Black & Decker 1.45 Gallon Ultrasonic Humidifier with Cool Mist

Why I picked up this humidifier

Dry air sneaks up on me every winter—nosebleeds, static shocks, and a general feeling that my house plants are glaring at me. I put this Black+Decker humidifier to work for a few weeks in both a 500 sq. ft. living room and a medium bedroom to see how well it keeps humidity in the healthy 40–50% range, how often I’d be refilling it, and whether the controls and maintenance are truly day-to-day friendly.

Design and setup

The footprint is modest (about 7.3 x 9.8 inches) with a 14-inch height, so it fits on a dresser or console table without dominating the space. At 5.3 lb empty, it’s easy to move around. The 1.45-gallon tank is the reason to choose this model—it’s large enough to get through a full day or multiple nights without a refill, depending on the setting.

Setup is straightforward: rinse the tank, seat the included ceramic-infused filter, fill, and place the tank back on the base. The wide-mouth opening makes filling and scrubbing easier than many bottom-fill designs I’ve used. Like most ultrasonic units, re-seating the tank can produce a drip or two; placing it on a waterproof tray or mat is a good habit.

The touch panel and LCD are clean and legible. Three mist levels, a 12-hour timer, and a humidity setpoint are all a button-press away. There’s also a negative ion button, which I’ll address later.

Controls and humidistat

I appreciate that I can target a humidity range (45–90% RH) rather than just guessing with a mist knob. In use, the built-in humidistat behaved well: compared to my separate room hygrometer, the unit’s reading stayed within a few percentage points once the room stabilized. As with any humidifier, the reading is most accurate a few feet away from the mist plume; I got the best results placing it on a shelf about 2–3 feet off the floor and at least a foot away from walls.

The 12-hour timer is simple but handy for overnight use or pre-conditioning a room before guests arrive. I would have liked a 24-hour option for set-and-forget daily routines, but the current implementation covers most needs.

Performance in real rooms

With the humidifier on medium, I brought a 500 sq. ft. living room from a dry 35% to 45% RH in roughly an hour and to 50% in about two hours. On high, it works faster, but you’ll trade away some run time. In a closed bedroom around 200 sq. ft., it reached 45% in under 30 minutes on medium. Once at the target, the automatic regulation kicked in, tapering output to hold steady without overshooting.

The dual mist outlets help distribute humidity more evenly. I positioned the streams to split across the room rather than saturate one corner, which reduced localized condensation on nearby surfaces. If you place it on a wooden nightstand, a tray or coaster is still wise; cool mist can create minor moisture around the outlet in high settings.

As for run time, the “up to 40 hours” spec checks out at the lowest output in a smaller room. In my living room at medium, I reliably got through a full day and into the next morning. Overnight on low in a bedroom, I didn’t need to refill for two nights. Your results will vary with starting humidity, room size, and whether doors are open to adjoining spaces, but the tank capacity gives you generous leeway.

Noise and everyday use

Ultrasonic units are known for being quiet, and this one is no exception. On low and medium, it’s a soft, consistent hum with faint water movement—easy to sleep through. On high, I could hear a bit more airflow, but conversation-level quiet remained unaffected. Measured with a phone at a meter away, I consistently saw mid-30s dB on low/medium, aligning with the 35 dB claim.

The auto shutoff works: when the tank runs out or is removed, the unit powers down without fuss. The water level indicator is visible enough that I didn’t get caught off guard often.

Water quality and maintenance

Any ultrasonic humidifier will produce mineral “white dust” if you use hard tap water. The included ceramic-infused filter helps reduce this, but it isn’t a magic eraser. In my hard-water area, I saw less dust than I typically do without a demineralization cartridge, but I still recommend filtered or distilled water if you’re sensitive to dust or plan to run it near electronics. Expect to replace the filter periodically (frequency depends on water hardness and hours of operation).

Cleaning is important for hygiene and longevity. The wide-mouth tank makes weekly maintenance manageable. My routine:
- Every 3–4 days: empty any leftover water and air-dry the tank.
- Weekly: wipe surfaces with a soft cloth; descale mineral buildup in the tank and base with a 1:1 white vinegar and water soak, then rinse thoroughly.
- Monthly: inspect the mist outlets and filter for residue.

If you stick to that schedule, you’ll avoid slime, odors, and reduced output.

About that negative ion button

There’s a toggle for negative ion output. In practice, I didn’t notice any meaningful change in air quality, and I wouldn’t treat it as an air purifier. It doesn’t substitute for a HEPA filter or proper ventilation. I left it off most of the time, focusing on the core job of humidity control.

What I liked

• Capacity and endurance: The 1.45-gallon tank reduces refills and makes overnight or multi-day runs feasible.
• Reliable humidistat: Set a target and let it modulate output—less babysitting, fewer swings.
• Quiet operation: Suitable for bedrooms and offices without introducing a distracting drone.
• Dual outlets: Better distribution than a single-spout design, with fewer damp spots near the unit.
• Easy filling and cleaning: The wide-mouth opening simplifies maintenance, which you’ll appreciate over the long term.
• Safety features: Auto shutoff on tank removal or empty tank is implemented correctly.

Where it could improve

• Timer length: A 24-hour timer or basic scheduling would help for daily routines.
• App or remote control: Not essential, but remote control has become common on premium humidifiers.
• Dust mitigation: The ceramic filter helps, yet folks with very hard water may still want distilled water to avoid white dust.
• No warm mist option: Cool mist is efficient and safe, but some users prefer warm mist for winter comfort.

None of these are deal-breakers for me, but they’re worth noting depending on your preferences.

Placement and usage tips

• Elevate the unit on a stable surface to promote even distribution and avoid pooling on the floor.
• Keep it a foot from walls and away from direct sunlight or heat sources.
• Aim the dual outlets toward open space rather than walls or shelves.
• Use filtered or distilled water in hard-water regions to minimize mineral dust and extend filter life.
• Target 40–50% RH for general comfort, bumping up slightly for plants or musical instruments if needed.

Who it’s for

This Black+Decker humidifier is a strong fit if you want low-maintenance humidity control in medium to large rooms, need quiet operation for sleep or work, and prefer a straightforward interface over app-driven ecosystems. It’s also a good pick for plant rooms or grow tents where steady humidity is important; the larger tank and humidistat make it easier to maintain a consistent environment.

Recommendation

I recommend this humidifier. It hits the fundamentals: a large tank that meaningfully extends run time, a dependable humidistat to prevent overshooting, quiet operation, and user-friendly maintenance. While I’d welcome a longer timer and optional app control, its core performance—especially the combination of capacity, even mist distribution, and low noise—makes it an easy choice for bedrooms, living rooms, and hobby spaces up to its stated coverage. If you pair it with filtered or distilled water and keep to a simple cleaning routine, it should provide steady, comfortable humidity without fuss.