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When people talk about what they hate about winter, the usual answers are snow, cold temperatures, and shovelling.
What most people overlook, however, is the incredibly dry air. Dry air causes all kinds of irritating effects including aggravation of cold and flu symptoms, worsening of asthma and allergy symptoms, dry skin, cracked lips, dry eyes, dry mucous membranes and sinuses leading to bloody noses or inflammation and congestion, and even warping of wood in walls or floors if they dry out too much.
Dry air is a nasty side effect of the colder winter months, but there is a salvation!
Your salvation comes in the form of a humidifier. Humidifiers add moisture to the air to raise humidity levels inside your home.
After a few days, all of the already mentioned side effects of dry air are improved or entirely eliminated.
While some humidifiers are built in to HVAC systems, portable humidifiers can be just as effective and are much more affordable.
Since you probably don’t have time to comb through dozens of humidifiers and try to find a good one, we’ve done all the grunt work for you.
We took 52 hours to analyze 34 products and 934 customer reviews to give you some excellent choices to consider.
Following our last update, we recommend the Everlasting Comfort Cool Mist Humidifier: reliable, high-quality and affordable, this our new favourite.
In a rush? Buy it now on Amazon!
Humidifiers Comparative Table
| Product | Summary | Rating | Price | |
|
TOP PICK
|
Everlasting Comfort Cool Mist Humidifier
|
|
9.6/10 | See price on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
UPGRADE PICK
|
Levoit Cold Air LV600HH
|
|
9.6/10 | See price on Amazon |
|
BUDGET PICK
|
SmartDevil Portable Mini Humidifier
|
|
8.6/10 | See price on Amazon |
Our Pick for The Best Humidifier
Everlasting Comfort Cool Mist Humidifier Review
The Best Overall
Everlasting
The Everlasting Comfort Cool Mist Humidifier is a great option to add to your home or office. It is compact enough to not take up much room, but it can handle everything that you throw at it and more. The sleek design and ability to handle rooms up to 500 square feet make it one of our top contenders.
What We Think of the Everlasting Comfort Cool Mist Humidifier
When you need a humidifier in your home, you want to make sure that you go with one of the best products out there. This humidifier from Everlasting Comfort is great for the dorm, nursery, office, or home. It can hold six liters, which is enough to provide extra moisture for rooms up to 500 square feet. This will be enough for most rooms.
In addition to the 6 liter tank, this humidifier comes with an essential oil tray that allows you to circulate fragrant oils into the cool mist. Calm down and get a bit of moisture throughout the room with this great option.
Many humidifiers struggle with working in bedrooms because they are so noisy just to work. The Everlasting Comfort humidifier is designed to be whisper quiet. At less than 30 DB of sound, you will feel like it is nearly silent. This makes it easier to add it to the bedrooms with your children without them being kept awake.
When the water runs out at the end of the night, this humidifier will automatically shut off, without causing a lot of noise or breaking the machine. And since it does not need a filter, it is simple to use this humidifier in any room of the home.
Since it only fits 6-liters, it will run out of water pretty quickly. This is an even bigger problem if you plan to keep the humidity really high in the room. For a little extra humidity, it is usually enough to keep the room comfortable.
Everlasting Comfort Cool Mist Humidifier Specifications
- Brand: Everlasting Comfort
- Capacity: 1.6 gallons
- Runtime: 50 hours
- Material: Plastic
Everlasting Comfort Cool Mist Humidifier Pros and Cons
Pros
Pros
- Can handle a room up to 500 square feet
- Quiet so it can stay in the kids’ bedrooms
- You do not need a filter to use
- Lasts for up to 50 hours
Cons
- The tank is smaller so you may need to replace often
Our Final Opinion About the Everlasting Comfort Cool Mist Humidifier
Quality 5.0 out of 5.0 stars Effectiveness 5.0 out of 5.0 stars Design 4.0 out of 5.0 stars Price 5.0 out of 5.0 stars
This is a great humidifier to choose for any room in the home. It will keep everyone comfortable and the fact that it can keep quiet all night long will make it a dream for parents who are tired of their old humidifier. For larger rooms or areas that get really dry, it may feel like you are replacing the water all the time. Overall, the Everlasting Comfort humidifier is one of our top picks because it is one of the best out there.
