Moisturizers should be in every apartment with central heating, especially when they are still heating, but it is already warm outside: there is less dust, it is easier to breathe, and the skin does not dry out. Moreover, even for books, too low humidity is detrimental. Static electricity is generally harmful. And inexpensive humidifiers have become much more.
For example, this time we are testing Kitfort KT-2830 – a very simple and inexpensive model, which, nevertheless, showed good results in our tests. But first things first.
Characteristics
| Manufacturer | kitfort |
|---|---|
| Model | KT-2830 |
| Type | ultrasonic humidifier |
| Country of Origin | China |
| Warranty | 1 year |
| Service life * | 2 years |
| Power | 25 W |
| Type of humidification | ultrasonic |
| tank capacity | 4 l |
| Noise level | ≤38dB |
| Maximum evaporation | 220 ml/h |
| Operating time with a full tank | 18 h |
| The weight | 1.1 kg |
| Dimensions (W×H×D) | 180×318×180mm |
| Network cable length | 1.5 m |
| Retail offers |
* Contrary to common misconception, this is not the period after which the device will definitely break. However, after this period, the manufacturer ceases to bear any responsibility for its performance and has the right to refuse to repair it, even for a fee.
Equipment
The cardboard box is designed in the Kitfort corporate style: on a brown background we see a schematic image of a humidifier, the slogan “I will improve the climate in your home”, common to all devices of this type manufactured by the company, as well as the manufacturer’s website address and the full model name.
Technical characteristics of the device are given on one of the sides of the package. On the opposite side, the manufacturer listed the main features of the model. These are touch control, convenient pouring of water, the presence of a bath for aromatization, ease of use and stylish design.
In addition to the humidifier itself, in the box we found a user manual, some promotional materials and a souvenir magnet in the form of a whale – the Kitfort mascot.
At first sight
The white plastic case of the Kitfort KT-2830 humidifier is an almost perfect cylinder. It has a light gray manufacturer’s logo on the front, the only control button and a water level indicator – a narrow transparent window.
On the top side there is a diffuser that directs the flow of fog in the right direction. Its nozzle can rotate 360°.
Like most similar humidifiers, Kitfort KT-2830 structurally consists of two parts: a removable water tank, which occupies most of the body, and a base, inside which all the electronic “stuffing” is mounted. Room air is forced into the device by a built-in fan. Through the ventilation holes at the bottom of the base, it enters the working chamber with an ultrasonic piezo emitter that turns water into cold steam. The air stream carries the steam into a vertical shaft passing through the water tank, and from there to the outside.
At the bottom of the tank there is a simple spring valve that controls the flow of water into the working chamber.
In the center of the humidifier chamber, under the base of the shaft, there is a piezo emitter – the main working body of the device. Next to it is a float level sensor and a counter part of a spring valve. Here we see a rectangular bath filled with a porous material: it is designed to flavor the air. In it, at the request of the user, you can add any volatile aromatic substance.
An air intake grille is located on the bottom panel, and a nameplate with the model index, serial number and brief technical characteristics of the product is attached in the center.
Instruction
The user manual is a 14-page brochure printed on thick glossy paper with excellent printing quality. Text and illustrations explaining the device are easy to read and easy to read.
The instructions describe in detail about the device of the humidifier, its preparation for operation and further use. The document describes in detail the cleaning and maintenance of the appliance. The Troubleshooting Table lists self-repairable problems, and ends with a manual of specifications and a list of precautions for use.
The brochure is written in great detail, consistently and clearly.
Control
There is only one button on the front side of the humidifier. By successive pressing on it, you can turn on the device at maximum power, switch to medium, then to minimum. The fourth press turns off the device.
The button is illuminated by a dim LED that changes color depending on the selected humidification intensity. Blue corresponds to the maximum power, green to the average, and yellow to the minimum. Flashing red indicates a problem, such as running out of water in the tank.
Exploitation
Before starting work, it is necessary, of course, to unpack the humidifier, and after that, be sure to wipe the body of the device with a damp and then dry cloth. Place the device on a dry, stable horizontal surface. The distance to the edge of the table and objects should be at least 10 cm.
