The Honeywell HUL520 is a compact ultrasonic humidifier with a small footprint and an inexpensive price. This unit has a simple dial with continuous mist output settings. We like that this unit is very easy to clean, has a large tank opening and handle for carrying, and can be cleaned with few if any special tools. This product has a smaller capacity than most of the competition, but it will last overnight on high volume and the frequent refilling will help you keep your eye on potential mold growth or mineral deposits. The HUL is louder than most of the ultrasonic competition but is still relatively silent at high levels. While this unit wouldn't be a good choice for larger spaces and it can't be used for days without refilling, it does get the job done for a very friendly price most families can afford.
Honeywell HUL520 Review
Pros: Price, easy to clean
Cons: Small capacity, limited features, louder
Manufacturer: Honeywell
The Skinny
Compare to Similar Products
Our Analysis and Test Results
Honeywell is part of the Helen of Troy group. They are known for personal comfort products like heating pads, fans, heaters, air purifiers, and humidifiers. What you may not know is Honeywell also has connections in aerospace, oil, and gas industries. Honeywell has an annual revenue in excess of $40 billion a year and is a Fortune 500 company.
Performance Comparison
The compact Honeywell HUL520 is a simple ultrasonic humidifier that works well and gets the job done for a budget-friendly price.
With only two products earning higher scores, and only one competitor with a lower list price, it is easy to see how this Honeywell earned a Best Value award.
Ease of Cleaning
The HUL520 is one of the easiest options to clean with an 8 of 10 for ease of cleaning.
This unit has a tank with a very wide opening that most hands will fit in. The tank is small enough to reach all sides to wipe clean without the need for a special tool. You will need a bottle brush or thinner washcloth to clean the mist tube, but the length is short so any brush should be able to do the job. The base is also easy to keep clean with only one spot that requires extra attention.
Effectiveness
This smaller Honeywell is not the most effective option in the competition earning only a 6 of 10 for mist creations. This may or may not be a concern depending on your goals and the size of the space you want to humidify.
This Honeywell stars out strong with similar output to the competition, but over time the other products increase the ambient humidity more than the HUL. At the one hour mark, only 5 competitors had produced more moisture than the HUL520.
Noise
This Honeywell is the second loudest ultrasonic unit in the review. The Honeywell HCM-350, an evaporative humidifier is the loudest with a decibel reading of 60.
With a decibel reading of 46 dB only the Boneco U300 is louder with 47 dB. While you may be thinking you don't want a noisy unit, it isn't loud and it is unlikely to keep anyone awake.
Ease of Use
This Honeywell has a continuous mist dial to control output levels. However, it is not programmable and lacks features that could potentially make life with a humidifier easier which impacted its ease of use score earning only 6 of 10 for this metric.
This unit has continuous settings and a simple "plug and play" design. The tank has a handle for carrying and it can sit in the sink without help for filling.
The tank opening is large which makes it easy to fill even in a bathroom sink. The tank is easy to open and fits on the base without a problem. The base is small making this a good option if space is limited. While the tank is small, it will hold enough water to create mist all night even on the highest setting.
Manufacturer Video
— Juliet Spurrier, MD and Bob Wofford