
Humidifier Buying Guide
Do you suffer from dry/itchy eyes, throat or
skin? Do your asthma symptoms get worse during the winter? If
you've answered yes to any of these questions, your air may be too
dry.
In addition to health benefits, a quality humidifier can also
reduce static electricity, peeling wallpaper, and cracks in paint
and furniture. Learn more about humidifiers and see a comparison
chart of some of most popular models below.
Do You Need a Humidifier?
There are two basic types of moisture problems
that can exist in your home: excess or insufficient moisture.
Excess moisture causes damage to furnishings and promotes mold
growth. Dehumidifiers can solve this problem by drawing out moisture
from your air.
Insufficient moisture in the air can cause dry nasal
passages, increased respiratory problems and excessive static
electricity in clothing and carpets.
Humidifiers
will add moisture to the air when it's too dry. The chart below
illustrates how humidity levels can affect your home and overall
health:
|
Common
Symptoms |
Low Humidity
(Use Humidifier) |
High Humidity (Use
Dehumidifier) |
|
Chapped Lips & Skin |
Allergic Reactions |
| Respiratory Problems |
Musty Odors |
| Static & Sparks |
Mold Growth |
| Scratchy Nose & Throat |
Stains on Ceilings and
Walls |
| Damage to Electronics
|
Condensation on Windows &
Mirrors |
About Humidity Levels
Humidity is expressed in ways such as absolute
humidity and relative humidity. Absolute humidity refers to the mass
of water vapor divided by the mass of dry air in a volume of air at
a given temperature. So the hotter the air, the more water it
contains.
According to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air
Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard Environmental Conditions
for Human Occupancy, it's recommended that relative humidity be kept
between 30% to 50% in the summer and 30% to 40% in the winter. To
get an idea of the human perception of humidity, look at the chart
below:
|
Human
Perception |
Relative Humidity at 90° F |
| May Feel Dry |
30% |
| Very Comfortable |
31 - 37% |
| Comfortable |
31 - 41% |
| Acceptable for Most |
37 - 46% |
| Somewhat Uncomfortable |
44 - 52% |
| Very Humid and
Uncomfortable |
52 - 60% |
| Extremely Uncomfortable |
52 - 60% |
How Can a Humidifier Help?
Humidifiers
are household appliances that increase humidity. They emit water
vapor or mist to increase moisture levels. Humidifiers come in a
range of sizes. Room humidifiers are commonly used in individual
rooms while whole house humidifiers cover large areas - sometimes up
to 2,500 square feet. Humidifiers will usually fall into one of
these two categories: cool mist or warm mist.
Cool Mist Humidifiers
Cool mist humidifiers are some of the most popular. Because they don't actually heat the water
in the tank, there's no risk of burn, making them great around
children. Cool mist humidifiers are usually more energy efficient
because there's no heating element, but they're generally noisier
and require frequent filter changes due to bacteria growth. There
are three different types of cool mist humidifiers: evaporative/wick
units, impeller models, and ultrasonic humidifiers.
Evaporative Humidifiers
Evaporative
humidifiers have a wick or
filter that's used to absorb water. This water is evaporated by a fan
and pushed out of the unit. Evaporative humidifiers offer a more
natural form of humidification. As your moisture levels increase, the
evaporation rate will gradually decrease. While these work great,
many people dislike the noise created by the unit's fan.
Impeller Humidifiers
These humidifier units have a spinning disk that's
submerged in the water tank. This disk is what actually creates the
mist. Humidifiers with impellers tend to be more quiet when compared to evaporative models.
Ultrasonic Humidifiers
These are some of the most modern humidifiers you'll
find on the market. An ultrasonic humidifier has a small metal
diaphragm that vibrates at an ultrasonic frequency. This vibration
creates water droplets without creating noise, and the mist can be
described as a cool fog. Many ultrasonic humidifiers will also have
antibacterial features to prevent stagnant water.
Humidifier Tip: |
|
Consider your
climate when shopping for a humidifier. Cool mist
humidifiers are recommended for warm, dry areas while
warm mist humidifiers are better for cool, dry areas.
|
Warm Mist Humidifiers
Warm mist humidifiers aren't as popular as cool
mist units, but they work just as well. Many consumers like these
humidifiers because the warm mist produced by these units can be extremely
soothing during cold or flu season.
All warm mist humidifiers have some
sort of heating element that heats the water in the tank. As a result,
they use more electricity than cool mist humidifiers and can be a burn
risk. But because these humidifiers heat water before dispersing
it into the air, there's significantly less room for bacteria growth,
meaning less filter changes are required. Almost all warm mist
humidifiers use steam to add moisture to your air.
The process is simple: water
is boiled and sent out as steam, which then kills any mold or bacteria.
Many offer the benefit of dispensing medications for inhalation, but
again, they're not suitable for use around small children because of the burn risk.
Cool Mist Versus Warm Mist - Which Should You
Choose?
Both types are equally effective at adding humidity
to the air, but each has pros and cons. The one you choose really
depends on personal preference. Look below for a
quick overview on the two:
|
Cool Mist
Humidifiers
 |
Pros: |
Cons: |
|
|
|
|
Warm Mist
Humidifiers
 |
Pros: |
Cons: |
|
|
|
What Humidifier Features Should I Look For?
As with any household appliance, buying the
right humidifier involves trade-offs in terms of cost,
convenience, efficiency, and noise. Consider these
features before you decide on a specific humidifier:
Cost
The best humidifier isn't always the most
expensive. A basic cool mist humidifier with a 1500 square
foot coverage area can be purchased for under $50 while a more
advanced warm mist humidifier with digital display and built-in
humidistat will cost a little more. Don't forget to
include the cost of ownership into your buying decision.
Remember that because a warm mist unit has an additional heating
element, it's going to use more energy than an evaporative
humidifier that only has a fan.
Convenience
Humidifiers require periodic maintenance.
A console style or tabletop humidifier will be the easiest to
clean. These models are small and should easily fit
under a faucet for hassle-free refilling. If you're
thinking about buying an evaporative unit, look for an
easy-to-replace wick. Additional convenient features
to consider are user-friendly digital controls as well as
a humidistat that will automatically turn off the unit
once the preset humidity level is reached. Lastly, another great
convenience feature is a programmable timer which allows
you to turn on the unit at a set time so that your room is at
the right humidity when you get home.
Efficiency
You'll need to find a humidifier that will
produce enough moisture. The main factor when choosing
the right sized humidifier is the size of the area you wish to
humidify. The standard output measurement for
humidifiers
is the number of gallons of water absorbed into the air in a 24
hour period.
Noise
If you're planning to use a humidifier next to
your bed, think about how much noise the unit will produce.
As a general rule, a warm mist humidifier will only make a
faint boiling or hissing noise. But cool mist
evaporative models with comparable capacity can be much louder
due to the internal fan.
Compare Our Most Popular Humidifiers

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Humidifiers
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