Air-O-Swiss home humidifiers have long been synonymous with quality humidification, and as the newest addition
to their line of room humidifiers, the AOS U650 is the perfect blend of elegance and functionality. Quietly efficiency, the U650 ultrasonic
humidifier helps to relieve the symptoms of dry air by raising the relative humidity in your home during the dry winter months. With a new
design and touch controls, the Air O Swiss U650 is an ideal unit for most rooms in your home with a capacity of up to 650 sq. ft. After
taking home this model for a weekend, this is what I found.
What I like about the Air-O-Swiss U650 Humidifier
The first thing I noticed with this unit was the design. It has a smooth, streamlined appearance with a simple white face and smoke/carbon colored
tank. The black frame has a high gloss finish, so overall the unit has a very modern feel to it. After setup, the first thing that will strike
you is the controls of this unit. The buttons are not raised but have a surface touch functionality to them. So they are smooth with the face. An
LCD screen displays the current relative humidity level an by pressing the button that looks like water droplets. The screen then displays the set
point you select before switching back to the current RH level in the room. With the timer button you can set the time from 1-8 hours or
set it for continuous use. And light or sensitive sleeps shouldn't worry too much. Not only is the AOS U650 quiet, but the LCD display has a dimmer
feature that can be manually set or automatically kicks in when you select Auto/Sleep. Indicator images appear on the screen that clearly show you
the current mist output, what mode you are in, whether you have chosen the preheat function and when the humidifier needs to be cleaned.
The Sleep mode for this model was interesting. When you select it, the humidity automatically targets 50-65%; the timer is set to
6 hours; the preheat function kicks on, and the display dims. For most of us, this setting will help produce ideal sleeping conditions that
will prevent you from waking up with a sore throat or dry sinuses.
The capacity is comparable to several of the Air-O-Swiss ultrasonic humidifiers we currently offer. The maximum output will easily put over 3 gallons
of moisture back into the air over a 24 hour period. The tank itself, like most AOS humidifiers is bottom fill, so when you remove the tank, simply
turn it upside and remove the cap to fill.
The choice of warm or cool mist is something more and more people are looking for in a home humidifier. With the Air-O-Swiss U650, you have this
capability. In cool mist mode, room temperature water is turned to mist while in warm mist mode, the water is preheated to 176
degrees F and leaves the
spout at just over 100 degrees F. It does this safely and without the use of a potentially hazardous boiler.
As with nearly all Air-O-Swiss humidifiers, the U650 is covered by a 3 year limited warranty. So should the humidifier malfunction during that
time, you have the piece of mind in that your humidifier is covered.
What I do not like about the Air-O-Swiss U650 Humidifier
There have been occasional complaints about a white "dust" from continued use. This does happen on occasion, and can usually be resolved with a
couple things. First, make sure that you are NOT using softened water. The sodium commonly used in water softeners will quickly overwhelm the
demineralization cartridge and lead to this white powder. Secondly, replace the cartridge regularly. With hard water you may find yourself replacing
the demineralization cartridge more frequently. Another alternative is to use distilled water and remove the cartridge all together. Regardless, the
sole cause of this dust is a high mineral content being dispersed with the water.
In all, the Air-O-Swiss U650 humidifier is an elegantly designed humidifier ideal for relieving symptoms commonly associated with
cool, dry winter air. The digital features of this model make it one of the most advanced home humidifiers available. With little
maintenance required, the U650 is an excellent all around humidifier with a solid warranty and sound brand reputation.
