The Ultimate Humidifier Buying Guide

Find the best humidifier for your space by keeping these factors in mind.

Dry air in your home can cause all sorts of problems. Dry skin, eyes, sinuses and throat, dehydration, nosebleeds, chapped lips, the list goes on. It can even put you at a higher risk for catching a cold. This can be an especially big problem if you have babies or small children in the house.

Dry air also makes static electricity build up easier. This can harm your electronic devices, especially computers. It can also damage your furniture and give your home poor air quality.

To make your house much more healthy and comfortable, you can use a humidifier to add moisture to your air. Humidifiers come in a few different styles and sizes, so you’ll want to consider what you’ll need for your home. Learn how to choose the best one for your space with this guide from Blain’s Farm & Fleet.

Cool-Mist vs. Warm-Mist Humidifiers

There are two main types of humidifiers: ones that produce cool mist and ones that produce warm mist. Each type has its own advantages.

Cool-Mist Humidifiers

Just as the name implies, this type of humidifier produces a cool or room-temperature mist. Cool-mist humidifiers are the most common, and in many cases, they are the best option. There are three different types of cool-mist humidifiers: evaporative, ultrasonic, and impeller.

Evaporative humidifiers are one of the most common models. They have a wicking filter that absorbs water, which a fan then blows air through to create a cool mist.

Ultrasonic humidifiers use vibrations to turn water into a mist. Because they don’t have a fan, they’re one of the quietest types of humidifiers you can find. You can also find them in warm-mist options.

Impeller humidifiers use a spinning disk to push water through a diffuser, which creates a cool mist. However, they can be a bit on the noisy side.

Benefits of Cool-Mist Humidifiers

• Helps with cold & allergy symptoms: Cool mist will help soothe and shrink your nasal passages, which will make it easier for you to breathe. If you’re searching for a humidifier to help with cold or allergy symptoms, a cool-mist model is the type to go with.
• More energy-efficient: Because they don’t need to generate heat, cool-mist models tend to use less electricity than warm-mist ones.
• Good for using in warm weather: When it’s hot outside, the cool mist will feel a lot nicer than a warm mist.
• More child- and pet-friendly: They don’t have the potential to burn humans or animals like warm-mist ones do.

The main downside to cool-mist humidifiers is they tend to be louder than warm-mist ones because they have more moving parts.

Warm-Mist Humidifiers

Warm-mist humidifiers (also known as steam humidifiers) use a heating element to warm water and turn it into a mist. The result is a warm mist, rather than a cool or room-temperature one produced by other types of humidifiers.

Although cool-mist humidifiers are ideal in many circumstances, there are also some advantages to purchasing a warm-mist humidifier instead.

Benefits of Warm-Mist Humidifiers

• Affordable: Warm-mist humidifiers are typically cheaper than cool-mist ones, making them ideal if you’re on a tight budget.
• Quieter: Because warm-mist humidifiers don’t have a fan, they tend to make less noise than cold-mist ones.
• Good for using in cold weather: Typically, people use humidifiers more in the wintertime, when flu season is at its peak and the air is drier. During the colder months, a warm mist will feel much nicer than a cool one.
• Better air quality: Warm-mist humidifiers produce cleaner moisture and are usually better at killing off mold spores and bacteria than cold-mist ones.
• Better for medicine: If you want to put medicine, such as Vicks VapoSteam, in your humidifier, the instructions usually require you to use a warm-mist/steam model.

Keep in mind that a warm mist will cause your nasal passages to swell. So do not get this type if your goal is to relieve colds. You should also stay away from warm-mist humidifiers if you have young kids or pets. These models can get quite warm, and if they get knocked over, humans and animals could get burned.

Warm-mist humidifiers will also use more electricity than cold-mist ones, as they need it to power their heating element.

If you like the advantages of both the cool-mist and warm-mist models, try to find a combination humidifier, which has both cool and warm settings.

Room and Humidifier Size

One of the top things to consider when choosing a humidifier is size. You’ll need to think about the size of the room you’ll be using it in and the size of the humidifier itself.

Each type of humidifier is intended for a different room size. This is usually marked on the packaging, so make sure you determine the square footage of the room you want to use it in before purchasing one.

Small- to Midsize-Room Humidifiers

Larger-Room Humidifiers

Multiple-Room or Whole-House Humidifiers

When choosing a humidifier, it’s important that you don’t get one that’s too large for your space. If it’s too big, it will produce excess moisture, leading to dust mites, mold, and condensation buildup on your windows.

Also consider the portability of the humidifier. Are you going to use it in the same room all the time, or do you want to move it from room to room? Some models can be quite large and heavy, especially when they’re filled with water. So if you do plan on moving the humidifier around regularly, make sure you get one that will be easily portable.

Easy to Clean

Some humidifiers are easier to clean than others. This is something to consider when choosing the best one for your home.

Be aware that no matter what humidifier you choose, all types require at least basic cleaning and care. For most types, you’ll have to drain, rinse, and dry the humidifier frequently to reduce bacterial growth.

Some humidifiers come with filters, which can be nice because they’ll control bacteria and give you better air quality. However, in order for them to effectively do this, you’ll need to change the filters regularly. Make sure the filters are easy to find and replace before purchasing the humidifier.

Some humidifiers even come with dishwasher-safe water reservoirs. This can help make cleaning your humidifier extra simple.

Other Features

Many humidifiers come with other features, which aren’t absolutely necessary, but can be really nice to have. Consider some of these features as you search for the perfect humidifier for your home.

• Built-in hygrometer: A hygrometer measures the humidity levels in your home. Some humidifiers have a built-in humidistat. And they’ll shut off automatically when your room reaches your set humidity levels.
• Automatic shutoff: Some humidifiers will turn off automatically when they sense that the water reservoir is empty. If yours doesn’t have this feature, you need to make sure you turn it off as soon as it’s empty. This feature is especially good to have it you’ll be using your humidifier while sleeping.
• Digital controls: These give you much more control over the humidifier settings, and they’re a convenient thing to have.
• Multiple speeds: This setting allows you to adjust how much mist is put into the air at a time.
• Health features: Some humidifiers contain features to help kill bacteria in the water. These can range from filters, to UV lights, to special tank coatings, and more.
• Built-in diffuser: If you want to add essential oils to the mist, look for a hybrid humidifier. These have special reservoirs for you to add scented oils.
• Night light: Some models glow and can be used as a night light.

For more buying guides like this one, check out our Appliances Blog.