PureGuardian H1510 Ultrasonic Humidifier

Winter and fall can be particularly hard on people with allergies and asthma. Drier indoor conditions can dry out and aggravate nasal passages or cause coughing at night. Dry conditions can also lead to more house dust being airborne instead of settling out, and for everyone, dry skin, chapped lips or waking up with a sore throat can be problems. All of these conditions can be alleviated with a humidifier. As a replacement for the H1500, the new Pure Guardian H1510 ultrasonic humidifier is not only effective at putting moisture back into your indoor air but is very quiet and highly affordable. So how does the H1510 humidifier compare to others. After a weekend of testing, here is how it fared.

What I like about the PureGuardian H1510 Humidifier

Like other PureGuardian models, the H1510 is an ultrasonic humidifier, and this means a few things. First, it will put a lot of moisture back into the air quickly, particularly when using the pre-warm/warm mist function. Like other ultrasonic humidifiers, it using ultrasonic vibrations to turn liquid water into water vapor. While this model could run for up to 100 hours, as billed by the manufacturer, on one tank of water, most people will need to fill it every day or so, unless conditions are mild (fewer refills) or severe (1-3 refills per day). Either way, the H1510 has the ability to humidify quickly.

Controls on this model are REALLY simple. Fill the tank, plug it in, turn two dials. One dial controls the power and selects between cool mist and pre-warmed mist. The other dial gives you variable control of the moisture output. Other than this, you have an optional night light that turns the water tank into a soft-blue, glowing nightlight, and an empty tank indicator. Overall, very simple to use and basic controls.

The Pure Guardian H1510 humidifier is quiet, so much so that if you turn the moisture output down low, you may not even notice it running. In terms of noise, ultrasonic humidifiers are the quietest available since the fans are located deep inside the machine and there is no boiling of water. The H1510 is no exception in this regard and is fine for light sleepers.

There are literally no replacement parts standard with the H1510. A demineralization cartridge is optional, and I would recommend one if you have hard water. Other than this, the H1510 humidifier relies on the Silver Clean technology that is embedded in the water tank to keep the water free of mold, mildew and microbes. Clean it periodically (including descaling it with vinegar/water), and that's all the maintenance you really have.

The size of this model is nice. It's compact, lightweight and will easily fit on a nightstand. It is always best to keep a humidifier elevated for better distribution of moisture throughout the room, but this model is light and small enough to fit most places with ease.

What I do not like about the PureGuardian H1510 Humidifier

The lack of a humidity gauge is a downside to this humidifier. This is going to be true with all of your manual humidifier models. So while you do certainly save money by opting for a more basic humidifier, you will likely want to pick up an inexpensive humidity gauge just to keep tabs on indoor relative humidity levels. Remember, too little humidity is uncomfortable, but too much can potentially lead to problems with mold.

I prefer that demineralization cartridges come standard. That's just a personal preference, and it's nice when they are because it means it is there if you need it. The optional demineralization cartridge isn't very expensive, but as cost efficient model, it's excluded as a standard item.

All in all, if you're looking for an inexpensive way to humidify and bring comfort back to your home, you can't beat the PureGuardian H1510 humidifier. The ease of use and quiet operation are big upsides to this model while the lack of humidity gauge is something you may want to consider. It is inexpensive to operate but very efficient at restoring comfort.