By the way, it is quite possible to put a humidifier on the floor if it is not covered with carpet or any other coating that is afraid of moisture (for example, parquet or laminate). But to make the humidification more uniform, it is better to raise the device half a meter – a meter above the floor. The outlet must be positioned so that water mist does not fall on furniture, electrical appliances, books and walls.
The choice of location should be approached responsibly so that later you do not have to transfer the filled device: it is quite difficult to do this without the risk of splashing water.
The turned on device is almost silent: only a fan emits a slight rustle, driving air through the working chamber. To hear it, you need to exclude all sources of other sounds and come closer to the device. Maybe next to the bed it can disturb a shallow sleep, but a little further away in the bedroom it will no longer interfere.
There is no night mode in this model, and when it gets dark, the user will have to manually switch the device to the minimum speed.
If the water in the tank runs out, a red warning signal will appear on the display. The device goes into standby mode, and in order for it to work again, you need to fill the tank and press the “Power” button.
Care
The humidifier should use clean, low-salinity water, avoid blooms, and regularly clean the reservoir and humidifier of deposits. It is advisable to do this before each filling with water.
To effectively remove scale and other sediment, it is recommended to use a special agent for humidifiers or 9% vinegar, which can also be replaced with citric acid (2 tablespoons per liter of water). The agent is poured into the tank and left for 15 minutes. After that, the solution should be poured out, and the plaque should be removed with a brush with soft bristles.
The working chamber should be cleaned with a damp cloth moistened with a weak solution of vinegar. If it is very dirty, you can pour a solution of citric acid or vinegar into it and leave it for 15 minutes. It is important to prevent liquid from entering the vent and inside the base.
Do not use abrasive materials for cleaning.
Our measurements
The power consumption of the Kitfort KT-2830 depends on the selected humidification power.
| Working mode | I | II | III |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power, W | 23.2 | 19.2 | 16.1 |
In standby mode, the humidifier consumes about 0.3 watts.
The noise emitted by the device during operation does not depend on the humidification power and is approximately 38 dBA. We repeat once again that it is better not to put the Kitfort KT-2830 near the bed, but in a room with a normal daytime noise level, its sound is almost indistinguishable.
A full tank of the device, filled to the maximum level, holds 4190 ml of water: a little more than indicated in the documentation. Another 560 ml can be poured into the working chamber.
The maximum performance of the device, achieved by us in the course of practical tests, was 286 ml / h – significantly more than the passport 220 ml / h.
practice tests
To test how effective the humidifier is in real conditions, how its main modes affect the indoor climate, and how long the device “on one charge” lasts, we turned on the device in a room of about 18 m² with a ceiling height of 2.5 m and windows to the south . The test was carried out in the conditions of April Petersburg – despite the stable positive temperature outside the window, no one has turned off the central heating yet.
To minimize the influence of external factors, we tightly closed the doors and windows. The room was thoroughly ventilated between tests. Measurements of temperature and air humidity were carried out automatically, there were neither people nor animals in the room.
The lack of ventilation and working batteries increased the temperature in the room to 28-32 ° C, and in the daytime the influence of the sun also affected – the weather during the tests was not good in St. Petersburg.
Maximum hydration
Turning on the device in automatic mode, we left it for a long time and waited for a message about the end of the water in the tank. The measurement results can be seen on the graph.
Working in the maximum intensity mode, Kitfort KT-2830 raised the relative humidity in the room from 25% to 50% in 15 hours. There is no sign of a plateau in the graph: in this mode, the humidifier would continue to increase the relative humidity if the tank had not run out of water.
Result: excellent.
Economic humidification
The device showed the longest duration of operation, of course, at the lowest power.
In the weakest mode, the device consumes water much more economically: a full tank was enough for 25.5 hours. During the first 11 hours of operation, the Kitfort KT-2830 raised the humidity in the room from 25% to 40% and kept it at this level until the tank was empty.
Result: excellent.
findings
Ultrasonic humidifier Kitfort KT-2830 has good efficiency, simple design, intuitive operation and can work offline for a long time. It is perfect for small and even medium rooms.
The disadvantages of the device include the lack of a quiet program for night time, a built-in hygrometer and automatic power control. But these are quite forgivable disadvantages: you need to understand that we have a device from the lower price segment.
Pros :
- good humidification efficiency
- continuous operation in the minimum mode
- simple design
- simple control
- low price
Cons :
- lack of night mode and automatic power control
