Water Your Nose and Plants with Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier Model V745A: UPDATE

We still have this as of 1/18/06 and it works as well as it did the day we bought it.

After buying and returning 2 Vicks Vaporizers, I finally decided to spend more then $9.99 or even $19.99 and buy something that might work. That led me to the Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier. I chose the warm mist over the cool mist because I remember the days when my daughter was sick and I would sit with her in the bathroom. I would put on the shower. The warm steam cleared up her nose. Between the winter, dry house and my dry nose, I thought this was a good choice and it was.

About Model V745A

Basically the concept of a humidifier is simple. It is a way to put moisture back into dry indoor air. It is good for plants and even leather furniture that might crack in a dry environment.

The features of my Warm Mist Humidifier by Vicks are:

~a medicine cup. I wanted this feature because there are some nights the thought of vapor in my bedroom seems nice. This humidifier allows me to do that. Not all will. If this is something you want, you might have to search on the box for something that says “comes with a medicine cup.” The medication cup is for Kaz (The distributors of Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier) Inhalant or Vicks VapoSteam. I have at this point used the Kaz Inhalant and found it helpful.

~It has a cooling chamber which mixes the dry room air with pure steam vapor.

~It has a water tank, water valve and tank cap. I first take the water tank from the base of the unit and turn it upside down. I take the tank cap off to open it. Then I fill the water tank with cool water and replace the tank cap by turning it upright. I have not had any leaking when I turn the tank back up but if that happens it is suggested that you remove the cap and retighten it.

~It has handles at the top and bottom of the tank. I carry the water tank with one hand on the bottom handle and one hand holding the top handle much as I would carry a grocery bag.

~The tank floor is made to drain completely so there will be no standing water. I have found that to be an accurate finding.

If you use an inhalent, you remove the medicine cup from the unit and fill it. (You can fill it while it’s on the unit, but it is easier if it is not on it.) I then replace it on top of the cooling chamber.

There is a power switch than turns the Humidifier to a high or low position. You'll use high for maximum moisture or larger rooms. Low maintains a comfortable humidity level in average rooms.

You’ll see the night light light up and the heater will start. I turn this on about ½ an hour before I get into bed though it doesn’t take that long for mist to appear. It does take a few minutes so be patient or do what I do and start it a little early so your room will have some humidity before you go to bed. This can be used at any time, obviously. I just use it at bedtime.

It will give you at least 12 hours per filling according to the directions and I have found that to be fairly accurate. I don’t sleep for 12 hours but it is working when I go to bed and still working when I get up – usually about 7 hours. I then turn it off.

It advertises itself as a “quiet operation” and I must say it is so quiet I would call it silent. I do not hear it at all, it never wakes me (and I am a light sleeper) and even on high it is very quiet.

It shuts off automatically when the water tank is empty and the water in the heating chamber is almost used up.

The tank is clear plastic so you can see the water level. It holds one gallon of water.

There is a 3 year warranty.

About cleaning the Humidifier:

It does have to be cleaned and although the directions make it look complicated it is really simple. I won’t go through all the cleaning of it but I will say that I use a soft, damp cloth to clean the various parts of the humidifier. The water tray, medicine cup and cooling chamber are top shelf dishwasher safe.

If you really want to be on top of cleaning this, you’ll remove the scale. (pollutants and minerals that are not only unhealthy but can make germs grow faster and also affect how the heater works.) It is not too unlike a coffeepot. If you have cleaned one you may have used vinegar and that is how I clean this as well.

If you store this unit it should be stored in a cool, dry place.

My experiences and final thoughts:

In a nutshell this equipment works when the tank feeds water in the boiling chamber where it is heated to a pure stream vapor. The vapor is bacteria-free and has no white dust. The steam vapor mixes with dry air in the cooling chamber The warm moist air is circulated in the room.

If you read my previous Writer’s Corner piece you know I suffer from a syndrome that has a variety of side affects including dry eyes and nasal passages. We had an old humidifier but I didn’t think it was doing much for me. My husband’s fingers also get so dry in the winter that they crack.

Without a doubt I wake up with a less dry nose. Granted, it doesn’t stay that way for long but at least I am comfortable while sleeping. If I put an inhalant in it, I can smell it as soon as I walk in my room (I close the door for the first ½ hour.) so I know it is working. The less expensive ones didn’t produce a smell. If I don’t use an inhalant I can still feel the moisture in the room. My room isn’t wet! I can see steam coming from it, though! That is a good sign – I know moisture is entering my room.

I am recommending the Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier without hesitation. It lives up to its claims, moisturizes my room, it extremely quiet, easy to fill and clean and allows me to sleep well and wake up feeling better than I would if I didn’t have it.

Please feel free to leave me a comment or question.