TaoTronics TT-AH002 Review

The TaoTronics TT-AH002 performed well in all our tests, but wasn't the easiest to clean. We think that if you want a humidifier in this size and power range it is worth spending a little extra on the easier to clean Honeywell HCM-350.

Performance Comparison

Humidifying Performance

The TaoTronics TT-AH002 was a bit above average in terms of humidifying performance, picking up a score of 6 out of 10 in this metric. It reached 45% humidity in our testing room after running for one hour, which was better than all but the much more expensive machines. The maximum humidity it reached was 58.9%. This makes it perfectly suitable for most standard sized bedrooms (sub 200 square feet). To get more power for a larger than average bedroom you're going to have to spend $100+ on the Levoit LV600HH or the PureGuardian H1250. The Honeywell HCM-350 performed almost identically to the TaoTronics TT-AH002 in our humidifying testing and is easier to clean, which is why we think it's worth the slightly higher cost.

Ease of Cleaning

The TaoTronics TT-AH002 isn't particularly difficult to clean, but we feel the fact that there are other models that perform about the same and are easier to clean is the biggest strike against the TaoTronics TT-AH002. For cleaning, it earned a respectable 6 out of 10. The biggest downside is the size of the tank opening, which is 1.75". This makes getting hands in to scrub the tank a bit difficult, you'll probably need a long brush or some other tool. Otherwise the cleaning process is fairly standard, with the manual suggesting a 5-minute soak in a water/vinegar solution. All told it took us about 15 minutes to clean the humidifier, not counting the 5 minutes of soaking.

The TaoTronics TT-AH002's main competitor, the Honeywell HCM-350, is decidedly easier to clean. The tank opening is twice the diameter and many of its components are dishwasher safe, so if you don't want to deal with scrubbing them you can toss them in the machine. We feel this ease if completely worth the extra $25.

User Friendliness

The TaoTronics TT-AH002 is fairly easy to use. It utilizes a simple, single dial control that to turn the unit on and choose a level of humidification. It doesn't have any special features like a self-regulating humidistat or off timer, but models in this price range generally do not have those capabilities.

Its tank is quite tall, so it can be hard to fit in underneath a faucet. Also, the bottom of the tank has a slant, so if you lay the tank flat with the opening facing up, the tank is tilted. This means you have to physically hold the tank while you fill it if you want to top it off completely. There is a built-in handle that makes this a bit easier, but it still isn't ideal.

Operating Cost

The TaoTronics TT-AH002 was one of the more economical models we tested, earning an 8 out of 10 in this metric. It lists for $50 (though is often available for less) and uses 0.015kWh of electricity per hour, so we estimate it's lifetime cost to be just $89. This is about half of the median $156. In comparison the Honeywell HCM-350's estimated lifetime cost is $203, largely because it requires an $8 filter every 6 months, so the TaoTronics TT-AH002 is considerably cheaper in the long run.

Value

The TaoTronics TT-AH002 lists for $50, which is fairly inexpensive for a humidifier of this size. The Honeywell HCM-350 is a bit more expensive at a list price of $70, but is much easier to clean. However, the Honeywell does require an $8 filter every 6 months, which makes it more expensive in the long run.

Conclusion