Humidifiers / AIRCARE MA1201 Whole-House Console Evaporative Humidifier vs Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B)
AIRCARE MA1201 Whole-House Console Evaporative Humidifier
$173.99
VSHoneywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B)
$89.95
AIRCARE MA1201 Whole-House Console Evaporative Humidifier vs Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B)
AIRCARE MA1201 Whole-House Console Evaporative Humidifier
Twelve gallons a day for a whole house, from a tank you refill three times a day.
Wins overall by 0.5 points
Quick Verdict
A 0.5-point gap makes the AIRCARE MA1201 Whole-House Console Evaporative Humidifier the straightforward choice here. Twelve gallons a day for a whole house, from a tank you refill three times a day.
The AIRCARE MA1201 Whole-House Console Evaporative Humidifier and Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) are both closely matched humidifier models, and the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) is $84 cheaper than the AIRCARE MA1201 Whole-House Console Evaporative Humidifier ($89.95 vs $173.99). On Humidity Control, the AIRCARE MA1201 Whole-House Console Evaporative Humidifier leads (9.5 vs 3.0/10) — whether there is a genuine closed-loop humidistat holding a setpoint, or just fixed output steps and a timer with a humidity label on it. On Output, the AIRCARE MA1201 Whole-House Console Evaporative Humidifier leads (10.0 vs 7.5/10) — actual moisture put into the room per day in gallons or mL/hr, judged against the coverage the manufacturer claims — not the square-footage number on the box. On Cleaning & Access, the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) leads (8.5 vs 6.0/10) — whether the tank opening takes an adult hand, whether any part is dishwasher-safe or boilable, and how realistic the manufacturer's stated cleaning interval is to actually keep to. Overall, the AIRCARE MA1201 Whole-House Console Evaporative Humidifier scores 7.3/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 6.8/10 for the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B). Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | AIRCARE MA1201 Whole-House Console Evaporative Humidifier | Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $173.99 | $89.95 |
| Release Year | 2011 | 2009 |
| Humidification Technology | Evaporative console — a four-speed fan pulls air through a large MAF1 SuperWick belt standing in the reservoir | Evaporative wick with a UV chamber in the water tray — a fan pulls air through the wet HAC-504AW filter |
| White Dust & Mineral Aerosol | None. All the mineral load ends up in the wick, which is precisely why AIRCARE tells you the wick life depends on water hardness. Tap water is the intended input | None. The mineral load stays in the wick, which is why Honeywell's manual explains that brown or rust-coloured "mineral deposit" staining on the filter is normal and does not affect performance. Tap water is fine |
| Tank Capacity | 3.6 gal / 13.6 L in removable bottles | 1.1 gal / 4.2 L |
| Rated Output per Day | 12 gallons per day — the highest rated output in this comparison, and more than three times what the tank holds. Hitting the rated figure means refilling 3.6 gallons roughly three times in 24 hours | "2 US gallons (7.6 liters) output per day" per Honeywell's own manual — which is nearly twice the tank. Meeting the rated output means filling the 1.1 gal tank roughly twice a day, not once |
| Quoted Runtime (and at which setting) | "Up to 36 hours" — that is 3.6 gal over 36 h, i.e. 2.4 gal/day, which is one fifth of the 12 gal/day rated output. The two headline numbers describe opposite ends of the fan range | "Up to 24 hours" — on the LOW of three settings. That is 1.1 gal in 24 h, which is barely half the rated 2 gal/day output; the two headline numbers describe two different settings |
| Rated Room Coverage | Up to 3,600 ft² in tight construction, or about 2,500 ft² average per AIRCARE's own literature. Sylvane's listing for the same unit reproduces the figure with a typographical error (36,600 ft²) | Sources conflict: Honeywell's own product page says only "medium room" with no square footage, while FiltersFast's listing for the same model states 500-800 ft² |
| Humidistat | Real closed-loop digital humidistat, adjustable 25-65% RH in 5% increments, with an auto mode that varies fan speed to hold the setpoint plus a dry-out mode and auto shut-off. The most capable humidity control in this set | None. Three fixed output speeds on a mechanical dial, no humidity sensor, no auto mode and no auto shut-off when the tank runs dry — you are the humidistat |
| Noise | Not published as a decibel figure by AIRCARE. It is an 80W fan moving enough air to evaporate twelve gallons a day — speed 4 is loud, and this is a living-room machine rather than a bedside one | Not published as a decibel figure by Honeywell; the product page says only "quiet operation". It is a 60W fan drawing air through a wet wick, so the top speed is clearly audible |
| Filters & Cartridges (Annual Cost) | MAF1 SuperWick belts. AIRCARE's own guidance is one per season, but Home Depot's listing for the MAF1 states wicks "can last anywhere from 30 to 90 days, depending on the quality of your water", at $23.09 each. On hard water that is $70-90 a season, not one $23 wick | Two separate consumables. The HAC-504 "Filter A" wick is $32.95 for a Honeywell 3-pack (a compatible FiltersFast 3-pack is $22.99) and Honeywell says replace it every 30-60 days. On top of that the Protec antimicrobial cartridge is a 30-day item. A full heating season is realistically $40-70 |
