Dry air has long known to be one of the main reasons behind dry skin. It can also cause allergies such as sinusitis, nose bleeds, chapped lips, dry throat, cough, and more that can disrupt normal life. A good humidifier is the best remedy to overcome dry air issues and to improve the quality of air around you.
We took into consideration important features that can affect the performance of humidifiers and have complied a list of best 10 from online marketplaces. Do not forget to take a look at the comprehensive buying guide that discusses various determinants of choosing the best product.
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Table of Contents
A humidifier is a device that emits water vapor to increase the level of humidity. It is meant to improve the air condition of places where the air is normally dry that could otherwise result in allergy and breathing issues.
The use of a humidifier is beneficial in treating conditions like dry skin, sinus congestion, nose bleeds, chapped and cracked lips, or dry cough due to low humidity levels. Those who experience any such discomfort during the winter months or with the use of an air conditioner could benefit from the use of a humidifier.
The health risks associated with inhaling air that's poorly-humidified are many. When the medications aimed at curing the conditions only work temporarily, the air around you needs to be improved for a total recovery.
Read on to find how you can select the best humidifier for large rooms without going wrong.
When the winter arrives, you observe that your lips are chapped, your skin is dry, and your breathing is difficult. Finding a humidifier to address these problems involves knowing the various humidifier types and what each can do.
Ultrasonic humidifiers are very common and let out a cool mist of vapor with high-frequency ultrasonic vibrations. They use a metal diaphragm that vibrates at an ultrasonic frequency to create the droplets of water. Some ultrasonic models facilitate the use of essential oils.
These are available in various sizes and two mist settings: cool and warm. Cool mist humidifiers are ideal when you have children around. They operate silently and produce a cool fog through the dispenser.
If water is not changed regularly, the stagnant water in the humidifier can encourage bacterial growth. Any minerals present in the water will also be dispersed into the air through the fine mist. The high-end models come with features like ultraviolet light to kill the bacteria and demineralization cartridges to filter mineral content in the water.
As the name suggests, central humidifiers are built into the air conditioner or the heating unit of your home. They can vary in sizes depending on the area they're covering. Most units are expensive, but they can humidify the entire house with one unit.
Central humidifiers are also called bypass or furnace humidifiers. They don’t emit steam and pose no risk of burns while in use. However, they can take a longer time to humidify. It's ideal if you live in an area with dry air year-round and want to humidify the entire house.
Evaporative humidifiers are powered using a fan to blow moisture into the air around you through a wet filter, wick, or belt. They are mainly used to humidify one room. The filters are replaceable, and you need to clean them as often as required.
Most filters used by a good quality evaporator last one season without the need to replace. These humidifiers are good to use for a while, but prolonged use can dispense a lot of moisture into the air and encourage the growth of allergens.
Steam vaporizers use electricity to heat the water used in the tank and disperse it into the air around you like a warm mist. The mist is warm and is helpful for those with respiratory conditions. These devices are portable and inexpensive.
Some models come with a separate compartment to add inhalants and vapopads to get relief from cough and cold. However, you need to be careful in getting close to these devices due to the risk of burns from warm steam. You shouldn’t use this type of humidifier if you have children at home.
Impeller humidifiers are also budget-friendly and feature rotating disks running at high speeds. The disks produce a frequent stream of cool mist that's expelled through comb-like diffusers. The fine water droplets appear like cool fog leaving the humidifier's outlet.
Impellers come with no risk of burns, making them child-friendly. They are suitable for one room, but overuse can worsen conditions like asthma.
Similar to ultrasonic humidifiers, impellers also pose the risk of bacteria growth if the water is not changed regularly. Besides, they also expel minerals in the water, if any, to the air around you. These can accumulate as dust in your room.
For large rooms, you need to look for a unit that can hold a lot of water and can cover a wider area. Other features like built-in humidity and mist settings can help maintain the room humidity at an optimum level without discomfort.
A big room needs a big humidifier to moisten air effectively. The larger the water tank, the more mist it dispenses. A larger water tank capacity limits refilling frequency and can humidify your large room for a longer time. Go for a humidifier containing a water tank with a minimum one gallon capacity.
The best choice will be a humidifier with dual tanks that has a higher mist time. Larger tanks such as those with four gallons and above are ideal for larger rooms and can run the whole day. However, with bigger water tanks, the device will be heavy and becomes less portable.
To humidify a large room, you need a device that expels mist to a larger area. A central humidifier is the best choice to humidify every corner of the house. Before buying the humidifier, measure the area of your space and look for the area specification mentioned in the product description.
