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​Author: Maurice Savaryego, M.Sc.Eng. (Learn More)
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Compare Best Console Humidifiers: Honeywell HEV685W vs. Essick Air AIRCARE MA1201

Essick Air MA1201 Console HumidifierAIRCARE MA1201 Console Humidifier (Photo Credits: Essick Air)
It is quite common that during the heating season the relative humidity of our homes falls below the recommended 40% RH (RH = relative humidity).  
This low humidity level can have adverse effect on our health causing sore throat, itchy eyes, cracked skin, respiratory problems and various other problems.
In addition, very dry air can cause cracks in paint, furniture and wooden floors, increase static electricity, and even peel wallpaper.  
These undesirable effects can be avoided by the use of a humidifier.

There are mainly three types of humidifiers: tabletop, in-duct and console. These are described below:

  • Tabletop humidifiers are small and low cost, but they usually can humidify only the single room they are placed in and are not adequate forlarge apartments or houses with a number of rooms. Also their water reservoirs are quite small and need to be filled up quite frequently.
  • In-duct humidifiers are great for humidifying large homes, but they can only be used with homes that have a forced-air system, and they require complex installations as the humidifier has to be somehow integrated with the home's air ducks and plumbing systems.
  • Console humidifiers present the best compromise: they do not require any complicated installations, they are usually capable to humidify large homes over 2000 sq-ft., and they are mostly very reasonably priced.

As console humidifiers present the most practical and most widely used home humidification solution, this article will focus only on console humidifiers, and in particular on evaporative console humidifiers, meaning that dry air is pulled through the humidifier, and the built-in fan blows out invisible and moisture-balanced air, the humidity of which is controlled by a built-in humidistat. Note that these humidifiers are not misters: the moisture coming out of these humidifiers is completely invisible. Yes, it is cool and humid air, but not a mist which would leave a damp floor.
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This article will compare two best selling evaporative console humidifiers bought by Amazon customers. They are Honeywell HEV685W and Essic Air AIRCARE MA1201. These console humidifiers were the top sellers in their category at the time this article was written and have received excellent reviews from Amazon customers.

You will find below a point by point comparison of these two console humidifiers. If you are in a hurry, and wish to see right away Amazon price information, please click:
Selected Console Humidifers on Amazon


Comparing Honeywell HEV685W and AIRCARE MA1201 Console Humidifiers:


The two console humidifiers are shown below:

Honeywell HEV685W Humidifier
(Photo Credits: Honeywell)
Essick Air MA1201 Humidifier
(Photo Credits: Essick Air)

The following table compares the features of the selected console humidifiers (please read the explanations to the table notes that follow the table for a better understanding of the features offered):


Table Notes 1-12 Explained:

Note 1:
Honeywell has not specified a number for the area that Honywell HEV685W can cover. However, they specified that it can cover large and multiple rooms. Some Amazon customers who have bought it have said that it was sufficient to cover areas at least as large as 1000 sq-ft.

Note 2:
The humidistat allows you to adjust and select the humidity level based on your personal preference. Your humidifier will turn on and off throughout the day and night to maintain the desired humidity level  you have selected. Note that both of these humidifiers are not misters: the moisture coming out of the humidifier is completely invisible. It is cool, humid air, but not a mist which would leave a damp floor.
  • With Honeywell HEV685W, you use humidity level knob to set the desired humidity level. The following is the recommended usage mode when first installed:
    Turn the humidity level knob to the highest setting and run for at least an hour or until a comfortable humidity level is reached.
    Once comfortable, turn the humidity level knob to the left until the green Humidity Reached Indicator light turns on and the humidifier turns off. This is your desired humidity level. Now that your desired humidity level is set, the humidifier will automatically turn back on when your room drops below this comfort setting and will automatically turn off again when the comfort setting is reached.​. ​
  • With AIRCARE MA1201, there is a small  LED digital screen that shows the ambient humidity in the room. It has therefore a built-in hygrometer. There are also buttons that allow you to adjust the humidity to suit your needs  in 5% increments between 25% and 65% RH.  The digital screen readout will show you the humidity levels achieved as you press the buttons, so you can stop once the desired level is reached. Five seconds after you have set the desired humidity, the readout will change  to the actual room humidity. The humidifier will then automatically cycle on and  off as required to maintain the selected setting. ​
Note 3:
Honeywell HEV685W has 3 levels of speed:
  •  HIGH: For fast humidifying.
  •  MED: For everyday moisture control.
  •  LOW: For minimum operation (ideal for night time use, or when silent operation is needed).

