Honeywell HEV685B Humidifier: 1.5 gallons tank, 24 hours per fill

Why it matters

The Honeywell HEV685B Humidifier is an evaporative humidifier with a 1.5 gallons tank.

Run time per fill, per the maker: 24 hours.

Aim for 40 to 60 percent relative humidity indoors: drier air irritates airways and skin, wetter air feeds dust mites and mold. Evaporative wicks trap the minerals instead of releasing them, so tap water is fine, but the wick stiffens and needs replacing.

A full tank holds about 5.7 liters, which adds roughly 12 pounds of water to carry or lift to the sink and back.

Spread over 24 hours, that tank works out to about 237 milliliters an hour, the rate on the setting the run time was measured at; higher settings empty it faster.

Its tank of 5.7 liters is above the middle of the range we cover: 48 of the 78 humidifiers with a stated figure come in lower, and the range runs from 0.7 liters to 20.1 liters.

Its stated run time of 24 hours is one of the shortest run times we cover: 4 of the 69 humidifiers with a stated figure come in lower, and the range runs from 10 hours to 130 hours.

Price-wise it sat in the middle third of the 22 evaporative models we cover when we checked; the button shows today's price.

It qualifies for our lists Best Cool Mist Humidifiers, Best Evaporative Humidifiers, where it is ranked against every model that meets the same rule.

Compared with the Honeywell HUL520BC Humidifier: run time 24 hours here vs 20 hours.

Who it's for, and who should skip it

Good fit if

Dry winter bedrooms
Owners who will clean it weekly

Look elsewhere if

Rooms far larger than its rating

Pros and cons

Pros

1.5 gallons tank
Runs 24 hours per fill

Cons

Needs regular cleaning to stay hygienic

Limitations to weigh

Not stated on the Honeywell HEV685B Humidifier listing: rated room size, noise level, power draw. Ask the seller or check the manual before relying on it.