| Cleaning Burden & Dishwasher-Safe Parts | Console-sized. The reservoir base is wide open and easy to wipe, the bottles unscrew for filling, and there is a dry-out mode — but nothing is dishwasher-safe and a 3.6 gallon standing reservoir is the largest body of stagnant water here if you let it sit | Among the best here. The tank and tray go on the dishwasher's top rack, the tank opening takes a hand, and the manual's disinfection routine is one teaspoon of bleach per gallon. Honeywell says only that it "requires regular cleaning" without naming an interval; the EPA says every third day |
| UV / Antimicrobial Claim | No UV and no built-in antimicrobial stage. AIRCARE sells a bacteriostatic treatment and demineralisation cartridges as separate accessories; neither ships in the box | Two claims, both qualified. The UV chamber is rated "Up to 99.9% Germ Free*", where the asterisk in Honeywell's own manual ties it to independent testing of microbial reduction after two hours of UV exposure — a water-tray claim, not an air claim. The wick itself is separately treated as a Protec antimicrobial filter |
| Mist Temperature & Burn Risk | Cool, invisible vapour at room temperature. No heat and no aerosol, but the sheer size and a 3.6 gallon water load make it a tipping hazard rather than a burn one | Cool, invisible vapour at room temperature — no burn risk at all, which is why this is the standard nursery recommendation |
| Warranty | 24 months | 36 months |
| Colors | White | White, Black |
Category Scores
Freedom From White Dust
The AIRCARE MA1201 Whole-House Console Evaporative Humidifier and Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) are level here, at 9.5/10 each. the thing marketing never mentions. Ultrasonic humidifiers aerosolise whatever is dissolved in the water and deposit it as white dust on furniture — the EPA notes they are 'very efficient at dispersing minerals in tap water into the air', along with microorganisms from the tank. Evaporative and boiled-steam units do not do this at all. A high score means the technology cannot produce dust; a low score means you are buying distilled water for the life of the machine. is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Output
The AIRCARE MA1201 Whole-House Console Evaporative Humidifier leads clearly here, 10.0 against 7.5 — a 2.5-point margin on actual moisture put into the room per day in gallons or mL/hr, judged against the coverage the manufacturer claims — not the square-footage number on the box. If that is what you are buying for, the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Runtime & Refill Interval
The AIRCARE MA1201 Whole-House Console Evaporative Humidifier leads clearly here, 6.0 against 5.5 — a 0.5-point margin on how long a full tank really lasts at a useful output setting, rather than at the lowest setting the runtime is quoted for, and how painful the refill is. If that is what you are buying for, the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Cleaning & Access
The Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) leads clearly here, 8.5 against 6.0 — a 2.5-point margin on whether the tank opening takes an adult hand, whether any part is dishwasher-safe or boilable, and how realistic the manufacturer's stated cleaning interval is to actually keep to. If that is what you are buying for, the AIRCARE MA1201 Whole-House Console Evaporative Humidifier does not close the gap elsewhere.
Running Cost
The AIRCARE MA1201 Whole-House Console Evaporative Humidifier leads clearly here, 5.5 against 5.0 — a 0.5-point margin on wicks, demineralisation cartridges, antimicrobial additives, distilled water and electricity — everything you keep paying after the purchase. If that is what you are buying for, the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Quietness
The Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) leads clearly here, 6.0 against 4.0 — a 2.0-point margin on noise at the setting people actually run it overnight, weighted toward independently measured figures over manufacturer claims. If that is what you are buying for, the AIRCARE MA1201 Whole-House Console Evaporative Humidifier does not close the gap elsewhere.
Humidity Control
The AIRCARE MA1201 Whole-House Console Evaporative Humidifier leads clearly here, 9.5 against 3.0 — a 6.5-point margin on whether there is a genuine closed-loop humidistat holding a setpoint, or just fixed output steps and a timer with a humidity label on it. If that is what you are buying for, the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Safety Around Children
The Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) leads clearly here, 9.5 against 8.0 — a 1.5-point margin on burn and scald risk from boiled or heated water, tipping hazard, and whether the hygiene story holds up in a nursery. If that is what you are buying for, the AIRCARE MA1201 Whole-House Console Evaporative Humidifier does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the AIRCARE MA1201 Whole-House Console Evaporative Humidifier if…
- • Humidity Control matters most to you — the AIRCARE MA1201 Whole-House Console Evaporative Humidifier scores 9.5/10 here (whether there is a genuine closed-loop humidistat holding a setpoint, or just fixed output steps and a timer with a humidity label on it).
- • Output matters most to you — the AIRCARE MA1201 Whole-House Console Evaporative Humidifier scores 10.0/10 here (actual moisture put into the room per day in gallons or mL/hr, judged against the coverage the manufacturer claims — not the square-footage number on the box).
- • Your main use case is whole-house.
Choose the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) if…
- • Cleaning & Access matters most to you — the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) scores 8.5/10 here (whether the tank opening takes an adult hand, whether any part is dishwasher-safe or boilable, and how realistic the manufacturer's stated cleaning interval is to actually keep to).