Our Upgrade Pick for a Humidifier
Levoit Cold Air LV600HH Review
The High-End Option
Levoit
If you’re looking for something a little higher-end with greater features and tank capacity, you’ll be satisfied by the Levoit Cold Air LV600HH.
Levoit Cold Air LV600HH Video Review
What We Think of the Levoit Cold Air LV600HH
The Levoit Cold Air LV600HH humidifier outclasses most other models in nearly every way. You can choose between warm mist and cool mist at any time and the 6L tank can run for 36 hours at the lowest mist setting.
This humidifier is great for larger spaces as the tank can cover 753 square feet. Another upgraded function of this humidifier is the mist output: at 500ml/hour, this humidifier works 25% faster than other models.
This humidifier has a built-in humidistat to accurately detect current humidity levels and will automatically add moisture to the air until the humidity levels reach your set percentage.
The LED screen is larger than most other humidifiers and will tell you all of your settings as well as the current humidity level in the area.
You can also set a timer on this unit if you don’t want it to constantly maintain the humidity.
I couldn’t ask for a better humidifier. I didn’t want to spend money on a super basic humidifier so I opted for this Levoit humidifier that has awesome features. The large capacity is great for me since I tend to forget things like this and it will run for a good long time before needing to be filled. I keep it running all the time to maintain the humidity in my large living room and I feel that it covers the room nicely. The remote control is super convenient also.
Margaret G.
This unit has a night mode for sleeping as well as an aroma diffuser and 3 distinct mist levels. The nozzle rotates 360 degrees and can be aimed in any direction within your space.
This unit also comes with a remote for even greater ease of use and convenience. This unit is very easy to fill and clean and comes with an auto shutoff when it runs out of water to prevent damage to the unit.
Levoit Cold Air LV600HH Specifications
- Dimensions: 13.5” x 12.4” x 9.5”
- Capacity: 6L
- Weight: 6.3 lbs
- Colour: White
- Material: Plastic
- Warranty: 2 years
- Full-tank Working Time: 36 hours
- Maximum Area Coverage: 753 ft2
- Mist levels: 3
- Max ml per Hour: 500
Levoit Cold Air LV600HH Pros and Cons
Pros
Pros
- Auto Shutoff
- Large water capacity
- Remote control
Cons
- Expensive
Our Final Opinion About the Levoit Cold Air LV600HH
Quality 5.0 out of 5.0 stars Effectiveness 5.0 out of 5.0 stars Design 5.0 out of 5.0 stars Price 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
We definitely recommend this Levoit Cold Air humidifier to any shopper willing to spend a few extra bucks on a higher-quality unit. The remote and touch control panel combine for optimal usability and the large tank will work perfectly in larger-sized rooms.
Our Budget Pick for a Humidifier
SmartDevil Portable Mini Humidifier Review
The Affordable Choice
SmartDevil
The SmartDevil mini humidifier is a great option to keep in the office with you. It is quite a bit smaller than some of the other humidifiers that are out there, but for smaller spaces that need a little bit of moisture, this one will meet all your needs.
SmartDevil Portable Mini Humidifier Video Review
What We Think of the SmartDevil Portable Mini Humidifier
You will enjoy the large cap and large spray to help you. The liquid water is atomized into tiny water particles to make a nice mist throughout the home. The 500ml and the fine spray are used to increase the humidity in the air. Add it into a room that has air conditioning in it to get the best results.
The night functions are a nice feature as well. It is nice and silent so it will not keep you up at night. And turn it into a night light so you can easily adjust it to the right settings that you need. With this humidifier going, you will be set with a comfortable and quiet environment.
The automatic safeties are nice with this one too. Whenever the water level gets too low, the spray modes will turn off automatically to help eliminate some of the safety hazards that come with them. Before you even use it, the whole filter cotton core has to be soaked with water. This ensures that enough water is in the unit to make it effective.