AIRCARE MA1201 has 4 modes of speed: HIGH, MEDIUM, ULTRAQUIET, and AUTO. The selected setting is displayed on the digital readout. The
higher the setting, the faster water is evaporated and released into the air. ULTRA QUIET is the quietest setting and  is provided for conditions that do not  require a rapid evaporation rate.  
The AUTO setting of AIRCARE MA1201 allows the humidifier to manage its speed range to maintain your desired humidity setting. It will automatically cycle to the most efficient  speed to achieve the desired humidity.  Here is how the fan will operate:
  • HIGH speed if room humidity is 10% or greater RH (Relative Humidity) below the SET point.
  • MEDIUM speed if room humidity is 10 - 5% RH below the SET point.
  • ULTRA QUIET speed if room humidity is 5% or less RH below the SET point.
If the room humidity is not increasing at the current fan speed during a 15 minute period, the fan speed increases to the next higher speed until the humidity SET point is reached.

Note that both humidifiers generate very low noise when the lower speed settings of the fan are selected. The noise is more perceptible at high speed.

The humidistat and fan speed controls (dials or buttons) for both humidifiers are shown below:

Honeywell HEV685W Humidistat and Fan Speed Controls
Honeywell HEV685W Control Knobs
<b>AIRCARE MA 1201 Humidistat and Fan Speed Controls</b>
AIRCARE MA 1201 Controls

Note 4:  
A  hygrometer is an instrument that measures and displays the ambient humidity. Of the two humidifiers considered here, only Essick Air MA1201 has a built-in hygrometer.
Note that Honeywell makes an optional hygrometer that can be purchased separately (see Amazon products section below).

Note 5: 
Both humidifiers are equipped with a filter that traps unwanted particles, minerals and bacteria from the water. 
Filter life for these humidifiers will depend on your water quality, amount of particulates in the air, the speed setting of the fan, the length of time the fan has been running, and will vary from 1 to 3 months.
  • For Honeywell HEV685W the replacement filter is: Honeywell HC14 Series, Filter E.
  • For AIRCARE MA1201 the replacement filter is: AIRCARE MAF1.
The above filters are offered below in the Amazon products section.

Note 6:
Only AIRCARE MA1201 humidifier has a check filter reminder timed to appear after 720 hours of operation (= 1 month). When the CK FILTER message is displayed, you will need to disconnect the power cord and check the condition of the filter. If a build-up of deposits or severe discoloration is evident, you will need to replace the filter to restore maximum efficiency.

Note 7: 
These humidifiers automatically shut off when the desired level of humidity is reached. So a timer is not really needed.

Note 8: 
Honeywell HEV685W and AIRCARE MA1201 both shut off automatically when there is no more water or when the desired humidly level is reached.

Note 9:  
Honeywell HEV685W and AIRCARE MA1201 both have a light that indicates when there is no more water in the tank.

Note 10: 
Honeywell HEV685W has two tanks and each can hold 1.5 gallons of water (altogether 3.0 gallons).
AIRCARE MA1201 has a bottle that can hold 1.9 gallons of water and a base that can hold 2 gallons (altogether 3.9 gallons).

Note 11: 
Honeywell HEV685W does not have caster wheels, but the two water containers can be easily lifted out if moving the humidifier is desired. That is where most of the weight is. 

Note 12:
All console humidifiers require regular (usually biweekly) cleaning to remove scale from their water reservoirs (whether bottle, jug, tank or base) and to disinfect them. 
  • To remove scale the reservoir is filled with an  80% water and 20% vinegar solution.  After about 20 minutes of soaking any scale buildup is wiped away with a soft brush or cloth and the reservoir washed and rinsed. 
  • To disinfect the reservoir is filled with a chlorine bleach and water solution (1 teaspoon of chlorine bleach for 1 gallon of water).. After about 20 minutes the reservoir is emptied and rinsed well.  
The exact cleaning procedures for these humidifiers are quite simple and similar and are described in detail in the user manuals that come with each humidifier.

​For price info on these humidifiers, please refer to the Amazon products section below.

So which of these two compared console humidifiers should you buy?

Though both humidifiers compared here are excellent products that have received great reviews from Amazon customers, the feature comparison table above shows that AIRCARE MA1201 comes with a number of very useful features not found on Honeywell HEV685W: 
  • It has a built-in hygrometer and therefore it displays the ambient humidity. With Honeywell HEV685W, you would have to buy a separate hygrometer to make sure that the desired humidity is reached.
  • It has clear indications of empty reservoir and filter check time.
  • It has a more sophisticated fan speed control: while Honeywell has 3 fan speed settings, AIRCARE MA1201 has 4, the 4th setting being the AUTO mode described in Note 2 above and not found in the Honeywell HEV685W humidifier.
If the additional features that come with AIRCARE MA1201 are not critical for you, you will be quite happy with the Honeywell HEV685W humidifier as well, as it is also a high quality product that has received mostly good reviews from Amazon customers.

Honeywell HEV685W and AIRCARE MA1201 Console Humidifiers on Amazon

You will find below on Amazon both console humidifiers compared above as well as replacement filters for each of them.
Please click the Amazon US link image below for the product of your choice to see exact price information or to purchase.
​Please Note: For non-US customers, when you click the links below, you will be provided with the Amazon links for your country (such as Canada or UK), if the product is available in your country.​

Honeywell HEV685W

AIRCARE MA1201

Honeywell Humidity Monitor (Hygrometer)

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