- • Quietness matters most to you — the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) scores 6.0/10 here (noise at the setting people actually run it overnight, weighted toward independently measured figures over manufacturer claims).
- • Safety Around Children matters most to you — the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) scores 9.5/10 here (burn and scald risk from boiled or heated water, tipping hazard, and whether the hygiene story holds up in a nursery).
- • You want to spend less — it's $84 cheaper.
- • Your main use case is nursery.
Pros & Cons
AIRCARE MA1201 Whole-House Console Evaporative Humidifier
Pros
- +12 gal/day is genuine whole-floor humidification — nothing else here is within a factor of five
- +A real digital humidistat with 5% setpoint granularity, an auto fan mode and a dry-out cycle
- +Evaporative, so no white dust, no distilled water and no aerosolised tank water anywhere in the house
- +Casters, a wick-change indicator and a $23 commodity wick that every hardware store stocks
Cons
- −The 12 gal/day output and the 3.6 gal tank are irreconcilable: run it at rated output and you are carrying water to it three times a day
- −80W of fan noise at speed 4 — this is not a bedroom unit, and AIRCARE publishes no decibel figure at all
- −Wick life is quoted by AIRCARE as one per season but by Home Depot as 30-90 days depending on water hardness; on hard water that is $70-90 a season in $23.09 wicks
- −Prices for the identical unit range from $149.99 at Sylvane to $187.99 on AIRCARE's own store — shop it, do not accept the first number
- −No antimicrobial or demineralisation stage in the box; both are accessories AIRCARE sells separately
Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B)
Pros
- +Evaporative plus UV: no white dust, no distilled water, and a genuine (if narrowly worded) kill stage on the water
- +Tank and tray are top-rack dishwasher safe, which almost nothing else in this category can say
- +2 gal/day rated output is real humidification, not a desktop trickle
- +Three-year warranty and a filter supply chain that has existed for fifteen years — parts are trivially available
Cons
- −No humidistat, no auto mode and no auto shut-off — it runs until you stop it, and the FiltersFast listing states the omission outright
- −The 2 gal/day output and the 24-hour runtime cannot both be true at once: the 1.1 gal tank means hitting rated output requires two fills a day
- −Two stacked consumables — a $23-33 three-pack of wicks every 30-60 days plus a 30-day Protec cartridge
- −Honeywell publishes no square footage and no decibel rating; retailers fill the gap with a 500-800 ft² figure Honeywell does not make
- −Honeywell's own store now marks the HCM350 discontinued and points buyers at the HEV320W, even though the model is still stocked and supported elsewhere
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the AIRCARE MA1201 Whole-House Console Evaporative Humidifier or Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the AIRCARE MA1201 Whole-House Console Evaporative Humidifier comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.
Which is better for Humidity Control, the AIRCARE MA1201 Whole-House Console Evaporative Humidifier or the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B)?+
The AIRCARE MA1201 Whole-House Console Evaporative Humidifier scores higher on Humidity Control (9.5/10 vs 3.0/10) — whether there is a genuine closed-loop humidistat holding a setpoint, or just fixed output steps and a timer with a humidity label on it.
Which is better for Output, the AIRCARE MA1201 Whole-House Console Evaporative Humidifier or the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B)?+
The AIRCARE MA1201 Whole-House Console Evaporative Humidifier scores higher on Output (10.0/10 vs 7.5/10) — actual moisture put into the room per day in gallons or mL/hr, judged against the coverage the manufacturer claims — not the square-footage number on the box.
Which is better for Cleaning & Access, the AIRCARE MA1201 Whole-House Console Evaporative Humidifier or the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B)?+
The Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) scores higher on Cleaning & Access (8.5/10 vs 6.0/10) — whether the tank opening takes an adult hand, whether any part is dishwasher-safe or boilable, and how realistic the manufacturer's stated cleaning interval is to actually keep to.
Which is better for Quietness, the AIRCARE MA1201 Whole-House Console Evaporative Humidifier or the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B)?+
The Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) scores higher on Quietness (6.0/10 vs 4.0/10) — noise at the setting people actually run it overnight, weighted toward independently measured figures over manufacturer claims.
Is the AIRCARE MA1201 Whole-House Console Evaporative Humidifier worth the price difference over the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B)?+
The Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) is the cheaper option at $89.95 versus $173.99. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Humidity Control.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The AIRCARE MA1201 Whole-House Console Evaporative Humidifier is the better fit if you mainly care about whole-house. The Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) is the better fit for nursery.
What's the warranty on the AIRCARE MA1201 Whole-House Console Evaporative Humidifier vs the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B)?+
The AIRCARE MA1201 Whole-House Console Evaporative Humidifier ships with a 24-month warranty; the Honeywell HCM350 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier (HCM350W / HCM350B) ships with a 36-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.
Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+
If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.
Cheaper Option
Levoit Classic 300S (Classic300S) — $79.99
Premium Option
Levoit Superior 6000S Smart Evaporative Humidifier (LEH-S601S-WUS) — $249.99
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.