The two spray modes will help provide you with just the amount of moisture in the air that you need. Choose from the continuous spray or the intermittent spray. We found that the continuous spray was sometimes a little bit much for the room as the machine didn’t seem to have a good sensor on this one.
Many customers found that using mineral water is better for this one. This can make it a bit more expensive to use compared to the other options. Tap water is one of the worst options, which does make it more inconvenient to use. However, it is a user-friendly product because it does not have any complicated mechanisms.
SmartDevil Portable Mini Humidifier Specifications
- Brand: SmartDevil
- Materials: Polypropylene, silicone, polycarbonate
- Runtime: 18 hours
SmartDevil Portable Mini Humidifier Pros and Cons
Pros
Pros
- Has two spray modes.
- Comes with a nightlight to make it easier to see at night.
- Automatically turns off
- Nice and quiet
Cons
- Too small for some of the bigger rooms.
- Have to soak the filter to get it to work
Our Final Opinion About the SmartDevil Portable Mini Humidifier
Quality 4.0 out of 5.0 stars Effectiveness 3.0 out of 5.0 stars Design 4.5 out of 5.0 stars Price 4.5 out of 5.0 stars
This is a smaller humidifier so it may not work if you would like to take care of a whole room. For a smaller space, this can do the job. It will hold about a cup, so get ready to fill it quite a bit, making it ineffective for the night. The automatic turn-off, the light at night, and the two spray features can make this a good choice.
Alternative Products to Consider
Vicks VUL520WC Review
The No-Frills Alternative
Vicks
If you have low standards and an even lower budget for your humidifier, the Vicks VUL520WC humidifier will get the job done. Everything about this humidifier is smaller, from the price tag to the tank size to the number of features, but it will still do what it’s meant to do.
Vicks VUL520WC Video Review
What We Think of the Vicks VUL520WC
The Vicks VUL520WC cool mist ultrasonic humidifier is another affordable option with the most basic features on our list.
It holds 1.9L of water and can manage a run time of 20 hours on the lowest setting. If you only need to use it overnight or while you work in a small office, this unit is a great choice. It is not suited to regular operation or larger areas.
The nozzle on this humidifier is unfortunately not maneuverable, so you’ll have to face it in the direction you need the mist to flow for better area coverage.
We consider this a point against the unit as it would not take much to include a 360-degree nozzle for increased convenience.
The Vicks humidifier is really simple and basic which is great for my purposes. It is really small but I only use the lower portion of the nozzle settings in my baby’s room. I find it to be very effective at adding moisture in the air and I fill it once in the morning and again at night to make sure it doesn’t run out. It is easy to change the settings when needed and the large opening is great for cleaning, which I do twice a week.
Molly P.
This unit does have a scent pad for aromatherapy and includes a nightlight option. The humidifier is easy to fill and clean through a large opening in the underside of the tank.
It will also automatically turn itself off once the tank empties to protect against damage from dry operation.
As an added bonus, this unit will stay clean longer thanks to a continuously cleaning Protec cartridge.
This humidifier operates using an adjustable dial for variable mist settings. While easily customizable, it is an imprecise dial control lacking specific numbered mist settings.
Vicks VUL520WC Specifications
- Dimensions: 9.2” x 8.2” x 9.3”
- Capacity: 1.9L
- Weight: 3 lbs
- Colour: White
- Material: Plastic
- Warranty: 2 years
- Full-tank Working Time: 20 hours
- Mist levels: Adjustable Dial
Vicks VUL520WC Pros and Cons
Pros
Pros
- Affordable
- Large opening for filling
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Small capacity
- Nozzle only faces one way
Our Final Opinion About the Vicks VUL520WC
Quality 4.0 out of 5.0 stars Effectiveness 4.0 out of 5.0 stars Design 4.0 out of 5.0 stars Price 5.0 out of 5.0 stars
The Vicks VUL520WC humidifier is the most basic and most affordable on our list. It doesn’t have really any features and is cheaply made, but this model does have great value and will do what it is designed for without disappointing functionality or usability struggles.
