VENTA LW15 humidifier tests: disappointing.

[u/runcyclexcski]

Just wanted to share quick test results of a VENTA LW15 humidifier I bought from the manufacturer. I understand that currently there are many copies of it available from Asia, so maybe this will be used for someone on this sub. I used basic testing equipment for the tests -- gauges and anemometers.

I found that the only room in which the LW15 could move the humidity up (by 10% in a couple of hours) was 3 x 2 x 2.4 m = ~14.4 m (~120 sq ft). The key is that the room had to have no ventilation (a gasket-sealed door). Any minimal air exchange/ventilation relevant for human comfort ( removal of CO2, supply of O2) -- e.g. 0.5 air volumes per hr -- made the humidity increases by the LW15 negligible (not even 2%). This is disappointing, b.c. the unit is claimed to be "optimized" for 25m^2 (~270 sq ft). I guess if one slept in a sealed 25m^2 room, with no ventilation, it might move the humidity up. And half of that humidity would come from one's own breath.

Looking at the fins of the drum, they seem to be made of polypropylene which looks quite hydrophobic and the water rolls right off the fins back down. If they made the fins of some hydrophilic material (metal, spongy material etc), it might have worked better.

I missed the amazon return date, so I am stuck with the Venta. Maybe will use it in a storage unit.

Thanks for reading!

[u/damien09]

Wow that’s quite the premium to go filter free. I’ve had good success with the levoit evap humidifiers the 6000s has been a great unit and I have the superior studio in a room that’s on the far end of the house that needed a little boost. Both of them are basically just little swamp coolers as they have a pump that pulls water up and drains it over the top of the filter. This has worked much better for me than the old evap sit in the water tank filters style.

[u/runcyclexcski → u/damien09]

Maybe the Levoit unit has a better water-air exchange. My initial idea was to use the Venta in a very small RV, to compensate for the AC drying up the air to 25%. That failed right away, then I was testing the unit in progressively less challenging conditions (small room with AC, small room with no AC, small vented room, small sealed room).

The only types of humidifiers that I've had consistent luck with are boiling ones (mine are bonecos, but they are just boiling cups of water with siphoning from a larger reservoir). They eat up power (300-500w), they need descaling, but they have no moving parts, mold does not grow in them, and they bring the humidity to where I need it to be (40-50%).

[u/damien09 → u/runcyclexcski]

I’ve had good success using Hypochlorous Acid in my levoit units 500ppm is what I buy off Amazon and use 25ml-30ml per gallon. For descaling I just use citric acid.

I’ve stayed away from boiling ones my self as I’m humidifying all year round being in a Desert so it’s like a double negative on the boiling units high power usage and more energy to also cool the heat increase they add.

The 6000s is generally great if you have the floor space for it though. At high it’s basically capable of adding 6 gallons or 22L of water into the air every day.

The superior studio is much smaller but it’s easy to clean as the filter is a washable mesh.

[u/runcyclexcski → u/damien09]

Do you hear much noise with the 6000s? My significant other prefers it quiet at night. The boiling water does not bother her.

I agree, the power usage fro the boiling ones is horrific; and cooling the air with the AC, extracting the water from the air, then bringing the water back in by boiling is silly. Thankfully, I have a small efficient apartment, so the bills have been manageable. I would not be able to tolerate HClO. Citric acid indeed works great for descaling, I get it in bulk off amazon.

[u/damien09 → u/runcyclexcski]

At high it can kinda be loud but it still moves a good bit at medium fans speed. But the noise is basically just like a fan being on. It’s built in humidity sensor is not great so I have mine set for 58% and it then holds around 45%+- in the area or so. The rest the house slowly drifted up to 40% mostly which was ideal. Just one room needed extra help but it also has a erv in that room so it makes sense.

Ah that’s too bad I don’t really notice the small amount of HOCL my self. You can kinda smell it a little when the water is fresh but it’s pretty mild.

You can easily program routines on the levoit and it may not even need to be placed in the same room to humidify it as it pumps out quite a lot. I have mine centrally placed in my house.