Pricey but works and safe
I was looking for a replacement for my boiled steam humidifier and seemed like they're all "mist" (piezo), now. This won't work because our water is moderately hard and that could clog. Of the two better boiled steam models currently on the U.S. market, neither had a fan, one had reports of poor low water sensing and scorching, and the other had no power setting. I am running an electric radiator and need to share a 20 amp (16 amp really) circuit. So, I came across the Canopy 5.5 liter. This places it at the higher capacity nearing 1.5 gallons, which is a plus. It's an incredibly simple design. The water tank is removed and filled at the tub or a deep sink, the cap is placed on and the tank inverted, plugging into a moat in the base, maintaining fill. On the other side, in a circle within the moat, a cylindrical evaporative wick is submerged about 3/4". The wick draws up water. Inlet vents on the perimeter of the base surround the wick on the outside. A shell containing all the electronics forms the other half of the unit, complementing the tank. A fan mounted on the shell and centered at the top of the wick draws moist air through and blows it out the top. There are 3 fan speeds, including an "auto" mode which runs in medium while the room light is on and going to low when the room light is sensed to be off. Read the legend carefully before tossing, because the symbols are not self-explanatory. They really should have printed the legend on a sticker. The fan is powered by USB-C with a USB-A adapter cord and a cheaper USB-A power supply is included. When plugged into a power bank, I measure only 5 watts on high. Whomever wrote the review about the plug overheating got a bad adapter. They are super cheapo and obviously outsourced. There are also two aromatherapy delivery methods. One is a well which sits in the center of the airflow at the bottom. The other is a small absorbent stone which may be placed above the fan. "Unwind" scent is included and is delightful. Almost smells like a spa. The pricepoint is a bit high. But, I get the sense this is a startup. The branding is pleasant, and actually, I do enjoy the luxe experience of the "Unwind" aromatherapy oil, and honestly, I can afford to waste a bit of money on something a little overpriced as long as it just works. But it does work and looks nice. Just keep in mind that this is a glorified engine air filter and a large computer fan. It may not be worth the money, but it works well and looks nice. As far as the evaporative cooling effect in winter, I think it's just cycling the existing radiator longer, which is fine. The air is humid and warm and not noticeably cool unless you're feeling right above the fan vent. It also helps to start it off with warm water. I thoroughly rinsed the wick in hot water prior to installing. As for mold, just keep an eye on it. There is a pair of electrodes which dip in the moat to sense low water level. The electronics do not give a timer option, so, unattended, it will just go dry, preventing mold. Read more
