Honeywell Top Fill Console Humidifier HEV685
A capable large room evaporative humidifier, but Honeywell has discontinued it and stock is uncertain.
The short version
- Large living rooms, basements or open plan spaces
- Homes with hard tap water that want to avoid white dust
- People who want to refill without lifting a full tank every time
- You want a model the maker still sells new; look at the HEV620B
- You only need to humidify a bedroom; a smaller unit will do
- You don't want to buy replacement wicks
What owners like
- Top fill design and two tanks make refills easier than older Honeywell consoles
- Quiet, even on higher settings
- Raises humidity noticeably in large rooms
- Cleaning and filter changes are straightforward, which hard water households value
Common complaints
- A few owners had trouble getting both tanks to feed properly at first
- Occasional humidistat problems, such as the unit only running on the highest setting
- Refilling in place can spill, so some owners add a tray under it
Based on Honeywell store product pages and owner reviews on the Honeywell store, the Consumer Reports model page (scores behind a paywall) and a Bob Vila guide to evaporative humidifiers.
Research scores
Scored from the maker's specs and what owners report. Drew's own notes and photos will refine these.
Ownership
Drew's hands-on notes for this product are on the way. Long-term updates will be added to this timeline.
What it does
A large evaporative console humidifier with two 1.5 gallon top fill tanks; the original HCM-6009 is discontinued, so this page covers the HEV685 that the current listing maps to.
- Top fill tanks that can be filled in place or carried to the sink
- Translucent tanks show the water level
- Refill light and humidity reached indicator
- Shuts off automatically when the water runs out
- Wicking filter that Honeywell says inhibits mold growth on the filter, and works with Protec cleaning cartridges
A good fit for big rooms or open floor plans where a small tabletop unit can't keep up, and for homes with hard water, since the wick traps minerals instead of leaving white dust. The catch is availability: Honeywell's own store now lists both the white and black HEV685 as discontinued and points buyers to the smaller HEV620, so stock depends on third party sellers. Plan on buying Filter E wicks and doing regular cleaning.
How it compares
Specs
- Model
- HEV685W (white), HEV685B (black)
- Type
- Evaporative cool moisture with wicking filter
- Tanks
- Two tanks, 1.5 gallons each (3 gallons total)
- Run time
- Up to 24 hours
- Room size
- Extra large or multi-room (Honeywell); up to 1,300 sq ft (Consumer Reports)
- Daily output
- 5.4 gallons (Consumer Reports listing)
- Settings
- 3 output levels, adjustable humidity control
- Filter
- Replacement Filter E, HC14V1
- Size and weight
- 21.3 x 13.4 x 13.1 in, 13.7 lb
- Warranty
- 3-year limited
Questions
What filter does the Honeywell HEV685 use?
Honeywell Replacement Filter E, model HC14V1.
Is the Honeywell HEV685 discontinued?
Honeywell's store lists both the HEV685W and HEV685B as discontinued and points to the HEV620B as the replacement. Some retailers may still have stock.
How big a room can the HEV685 humidify?
Honeywell rates it for extra large or multi-room spaces, and Consumer Reports lists it for areas up to 1,300 square feet.
Does the HEV685 make white dust?
No. It is an evaporative humidifier, so minerals stay in the wick filter instead of going into the air.
Can I fill the HEV685 without removing the tanks?
Yes. Honeywell lists two ways to fill: from the top in place, or by carrying the tanks to the sink.
Sources
- Honeywell Store: Top Fill Cool Moisture Humidifier, HEV685W
- Honeywell Store: Top Fill Cool Moisture Humidifier, HEV685B
- Honeywell Store: HEV685B reviews
- Honeywell Store: HEV620B reviews
- Consumer Reports: Honeywell HEV685W
- Bob Vila: The best evaporative humidifiers
- Filters Fast: Honeywell HEV685W listing
Researched 2026-10-02. We bought this product; our page is built from the maker's details and what owners report across reviews and forums. We never copy Amazon customer reviews.
