A humidifier can help with dry skin and respiratory issues.
Here’s how to pick the right one for you.
It’s one of the best solutions for adding moisture indoors, especially during colder months.
Credit: Jacob Fox
However, choosing the wrong humidifier can lead to potential health issues and the growth of mold.
The most common types of humidifiers are cool or warm mist and evaporative, steam, or ultrasonic units.
Cool-Mist Humidifiers
Cool-mist humidifiersemit room-temperature water into the air.
Cool-mist humidifiers are ideal for warm climates and work in any size room.
The downside is that they can be noisier than other types of humidifiers.
Warm-Mist Humidifiers
Warm-mist humidifiers are the opposite of cold-mist humidifiers.
They heat the water to produce steam and cool it before releasing it into the air.
Warm mist humidifiers work best in cold climates and small rooms.
These humidifiers can effectively alleviate cold and flu symptoms.
The heating process decreases the amount of bacteria likely to be released into the air.
A benefit of warm-mist humidifiers is that they are quieter than cool-mist units.
Its a safety risk around children and pets.
The main advantage of these is that they are quiet.
They are relatively inexpensive, easy to use, and quick to clean.
The downside is that some models may produce white dust, a byproduct of minerals in the water.
The harmful dust can settle on surfaces and irritate respiratory problems.
They require frequent cleaning to prevent mineral buildup.
Evaporative Humidifiers
Evaporative humidifiers use a fan to blow water through a wet filter to moisturize the air.
Evaporative humidifiers are energy-efficient because they are self-regulating and shut off when thedesired humidity levelis achieved.
Also, they tend to be noisier than ultrasonic humidifiers.
The moisture is very clean and helps relieve cold and flu symptoms.
Most vaporizers can be set for cool or warm mist.
These humidifiers are ideal for smaller rooms and cold climates.
In addition to alleviating respiratory symptoms and easing congestion, they are simple to use and require minimal maintenance.
The best fit depends on your familys needs and preferences.
Others have an automatic shutoff system that kicks in when the water tank is empty.
Room Size
Room size matters.
Humidifiers are available for small, medium, large, and extra-large rooms, and for entire houses.
Determine whether you prefer a portable orwhole-house humidifier.
Portable humidifiers are easy to move around and can be placed in specific rooms.
In contrast, whole-house humidifiers are installed directly into your homesHVAC system.
Climate
The climate of your region also influences your choice of humidifier.
Maintenance
Regular maintenance and cleaning ensure that your humidifier provides optimal performance at all times.
Its best to read the manufacturers instructions before buying.
There, youll see how frequently you need toclean the machine.
Decide if youre up for that challenge.
Humidifiers that come with filters add an additional cost to the price tag of the machine.