Air Innovations MH-701B Review
The Colourful Alternative
Air Innovations
If you’re a colourful person and want a humidifier that will seamlessly fit into your décor, the Air Innovations MH-701B is the one for you. Whether in Platinum, Red, Purple, or Black, this gorgeous humidifier will please the eye.
Air Innovations MH-701B Video Review
What We Think of the Air Innovations MH-701B
The Air Innovations MH-701B humidifier is by far the prettiest on our list. It comes in 4 colour options and has an incredibly stylish and sleek design that will look great in any room.
This unit has a large tank capacity of 6.4L and can operate on a single tank for a staggering 96 hours on the lowest mist setting.
The antimicrobial tank and base, paired with the permanent ceramic filter, ensure that cleaning this unit won’t be a challenge or a regular chore.
This humidifier is perfect for larger rooms up to 600 square feet in size.
There are 5 mist levels to choose from on this model and it uses an innovative digital display that shows the humidity level in the room as well as your settings.
This unit also has a remote control for distance adjustments and extra convenience.
When I began my humidifier research, I didn’t think they came in appealing colours or designs. This humidifier definitely surprised me by its stylish design and colour choices. I am very impressed by how long it runs for considering its size, and it seems to be really effective for the few weeks I’ve had it so far. The mist goes in two directions at once to better cover the room, and the remote makes adjustments really easy.
Simone L.
This humidifier has an auto shutoff feature to protect the unit from damage and the 360-degree rotating head has two spouts to send the mist in separate directions to better cover larger areas.
The humidifier is incredibly quiet and won’t disrupt sleep or bother you with an annoying background noise during operation.
The extension nozzle adds 15” of height to the unit to convert it to a floor humidifier if that suits your purposes better.
You can set the humidifier to turn on and off whenever you please and it will alert you when it runs out of water and requires refilling.
Everything about this humidifier screams convenience, and we don’t mind the higher price tag for such luxury.
Air Innovations MH-701B Specifications
- Dimensions: 20.5” x 14.3” x 10.7”
- Capacity: 6.4L
- Weight: 6 lbs
- Colour: Red, Purple, Black, or Platinum
- Material: Plastic
- Warranty: 1 year
- Full-tank Working Time: 96 hours
- Maximum Area Coverage: 600 ft2
- Mist levels: 5
Air Innovations MH-701B Pros and Cons
Pros
Pros
- Colour choices
- Seek design
- 96-hour run time on full tank
- Remote control
Cons
Cons
- Expensive
Our Final Opinion About the Air Innovations MH-701B
Quality 4.0 out of 5.0 stars Effectiveness 5.0 out of 5.0 stars Design 5.0 out of 5.0 stars Price 3.0 out of 5.0 stars
This pretty Air Innovations MH-701B humidifier is incredibly versatile, offers exceptional usability features, and will make the perfect accent in any rom. Who says a humidifier has to be an eyesore? Air Innovations certainly disagrees, and we approve of the result.
LEVOIT Top Fill Humidifier Review
The Smart Alternative
Levoit
The LEVOIT humidifier is one of the best options to add to your home. It has all of the features that you need to sit back and relax with all of the moisture that your home or room needs. With some of the smart capabilities that come with it and a top-fill option, this humidifier will soon found a place in your home.
LEVOIT Top Fill Humidifier Video Review
What We Think of the LEVOIT Top Fill Humidifier
The first thing that sets this humidifier apart is that it has a smart and voice control with it. You can connect it to your app on the phone and then tell it to work with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa to make life a bit easier. With the right wording, you will be able to turn the humidifier on and off, even when you are not at home.
The run time is great on this humidifier. It is for 60 hours of continuous use, if you leave it on the lowest setting. This is designed to help with a room that is up to 505 square feet. The top-fill design will make it easier for you to fill it up when you want.
The aroma diffuser is a nice added touch. You will be able to pick out the essential oils that you would like to have go around the room at the same time as the spray to aid in the relaxing. And with a quiet spray feature on this humidifier helps as you drift off at night without hearing too much noise.
