In-depth baby product reviews led by a Pediatrician

Honeywell HUL520 Review

Compact and easy to clean but not as effective and louder than most
Honeywell HUL520
Credit: Abriah Wofford
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Price:   $40 List | $39.99 at Amazon
Pros:  Price, easy to clean, compact, filterless
Cons:  Louder, not as effective, small capacity, frequent refills
Manufacturer:   Honeywell
By Wendy Schmitz and the BabyGearLab Review Team  ⋅  Jul 28, 2021
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54
OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#6 of 11
  • Ease of Cleaning - 35% 8
  • Effectiveness - 35% 4
  • Noise - 20% 3
  • Ease of Use - 10% 6

The Skinny

The Honeywell HUL520 is a compact ultrasonic humidifier with a small footprint and a lower price. This unit has a simple dial with continuous mist output. We like that it is very easy to clean, has a large tank opening, a handle for carrying, and can be cleaned with few special tools. This product has a smaller capacity than most competitors, but it will last overnight on high volume and the frequent refilling will help you keep your eye on potential mold 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 requires daily refilling, it can get the job done for a friendly price most families can afford.

Compare to Similar Products

(change comparison)
 
Honeywell HUL520
This Product
Honeywell HUL520
Awards  Best Value Award  Top Pick Award  
Price $40 List
$39.99 at Amazon		$40 List$55 List
$29.99 at Amazon		$43 List$50 List
$32.95 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
54
70
62
58
50
Star Rating
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Pros Price, easy to clean, compact, filterlessBudget-friendly, effective, easy to use, cleaning brush includedQuiet, filterless, effective, compact, multiple color optionsBaby-centric, budget-friendly, quiet, easy to cleanEffective, quieter than some
Cons Louder, not as effective, small capacity, frequent refillsSomewhat louder than average, requires long handle bottle brush, filterPotential issues with motor performance and durability, light always onNot as effective, average ease of useChallenging to clean, harder to use
Bottom Line Compact and easy to clean but not as effective and louder than mostAn impressively effective budget-friendly humidifier that makes a little more noise than the average unitSleek design, basic features, quiet operation with effective humidity creationAdorable baby-centric humidifier that is quiet and easy to maintain, but it isn't very effective compared to the competition and may not meet your humidity goalsAn effective smaller unit that is fairly quiet but challenging to clean and harder to use than competitors
Rating Categories Honeywell HUL520 TaoTronics TT-AH001 Crane Drop TaoTronics TT-AH038 AquaOasis
Ease Of Cleaning (35%)
8.0
6.0
4.0
7.0
2.0
Effectiveness (35%)
4.0
9.0
7.0
2.0
8.0
Noise (20%)
3.0
5.0
9.0
10.0
6.0
Ease Of Use (10%)
6.0
7.0
5.0
6.0
3.0
Specs Honeywell HUL520 TaoTronics TT-AH001 Crane Drop TaoTronics TT-AH038 AquaOasis
Mist Type Cool Cool Cool Cool Cool
Technology Ultrasonic Ultrasonic Ultrasonic Ultrasonic Ultrasonic
Tank Capacity 0.5 gal 1.1 gal 1 gal 0.66 gal 0.58 gal
Visible Water Reservoir Yes Yes No No Yes
Room Humidification Area (Sq Ft) Small Room 322 sq ft 500 sq ft 269 sq ft Not Listed
Max Run Time Up to 20 hrs Up to 30 hrs Up to 24 hrs Up to 30 hrs Over 24 hrs
Humidity Output Control Variable Mist Control Variable Mist Control
Humidistat		 Variable Mist Control Variable Mist Control Variable Mist Control
Demineralization Cartridge/Filter No No Available for Purchase No No
Night Light No Yes No Yes No
Empty Tank Auto-Shut Off Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Dimensions (BGL) 8.1"W x 8.8"H x 8.1"L 6"W x 9"H x 11.4"L 8.7"W x 13"H x 8.7"L 8.3"W x 12.2"H x 5.5"L 8.5"W x 10"H x 6"L
Empty Weight (BGL) 2.6 lbs 1.83 lbs 2.24 lbs 3.71 lbs 1.58 lbs
Max Operation Noise Level in dB (BGL) 45.2 db 41.7 db <40 db <40 db 40.7 db

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 is a Fortune 500 company.

Performance Comparison



The large opening on the Honeywell and the smaller vessel make it...
The large opening on the Honeywell and the smaller vessel make it easier to clean.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ease of Cleaning


The HUL520 is one of the most accessible options to clean. This unit has a tank with a wide opening that most hands will fit in. The container 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.

Cleaning the smaller parts of the Honeywell likely requires a...
Cleaning the smaller parts of the Honeywell likely requires a smaller straw-type brush or toothbrush.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

The base is also easy to keep clean, with only one spot that requires extra attention.

The Honeywell isn&#039;t as effective at creating mist as some of the...
The Honeywell isn't as effective at creating mist as some of the competition, but if you use it in a smaller space or close to your baby's bed, it should be adequate.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Effectiveness


This smaller Honeywell is not the most effective option in the competition for mist creations. This lower mist creation may or may not be a concern depending on your goals and the size of the space you want to humidify.

This Honeywell starts out strong with a similar output to the competition, but over time the other products increase the ambient humidity more than the HUL. At the one-hour mark, about half of the competitors had produced more moisture than the HUL520.

The dust accumulation for the Honeywell during testing is more than...
The dust accumulation for the Honeywell during testing is more than most of the competition and could be a good argument for using distilled or boiled water if you have hard tap water.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

This unit also seems to create more white dust while operating than the competition and you might want to consider using boiled or bottled water.

The Honeywell is one of the loudest in the group, but it is still...
The Honeywell is one of the loudest in the group, but it is still quieter than an evaporative style humidifier and is unlikely to keep anyone awake.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Noise


This Honeywell is one of the loudest ultrasonic units in the review. With a decibel reading of 45 dB, it isn't loud and isn't unlikely to keep anyone awake.

The Honeywell is easy to use with a single dial for mist level...
The Honeywell is easy to use with a single dial for mist level output. However, it lacks features that could make using a humidifier easier like timer and humidity level settings.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ease of Use


This Honeywell has a continuous mist dial to control output levels that is easy to use. However, it is not programmable and lacks features that could potentially make life with a humidifier easier. 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 opening on the Honeywell vessel is easy to open and large enough...
The Honeywell is one of the few options in the review with a useable...

The tank opening is large, which makes it easy to fill even in a bathroom sink (above left). 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. It also has a handle on the back of the vessel, making it easier to carry and place and the base (above right).

Manufacturer Video



— Wendy Schmitz and the BabyGearLab Review Team