Console Humidifiers

Console humidifiers cover a larger area

While tabletop humidifiers can provide moisture in a single room, larger console humidifiers (which sit on the floor) can humidify several rooms or even a whole house. Since a console has a larger tank, it needs refilling less often than a tabletop model, but the process can be awkward. Many consoles are evaporative rather than ultrasonic, which means that they are louder and require the use of filters that can be costly to replace. However, these humidifiers will not produce white dust like ultrasonic models.

We did not find nearly as many reviews for consoles as we did for smaller humidifiers. The best-reviewed console humidifier we found is the Kenmore 15412 (*Est. $140) . This evaporative humidifier has a 3.9-gallon tank and can produce up to 12 gallons of moisture per day -- enough to cover an area of 2,500 square feet. It includes a humidistat and a digital display, and humidity can be adjusted in increments of 5 percent. The humidifier uses a double-fill tank system: the first fill drains directly into the machine, after which you immediately refill it. A side-fill bottle, which fits under most faucets, makes this process easier. Other features include a four-speed fan, a mildew-resistant filter (*Est. $18) and a refill indicator light. The humidifier sits on four swivel casters, so it can be rolled from room to room.

In professional tests, the Kenmore 15412 produces very good moisture output and is easy to use. However, it is much noisier than most humidifiers. Users at Sears.com (the only source for Kenmore appliances) say this humidifier is reasonably easy to fill and can cover a large area. "No smells" is another common remark, indicating that the treated filter is effective at controlling mildew. However, some users note that the humidifier is loud and the filters are expensive.

Sears also offers a smaller-capacity evaporative humidifier, the Kenmore 15408 (*Est. $110) . This model is the top performer in an older test by Laura Moser of Slate.com. This Kenmore humidifier is fairly compact for a machine with a 1,700-square-foot coverage area and an 8-gallon daily output. It uses the same double-fill tank as the Kenmore 15412 -- a system that Moser calls "brilliant" because it "cuts in half the number of times you have to stop life to schlep back and forth" with water. However, the water tank will still need to be refilled throughout the day, as even the double tank holds only 2.4 gallons. The unit also has the same adjustable humidity and digital display as the larger Kenmore.

Owners posting on Sears.com are moderately satisfied with their evaporative humidifiers, which they say are easy to fill and produce good moisture. However, some complain that the humidistat is inaccurate; oddly, we read many reports of the display getting stuck at 92 percent. Users also say that the machine is loud on its higher settings and the filters, at $18 each, are costly to replace. (One user reports needing to replace the filter monthly, while another says once a year is sufficient.)