This one has three mist levels, which is more than most of the other humidifiers on our list. It includes an auto-off feature when you run out of water, and a comforting night light to finish off all the relaxing that you need to do. If you want it to turn off in the middle of the night, just set a timer on it through the smart app.
LEVOIT Top Fill Humidifier Specifications
- Brand: Levoit
- Material: Acrylonitrile, Butadiene, Styrene
- Power Source: AC
- Capacity: 6 liters
- Runtime: 60 hours
LEVOIT Top Fill Humidifier Pros and Cons
Pros
Pros
- Uses smart technology to make turning it on and off a breeze
- Can add essential oils to it
- 60 hours of continuous spray on the lowest setting
- Quiet and relaxing
Cons
Cons
- May be too big to use in the office
- Linking it to your smart assistant is complicated
Our Final Opinion About the LEVOIT Top Fill Humidifier
Quality 4.0 out of 5.0 stars.6 Effectiveness 4.5 out of 5.0 stars Design 4.0 out of 5.0 stars Price 5.0 out of 5.0 stars
There are a lot of great features that come with this humidifier. You can hook it up to smart apps to make it easier to control and it has many options so that you can choose what is right for your space. It is a bit too big to use in the office but will make a wonderful addition to any living room or bedroom. And with the quiet misting option, you will not have to worry about a loud machine keeping you up.
GENIANI Portable Small Cool Mist Humidifier Review
The Small and Compact Alternative
Geniani
Small and compact are great words to describe the GENIANI portable humidifier. Move it from one room to another to add some moisture and a nice essential oil (it is a fantastic 2 in 1 machine), to help you stay calm, feel rejuvenated, and so much more. For such a compact design, you will find so much to love with this humidifier.
GENIANI Portable Small Cool Mist Humidifier Video Review
What We Think of the GENIANI Portable Small Cool Mist Humidifier
This is a great 2 in 1 humidifier and diffuser. This makes it easier to fill up any room with the best essential oils to go along with the cool mist of the machine. Feel calm and relaxed along the way with this unique humidifier.
Choose the smart mode as well. This will help you to maintain the right humidity level, thanks to the built-in intelligent sensor. If you want to have more or less moisture brought into the home, you will be able to modify it as well.
This is a top-fill humidifier. Refilling is easy with this because you can just open it up and then insert the water without having to take anything apart. The noise level is nice and light so you can sleep, especially when you have a good essential oil that goes along with it.
This is a wonderful product , came in record time, my daughter started to have a runny nose. And it helped, just add some peppermint to your water or any type of incense.
stania p.
This is one of the best humidifiers to use for a nursery. It has a good essential oil to help the baby sleep, a light sound to help not disturb them, and a comforting light as well. It can work in any room in the home too.
Be prepared that this is a smaller humidifier. It can hold onto 4 liters of water, which is substantial, but it will not be able to take up a whole lower level or a large room in the home. Individual rooms that need the moisture will benefit the most from this.
GENIANI Portable Small Cool Mist Humidifier Specifications
- Brand: GENIANI
- Material: Plastic
- Power Source: Corded Electric
- Capacity: 4 liters
- Runtime: 18 hours
GENIANI Portable Small Cool Mist Humidifier Pros and Cons
Pros
Pros
- Portable and easy to move around
- Add your favorite essential oil
- Low noise level to help with sleeping
Cons
Cons
- Too small to use in a big room
Our Final Opinion About the GENIANI Portable Small Cool Mist Humidifier
Quality 4.0 out of 5.0 stars.8 Effectiveness 4.5 out of 5.0 stars Design 4.0 out of 5.0 stars Price 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
If you are looking for a compact and portable humidifier to keep the room cool and comfortable, then this is the best machine out there to get it done. It has all of the features that you need and will work great for all bedrooms, including a nursery for your baby. While this one may not work well for larger rooms, it can still help to add moisture
Honeywell HUL535BC Review
The Dark Alternative
Honeywell
If you want a humidifier that’s dark like your soul, this sleek black Honeywell HUL535BC cool mist humidifier is the perfect choice. Even the transparent water tank is tinted, thank you very much.
