VENTA AIRWASHER LW24 Air Humidifier and Purifier All-in-one
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of VENTA AIRWASHER LW24 Air Humidifier and Purifier All-in-one
Customer Review: Best Humidifier. Period.
Summary: 5 Stars
I was surprised to see such a wide spread in ratings for the Venta. I've had mine for five years and it works like new. Plus, I abused the thing about as much as it is possible to abuse it. I gave up cleaning it after buying the first expensive bottle of cleaner. I only just cleaned it for the first time with vinegar and water and it looks like new. This is an amazing design and was worth every penny. I lent mine to my parents because their apartment was so dry in winter they were getting nosebleeds. Not one nosebleed since the Venta arrived. I can't say enough about this humidifier.Customer Review: Both Praise and Complaints Are Legitimate
Summary: 3 Stars
True to form, the European reviewer praises the Venta's holistic simplicity, while an American criticizes the cost!
I have some criticisms of my own. First, the simplicity of design means no control over humidity level. If the water feels like evaporating, it does! The manufacturer claims a typical range of 40%-55% humidity, but for me it never even reached 40%. Like the American that I am, I returned it to the store for a less "elegant" model that just boils the water, and keeps doing so until you get to the level you want.
I also don't understand why a simple window to indicate water level is not included, and agree that -- however sturdy the case is -- it really, truly is just two pieces of plastic. This thing should cost fifty bucks, tops.
But I also agree with the German commentator about the effectiveness of the unit in cleaning the air. The room just smelled clean -- much more so than with the Ionic Breeze ripoffs, or even some smaller filter-based units I have used. It generates only a very soft hum, it definitely is well-constructed, and the "natural" approach of simple, cold evaporation has appeal. I just wish it worked as well as the alternatives at doing its primary job, or had a price advantage.
Customer Review: Cleans and Humidifies The Air Nicely, But a Little Difficult to Clean
Summary: 4 Stars
My family owns two Venta Airwashers: this one and the Venta #5014436 LW14 Grey Airwasher. I am writing this after having used them for about two years. We live in a dry apartment, and we are also musicians with wood instruments, so it is important for us to keep our apartment well humidified. We are also sensitive to sound, so we need to make sure that whatever machines we purchase work quietly.
Before we purchased these, we measured our apartment to make sure we were purchasing the appropriate models for the space we live in. I think this is crucial, as you cannot expect a model that is too small to properly humidify a space that is too large, and vice-versa. This seems obvious, but I think a lot of people overlook this and purchase the wrong model.
I think people are missing the point when they complain about the level of humidity and whether it reaches an optimum level or not. Ventas humidify and purify at the same time, and once a room has a certain level of moisture, it will essentially stay that way if you leave it set to a certain level. It's not like it ill keep ramping up the moisture until you are living in a rainforest. It can only humidify so much, unless you use the largest model in a closet-sized space.
Regarding the noise issue with the fan, I found that when it starts making that subtle clicking noise that some reviewers mention, it is because the fan mechanism has lost lubrication. A few drops of light oil (such as lemon oil) clears up the noise immediately.
As long as you follow their directions--and we all know how much Germans love accuracy and directions--these will last a long time and provide and work excellently.
The reason I am giving this four stars is because I am convinced that they could have designed these with less hard-to-clean crevices. There are many hard-to-clean spots, and a few spaces that are almost impossible to clean. Granted, you won't see them as they are deep inside, but I like to know that I can clean every bit of gunk that I see. You really need to thoroughly clean the Venta every month or so, which should only take a few minutes, but there are an awful lot of crevices.
Another tip: the way to clean the rotating disc assembly inside the Venta is to use a soft brush, and scrub in-between the discs, and it can also be washed in the top rack of a dishwasher. They offer a special substance that also cleans gunk from inside and off the bottom half of the Venta, but vinegar works just as well.
Also, as mentioned by others, you need to use their additive in order to allow the water to sheet off the rotating plastic disc assembly. Some folks mention using a few drops of dish washing soap instead, but I haven't tried that yet. When you consider that other models by other companies require you to purchase filters and the like, I think buying a few bottles of this additive is not so bad. Each bottle lasts ca. 3-4 months.
Now the crucial information: does it really clean the air and humidify well? Although we have not tested our air with any gauges to see if there is a marked difference, I can assuredly say that the air in our apartment is cleaner and definitely moister. The air even seems to smell cleaner. Our wooden floors creak when we don't run the Ventas, and after a day of running them, they are silent. The truth is in the water: when we clean the Ventas and replace the additive every two weeks, the water is definitely filthy. The Ventas must be doing something right.
All in all, we have no regrets. These are simple, yet well-built humidifiers, albeit a little pricey. They are a little difficult to clean, but if you are even somewhat attentive and can follow directions, they should serve you well.
Customer Review: Cleans the air efficiently
Summary: 5 Stars
I purchased the smallest version, the LW 14, for the purpose of cleaning the air in a small kitchen without windows.
Air ionizers didn't rid the air of the frying smells, but this appliance works.
The initial price is high, but not the cost to keep the Venta running. Water is cheap. Power consumption on highest setting is about 35 Watt. For whisper-quiet use in a bedroom a lower setting is better. Any air-con would be much louder anyways and drown out the Venta on the highest setting.
The motor used to power the machine is indeed very silent, and possible can't be manufactured for 30$. The other components are ruggedly constructed and hopefully last many years.
The device can also be used for aromatherapy, which I'm just testing with some natural Mint oil against my cold.
Customer Review: DONT TOUCH IT
Summary: 1 Stars
One of my two units is broken. Still waiting for a response after 1 1/2 months of numerous calls and emails to U.S. and European HQ. Nice product but they must be out of business or in real financial difficulties. STAY AWAY is my recommendation