Humidifiers

Humidifiers not only soothe the sinuses, but they actually contribute to sinus health. By keeping the mucous membranes in the nose moist, humidifiers allow the nasal cilia (tiny hairs) to function properly and expel allergens, bacteria, and other infectious agents. Humidifiers can reduce the severity of sinus headaches as well as snoring problems. Humidifiers produce different temperatures of mist in a couple of different ways. Though the technology behind each humidifier may be different, all provide varying degrees of protection against germs and bacteria.

Our room humidifiers are designed for use in the home. They are all relatively small and portable, and they work well on a tabletop or on the floor. Wherever you place your humidifier, watch for the build-up of water, as a leak or improper dispersal of water could lead to mold growth. Before you make a purchase, check the coverage area and make sure that the humidifier is appropriate for the room where you will place it. Generally, there are three types of home humidifiers, which we discuss below. See our Humidifier Buying Guide for more information.

Ultrasonic Humidifiers

Ultrasonic humidifiers spray mist into the air using ultrasonic vibrations. These ultrasonic vibrations also kill most microbes in the water. The Air-O-Swiss 7135 Ultrasonic Humidifier is our quietest and most popular antimicrobial humidifier. It's easy to maintain and features digital controls, and you get to choose warm mist or cool mist. The Vornado Ultrasonic Humidifier is another excellent choice from this type of humidifier.

Germ Guardian Humidifiers are a durable line of humidifiers with sizes and options to meet most peoples needs. From fully digital to a compact manual version, Germ Guardian humidifiers use Silver Clean technology to fight the growth of mold and bacteria in the water tank. For you, this means no evaporation pads or UV bulbs to replace. Just fill it, set it, and go. These humidifiers come in a variety of sizes and styles.

Impeller Humidifiers

Impeller humidifiers, like the Air-O-Swiss 2055 Air Washer, have constantly rotating discs which break the water into droplets that are small enough to become airborne. The Air Washer's discs are dishwasher-safe. Please note that while the air washer helps to clean the air by removing large particles like pet hair and dust, its air cleaning abilities are nowhere near those of HEPA air purifiers. We do not recommend using an air washer as a stand-alone air purifier, but it works great as a stand-alone humidifier!

Evaporative Humidifiers

Evaporative humidifiers, like the Vornado Evaporative Humidifier and Air-O-Swiss E2441 Humidifier, rely on the basic principle of evaporation. These units have wicks that absorb the water and a fan that pushes the moist air out and through the room. These humidifiers rely upon the self regulating principle of evaporation, so as the humidity increases, the rate of evaporation slows. This type of humidifier generally offers fewer features than ultrasonic or impeller humidifiers, but get the job done quietly and efficiently.

Warm Mist Humidifiers

Warm mist humidifiers from Enivracaire, like the EWM-211D Humidifier, the EWM-300W Humidifier, and the EWM-350 Humidifier boil the water before spraying a warm mist into the air. The boiling process kills 99.99% of mold and bacteria. Formerly known as Slant/Fin humidifiers, these three Enviracaire humidifiers also feature germicidal UV lights to kill microbes. We recommend cleaning warm mist humidifiers at least once a week.

Air-O-Swiss offers a variety of warm mist humidifiers. Each of the following models offer dual, warm and cool mist settings that allow for comfortable humidification any time of the year: 7144 Ultrasonic Humidifier, 7142 Ultrasonic Humidifier and 7135 Ultrasonic Humidifier.

Cool Mist Humidifiers

Cool mist humidifiers emit a cool vapor into the air, as opposed to warm mist humidifiers, which heat the water and emit a warm vapor. The Air-O-Swiss 1355N Air Washer is a cool mist humidifier, and the Air-O-Swiss 7135 Ultrasonic Humidifier gives you the option of cool mist or warm mist. Most of our new Air-O-Swiss models provide both the cool mist and warm mist options. Evaporative humidifiers are almost exclusively cool mist humidifiers.

In terms of function, there's really no difference between warm mist and cool mist; they both accomplish the same goal of humidifying the air. In general, cool mist humidifiers are a little easier to clean and a little louder than warm mist humidifiers. Also note that some warm mist humidifiers which contain boiling water could be dangerous around small children. Ultimately the choice between cool mist humidifiers and warm mist humidifiers boils down to personal preference or your physician's recommendation... no pun intended.

If the air in your home becomes too humid, it will encourage the growth of mold and dust mites. We recommend a relative humidity of 40 to 50 percent for allergy sufferers.

You can monitor your humidity with an Acu-Rite Digital Humidity Gauge.

Your home is 85% more likely to be damaged by water than fire. Alarmed? Detecting water problems before they cause damage is essential to keeping your home safe and healthy and free of mold. The Water Alarm is simple to install, and operates on a standard 9-volt battery.

  Quiet & effective
Reviewed by: Willow from Oregon & Massachusetts

We have used a Slant Fin humidifier for years, having purchased it upon our doctor's recommendation. Now that we have a child who brings home germs to share with the whole family, we found ourselves in need of a second humidifier, having given our first one up to ease our son's breathing. I considering buying another Slant Fin, but was won over by the more attractive design of the Air-O-Swiss. The biggest advantage of the Air-O-Swiss over the Slant Fin is noise--the Air-O-Swiss makes much, much less noise. This is a real benefit for parents who need to be able to hear a coughing child down the hall! The Air-O-Swiss is much more attractive, too, as I mentioned, and I like the fine-tuning of the digital controls on this unit. I have allergies, and getting the humidity above 45% could be unhealthy for me. My only negative on the Air-O-Swiss is that we need to refill it much more often. Now, that's a plus, because it reminds us to clean out the tank very frequently, but it is also a bit of a hassle as we get only about 1.5 nights out of filling the tank, and that is running at a relatively low 40% desired humidity setting.

  easy to use
Reviewed by: D.D. from Lowell, MA

I'm very happy with my Enviracaire warm mist humidifier. I like the idea of using steam and not cold water to discourage mold growth. Easy access for cleaning is a big plus. The unit is very quiet, so, you can use it in any room of the house.

  Air-O-Swiss 2055 Air Washer and Humidifier
Reviewed by:  from 

I've noticed when I travel to humid places that my skin is softer and I am not subject to sinus infections, so I decided to buy a humidifier. I chose the Air-O-Swiss 2055 Air Washer because of the whisper technology, low energy usage, and (#1 priority) moisture purity. It actually cleans the air as it adds moisture and it prevents infectious buildup in the reservoir. I couldn't be more pleased with this unit. Thank you.