Growing up in New England I was accustomed to digging out the family’s collection of humidifiers at the onset of the colder months. We had a wood stove to heat our home, but it was more like a glorified, high-efficiency fireplace. It was both an irritation to keep up with and a pain to breathe the dry air. Our collection of humidifiers strategically placed around the house was a necessity.

Humidification is something that has become a year-round staple to my family. Currently, I live in Georgia; and while I no longer manage a wood stove, I do struggle with the oppressive heat in the summer. Not only does the heat dry out any moisture in the house, but also we've been in drought conditions for years. This combination makes for very dry indoor air all year round.

My daughter's bedroom is ground zero in terms of the driest room in the house. The sun beats down against her windows all day long. During the summer months I keep her shades pulled in an effort to reduce the heat in her room. This doesn't stop the moisture in the air from completely drying out. We run a humidifier every night for her while she sleeps, and she refuses to go to bed without it. We run it during the winter months as well, as the air is dry due to the heater. Additionally we have also found that if we keep a 40 - 50% level of moisture in the air, the heat is maintained more efficiently in the house, helping with our gas bills.

Humidifiers are just as important to my family as the furnace, the a/c or even the sofa. We need them to feel comfortable and happy all year. It’s no surprise that I have bought many over the years. With this experience, I have found that there are certain aspects that I require from my humidifier and other aspects that I would like to have if available.

My Humidifier Requirements:

• A large capacity - since I use it year round. I have smaller units but find it annoying to have to continuously refill them.


• A germicidal feature - If I'm going to run a humidifier with a large capacity, I am concerned about stagnant water and mold growth. (My humidifier has a UV light that kills both germs and mold.)


• Automatic shut off when it is empty.


• The ability to swivel the direction of the vapor without moving the whole unit.

Units with some or all of these features:

Enviracaire EWM-350
Enviracaire EWM-300
Air-O-Swiss 2055
Enviracaire 211

Additional Features I Would Like In A Humidifier:

• A night light for use in my daughter's room.


• A place to put respiratory medicine to be dispersed though the air (a good thing for winter colds!).


• The ability to control the temperature of the vapor (cool in the summer and warm in the winter).


• Digital Controls.

Units with some or all of these features:

Enviracaire EWM-211