The Vicks VEV400 is a cool-misting evaporative humidifier meant for medium-sized spaces, with an advertised coverage of 400 ft2. Its bottom-filling tank has a usable capacity of 4.8L (1.3 gal), allowing for a max continuous runtime of more than 30 hours. Like many Vicks humidifiers, like the Vicks V3900, you can insert a scented pad into the unit to add a menthol-like scent to the mist.
Our Verdict
The Vicks VEV400 is good for general home use. Its humidification capacity might be a little low for really big spaces, like open-concept living rooms, but it'll do just fine in most bedrooms, offices, and smaller dorm rooms. While it lacks any sort of automatic functionality, with no auto-off function or self-adjusting misting adjustment, it does at least have a long runtime, so you can leave it running overnight without worrying about it running dry. It's pretty easy to clean as well.
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Easy to clean.
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Long runtime.
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Capacity is a little limited for very large spaces.
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No auto-off function.
The Vicks VEV400 is a good option for use in bedrooms. It's pretty compact, allowing you to set it up on a nightstand or dresser. It's also pretty quiet and has no distracting lights or displays, so it won't be much of a nuisance while you're trying to get some rest. While it lacks an automatic off feature, it can run for more than 30 hours when filled, so there's little worry about it running dry in the middle of the night.
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Easy to clean.
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Compact design.
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Long runtime.
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No auto-off function.
The Vicks VEV400 is easy to clean. While cleaning instructions are pretty minimal, there are very few parts you'll actually need to clean. The humidifier itself also comes apart rather easily, with no overly stiff latching mechanisms or clips. There are no dishwasher-safe parts, so you'll have to wash everything by hand, but at the very least, there are few hard-to-reach areas.
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Easy to clean.
The Vicks VEV400 provides alright humidification capacity. It might struggle to efficiently humidify very large open-concept living spaces or apartments, but it'll do just fine in in most bedrooms, offices, or dorm rooms.
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Capacity is a little limited for very large spaces.
The Vicks VEV400 is only decently efficient. It's somewhat power-hungry for a cool-mist unit, so if you're interested in peak pound-for-pound efficiency, you might prefer an ultrasonic unit instead.
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Slightly inefficient for a cool-mist unit.
- 7.5 Home
- 7.8 Bedroom
Performance Usages
- 7.5 Cleaning
- 6.8 Capacity
- 7.0 Humidifier Efficiency
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Vicks VEV400 is only available in a single color variant: 'White/Blue.' For those interested, here's the product label.
Let us know in the comments if you come across another variant of this humidifier so that we can update our review.
Compared To Other Humidifiers
The Vicks VEV400 is a cool mist evaporative humidifier. It shares many features with the similarly designed Vicks V3900, including similarly good humidification performance and an approximate max runtime of 30 hours. However, it lacks the latter's UV bulb for sterilizing its water tank. However, it does run a little more quietly than its stablemate.
Test Results
The Vicks VEV400 is easy to clean. While none of its components are dishwasher-safe, they can be fully detached from the central humidifier unit, allowing you to wash them in a sink. Cleaning instructions are unfortunately minimal, as they only detail how to descale and disinfect the humidifier. That said, there aren't many hard-to-reach areas you'll have to contend with. Just be careful when lifting the base, as water can spill out of the back grille.
This is a pretty basic humidifier. You can toggle between two different misting settings, but there's no auto-off function to turn the unit off once its tank has run dry. You can add Vicks VapoPads to give the mist a menthol scent. If you want a Vicks humidifier with a UV lightbulb to help sterilize the water in its tank, check out the Vicks V3900.
This evaporative humidifier's efficiency is decent overall. It consumes more power than most ultrasonic units while emitting a comparable amount of moisture. If you want a more power-efficient evaporative humidifier, consider the Vornado EVDC300.
The Vicks VEV400's overall efficiency is great. Its cooling properties are great in warmer, drier environments, but it's worth noting that it can make your heating system work a little harder if you run it regularly in colder environments.