Understanding Different Humidifiers, Their Benefits And Disadvantages

Room humidifiers are basically portable units intended to provide a room with more moisture. If a person experiences sinus infections, allergies from dust, excessively dry skin or consistent symptoms of cold due to lack of moisture in the air, using a humidifier could be a good solution. Humidifiers ensure clean and healthy air quality by regulating moisture levels in the room, thus minimizing the concentration of dust, bacteria and other irritants.

Different Varieties Of Humidifiers

Today, there are countless models of humidifiers to choose from. Humidifiers are mainly classified into two types – warm mist and cool mist. In homes with children, it is better to avoid warm mist humidifiers since a child may get burnt from the hot steam emitted. Also, warm mist humidifiers consume more electricity as they have to heat the water to produce steam.

Cool mist humidifiers are considerable safer, but require more maintenance. These units require cleaning with soap and water everyday and changing the filter annually.

After deciding to purchase either of these, the next thing to consider is whether the humidifier should be ultrasonic, evaporative or steam-based. Here are the differences, benefits and disadvantages of each –

  • Ultrasonic humidifiers: These are among the cheapest yet most energy-efficient of all humidifiers. These units feature storage for water and oscillating plates. The vibrations of these plates transform water into a fine mist that is then blown out with a fan. The major problem of an ultrasonic humidifier is that it produces white dust as a by-product which can pose a serious threat for people with breathing problems. However, the newer and costlier versions of ultrasonic humidifiers feature advanced technology that eliminates the problem of white dust.
  • Evaporative humidifiers: These units work by releasing moisture into the air by blowing water with a fan. This is quite a hygienic choice since it does not pose the problem of dust being released into the room. In addition to being very energy-efficient, this system is noiseless so it can be comfortably used in bedrooms.

There are two kinds of evaporative humidifiers — one with porous filters and the other with rotating discs. When it comes to maintenance, the system with porous filter is less preferable since it can quickly get polluted with hair, skin, dust and other matter in the air and incur regular replacements. On the other hand, the rotating discs of the second group of humidifiers are made from hardened plastic, making them easy to clean and care for.

  • Steam-based humidifiers: The moisture released by steam humidifiers can easily be regulated according to the extent of dryness in a room. The humidity control provided by these units is exceptionally hygienic since steam kills off germs and releases sterile moisture. That makes a steam humidifier an excellent choice for controlling humidity in nurseries or for people with respiratory illness.
  • Maintaining a steam humidifier involves regular removal of lime scale that may build up within the system. Compared to other humidifiers, steam ones are considerably economical. However, steam humidifiers consume more power than other versions of humidifiers.

Choosing The Right One

When planning to buy a room humidifier, the main aspects to remember are its health risks, maintenance and cost factor. All kinds of humidifiers work well when used for the right purpose they have been designed for. However, depending on individual requirements, it is important to choose the one that performs best in the given conditions.

If a home or office experiences uncomfortable conditions resulting from lack of moisture, it would be a wise decision to get a humidifier — especially when considering its numerous advantages. Being surprisingly affordable nowadays, humidifiers are an effective option to improve the air quality and humidity control in a room.

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HealthStatus has been operating since 1998 providing the best interactive health tools on the Internet, millions of visitors have used our blood alcohol, body fat and calories burned calculators. The HealthStatus editorial team has continued that commitment to excellence by providing our visitors with easy to understand high quality health content for many years. Our team of health professionals, and researchers use peer reviewed studies as source elements in our articles. Our high quality content has been featured in a number of leading websites, USA Today, the Chicago Tribune, Live Strong, GQ, and many more.

karen ansell
29. October 2018
karen ansell
29. October 2018
I've always used hot mist humidifiers, even with kids and grandkids and have never had a problem with kids getting burned or going near it at all. I prefer the hot mist because of the sterilization it provides. Most doctors and even Mayo Clinic say stay away from them, but with allergies and dusty houses, that's all I will use.

Yvonne califano
6. January 2018
Yvonne califano
6. January 2018
I need a humidifier cause i get headaches allergies to mold n dust mites,what low maintenance one can i get that purifies and moistens the air and prevents bugs,mold etc?

bunnny
27. October 2017
bunnny
27. October 2017
Can someone here help me choose the right humidifier for my struggle with throat. I've been told that one of the reasons contributing to having dry mouth in the morning which most of the times cause me a sore throat and even worst is the cold and dry air in my room. I guess it's a combination of allergens and cold air but once the summer is over I'm starting to feel sick and that's really frustrating me. I need some advice and help on this. Thanks.

Margaret Willman
2. October 2017
Margaret Willman
2. October 2017
What you said about humidifiers are really good. People can get some answer about which type they should buy. You also talked about what is good for kids. Some kids can't handle cool mist. For them warm mist is good. These are also good for the sinus problem. Helped me with dry air and cracked skin.

Hatfield
11. September 2017
Hatfield
11. September 2017
Excellent. I had no basic idea how these things could have been categorized. However, you could have gone abit deeper into those factors for purchasing them

Louise
2. July 2017
Louise
2. July 2017
Hi, clicked. On the blue tag that said, text us. I hope that it goes to you. Just in case. I wanted to ask about humidifiers. So many out there not sure which is the right one for me. I need it to help with hayfever, relief the stuffy and itchy nose. Also cold symptoms. Which one would you recommend? I want it for my bedroom which is pretty small.

komal
22. January 2017
komal
22. January 2017
really great and informative post. they did quite good job.

Jessica
26. December 2016
Jessica
26. December 2016
I would like to buy a humidifier for my baby's room. Is it environment friendly?

Tess @ Air Conditioning Denver
21. December 2016
Tess @ Air Conditioning Denver
21. December 2016
Thanks for great post on Humidifiers. Indoor air quality is more essential aspects of healthy life.

Shridhar Gokhale
23. August 2016
Shridhar Gokhale
23. August 2016
Great blog indeed the different types of humidifiers & their benefits are explained where well. As the humidifiers plays an active role in improving the air quality and humidity control in a room.

Karen
17. June 2016
Karen
17. June 2016
I am going to buy a humidifier. When Googling and found your great post. Thank for share this awesome post about types of humidifiers.

Jeannie turner
29. May 2016
Jeannie turner
29. May 2016
Which is the best humidifier for babies please? I have done a fair bit of research but there are so many on the market!

Aaron
14. March 2016
Aaron
14. March 2016
I'm a big fan of energy efficiency. I agree that going for cool mist humidifiers is the best solution, especially for kids. And not only because it is the most energy efficient solution. But also the safety aspect which I think is perhaps more important.

Vernon Jackson
7. March 2016
Vernon Jackson
7. March 2016
Is there a specific humidifier that can help with joint pain?

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Written by HealthStatus Team
Medical Writer & Editor

HealthStatus has been operating since 1998 providing the best interactive health tools on the Internet, millions of visitors have used our blood alcohol, body fat and calories burned calculators. The HealthStatus editorial team has continued that commitment to excellence by providing our visitors with easy to understand high quality health content for many years. Our team of health professionals, and researchers use peer reviewed studies as source elements in our articles. Our high quality content has been featured in a number of leading websites, USA Today, the Chicago Tribune, Live Strong, GQ, and many more.

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