REASONS TO BUY
Relatively easy to clean
Low operating cost
Often sells below list price
REASONS TO AVOID
Tall tank may not fit in some sinks
Humidifying power only about average
Levoit LV450CH Review
A good but not great model that offers a fairly large tank at a fairly low price
Credit: Levoit
RELATED: The Best Humidifiers of 2024
Our Verdict
Unless you live in a desert climate that needs a humidifier with over-the-top power, the Levoit LV450CH is a good choice for humidifying larger rooms or for those that don't want to be frequently filling up a water tank. In our tests it fell a bit short of the much more expensive top performers when it came to humidifying power, but was still a significant step up from the smaller more economical models. Plus, it is barely more costly than many models that are half the size. If the air in your home is particularly parched you may want to invest in the increased power of the Levoit LV600HH, but for many people trying to escape dry winters in otherwise humid environments the LV450CH strikes a perfect middle ground at an impressively low price.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Levoit LV450CH offers slightly above average humidifying power and a relatively large tank for quite a low price, making it a good choice for those suffering from a moderate lack of humidity that don't want to fill up a water tank multiple times a day.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Performance Comparison
The Levoit LV450CH performs relatively well where it counts, but does have some annoyance in less important metrics. This landed it a mid-range spot on our overall scoreboard.
Humidifying Performance
The LV450CH started slowly in our humidifying tests, but certainly has a bit more power than many other models in its price range, earning it a slightly above average score in our testing.
In our testing it took the LV450CH 2 hours to raise the humidity in our test room from around 30% up to the ideal 45%. That is quite slow. In fact, it took the much smaller Honeywell HUL520B the same amount of time to accomplish the same feat. However, the LV450CH did get that same room up to a humidity of 52% after 3 hours, whereas the Honeywell HUL520B and similarly sized models maxed out at around 47%. Though it's slow out of the gate, the LV450CH is more powerful than most small humidifiers.
The LV450CH isn't the most powerful model we tested, but it has a large tank that allows it to run all day without needing a refill.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
When compared to models in the same size range, the LV450CH generally holds its own, but is on the weaker side. The similarly priced and sized Honeywell HCM-350, for example, did humidify a bit faster (hit 45% in less than an hour) and had a bit more power, but it requires all the extra fuss inherent with evaporative humidifiers. The Levoit LV600HH is much more powerful, but also costs at least twice as much.
Ease of Cleaning
We found the LV450CH to be one of the easiest models to clean in our testing, earning it a spot towards the top of our scoreboard.
The biggest advantage of the LV450CH when it comes to cleaning is the 3" opening of its tank. This makes getting a brush inside to dislodge any buildup much easier than with models like the Dyson Ultrasonic or Pure Ultrasonic, which have 1" and 1.5" openings, respectively. We also found that there weren't many hard to reach places in the ultrasonic unit where mold and minerals could hide and build up. In fact, after doing the recommended white vinegar or bleach soak (never both at the same time!!), we barely needed to do any scrubbing to get everything looking clean.
A small window lends a view to how much water is left in the tank.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
User Friendliness
This is one area where the LV450CH is less than optimal, but still isn't bad. It lacks a remote, which many of the high-end models have. A remote certainly can be an added convenience if you crawl in bed and forget to turn on the humidifier, but it isn't a necessity. The interface is very simple with just a single power button. Pressing the power button will first turn the machine on, and then toggle between low, medium, and high settings, before then turning it off again. This is simple enough, but there are no labels on the button except for a power symbol, so you'd either have to discover this through trial and error or read the manual.
Perhaps the biggest downside of the LV450CH in term of user-friendliness is its water tank. While the 1.1-gallon capacity does allow it to run longer on a single fill than some other models, the 10.4" height may not fit in some sinks, making it harder to refill. Luckily the 3" opening is large enough to prevent spills if you have to pour water into it from a measuring cup.
The single button control can be confusing at first.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Operating Cost
The LV450CH runs quite economically, using just 0.02kWh per hour in our tests. This equates to an annual electricity cost of $10.51 each year if you use it 12 hours a day. If you add in the list price of $60 and assume a lifespan of 5 years, that equates to just $112 for half a decade of use. That is notably better than the similarly sized Honeywell HCM-350 and the top performing Levoit LV600HH. Plus, this model generally sells for well under its list price, making it an even better deal.
Value
But often selling at online retailers for less than $40, the LV450CH is one of the cheapest humidifiers with a gallon+ tank that can run all day. If you just want something that you can run for the 8 hours you're in bed, the Honeywell HUL520B may be a superior value, but the LV450CH gets you more run-time for a just slightly higher cost.
Conclusion
The LV450CH isn't a top performer, but is a great, inexpensive choice for those that don't need top-end humidifying power and want a larger tank that can last most of a day before needing a refill.
—
Max Mutter and Steven Tata
You Might Also Like
