If you’re experiencing itchy dry skin, nose and eyes, sinus attacks, and the like, you’re probably breathing in dry air in your home. To increase the humidity level might be a fair solution. This is where a humidifier comes in handy. There are a lot of types out there, and choosing a humidifier that will meet your specific needs might be complicated. Therefore, you’ll need to decide on ultrasonic cool or warm mist, evaporative, air washer, or steam vaporizer. Other things to factor in are noise level, tank, and square footage capacity, and, of course, how much you’re ready to invest.
Choosing the Right Humidifier Type
1.Learn about the basic types.Humidifiers are supposed to emit mist into the environment. The right humidity level in a living space is considered around 40-60%. However, in winter the air in our homes becomes drier (usually less than 30%) due to the central heating and electric heaters. Therefore, we need to figure out which one meets our needs best according to their types.
- Cool mist. This type doesn’t have a heating component and works based on a wick to release mist into the atmosphere. These humidifiers are mostly used in homes where the water is hard since they are less prone to break down because of mineral deposits. They use minimal energy, but the fan might be too noisy. People suffering from asthma and emphysema report that a cool-mist home humidifier helps them breathe more easily.
- Warm mist. These humidifiers are particularly on-point in areas with soft water or if using demineralized water in the water tank. They contain a heating element that warms the water and almost boils it. Then, it evaporates into the atmosphere. Warm mist humidifiers do not need fans, making them the quietest ones on the market. They do a great job of killing bacteria and allergens. Also, many come with a diffuser allowing them to enjoy essential oils in the room.
- Ultrasonic humidifiers. The work of this type is based on vibrating sound waves that spread moisture at a gentle mist. They don’t have a heating element either, so they are kind of cool mist humidifiers. These are also the quietest ones available, making them perfect for overnight use. However, ultrasonic models may release some coating like white powdery residue on furniture.
- Evaporative cool mist. Mist is generated by a fan that sucks the air in and blows it over or through a dampened wick in water. The humidity is increased by this water vapor added to the atmosphere. Since there’s no heat in the air when evaporation happens, the air is cooled as a result, making the air cooler when it comes out.
- Air washers. When choosing a room humidifier, one might want something that cleans the air and releases it fresh and wet into the environment. Air washers are exactly about it. First, they capture airborne impurities like dust and pollen particles and then emit back a clean, humidified air into the room. They produce cool mist only. This type is the most reliable and can cover large living spaces. They don’t have problems with mineral dust but need regular care.
2.Factor in your environment.All types of humidifiers do a great job of humidifying living spaces. We’ve already outlined the kind of water you might use. But what about the climate in your home?
If you live in a colder house, it is advisable to use warm mist models. They feature a heating element emitting a warm vapor that raises your room’s temperature. That way, you’ll feel more comfortable and even be able to save on heating bills.
The same principle works for warmer living spaces, where there’s a need to reduce the ambient temperature.
3.Think of an acceptable noise level.The quietest humidifiers are those that do not use fans to blow the mist into the environment. Of course, at low speed, you may not even hear it. But when at high speed, it can disturb your sleep.
Warm mist and ultrasonic units can make some noise when the water boils, but these sounds are not distracting.
If you’re concerned about the fan running at night, opt for a home humidifier that has a silent feature with an operating noise less than 30 dB or an ultrasonic model that is virtually quiet. Also, when choosing a humidifier, ask to see it in action.
4.Consider the room size.Usually, manufacturers specify the recommended room size for their models. First, you should find out the area and volume of the room where your humidifier will be installed.
If there’s a door to another room, the area of that room should be calculated as well since the air will be circulating there. You can calculate the room area by multiplying its length and width (e.g., 6 x 7 meters = 42m2).
To get the room volume, multiply the room area by the ceiling height (42 m2 x 3.5 meters = 147 m3). If the manufacturer indicates the room volume, consider only the ceiling height, which is 3.5 meters in our example. So, survey the models that are convenient for your room area and even more.
One important thing to consider: if your house has a controlled ventilation system, it is equal to open windows. This is why it is recommended to purchase more powerful units and double the room size when calculating a potential square footage humidification.
5.Decide on a humidifier size.This point is tightly related to the previous one. In general, there are three sizes, each having a different humidifying rating and covering different square footage.
- Portable or tabletop humidifiers are the most affordable and work great for single rooms. Usually, these are cool ultrasonic models. They need frequent refilling. They are excellent for spaces where you sleep or work.
- Room humidifiers can cover from 650 to 1200 square feet. Ultrasonic warm and cool models, air washers, and evaporative cool mist units can handle such areas.
- Whole-house models humidify the entire house as long as the doorways are open. Usually, they cover the space between 1700 and 2700 square feet.
6.Find out about a water tank size.The size of the water reservoir will determine the frequency of filling. Most humidifiers have a 2-to-3 day capacity when functioning in the lowest setting. Some models last a few hours, which might be inconvenient, especially if you want it to run the whole night.
Another aspect to take into account when choosing a home humidifier is how well the water tank is removable and refillable. Some units make a mess when it’s about filling up and fitting the water tank, with spills around.
7.Get to know about the cleaning procedure.Ease of cleaning means the world for some users. Some humidifiers have tricky shapes, and it’s hard to reach some areas.
For example, tear-shaped or U-shaped ones look aesthetically nice but give cleaning problems due to their design. If not cleaned, there’s the risk of harmful bacteria growth in there.
The best possible advice here will be reading reviews. Do your research and check if there are complaints about cleaning and consider the shape to get the full picture of your potential home humidifier.
8.Decide on an investment.On average models come with a $30-$300 price range, but the sky’s the limit. If you need a small model to humidify a specific area in your house, then you should go for the lower end of the budget.
If you’re looking for a bells-and-whistles device, then consider the capacity because the humidifier might serve as a whole-house one that will save some funds in the long run. Furnace humidifiers might be an option as well, but they require more significant investments as they humidify the whole house.
9.Decide on particular features you want.Most home humidifiers come with smart features. Obviously, some of them might be useless and, in the meantime, influence a price tag. But others might be a great addition to the device’s primary purpose.
- Auto shut-down. This important feature prevents a home humidifier from burning out if you fell asleep and there’s no water in the tank.
- Humidistat. To maintain a healthy moisture level, this feature is pivotal. It indicates the humidity level and turns the unit off when the desired humidity level is obtained. It especially makes sense for nurseries.
- Oil diffuser. Some users also prefer breathing in essential oils when getting their room air wet. You can put some drops into a back reservoir designed for this purpose. Some users put oils right into the water tank. However, manufacturers do not recommend this as it’s hard to clean it due to oil residue.
- Water reservoir indicator. Together with a humidistat, this one indicates that the water tank is empty and you should refill it. For safety measures, this feature is also essential.
- Filter indicator. Air washers clean the air and then release a humidified one. So, this feature particularly makes sense for air purifiers aka humidifiers. Filters get clogged after time, and the indicator tells that it’s time to change or replace it to avoid air contamination.
