BEMIS DP3 200 / DP3 600 (5/04 manual family) review

The BEMIS / Essick Air manual 586 4080, revision 5/04, names two versions of the DP3: DP3 200 in Granite & Blue and DP3 600 in Granite & Smoke. It describes each as a three-speed, multiroom evaporative humidifier and air purifier. This review treats the two finishes as one documented operating family, while keeping both model codes visible; the manual does not describe separate operating plans for them. This is an existing-unit reference, not a current buying recommendation.

What the DP3 combination actually does

The DP3 is more than a humidifier with an optional scent pad: the manual describes fan-driven evaporation through two wicks and an air-cleaning filter between them. In the humidifying plan, it adds invisible evaporated moisture while circulating air through the filter. The manual also describes a purifier-only use for periods when no humidity is wanted: turn the humidistat fully clockwise to its lock-on position, keep both wicks and the filter installed, and do not put water in the bottles. That is a meaningful seasonal second use, but it is not an independent modern purifier specification.

The ratings need to stay separate. The manual lists a humidifier output of 3.30 gallons per 24 hours and an area up to 750 square feet. For the air-cleaning function, it suggests a single closed room up to 155 square feet. Neither number guarantees the result in a particular home, and the purifier area is not additive to the humidifier area. The manual says the unit is not meant to humidify a whole house. Its low speed is described as quiet, but no decibel number is supplied.

Humidity control, with one important limit

Three fan speeds let you choose more airflow or a gentler setting. A separate automatic humidistat cycles the humidifier on below its dial setting and off when that setting is reached. That is more control than a simple speed-only evaporator, and it can reduce needless continuous operation once the room reaches the setting. But the manual has no numbered relative-humidity scale or selectable percentage range. If you need to target, for example, a particular measured RH, do not translate a dial position into a number the manual never gives; use a separate hygrometer or choose a model whose documentation states the target range.

There is a second control caveat: the clockwise lock-on position is for air-purifier-only operation. The manual warns that in this position the unit will not turn itself off at high humidity and says not to use that setting during the humidifying season. Do not add water for purifier-only operation. The regular humidifier mode is the one that uses the automatic humidistat.

Refilling is a carry-and-invert routine

The illustrated family has two removable water bottles; the manual identifies each as 1.6 gallons. Together that is 3.2 gallons by simple addition, not a separate total printed by the maker. To fill, switch off and unplug the unit, remove the bottles, turn each over, unscrew its cap and refill at a sink or basin. Set the cap back carefully before replacing the bottles. This is bottom-fill handling, not a top-fill opening that stays on the appliance. It also means a full bottle is something you must lift and carry.

Empty bottles do not stop the fan: the manual expressly says the unit will not shut off when they run dry. The manual says this does not damage the appliance, but it is still a reason to check the water rather than assume an empty-tank cutoff. Keep the base level on a hard surface, leave airflow space around it, and follow the placement cautions in the instructions. A heavy, full bottle or a dropped bottle is a more practical concern here than a sleek one-handed refill promise.

Filter and wick upkeep are part of the purchase decision

The replacement evaporative wick is model 1040; the manual describes that package as two wicks. The air-cleaning filter is model 1202. Those are different consumables, so check the exact model label and whether both are present before you rely on a secondhand DP3. The manual recommends regular cleaning of the tray and bottles, at least weekly, and seasonal replacement of the wicks and air filter, with more frequent wick changes possible in hard-water conditions. It gives cleaning and drying directions for switching to purifier-only operation or storing the unit. The manual does not identify dishwasher-safe parts, app control, a remote, a timer, or a numeric humidity target; those features should be treated as unknown, not assumed absent or present.

Who should keep this reference—and who should look elsewhere?

This pair is useful to an existing owner who can verify “DP3 200” or “DP3 600” on the label and wants to understand its combined evaporative humidifier / air-cleaner routine. The shared manual gives a real automatic humidistat, but not a numeric RH target; removable bottom-filled bottles and two kinds of filter maintenance are the tradeoffs. Because the evidence here is a 2004 manual rather than a current exact sales listing, this page does not establish availability, price, current stock or recall status, and neither version is offered as a new-purchase match.

If you are shopping for a current top-fill model with an app and a documented humidity target, the Levoit LV600S review describes a different, current-reference hybrid ultrasonic option; it is not a DP3 update, and its own manual should decide whether its controls suit you. If heated mist is essential, a warm-mist model is a better category to compare. For a DP3 found secondhand, inspect the model plate, both bottles and caps, tray, wicks and model 1202 filter, then confirm present-day safety information before use. The image on this page is the manufacturer manual’s shared line illustration, not a photograph of either finish.

Read the BEMIS / Essick Air DP3 owner’s manual 586 4080 (PDF).