This is a review of the Vicks warm mist humidifier V745A unit. Vicks products aim to provide temporary relief for dry cough, colds, fever, nasal congestion, sore throat, and other associated respiratory symptoms. It offers a range of over-the-counter cold and cough medicines, ointments, nasal sprays, as well as humidifiers or vaporizers.
The V745A is its best-selling warm mist humidifier. It comes equipped with all the basic features for a reasonable price and works with other Vicks products for added comfort. This Vicks warm mist humidifier is useful for bedrooms and children’s nurseries, especially during the winter. There aren’t a lot of portable humidifiers designed solely to provide warm mist, so if you’re looking for one, then keep reading to find out if the Vicks V745A is the best choice for you.
Vicks V745A Warm Mist Humidifier
Product Features
Tank Capacity: 1 gallon
Runtime: up to 12 hours
Mist Output Levels: 2
Dimensions: 12 x 7.88 x 14.25 inches
Weight: 4.75 pounds
Warranty: 1 year
The Vicks V745A warm mist humidifier is made specifically to release warm, soothing moisture to alleviate nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat, and other symptoms of the common cold and cough, as well as dry skin during winter. It can also relieve respiratory discomfort to help you breathe and sleep comfortably during allergy and cold season.
You can also add Vicks VapoSteam to moisten your dry, irritated airways. The medicated vapors help alleviate coughs due to throat and bronchial irritation associated with common colds and allergies. Vicks warm mist humidifier provides 95% bacteria-free moisture for cough and congestion relief.
It can cover a small to medium size room of up to 400 square feet. With a one-gallon tank, it can effectively humidify the air for up to 12 hours on the low setting. This means it can provide up to two gallons of moisture each day.
Design and Ease of Use
The Vicks V745A produces warm moisture by boiling the water in the chamber up to 96°C. Before the steam is released, it passes through the cooling chamber, then mixes with the dry air in the room to increase indoor humidity to healthy levels. You can easily turn on or turn off the unit and choose between the two mist output levels with the control knob. The unit also has an optional LED that illuminates the area with a soft glow nightlight. If you’re light-sensitive, you can simply turn it off.
It includes a medicine cup where you can put any medicinal vapors including the Vicks Vaposteam or Kaz inhalant. It also comes with an optional antimicrobial cleaning ball that kills 99.9% of odor-causing bacteria.
The Vicks warm mist humidifier features an easy-to-fill one-gallon water tank. The translucent tank allows you to check the water level. With auto shut-off, the humidifier will automatically turn off when the tank is empty and the heating chamber is running out of water. In this case, the Reset light will illuminate.
Since it works using similar technology to ultrasonic cool mist humidifiers, this unit generates very low noise levels when operating at even higher settings. Overnight, you can run it on the low setting for whisper-quiet operation. Weighing around 4.75 pounds, this portable humidifier is very easy to move and transport to any room you wish without any difficulty.
Maintenance Needs
Like most humidifiers, maintaining this Vicks warm mist unit is relatively simple. For one, there are no filters needed in order to operate this unit. That’s one less worry for when you need to clean the unit. This also removes the need to purchase new filters, which can be quite expensive for other humidifiers.
This filter-free humidifier features a tank with a wide opening to make it easy to fill and clean your humidifier. Make sure not to operate it when the tank is empty. Aside from refilling the water tank, all the maintenance you need to perform is regular cleaning, at least once every week or up to three times if you use the humidifier every day.
Cleaning the water tank, cooling chamber, medicine cup, and heating element (or basically everything removable) is absolutely essential in keeping the air you breathe safe from contaminants. Because there are no filters, all the minerals and other impurities in your water go straight to the heating chamber from the tank. As the heating element boils the water, the water turns into steam while all other particles that cannot evaporate into the air will remain.
If you use hard water in your humidifier, you may be more prone to mineral buildup on your humidifier in the form of white dust or slimy residue. You must remove any buildup on the heating element as soon as you can or it can affect the unit’s performance in heating the water. It also creates an ideal environment for mold and bacteria to grow on the surfaces of your humidifier. Once they settle, spores can become airborne and spread through the air your humidifier releases into the room. Dust mites also thrive in high humidity environments.
To clean your humidifier, remember to first unplug the unit before touching anything else. Let the unit cool down, then remove the water tank and other parts that need cleaning. Use lukewarm water to rinse and fill the heating chamber with white vinegar to remove any buildup. Leave for a few hours to thoroughly remove impurities. Rinse then wipe and dry all components before reassembling.
Customer Feedback on Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier V745A
Like other Vicks humidifiers, the V745A warm mist model is well-received by thousands of users online. It is effective in providing relief to common respiratory conditions, especially during cold winter nights. It’s quiet and portable enough so you can bring it anywhere in your home, from your own bedroom, a child’s nursery, your office, or any other room where it’s needed. It’s incredibly easy to use and maintain.
However, like any warm mist humidifier, it poses some risks of accidental burning, especially in a room with children or pets. It also only provides warm mist, unlike some ultrasonic humidifiers with both cool and warm mist options.
If you want more advanced warm mist humidifiers, you can opt for the VWM45 unit or the V150SG steam vaporizer, both from Vicks.
Conclusion
Warm mist is beneficial for the relief of coughs, congestion, and other respiratory conditions that may disrupt normal breathing during sleep. One reliable warm mist humidifier you can use in any room is the Vicks V745A unit. You can enjoy warm mist and keep your nasal passages hydrated overnight (even if you’re a light sleeper). It comes with all the necessary features including two mist levels and an automatic shut-off feature to ensure safety. It has convenient, easy-to-use controls and a portable design. It also works with other Vicks products for added comfort. So, if you or anyone in your home suffer from allergies, congestion, or other cold symptoms due to dry air, you can’t go wrong with this warm mist humidifier. Just make sure to clean and maintain the unit properly for optimal performance and a long lifespan. Also, keep watch to ensure proper humidity levels.
