Sharp KC-860U Plasmacluster Air Purifier Humidifier Review In 2022: The Best!
Sharp KC-860U Humidifier Specification
| Product | Sharp KC-860U Humidifier |
Dimension | 15.8 x 24.8 x 11.4 in (40.1 x 63 x 29 cm) |
| Weight | 24.9 lb (11.3 kg) |
| Fanspeed | 3 |
| Coverage (up to) | 341 sq. ft. (32 m2) |
| Airflow speed | 42-272 cfm (71-462 m3/h) |
| Dust free (CADR) | 230 cfm (391 m3/h) |
| Pollen free (CADR) | 245 cfm (416 m3/h) |
| Smoke free (CADR) | 220 cfm (374 m3/h) |
| Humidifying(H) speed | |
| Filtration | 5-stage |
Pre-Filter - Lifespan - Replacement cost ($) | Micron Mesh Pre-Filter Permanent |
HEPA filter - Lifespan - Replacement cost ($) | HEPA filter with Microbial FZ-C150HFU 5 years |
Carbon filter - Lifespan - Replacement cost ($) | Washable Deodorizing filter FZ-C150DFU 5 years |
| Ionizer/ Technologies | Plasmacluster Ion technology |
UV-light/ PCO | - |
Other filter | Humidifying Filter FZ-C100MFU 2 years |
All-in-one filter - Lifespan - Replacement cost ($) | - |
Optional/ Addon | |
| Humidifying Capacity | 0.6 - 1.5 pints |
| Water tank | 9.1 pints (1.14 gallons) |
| Noise level | 19 - 54 dBA |
| Power usage level | 4.8 - 87 W |
| Timer/ Scheduler | |
| Sensors | Temperature, dust, and humidity sensors |
| Auto mode | |
| Air qualityAQ indicator | |
| Filter change indicator | |
| More color options | |
| Wi-Fi/ BTBluetooth | |
| ENERGY STAR | |
| Remote control | |
| Child lock | |
| Warranty | 1 year |
| Email/ Phone support |
Key Features
- 5-stage filtration with humidifying
- Permanent pre-filter
- True HEPA filter - 99.97% capture efficiency as small as 0.3 microns
- Activated carbon deodorizing filter
- Plasma cluster Ion Technology
- 3 fan speeds (LOW, MED, MAX)
- Quick Clean mode, Pollen mode, Auto mode
- Humidistat, dust and odor indicator
- Smart sensor (temperature, dust, humidity)
Design And Usability
Yet another beautiful and highly functional design from Sharp. At 15.8 x 24.8 x 11.4 in dimension and a heavy 24.9 lb weight, it has a powerhouse size that may be a problem for small apartments or studios. Slightly difference setup, the air inlet is located at the back along with the dust, temperature, and humidity sensor. The air outlet is at the top while a water tank is located at the side with 2 grab handles. The front is dominated by the vertical air quality indicator. The dust monitor indicator will switch from green (clean), yellow (dirty), and red (very dirty) according to the surrounding condition. Water supply indicator light that will turn red when the water tank is empty. Below it is the humidity indicator light that will display the relative humidity level in the room. Lastly, the Plasmacluster indicator light will turn blue when it is activated.
Let’s jump straight to the control panel as we have many things to touch on. On the most left, Filter Reset Button that will reset the filter countdown time on press and hold for 3 seconds. Used after you have changed the filter and the indicator light is red. Below it is the Plasmacluster button that will On/ Off the Plasmacluster cleaning. Further below it is the light controls button that will cycle between brighter, darker, and turn off. Moving to the fan speed control, on press, it will cycle between Auto, Pollen, Max, Med, and Low. Now let’s focus on the middle holy trinity button. Clean air button activates only purifying, Clean air & Humidity activates purifying and humidifying. Quick Clean will activate both clean air, humidifying plus Plasmacluster ions for a short period of time. THE Power OFF button will shut down all operations (duh).
Airflow, Coverage, And CADR
Sharp KC860U PlasmaCluster is an outstanding air purifier but an average humidifier. With a high delivery rate between 42-272 cfm, there is plenty of airflow juice to be distributed for large room sizes. There are 3 highly adjustable speed plus Auto and Pollen mode. Auto mode will automatically switch the right speed depending on the number of airborne impurities. Pollen mode will operate at High speed for 10 minutes, then alternate between Med and High every 20 minutes. As for the somewhat disappointing 1.14 gallons water tank, it is nowhere near the fastest or the biggest in the industry. No issue running for a day without refilling though.
| Brand | Purifying Coverage | Fan Speed |
|---|---|---|
| Oreck WK15500B Air Refresh | 115 sq. ft. | 4 |
| BONECO W300 Air Washer Humidifier | 540 sq. ft. | 3 |
| OPOLAR Evaporative EV01 | 540 sq. ft. | 1 |
| Venta LW25 Airwasher Humidifier | 485 sq. ft. | 3 |
| Honeywell HCM 350 | 3 |
Filters And Performance
The reason why Sharp KC860U earns its reputation as one of the best air purifier humidifiers. The back first-stage pre-filter will block out large airborne particles like dust and hair. Next, the washable deodorizing filter will absorb incoming smoke and odors that manage to skip pass the pre-filter. The last-stage True HEPA filter will now focus on microscopic particles as small as 0.3 microns with an efficiency rate of 99.97%. Plasmacluster will create positive and negative ions using water vapor in the air. The active ions will then proceed to neutralize pollutants in the air. There is also a humidifying feature that will humidify the air with water that has been filtered by the humidifier tray.Noise And Energy Usage
| Noise Type | Decibels |
|---|---|
| Sharp KC-860U Humidifier | 19 - 54 dBA |
| Breathing | 10 dB |
| Rustling leaves | 20 dB |
| Whispering/ Quiet library | 30 dB |
| Light rainfall | 40-50 dB |
| Conversation | 50-60 dB |
| Vacuum cleaner/ Hair dryer/ Washing machine | 65-80 dB |
| City traffic | 80-90 dB |
Pricing And Maintainence Cost
^ Replacement filters/ estimated cost
Sharp KC-860U Humidifier VS The Challengers
Oreck WK15500B Air Refresh Humidifier
An identical model with a similar approach. Oreck WK15500B comes with a smaller body frame with a cheaper price tag at the cost of performance.
BONECO W300 Air Washer Humidifier
Not exactly a direct competitor but it is much more simple to use and better at humidifying. It is also cheaper for a product with a Swiss heritage.Pros
- A more air purifier oriented humidifier with an impressive 5-stage filtration.
- Impressive 200+ dust, pollen, and smoke CADR.
- Long-lasting washable deodorizing filter and True HEPA filter with microbial coating.
- Plasma cluster Ion Technology that can reduce airborne viruses, mold, and fungus.
- Autonomous purifying that works well with the trio Smart Sensor.
- Suitable for night use with dimmable light and low noise output.
Cons
- Expensive with limited availability.
- Timer is surprisingly omitted here.
- Limited humidifying capacity with a small water tank.