Honeywell HUL535BC Video Review
What We Think of the Honeywell HUL535BC
The Honeywell HUL535BC ultrasonic humidifier has a nearly 4L capacity capable of 24 uninterrupted hours of operation when using the lowest setting.
Its stylish black design can be substituted for white if you prefer a lighter colour, but the black model is much more elegant in our humble opinion.
This humidifier doesn’t come with too many extra features, but what it does have, it does well.
It is incredibly quiet during operation and would be a great source of humidity in a kid’s room, bedroom, or office setting.
The tank opening is large for simplified cleaning and filling, and the unit has an auto shutoff function when the tank needs more water.
I am so glad I finally decided to get a humidifier, and I am even happier that I chose the Honeywell model. I think it looks great and it has a pretty large tank so I don’t need to fill it more than once a day. The mist comes out pretty quickly to efficiently get the room up to the right temperature. I also like that it cleans the water for me so I breathe in healthy mist. I give this product 10/10.
Haley N.
The mist output on this unit is effective and efficient in medium-sized rooms, though the output nozzle does not rotate.
The humidifier is fairly easy to fill for a bottom-fill humidifier, and it has an ergonomic handle designed to make removing and carrying the tank less awkward.
We do wish it came with a couple more functionality features for the price, but the unit does come in a 0.5-gallon option if you prefer its design but want a smaller, cheaper unit.
Honeywell HUL535BC Specifications
- Dimensions: 9.2” x 8.2” x 13.2”
- Capacity: 3.8L
- Weight: 3.7 lbs
- Colour: Black
- Material: Plastic
- Warranty: 2 years
- Full-tank Working Time: 24 hours
- Maximum Area Coverage: Medium-sized room
- Mist levels: Adjustable Dial
Honeywell HUL535BC Pros and Cons
Pros
Pros
- Continuous cleaning cartridge
- Aesthetically pleasing
- Fully adjustable mist dial
Cons
Cons
- Bottom fill
Our Final Opinion About the Honeywell HUL535BC
Quality 5.0 out of 5.0 stars Effectiveness 5.0 out of 5.0 stars Design 4.0 out of 5.0 stars Price 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
The Honeywell HUL535BC is a great humidifier with great functionality, ultra-quiet operation, and a sleek design. You really won’t go wrong with this mid-level model.
Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier Review
The Compact Alternative
Pure Enrichment
The Pure Enrichment humidifier is a great option to have in your bedroom or office. It is a compact option that can provide a good, cool mist that you need in any room. While there are bigger humidifiers out there, this one can work well for a small room to make sure you can be comfortable while working or sleeping.
What We Think of the Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
When you need instant dry air relief, this is the right humidifier for you. It provides an ultrasonic cool mist technology will help to quickly moisturize the dry air for 25 hours continually. This can make it easier to breathe easy and get the restful sleep that you need.
The tank is a little bit smaller than many other similar humidifiers at only 15 liters, but it is easy to fill. It works the best for smaller bedrooms, including nurseries, and for offices, rather than large living rooms or a bigger area in the home. If you just need to add moisture to one room, this one is plenty.
Get ready for some year-round comfort. With the possibility to use either the low or high speed settings and a mist nozzle that can go 360 degrees will help make it easier to balance and regulate how much humidity is in the room, no matter the time of year. Get ready for some relief for that next cold by keeping this nearby.
The automatic shut-off will help keep the humidifier running safely. When the water is reaching a lower level, it will turn off. The night light can be a little bright in some of the darker rooms and can be a pain.
This humidifier is going to come with all of the extra parts that you need to make sure that it works well. Setup can take a little bit of time, but overall, this is a great product to help add moisture to the air in any room you want.
Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier Specifications
- Brand: Pure Enrichment
- Material: BPA-Free PS and ABS Plastic
- Runtime: 16 hours
- Power Source: AC Power Adapter
- Floor area: 250 square feet
Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier Pros and Cons
Pros
Pros
- A cool mist that works all year long
- Good for a bedroom or an office
- An automatic shut-off to keep the humidifier safe.
