Humidifier Buying Guide

Dry climates, winter air, and artificial heat can lead to dry skin and irritated nasal and sinus membranes. Humidifiers restore moisture to dry sinus and nasal membranes by adding moisture to the air. By restoring humidity to healthy levels you not only can alleviate symptoms from dry air like eczema and irritation but also promote a healthier environment for the wood and other things in your home that can be damaged by air that is too dry. Among all humidifiers there is a basic division. You can choose between any number of warm mist humidifiers and cool mist humidifiers. Some units, dual mist humidifiers, are capable of producing both temperature mists. If you are concerned with how the water is released into the air, our line-up also includes ultrasonic humidifiers, and evaporative humidifiers. We have recently added several new brands and models to our humidifier offering including Air-O-Swiss, Germ Guardian, Enviracaire, Vornado, and Swizz Fred.

  How Humidifiers Work

As far as the method of getting moisture back into the air, there are four basic technologies. The most simple of these is found in evaporative humidifiers which add moisture to the air using a fan that blows air over a wet wick. The air collects the moisture and disperses it with a fan. Traditional evaporative humidifiers are louder because of the fan, and if not cleaned properly, could become breeding grounds for bacteria and mold. The Air-O-Swiss E2441 corrects both of these issues. With an Ionic Silver Stick (ISS), the AOS E2441 neutralizes bacteria and microbes. This model has top fill capability and operates at a near silent level.

The second type of humidifier, Warm mist humidifiers, boils the water to kill germs before misting the vapor into the air. Our humidifiers that operate in this way include the Enviracaire EWM-211D,  Enviracaire EWM-300W, the EWM-350 warm mist humidifier, the Germ Guardian Ultrasonic Humidifiers, and the Swizz Fred Humidifiers. Enviracaire germicidal humidifiers also use a UV light to kill germs. This creates a mist that is 99.99% free of mold and bacteria. Regardless of the model you choose, each heats the water to the point of boiling before dispersing it into the air.

Impeller humidifiers use constantly rotating discs to break the water into fine drops that enter the air. The rotating discs in the Air-O-Swiss Air Washer also capture dust and other impurities in the air, essentially "washing the air." Particles are charged as they enter the unit, so they will adhere to the rotating discs. Additionally, the Air Washer uses an ionic silver stick to kill bacteria and viruses. An Ionic Silver Stick uses the natural anti-microbial properties of silver to destroy germs. The rotating discs are dishwasher safe, making clean-up easy.

The last type of humidifiers, Ultrasonic humidifiers, use high-frequency vibrations to break water into micro-fine droplets then spray this cool fog of mist into the air. The ultrasonic vibrations kill most microbes by disrupting and destroying their cell walls. The Air-O-Swiss 7135 ultrasonic humidifier also kills germs with an ionic silver stick, and comes with a demineralization cartridge that prevents white mineral dust buildup. Some humidifiers create a white dust when minerals are present in the water. If you encounter this problem, try using distilled water to help prevent build-up of minerals. You can choose warm or cool mist with the Air-O-Swiss 7135 Ultrasonic Humidifier or the Germ Guardian Ultrasonic Humidifiers. The Vornado Ultrasonic Humidifier is also an excellent choice, because of its large water tank and its fan that distributes moisture throughout the room.

  Cool Mist vs. Warm Mist

This humidifier choice is largely a matter of personal preference. As Dr. Henry Bernstein, confirms, "I do not have a preference between a warm or cool mist humidifier since both accomplish the same thing - getting moisture into the air." Warm mist can be more soothing for stuffy noses and sinuses. If young children are around, the hot water and steam can be dangerous. Warm mist makes the air feel warmer and holds onto heat better, and warm mist humidifiers can actually lower your utility bill during the winter by changing the heat index. Germ Guardian  and Air-O-Swiss offer humidifiers that have both warm and cool mist options. Warm or cool mist, both will do the job. Below are a list of criteria and options to consider before purchasing a humidifier. Each person will have different needs, and by recognizing what you need most from a humidifier you can more easily select the unit that is right for you.