Air-O-Swiss Ultrasonic 7144

Experts praise the Air-O-Swiss Ultrasonic 7144 for its silver ion antibacterial technology, near-silent operation, ease of use and effective humidification. This humidifier can function as a cool or warm mist humidifier and uses ultrasonic technology to disperse water into the air. This makes it exceptionally quiet to run but may lead to white dust settling on your furniture from minerals in the water. The Air-O-Swiss 7144 has a two-gallon tank and produces enough humidity for a room of up to 650 square feet. Most of the user reviews we read for this model were positive overall, but a few note that the humidifier doesn't work as well in very cold weather. It's also more expensive than most and requires a new silver stick each year along with fresh filters every two to three months. The manufacturer also recommends using a proprietary cleaner on a weekly basis, but owners say that plain vinegar works just as well and costs much less. If you don't want to spend so much, the cool-mist Kenmore 15408 (*Est. $110) gets good reviews and provides coverage for a larger area, but it is louder.

We found expert reviews for the Air-O-Swiss 7144 at AllergyBuyersClub.com and in Good Housekeeping and Wired. Owner reviews for this model are less plentiful, but there are about 10 user comments -- some very detailed -- at Amazon.com.