How Do I Choose the Best Humidifier That Actually Works?

Breathe in, breathe out. Feel that? It’s the relaxing, soothing sensation of a humidifier.

Or, it’s nothing at all since the humidifier you bought doesn’t work.

The best humidifier refreshes and moisturizes the surrounding air. A residential humidifier improves indoor air quality, helping people who are sick to recuperate faster. Unfortunately, not all types of humidifiers do the job well.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to get the best humidifier–one that actually works.

The Best Humidifier for Sick People: Warm Mist

One of the best reasons to get a humidifier is to help alleviate or treat the symptoms of respiratory illness. For the smart homeowner who wants to protect the health of their children, this is the best option.

Warm mist, as the name implies, heats water into vapor. This releases the vapor into the air, warming and moisturizing the air. That makes them ideal for cold climates since they not only moisturize cold air, but warm it too.

Warm mist is highly beneficial to sick people since it can kill bacteria. It does so via humidifier filters. As an added benefit, you can use them to fill a room with airborne medication.

However, these tend to be more expensive, and are more difficult to clean.

The Best Humidifier for Warmer Climates and Congestion: Cool Mist

If you live in a dry climate and suffer from chest congestion, cool mist is your best bet. A warm mist humidifier can heat up a room by a noticeable amount, which is not ideal in a hotter climate. Cool mist doesn’t cause this problem.

Even if you don’t get sick often, you might suffer from allergies and congestion. This makes it difficult to breathe–and difficult to sleep as a result. Cool mist helps to clear up your airways so you can get a nice lungful of air on every breath.

The Best Humidifier for a Varying Climate and Energy Efficiency: Ultrasonic

Ultrasonic humidifiers might seem like something out of the future. They agitate the air with ultrasonic waves, releasing water into the air.

But apart from being high-tech, these humidifiers are quiet. They’re ideal if you have a child who struggles to sleep with any sort of noise. When you turn on your ultrasonic humidifier, it’s no louder than a whisper.

Plus, they’re very energy efficient and easy to clean. You can choose warm mist or cool mist according to your preference.

Unfortunately, this does come at a cost. If you’re on a tight budget, this humidifier might be a bit too expensive for you.

Find the Humidifier for You

The best humidifier is one that’s easy to use and adds needed moisture to the air. However, there are different types of humidifiers that all serve different functions. You need to find the right humidifier for your specific case, and then you’ll see the benefits.

Follow our blog for more tips on homeownership.