by Greg Schwartz

Created on: December 31, 2010   Last Updated: April 10, 2011

To many people, a humidifier is a humidifier.  However, once you've had one that doesn't work, you tend to pay attention to the differences.  The Sunbeam Filter Free Warm Mist Humidifier (model #SWM5250) is a good humidifier that's reliable and easy to use.

One of the main advantages of this Sunbeam humidifier is the lack of filters.  Filters get clogged up and dirty, and they cost money to replace.  So right off the bat you're saving at least a few bucks every month or two on upkeep.

When this humidifier is running, you can tell a difference in the air.  It takes about 10 minutes to really get going, which isn't a long time, and once it starts up it will shoot out mist consistently.  It's designed for a small room, and when you leave it running and close the door, you'll feel the moisture in the air.  Even with the door left open, the air in the room is noticeably less dry than the air outside the room.

The humidifier has two settings, low and high.  On low, it can run for a full night without emptying its tank (which holds just under a gallon of water) and still have water left over in the morning.  On high, it won't last through the night, but it will go for a while.  It runs almost silently, with a small amount of white noise and the occasional burbling as it takes in more water.

It has a round base that will fit on just about any end table or desk, and it plugs into a standard 120-volt outlet.  The top, where the mist comes out, can get hot, so it's a good idea to put it up high where children can't reach it.

The one drawback to this humidifier is its reset process.  If it drains its tank while it's running, it will go into a reset condition where you have to unplug it for 15 minutes before it can be used again.  Other than that, the Sunbeam humidifier runs great and is very user-friendly.  It comes with understandable instructions that clearly outline the care and maintenance procedures.

The Sunbeam Filter Free Warm Mist Humidifier can usually be purchased online from Walmart.com for $25.00, although it's currently out of stock.  Depending on where you live, you may be able to find it in a big box store, pharmacy, or department store.

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