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Enjoy a breath of freshly humidified air with one of our top picks.
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
Thats where a humidifier can come to the rescue.
Evaporative humidifiers differ from other types of humidifiers based on their operating mechanism, explainsDr.
John McKeon, CEO of Allergy Standards.
Credit: Amazon
In an evaporative humidifier, a reservoir holds cold water and dispenses it into a basin.
A moistened filter absorbs the water from the basin, and a fan blows air through the moistened filter.
Before buying a humidifier for your home, keep in mind that they can aggravate allergies.
Credit: Better Homes & Gardens / Dera Burreson
This humidifier doesnt have an automated shut-off.
We liked how easy it was to set up and operate, with three speed prefs to choose from.
On the lowest setting, this humidifier provides up to 24 hours of runtime before using all the water.
When its time to refill, the tank can detach from the humidifier for refilling.
The tricky part is drying the tank, and we found air drying was the best method.
We especially loved how quiet the humidifier was when running it.
The humidifiers noise never disturbed their sleep, and we found it helped combat seasonal nosebleeds.
Upkeep continued to be a breeze thanks to its dishwasher-safe parts.
Product Details: Room Size:215 to 400 sq.
|Dimensions:18.58 x 13.03 x 10.39 in.
It’s louder than other evaporative models we’ve tested.
Filling the tank is simple; just remove the top half, then fill the tank with water.
It comes with a hose to help fill directly from your faucet.
Each of these tweaks can also be adjusted directly on the unit itself.
A drying feature helps prevent moisture buildup on the filters between uses, which can help extend their lifespan.
How It Performed After Three Months
We used the humidifier at home during the winter.
At home, the reading on the equipment matched our external hygrometer.
Product Details: Room Size:3000 sq.
The buttons are difficult to find in the dark.
We were impressed with how quiet this humidifier operated during our testing.
The equipment runs at about 26 to 39 decibels.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Youll need to hand wash this rig about every two weeks.
Additionally, the brand sells aWater Cube accessorythat is meant to keep the water tank fresh for longer.
The cube is $18 at the time of publish and needs replaced about once per year.
We continued to be impressed with its ability to keep clean despite frequent use.
Product Details: Room Size:540 sq.
Then, we measured each humidifiers effectiveness by setting up two hygrometers in the room.
We recorded therooms humidity levelsbefore and after running the humidifier for one, four, and eight hours.
Long-term testing was also used to thoroughly test each devices smart features.
Credit: Levoit
We narrowed our findings down to determine the top three evaporative humidifiers on this list.
The remaining products on this list were selected through extensive product research.
Evaporative humidifiers have the perk of being self-regulating, but ultrasonic humidifiers have the benefit of running more quietly.
The large Levoit Superior 6000S has two main pieces: the top is a fan, and the bottom is the water tank.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock
A humidifiers capacity often goes hand-in-hand with the room size.
Next, consider the filters or wicks the evaporative humidifier uses.
Do they require a specific brand of filters?
Are the filters hard to buy in-store or online?
verify you choose a product that wont make restocking on filters a hassle.
Empty and wash the collection bucket and change the filters as often as directed by the manufacturer.
Typically, you should expect to clean the water tank about once per week.
Some models offer dishwasher-safe tanks, while others are hand wash-only.
But you may or may not benefit from a humidifier that has all the bells and whistles.
Sometimes, the best evaporative humidifier is one with a simple interface that just gets the job done.
Your Questions, Answered
Do evaporative humidifiers purify the air?
No, evaporative humidifiers dont purify the air unless they have additional features added to provide air purification.
In fact, it is important to regularly clean your humidifier and change its filters, Mendez says.
If you want to purify the air, Mendez recommendsusing an air purifierwith a HEPA filter.
Are evaporative humidifiers healthier than ultrasonic?
Any humidifier can have positive health impacts if they are used as directed.
The biggest difference is that evaporative humidifiers are a mist-free humidification, Thornburg explains.
The white dust from ultrasonic humidifiers is avoided, making it more hygienic.
Can you use essential oils in evaporative humidifiers?
While many ultrasonic humidifiers can be paired with essential oils, this isn’t the case for evaporative humidifiers.
She’s coveredhumidifiersand other small home appliances forBetter Homes & Gardens.
Lycia Thornburg, fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology.
What is BHG Recommends?
Next to all of the products on this list, you may have noticed ourBHG Recommends seal of approval.
In these cases, we use the same testing criteria we use to test the purchased products.
Credit: Amazon
The Stadler Form Oskar Humidifier is small enough to fit alone on a bedside table.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens / Dera Burreson
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
