Slant/Fin GF200 Germ-Free 2-Gallon Warm-Mist Humidifier
by Slant Fin

List Price: $89.99 Category: Home See more product details

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Product Details

• 2-gallon warm-mist humidifier delivers virtually 100-percent germ-free mist
• Exclusive germicidal process of ultraviolet light and vaporization
• Built-in medicine slot; stainless-steel hot-water reservoir; quiet fan operation
• Creates no white dust; no filters, wicks, or cartridges to replace
• Measures 14-1/4 by 7-3/4 by 11-1/4 inches; 3-year limited warranty

Tools and Hardware Reviews of Slant/Fin GF200 Germ-Free 2-Gallon Warm-Mist Humidifier

Customer Review: Former (very loyal) Slant Fin Customer -- a big problem
Summary: 2 Stars

GOOD: Humidification: The output is not great and is not suitable for large open rooms. For enclosed rooms like bedrooms or playrooms, they work very well. The plus is the warmth of the moisture (this is essentially a boiling pot). Occasionally, gurgling aside (from boiling), they are quiet.

GOOD?: "Bacteria free" operation: UV lights and boiling supposedly make the products "virtually bacteria free," always a good thing.

NOW BAD: Cleaning and maintenance: Our water is neither hard nor soft (Lake Michigan water in Chicago suburbs). The mineral buildup/scaling is very substantial on plastic and metal parts and very hard to clean. Given that they need to be cleaned every week or so, it is very time-consuming.

NOW REALLY BAD: All of the Slant Fin humidifiers that I have owned had problems with water level sensors. The electrodes (2 each in GF 300) get corroded and rust away after 1 or 2 years (usually shortly after the expiration of warranty). The two probes (spaced about an 1/2 inch), when dipped in water, apparently transmit/receive a very low voltage electricity, completing a control circuit and indicating there is water in the tank. If they don't transmit electricity (i.e., no water in the tank), the boiling pot turns itself off.

The problem is that the metal probes get corroded and get covered with rust/corrosion. Because they don't transmit/receive electricity, even if there is plenty of water in the unit, the unit shuts itself off. Initially, you can scrape the corrosion/mineral buildup on the metal probes with your finger nails. Eventually, the metal probes/electrodes literally rust away. That literally renders the entire unit inoperable and, thus, worthless.

NOW THE ABSOLUTE WORST: "Customer Service": I have sent emails, written letters and left voice mail messages. I asked whether I could buy the probes or send the units back for service. I have NEVER received any response.

It is also very hard to get any live person. When I did get a person at the "customer service" department, that person claimed that she did not work in that department and transferred me to the "right" department, sending me into the voice mail maze hell, only to get disconnected after 10 minutes.

OVERALL ASSESSMENT: The product works well, as intended, for about a year or two. The promise of "bacteria free operation" and warm moisture made me forget about the extremely burdensome cleaning. I recommended these products to all of my friends and relatives in the first year of operation, accounting for as many as 20+ units. Given that a large majority of them are having the same problems as my units, I think this is a serious design defect that Slant Fin is refusing to address. I am sorry that I bought and recommended these units.

Thus, given what appears to be a serious design flaw (re water-level probes) coupled with the worst customer service I have ever experienced for a consumer product, I can no longer recommend any Slant Fin humidifiers.

Description of Slant/Fin GF200 Germ-Free 2-Gallon Warm-Mist Humidifier