Saturday, March 21, 2015

Vicks UV 99.999% Germ Free Humidifier

I just got this unit (Vicks V790) from Amazon. (For several reasons, I greatly prefer the steam-type humidifiers over the cold-mist types.)

Pros It's attractive and well made. Twin independently-fillable water tanks mean you do not have to shut it off to refill it. Holds a lot of water so it does not go dry overnight. Makes a pleasant noise not unlike a drip coffee percolator. The UV lamp feature gives an additional level of sterilization, over and above the boiling action that creates the steam.

Cons The blue LED power light is indeed bright. I turned mine toward the wall, and now it also serves as a night light. (If it really bothers you, a small piece of electrical tape will cover it.)

(EDIT) Previously I complained here about lack of vapor output. But after running it for a few days, output greatly increased. Apparently there is a slight break-in period. Naturally, water usage increased also, as did the boiling noise, but now it's working like it should, and I have adequate RH (30%) even in my large (400 sq. ft.) room. Amazon does not allow me to change the rating, but if I could I would now give it 5 stars.

The replacement mineral absorber pads are the small 2-1/4 inch round size sold here on Amazon under the "Slant Fin" brand. (Don't get the larger 3-1/4 inch Honeywell ones, unless you like trimming to fit with scissors.) You replace the pad when it gets stiff. If you have hard water, this may happen quite frequently.

Remember that all humidifiers require regular maintenance. This is where many owners drop the ball. Every month or so you should put some vinegar in it to dissolve any mineral deposits, and sterilize the tanks with bleach water. The exact procedure is clearly spelled out in the manual. If you disregard this, you will be handsomely rewarded with hard mineral crusts and foul-smelling slimy deposits of algae and bacteria.

In conclusion, I really like this humidifier so far.

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