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It's better than the Sears "panless" we bought several years ago. Decent build quality for what it is. Very easy to install/assemble. Comes with everything needed to install. Handy window to see how the pad is doing. Am using additive to reduce or prevent calcification of the pad, we'll see how that goes. It says can be installed in a place without a drain but ... I wouldn't do that. I does have a built-in overflow drain in the pan so they've clearly planned on overflow. Comes with hose to get between that and the drain. Whacky press-fit drain cup feature. Never had to press-fit a DIY thing before. Fill mechanism is a pretty decent looking float valve. The Sears used a solenoid valve that got so hot it would burn skin.

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Installation took a little longer than expect, but overall things went well. No problems at all with the installation. It was even easy to connect up to my HVAC control board; however, you don't have to do that if you don't want. Some people complained that the directions recommended connecting the overflow to a floor drain if installing into a finished room. Well, I have it in a finished room but I don't have a floor drain. I instead ran the overflow tub into the little water pump that sits beside my HVAC system. This will work just as well and the water will be pumped out if there is ever an issue. I'm so glad to have all the little room humidifier out of the house that I had to refill twice a day in the winter. Plus this product is Made in the USA. As least when I bought it, it was.

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Overall this unit was pretty easy to install. Cutting the sheet metal was probably the hardest. All you really need is a good pair of tin snips, drill, 3/8" bit, 1/4" driver, and misc. basic hand tools. The directions were very easy to follow. You do need some kind of floor drain to run the overflow to. If you don't have a drain you can install a condensate style pump to a drain location. You could also install it without overflow protection...you are just taking a chance it could make a big mess. I bet if installed correctly and maintained you will never need the overflow protection. I didn't use the bypass provided flex duct. It wasn't long enough to go about 3ft with 90's. I used another similiar piece of flex. I also suggest purchasing a digital humidity sensor to install in the conditioned space. The humidity control device you install on the return duct does not give a digital readout. It's just a dial with a comfort zone. Once you adjust it, you'll probably never need to mess with it.

For those who don't want to spend an extra 15min. of maintenance per year...don't buy one of these. The price was right for me and the replacement pads are only $6 on Amazon. Always have an extra one for the next year. The unit is a very simple concept...moving air across a wet wheel pad produces moist air..enough said.

UPDATE: Worked the winter season without any problems. While cleaning it out for the summer months, I did realize I had the roller frame side pieces installed incorrectly. Make sure the open ended side piece is opposite the motor housing side. This would explain the rubbing of the drum roller on the side of the water pan. This could be the reason other reviewers burned out their motors. It now moves freely. Can't believe I messed that up. I'm ordering my new roller pad for next season.

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The unit functioned well in the first two years. I just dismantled it for cleaning and discovered that after just two seasons of use the two spring clips that hold the pad assembly together are badly rusted and about to fail. These should be made of stainless steel same as the axle, but instead they are carbon steel which is a totally unsuitable material for use in a water bath humidifier.

Now I have to go through the maddening exercise of trying to find replacement parts.

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The HE120A is an excellent drum style humidifier and reasonably priced; much better quality than a previous drum type I once owned. With the exception of the overflow drain, the Honeywell is of good quality and intelligently designed.

I have owned all three types of furnace humidifiers at one time or other; steam, flow-through, and drum. Steam type are expensive, use a lot of electricity, and the water may not even boil unless your heating/blower cycles are long enough. Flow-through humidifiers waste an absurd amount of water.

The disadvantage of drum style is that you can get bacteria and scale build-up from stagnant water. To mitigate or eliminate this issue, use an in-line water filter on your humidifier water supply line to filter sediment/minerals, and use a flushing timer, which regularly drains your water reservoir, which is then refilled with fresh water. Periodic cleaning is a good idea too, but you won't need to clean as often if you use a filter and flushing timer. Beware of chemical treatments that may be more unhealthy than bacteria.

The viewing window on the enclosure is a great feature, and I was impressed that a whole roll of metal duct sealing tape was included in the kit (use the excess for sealing other areas of duct leakage). As previously mentioned, the design of the overflow protection drain is a bit lame. You must make sure that your reservoir pan overflow drain is carefully lined up with the "cup grommet" drain in the bottom of the humidifier enclosure, as it would be easy to have it misaligned. Test it out by pouring water down the overflow drain and check for leakage.

The instructions state that you can install the humidifier on the supply or return side; but keep in mind that if you install on the supply side directly above the furnace, this could be risky if you experience water leakage spilling into your furnace electronics.