to enjoy as many health benefits as possible, which is why you bought the humidifier in the first place. Furthermore, simple cleaning and maintenance will maximize the lifespan of your unit, helping you to stretch your hard-earned dollars as far as you can. For more information on humidifier models and features, see our other cool mist humidifier reviews.

Cool Mist Humidifier Features – The Top 7

If you are trying to decide which cool mist humidifier to buy, you should be aware of different features that are available. Not all of these will be important to you, but you probably should at least know about them. Most significant features have to do with convenience or safety, so they are meant to either save you time or improve your health. Here is the list of 7 features:

  1. Volume of water that gets put into the air. This is important because a cool mist humidifier that doesn’t increase humidity enough is really not going to help you very much. In particular, you need to make sure your humidifier matches the size of the room you plan to use it in.
  2. Variable speeds. This isn’t necessarily critical, but dryness levels will vary at different times of the year, and even from day to day. Having different speeds will allow you to put less moisture into the air when it is not needed, but still have the capability to add lots of humidity on really dry days.
  3. Ease of cleaning and maintenance. This can be very significant, as you must maintain your humidifier to prevent the buildup of harmful bacteria and mold within it. The easier it is to clean and change the water in your humidifier, the more often you will do it and the less time you will have to invest.
  4. Filters. In some cool mist humidifier models, you will have to replace these, as they are helpful in keeping mold and other contaminants out of the air while your humidifier is running. Filters generally are not that expensive, but you might want to take a look at how much they cost and how often you’ll have to change them. Some models also come with cartridges that purify or distill the water in the tank.
  5. Noise. Because most people run their cool mist humidifiers overnight, you will have to fall asleep while the unit is operating. If a noisy humidifier might cause a problem for you, you might want to consider a model that is quieter.
  6. Built-in hygrometer or humidistat. This is probably a feature that can be considered icing on the cake; you can get by without it. But hygrometers (devices that measure the humidity level in the room) will help you make certain that the humidity level stays within a recommended range (generally 30 to 50%). You obviously don’t want a room that is too dry, but a room with too much moisture is not good either. An overly humid room can result in condensation on the walls and ceiling, which can result in damage and the growth of mold and bacteria. If you don’t want a humidifier with a humidistat included, you also have the option to purchase one separately.
  7. Size. Generally speaking, a smaller humidifier is more convenient, as you will have more options for placing it where you want. However, you need to balance this with the inconvenience of having to refill the water more often if the reservoir is not very big.

Depending on your specific situation, some of these features might not matter. But these are some things you might want to think about as you select the cool mist humidifier that is right for you.