Venta - Airwasher LW24 2 Gallon Humidifier

Pros: Extremely effective, easy to use
Cons: Works best with Venta Additive

I was initially attracted by the promises of not having to worry about bacteria-ridden filter pads. The price is somewhat off-putting, but I thought I'd take a chance, particularly since Bed Bath & Beyond provides a two-week refund period. I will say ...

Pros: Low maintenance costs. Easy to clean and maintain. Low power consumption. Quiet. Ten year warranty.
Cons: Initially more of an investment.

It doubles as a air humidifier and cleanser at the same time which is great for the winter months. The unit is sturdy, runs relatively quiet and does a great job of filtering and humidifying air. The initial cost might seem a little higher than other products in the same category but since it doesn't require any expensive filters, no significant costs occur in the maintenance it turns out to be cheaper than most of the other products in the long run. You will need to purchase a treatment additive with runs $16.99 normal, $19.99 with fragrances and covers 5 months of use.
I must say that my allergies have all but subsided after purchasing this unit. I wake up in the mornings a lot fresher and feel much more comfortable/healthier in my home. It also doesn't use more electricity than a 30 watt light-bulb (for the 250 square feet unit.)

Pros: Attractive design (I love to look at it!), Simplicity of use and maintenance, Effectiveness
Cons: Incredibly overpriced.

I have followed different reviews of the Venta for a few months now. I first saw the product on the Red Dot Award website. Humidifiers, like sports shoes, and clock radios, are always designed to look like these wacked-out space ships. I don't know why, but you just can't find a tasteful, simple humidifier. So, this one looked interesting to me. I found a two gallon version on Craigslist, and bought it for half of the store price. There are some very strong opinons about this product, but the only thing I find offensive is the price. The rest is well designed, solid, and effective. It is so nice to have no soft parts (filters) catching all of the garbage in the air. This thing cleans up great, and $20 in chemicals will get you through the year. But there is just no way that anyone should be paying $300+ for what is physically speaking, not much more complicated than a fan. If you can find one on Ebay or Craigslist, do so.

Pros: Durable, fairly quiet, easy maintenance
Cons: Expensive, not effective for a moderate sized bedroom

Yes, it's rugged. You could throw it across the room and not break any parts. Yes, it's very easy to care for. I never bought the cleaners or additives and it worked perfectly for one year, until I stopped using it. It is fairly quiet and somewhat easy to fill. Although there were never any accidents, I didn't like walking across the room with an open box full of water. It was too big to fill in the sink so I had to bend over the tub to fill. There was no chalky dust after a night of humidifying but there was also no humidity in the room that I could determine and I still woke up with a sore throat every morning. I used it for our bedroom, maybe it was a bit too big, but I never felt humidity coming from the unit even on the highest setting. The only way I knew it was working was b/c I had to refill it.

Pros: easy to use, you can't over humidify the air.
Cons: noisy

It is working perfectly as a humidifier and does clean the air a little bit. But its noise is to much for my taste. It sounds like a fan. Ok a fan can be very loud what the venta is not. But in the night it is quite disturbing.

Pros: Quiet, well constructed, durable.
Cons: Price, maintenance can be annoying but is necessary.

I have had my LW24 for 3 years now and am extremely happy with it. I have to admit, I was reluctant to make the purchase initially as it is a bit pricey, but I have not regretted buying it.
I follow the manufacturer suggested maintenance schedule religiously and the unit still works like it did when I got it. It is extremely quiet (barely audible at the lowest speed level) and I like the fact that is cleans the air as well. I notice a distinct difference in how much less dry my skin is in the winter since I got this unit.
Note: If you are looking for a unit that will aggressively humidify your bedroom during a cold, etc. this is not what you are looking for. This unit will maintain a decent humidity level in your apartment (probably need the bigger unit or a second one for a house) during the winter and you won't even know it's there.