It's not worth it to use a smaller humidifier for a bigger room. Neither should you go for a humidifier with a smaller coverage area. They are not capable of adding enough humidity to a large room.
At the same time, you should not go for a humidifier with a coverage area of more than what you require. This can result in too much humidity and lead to problems. Tower humidifiers, which are taller than regular humidifiers, are also popular.
Most humidifiers make a certain level of noise. Some can be heard significantly, while some only make a humming noise. A low decibel or dB specification means that the device operates quietly.
Some humidifiers are designed to perform at whisper-quiet levels, regardless of what speed you set them to. You can find many ultrasonic models that operate silently. Pay attention to this feature while buying a humidifier for a bedroom.
Some humidifiers feature adjustable timers to control the mist time. Some have an auto shut-off option that prevents waterless operation and shuts off the device for its safety in case it runs out of water. Having this feature also eliminates the need to manually shut off the device.
The speed level decides how much mist is dispensed at a time. Large room humidifiers come with mainly three-speed settings – high, medium, and low. The settings come in handy when you need to adjust the levels as the humidity in the air around you is subject to changes.
Some devices feature a dial to adjust the intensity from minimum to maximum. Other devices have an auto mode that automatically regulates the humidity inside the room and sets it to an ideal level. Once the desired humidity level is reached, the unit shuts off.
The advanced type of humidifiers features both warm and cool mist settings. While set to warm mist, the water heats up to a higher temperature and kills the germs to dispense a warm mist outside. It is beneficial during the winter months and can lightly heat the room while giving you respite from dry air.
Likewise, the cool setting from a humidifier expels cool mist and is suitable for use during summer months. Cool mist is beneficial for those with allergies such as asthma and respiratory problems, as it can relax your lungs.
Not all humidifiers come with a remote control. But those that do make operation easy by letting you control the device from a distance. They can be very handy when you are using a humidifier for a baby’s room.
The ideal humidity level for a room is between 30% and 50%. A humidifier with a built-in humidistat can help you maintain optimal humidity levels in your room. If your device does not have a humidistat, go for a hygrometer, which is an external device to measure humidity inside the room.
The warranty is a way of ensuring you’re buying the product from a trustworthy manufacturer. Most good quality humidifiers come with a minimum of three years' warranty.
All devices wear out over time and might require maintenance and repairs from time to time. So you need to make sure the manufacturer is a reputed one. Reading customer reviews about the manufacturer could help.
Some users experienced leaks from the humidifier, so buying from a reputed seller is important. Some said it emitted a mildew smell after a few days of usage. Make sure you use only filtered or distilled water to prevent this.
Most users were satisfied with its quiet humidification performance. Some revealed that the high cool mist output alleviated their allergies and dry skin issues.
This touchscreen and remote-operated humidifier has a top-fill tank as opposed to lifting a heavy tank for filling from the bottom. The high-quality mist it produces is filtered and odorless, thanks to the ceramic filter with active carbon filters and an air ionization lamp. Use a few drops of oil in the essential oil chamber for some scented mist.
The one-gallon detachable water tank has a handle, and filling and cleaning it is fairly easy. For optimal humidity, select the auto mode, or choose from constant humidity or its five other speed settings. Some complained of receiving a defective product, so buy only from an authorized seller.
A couple complained of inaccurate humidistat readings. A lot of users liked its multi-level outputs and dual-mist settings that adapted to both summer and winter months. Most even expressed happiness about how quiet it runs, even without the sleep mode.
This is a great device for those with a pet at home or those sensitive to other allergens like pollen and dust. It's filter-free with a huge water reservoir and purifies the air while the humidifying it at the same time. It works great for large rooms of up to 400 square feet, and they even sell a larger model!
Its water level indicator goes off when there is no water, and the unit shuts off by itself. It's a bit pricey since it has two devices in one unit for effective humidification. Some users felt that cleaning the discs inside was a hassle. Also, some felt that the fan speed is low.
It comes with a 10-year warranty, but some reviewers said they have trouble getting a response from the company. A lot of users felt that the air quality around them improved and their dry air woes stopped. Some also mentioned the very quiet operation even at higher fan speeds.
This reasonably-priced and highly-functional humidifier is suitable for a large room of up to 320 square feet. It features a 360-degree nozzle to adjust the direction of flow and operates quietly. The controls are easy to use and the humidistat allows you to set the humidity to the desired level.
Worried about bad odor from humidifiers? This unit features a microporous cartridge to eliminate odor-causing microorganisms and to prevent odor. For completely silent operation, switch to the sleep mode that even shuts off the LED screen and nightlight.
