Essick MA1201

Bottom line

The Essick MA1201 is a good bet for a budget-friendly whole house humidifier. The 3.9-gallon water tank means infrequent refilling. The moisture output is excellent. Plus, bonus features like the automatic shut-off, check-filter message and electronic display are welcome additions. Consumers do lament the flimsy, cheap construction and say that despite an "ultra-quiet mode," this machine is very loud.

Ease of use

Simple design and easy-to-use controls: The Essick MA1201 whole house humidifier is an excellent pick for those looking to humidify a large space. The simple digital controls and built-in humidistat allow users to easily control the moisture level in their homes. Consumers appreciate the automatic shut-off, check-filter message and the water refill light. Unfortunately, we did find several accounts where the LCD control panel stopped working after just months of use. Other reviewers claim that the humidistat is calibrated poorly.

Moisture output

Large, easy-to-clean tank: Like most whole house humidifiers, the Essick MA1201 is rated for up to 2,500 square feet -- nearly five times the space of a traditional tabletop model. We found excellent consumer feedback on the room coverage offered by this model. The 3.9-gallon tank allows for an estimated 12 gallons of moisture output per day. We did find some user complaints that the humidistat was calibrated poorly and that it must be turned much higher than expected to reach comfortable humidity levels. This unit has a three-speed motor, and a filter indicator lets you know when it must be changed.

Noise

It's loud. Perhaps the biggest, most common complaint about the Essick MA1201 humidifier is the very loud noise output. Many reviewers claim that this machine can be heard from another room. The humidifier does feature an "ultra-quiet mode," but users say that even in that mode the machine is quite loud.

Ownership

Good value, but poor construction: Many reviewers say the plastic housing is flimsy, but also say that in spite of the poor plastic quality, this humidifier does perform quite well. We did find some reviewers who said that the unit lasts only through a few seasons with continual use, but others seem quite pleased with the durability of this product. Some did note that the humidifier tank does require regular cleaning, but it does a relatively good job at bacterial and mold growth regulation.