Cons
Cons
- The 1.5 liter tank is much smaller than some of the other options on our list
Our Final Opinion About the Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
Quality 5.0 out of 5.0 stars Effectiveness 5.0 out of 5.0 stars Design 4.0 out of 5.0 stars Price 4.5 out of 5.0 stars
This humidifier is a lot smaller than some of the other options on our list, which could be a problem for customers who need to use it in a big area. For smaller areas like in a bedroom, this will be able to provide all the moisture that you need. It includes all the great features and is easy to refill and use as often as you need.
Why Should You Trust Us?
All the recommendations we make on The Good Choice are the result of many hours of research, comparisons, analysis of consumer reviews and, if necessary, expert feedbacks. The products we recommend here are the ones that will best perform their daily tasks, passing all security, reliability and efficiency tests while having an appealing price-quality ratio for everyone.
What are our criteria for judging the products reviewed and selected by The Good Choice?
- Quality: Does the product have a solid construction? Will it be reliable over time? Does it have a good warranty?
- Efficiency: Is the product efficient in its task or do you need to give it some help? Is it for example powerful, fast, quiet?
- Usability: Is the product easy to handle, easy to use and maintain?
- Price: Is the price of the product and/or accessories and/or spare parts reasonable compared to the rest of the market?
In addition to these main criteria, we then establish a list of specific criteria for each product category, detailed a little further down in this article.
In the end, the products we recommend are the ones we would want to buy, and the ones we would also choose for our friends and family.
Things to Know Before Buying a Humidifier
What Does a Humidifier Do?
Humidifiers add moisture to the air and adjust the humidity in your home. They are used most often in winter to prevent dryness and dryness-related health effects. Some humidifiers can also act as aromatherapy units.
How Do I Know I Need a Humidifier in My Home?
If you suffer from dry skin, cracked lips, or aching sinuses, odds are the humidity in your home is too low, the air too dry, and you need a humidifier to correct the moisture levels in the air.
What Are the Benefits of Using a Humidifier?
Humidifiers are useful for a number of reasons:
- Relieve allergy symptoms
- Relieve asthma symptoms
- Speed up healing from a cold or flu
- Relieve nose bleeds and dry sinuses
- Heals dry skin, lips, and eyes
- Reduce static electricity in the air
- Reduce heating costs since moist air feels warmer to us
- Relieve snoring through moist airways
- Eliminate dry and itchy scalp
- Preserve and protect your wooden walls and floors from shrinking due to dryness
What is the Difference Between Cool Mist and Warm Mist Humidifiers?
Warm mist and cool mist humidifiers are different in a couple of ways.
Warm mist humidifies are considered healthier than cool mist humidifiers since they heat the water before misting, which effectively kills the germs in the water before you breathe them in. They are better suited for homes without kids or pets unless it can be kept out of reach since they heat up during use.
Cool mist humidifiers do not change the water temperature and their energy consumption is much lower than warm mist humidifiers. There are two different types of cool mist humidifiers: Ultrasonic and Evaporative. Ultrasonic cool mist humidifiers use high-frequency sound vibrations to create mist, are typically quieter than evaporative humidifiers, but don’t often have filters.
Evaporative humidifiers, on the other hand, uses a fan to draw in air that blows through a wick filter inside the humidifier before being released into the air. These models are typically louder but the vapor they release is usually cleaner.
How Do I Know What Humidity Level I Should Maintain?
The ideal humidity level inside your home is between 40 and 50 percent. A humidity level over 50 creates a breeding ground for mold, bacteria, and dust mites. Anything below 30% increases the spread of cold and flu viruses, irritates nasal passages, causes dry skin, and irritates respiratory symptoms.
How Do I Care for My Humidifier?
Your humidifier should not be left running if there is no water in the tank, and regular cleaning is important. We recommend cleaning your tank once a week using a soft brush and a mild cleanser. Make sure to rinse it thoroughly and let it dry before beginning operation again.
Can I Use Any Water in my Humidifier?
