How to Choose the Right Humidifier for Your Home
Humidifiers can ease breathing problems, soothe dry skin and moisturize the air. But the best humidifier for you depends on your needs and home environment.
Warm-mist humidifiers (also called steam vaporizers) use electricity to boil water, which then cools before being released into the air as a mist. They can also spread mold, mildew and bacteria in your home if not properly cleaned or disinfected.
Moisture
Cool mist humidifiers add moisture to the air without heating it. They also don’t pose the same dangers of scalding or burns as warm-mist units. If you have young mist humidifier children or pets, a cool mist unit is safer to use. You’ll want to make sure it’s placed where it won’t be knocked over or accidentally turned on and off. Also, keep in mind that the added moisture may promote mold growth. It’s important to clean your humidifier regularly and keep humidity at a healthy level. You can test your home’s humidity with a hygrometer, which looks much like a thermometer.
Cool-mist humidifiers work well to help ease a dry cough and moisten nasal passages. They may even soothe a sore throat. In a study, researchers found that cool mist irrigates the lungs and bronchioles, helping to reduce coughing and congestion associated with flu or cold symptoms.
Evaporative humidifiers are also effective at easing a dry cough. They rely on a fan that blows air over a wet wick, which then releases water vapor into the air. This type of humidifier is self-regulating, meaning the vapor output decreases as the room’s humidity rises.
However, evaporative humidifiers can produce a lot of dust and debris in the form of mineral deposits, which are then released into the air when the humidifier is running. Using distilled or demineralized water and cleaning the humidifier thoroughly can minimize these issues.
Dry Cough
Humidifiers help soothe dry coughs by moisturizing the air and lubricating throat tissues. They also ease congestion and calm irritated sinuses. And they can reduce static electricity, which may make it easier to breathe.
Warm-mist humidifiers and steam vaporizers use electricity to heat water inside the unit, which then turns into a vapor that’s dispersed into the air. They can also add warmth to the room, helping people who are cold or sick feel more comfortable. However, because the vapor can get hot, they should be kept out of reach of children or placed away from flammable objects. These units also need to be cleaned regularly, since they can emit mold spores into the air—and breathing in this mold spores can make respiratory problems worse.
Cool mist humidifiers don’t have this problem, since they don’t warm the air. However, they do need to be clean well—because if they’re not cleaned properly, they can emit mineral deposits and bacteria into the air, which can irritate respiratory systems over time. Using distilled water and cleaning the machine according to the manufacturer’s instructions can greatly reduce this risk. If you’re unsure which type of humidifier to choose, consider a dual-mist model—which allows you to switch between warm and cool mist when you need it.
Cold Symptoms
Humidifiers and vaporizers can help ease coughing caused by bronchitis, which involves inflammation of the bronchial tubes that lead to your lungs. Humidifiers and vaporizers both add moisture to the air, but the cool mist of a humidifier soothes dry coughs and can reduce mucus production, which causes congestion.
Whether you get a cool- or warm-mist humidifier, it’s important to keep it clean. Dirty humidifiers can spread bacteria and mold spores, which can trigger asthma and allergies. Humidifiers are especially prone to collecting bacteria when they’re used with tap water, which contains minerals that can form deposits on the inside of the machine and then disperse into the air you breathe. Use distilled or demineralized water in your humidifier to avoid these problems.
Both cool- and warm-mist humidifiers can help relieve sinus congestion caused by colds or allergies. They’re also good for soothing a sore throat. But cool mist can be more effective for a stuffy nose than warm steam, according to a Food and Drug Administration study.
Other studies have found that vaporized essential oils such as eucalyptus and tea tree can significantly shorten the length of a cold. However, more research is needed to determine how best to use them in a humidifier to help ease symptoms and prevent infections. Also, it’s not clear how much these types of oils can be added to a humidifier without harming people’s lungs.
Warm Symptoms
Humidifiers add moisture to dry air. This can help reduce dry skin, itchy eyes mist humidifier and cracked lips. It can also ease sinus congestion and irritated throats. And it can even kill the viruses that cause colds and flu.
Cool mist humidifiers are the most popular type of humidifier. They work by using ultrasonic vibrations or a rotating disk to break down water droplets into a cool mist that gets dispersed into the air. They don’t produce any vapor or steam, and they are safe for use around infants, toddlers and small children. They are easy to clean, and the lack of a burn hazard makes them safer than warm mist humidifiers or steam vaporizers, which can release bacteria into the air.
The main problem with warm mist humidifiers or vaporizers is that they can release minerals, mold and other bacteria into the air. These particles can irritate the respiratory system over time, and they can also make you feel sick. To avoid this, you should use distilled water instead of tap water in your humidifier and clean it thoroughly each day.
A humidifier can make your home more comfortable in winter, but it’s important to choose the right kind of humidifier for your needs. Both cool and warm mist humidifiers can help with your symptoms, but they each have their own strengths and weaknesses.