Some users complained of the unit leaking and some mentioned white deposits with the use of tap water. Using filtered or distilled water can eliminate both issues. Overall, most users are happy that it reduced their allergic conditions, and say customer service is helpful should you need it.
Due to its dual-mist settings, this top-notch humidifier can help you get relief from your respiratory issues as well as dry skin problems. It comes in a cool design with an easy-to-read display and a remote with a programmable timer.
The built-in humidistat and auto mode adjust to an ideal humidity level, or you can set it yourself. The big tank is easy to detach, and cleaning is fairly easy. If you prefer some aromatherapy, make use of the essential oil tray. Adjust the mist output to any direction you want thanks to the 360-degree nozzle!
For some users, flipping the tank over for filling was a hassle. Some even reported leakage after filling. To prevent white mineral buildup from forming, use only filtered or distilled water. Most users liked its great mist output and said that its quiet operation and display-off setting helped them sleep well while breathing easy.
If you are looking for a quiet, evaporative humidifier with powerful airflow to humidify up to 1000 square feet of area, go for this. It comes with two humidifying filters with wicks to filter the water before expelling the mist. An intelligent sensor adjusts humidity to the ideal setting and shuts off when it reaches the desired level.
The huge, removable water tank is leak-proof and is easy to fill and clean. When full, the evaporator can run an entire day on low fan speed. You can now step out and return home to an adequately humidified house. The 5-year warranty makes it a secure buy.
Some users revealed that the wicks harden and the humidifier stops functioning due to mineral deposits and pet dander. Operate it only in a very clean room, and use filtered water. Overall, a lot of users are impressed with the powerful humidification it offers at a great price.
This evaporative humidifier comes with a 2.5-gallon tank to humidify larger areas of up to 2600 square feet. The built-in humidistat maintains optimal humidity levels and shuts it off when the goal is reached or when the tank is empty. Evaporator wicks use a lot of water, yet the tank lasts a day at a lower fan speed.
The three-speed setting is like other humidifiers, and some users said the highest speed is noisy. The quiet nighttime setting helps you sleep without worry and wake up to moist nasal passages. Depending on the water you use, the filters can last an entire season or get clogged.
Some users observed mildew build-up in wicks and recommended keeping the wicks full to keep the pads moist all the time. If using tap water, clean frequently in a vinegar solution, or else it can stop working. There is no water level indicator, yet most users liked its simple design and efficiency.
Although sleek, this humidifier has an impressive 1.6-gallon tank to humidify rooms of up to 430 square feet. Depending on the mist intensity it can run up to 60 hours, and the 360-degree rotatable nozzle allows adjusts the direction of mist flow. The design is simple, yet there is a dial to adjust the mist level.
It's lightweight, so place it in a location where kids or pets can't easily knock it down. There is an LED indicator to warn when water is low. The water inlet is wide, so cleaning it is never a hassle. But some reviewers had a concern that the tank can be refilled only when it is empty.
Also, the base can be filled with water, so dump that before placing the full tank on it to prevent leakage as reported by some users. This highly-efficient humidifier operates quietly. Besides that, some users loved the LED nightlight that can be turned on and off, as you prefer.
This large-capacity humidifier with a top-fill design is equipped to cover large rooms of up to 750 square feet. The clear LCD displays humidity, temperature, mist level, and water level. You can operate it using the touch buttons or the remote control. At night, switch to sleep mode if you want all indicators off.
For the multi-directional humidifying experience, turn the 360-degree swivel nozzle and feel the mist in all directions. It shuts off when the tank is empty or when the room's humidity goal is attained. The highlight is the medical stone filter to purify the water to expel high-quality mist output.
Some users expressed discomfort because the temperature display is only in Centigrade. Despite the three levels, some felt that the mist stream isn't powerful enough, but cleaning regularly might help. For the many satisfied users, the product lived up to its claims and improved their respiratory issues.
For relief from respiratory and nasal discomfort, this vaporizer from Vicks is a good choice as it expels 99% bacteria-free mist. The medicine cup to add inhalants and the scent pad compartment are its highlights. At high setting, it can last only for a night or so.
Its quiet operation is a remarkable feature like most good quality humidifiers, and it shuts off when the tank is empty. Some users experienced water leaks and calcification inside the unit after a few days. Running on mineral water or tap water can result in mineral deposits and scale formation, which can, in turn, lead to water leaks.
But most users liked that it helped them breathe and sleep better, and some felt that it's easy to clean and fill. The 3-year warranty is another likable feature. Reviewers also caution that it must be cleaned weekly so the heating element doesn't rust.
By now you know how to buy the ideal device to humidify a large room. How about some additions to make breathing better and to make your space smell clean? Please see our recommendations below.
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