Yes, but if you’re putting hard water into a humidifier, make sure that there is a mineral cartridge within the humidifier and you should clean it out more frequently to prevent buildup. If your humidifier does not have a mineral cartridge, you should fill it with distilled water so you aren’t at risk of worsening or developing respiratory issues as a result of breathing in white dust.
How to Properly Choose Your Humidifier
- Budget.
Your ideal price point will affect the size and features you get on your humidifier. While some lower-end humidifiers can have a larger tank, they typically don’t come with all of the usability features and functions that a more expensive unit will possess. Setting your budget after a bit of browsing will help you determine how much you’re willing to pay for which features.
- Tank Capacity.
Tank capacity is one of the most important factors to consider before making your purchase. The tank capacity directly corresponds to how long the humidifier can run, so you’d have to fill a smaller tank more often. Even small humidifiers can have a larger tank capacity and run for 60+ hours on a low setting, so make sure to note the tank capacity and not simply the size of the humidifier unit as a whole.
- Room Size.
Humidifiers are available in all types of sizes, designed for all types of rooms. If you’re looking for a humidifier for your office or bedroom, a smaller tabletop humidifier will be perfect. If you choose a humidifier built for larger spaces, you’ll probably experience condensation on surfaces and too much moisture in the air, which can lead to mold growth.
However, if you need a humidifier for an office or other commercial space, you’re better off purchasing a medium-large humidifier that has a larger tank and can disperse mist faster.
- Nozzle Direction.
Some humidifiers have 360-degree nozzles that can disperse mist in all directions, while others have a set direction. Both have their pros and cons, so make sure to pay attention to the nozzle type and direction when making your purchase.
- Fill Type.
The fill type is not a huge game changer either way, but top fill humidifiers are typically more popular since you can simply pour water into the tank rather than having to lift off the tank and flip it upside down to fill from the bottom. The aesthetic of the humidifier also changes with a top r bottom fill, so that’s something to consider as well.
- Features.
Humidifiers can come with a variety of features that improve usability and functionality. For example, some humidifiers come with a remote for versatile adjustments, while others have LCD screens and buttons or dials to control the mist settings. Other humidifiers have built in humidistats, can be programmed to maintain a specified humidity setting, have an auto-shutoff or timer, an adjustable night-light or night setting, and more.
- Mist Type.
Choosing between warm mist and cool mist is an important consideration. Warm mist humidifiers are typically healthier since they destroy germs through the heating phase of operation, but they use more energy and can become hot to the touch after several hours of running, so pets and children are at risk of minor burns if not supervised and kept away from the tank.
Cool mist humidifiers, on the other hand, are better options for households with pets and children as they do not pose a safety risk. They are also lower energy users so your electric bill won’t be quite as high.
- Mist levels.
The variety of mist settings is another determining factor when choosing a humidifier. Some humidifiers use 3 or 5 settings while others have a twist dial that allows for greater customization between the minimum and maximum mist outputs. Some humidifiers have a different minimum and maximum, and these numbers determine how fast the tank will empty and how efficiently the unit can humidify the room. Usually, the greater the range the better.
- Warranty.
The warranty on your humidifier will allow you to return a damaged or ineffective humidifier for a refund, so it’s always a good idea to look for a longer warranty coverage period. Longer warranties also speak to greater quality of the product, so you can feel more confident in your purchase with a 3 or 5-year warranty over a 1-year warranty.
- Energy Efficiency.
Since your humidifier may run overnight or throughout the day, every day, energy efficiency is important. Warm mist humidifiers typically use more electricity than cool mist humidifiers since they heat the water before it is released into the air and cool mist humidifiers do not.
- Timer.
Some humidifiers come with a timer so you can set the humidifier to run for a specific amount of time before turning off. If you’re likely to forget to turn it off in the morning, or if you don’t want the humidifier to run all night and cause condensation, a timer is a great feature to look out for.
- Auto Shutoff
The auto-shutoff function on some humidifiers is super useful. The appliance will shut itself off when it runs out of water so that it doesn’t become damaged by running without a water source.
We do our best to provide you with a comparative guide of humidifiers allowing you to choose the best product possible. If we are missing information or new models, do not hesitate to leave a comment below or to send us a message.
