Review: BALMUDA Rain
Many households struggle with dry heating air, especially in winter. The humidity in the room often falls below 30 percent, which in turn causes dry mucous membranes and promotes colds. The optimal humidity in living spaces should be between 40-50 percent. In order to achieve such values, a humidifier such as the BALMUDA Rain is recommended.
Modern design
When you hear the word “humidifier,” many will most likely think of one of these compact ultrasonic humidifiers. The Rain is completely different, with dimensions of 35 x 35 x 37.4 cm and a weight of 5.7kg it is anything but compact.
The design of the Rain is just as unique. BALMUDA draws the comparison to the elegant vase. Visitors who have been allowed to examine the Rain over the past few weeks saw a clunky something in it, an urn, but also, in fact, a vase. However, the design is a matter of taste, which is why I will not go into this in detail. Many like the design of the Rain, many don't either.
It can be said, however, that the design is actually thought through. Hard-to-reach corners do not exist because of the round structure, so that no stubborn dirt can accumulate.
The BALMUDA Rain in everyday life
Building and refilling the Rain
Take the Rain out of the box and ready to use in a flash. The upper control unit with the display and the control ring can be removed from the lower water tank with filter system by simply lifting it up. The instructions explain in detail how to put the filters together. The Rain should be placed at a distance of 30cm to the side and 120cm at the top to walls and objects.
The BALMUDA Rain is filled directly via the slightly curved top. Pour the water in like a vase, done! The small display under the top provides information on the fill level. The container has a capacity of 5 liters of water. Oils and other additives are taboo! The use of distilled water is not absolutely necessary. In the long-term test, the use with tap water did not reveal any disadvantages. But you should definitely keep an eye on the local hardness of the water. If there is no water in the Rain, or if the water level is nearing its end, the humidifier switches off automatically.
Operation of the Rain
It is operated by turning and clicking the control ring on the top. The OLED display in the middle of the top provides information on the operating status. The water level, the current humidity in the room, the operating mode and the air volume level are displayed in a clear representation. The operating modes are in turn divided into an automatic mode, which keeps the humidity level between 40-60 percent depending on the setting, and the manual mode, which controls the room humidity according to a total of five air volume levels. A 24-hour timer with an interval of 1 hour can also be programmed.
The power button and a 24-hour timer button above are located on the back of the Rain. If you keep the power button pressed for 2 seconds when it is switched on, the child safety device, which blocks operation, is activated. All entries are confirmed by an operating tone. In the settings, among other things, the display brightness and the loudspeaker volume can be adjusted. If the device is not operated, the display darkens automatically.
Operation and volume of the rain
The BALMUDA Rain is particularly suitable for large living areas. With up to 600 ml / h (level 5), the device maintains the humidity in the room. The air is humidified by a natural and particularly energy-saving evaporation process.
In the test, the Rain was allowed to let off steam in a 40m² room with 35% humidity. In automatic mode, with a preset 50% humidity level, it takes about 30 minutes to reach 50% humidity. The Rain switches very quickly to operating level 4, which is clearly audible. The humidifier is barely audible at operating level 1-2. From operating level 3, the operating volume increases significantly. Continuous operation at levels 4 and 5 can definitely be perceived as annoying!
According to BALMUDA, the energy consumption is between 2 and 23 watts. This roughly corresponds to the values recorded in the test. 3 watts were measured in standby, 1 watts at level 5 and only 5 watts at level 26.
Filter system and cleaning of the rain
BALMUDA recommends replacing the main filter every 6 months. Replacement filters cost around € 45. During operation, the Rain informs about an upcoming cleaning, which should be carried out monthly depending on the intensity of use. Incidentally, there were no unpleasant smells in the long-term test.
The main filter can be cleaned easily with warm water, citric acid and baking powder / baking soda. The enzyme pre-filter is cleaned by simply vacuuming it with a vacuum cleaner. The silver ion cartridge is washed under running water.
Rain
Modern design
Good workmanship
Easy construction
Easy handling
Easy maintenance
Geringer Energieverbrauch
High purchase price
Operation volume at high levels
The BALMUDA Rain is a super humidifier. The design is modern, the handling extremely easy and the performance respectable. In addition, there is an extremely low energy consumption, which leaves no crying eye in continuous operation. To criticize is in turn the operating volume, which significantly increases from level 3 and 5 at the highest level can be perceived as unpleasant.
However, those who are not afraid of the high purchase price of the Rain, receives a very interesting humidifier, which copes well with large premises and its sophisticated filter system not only moistens the air, but also keeps clean.
