Last Updated: February 27, 2024
Heating systems at homes keep us warm and protect from harsh wintery conditions, but they also dry out the indoor air, which can lead to health concerns such as dry sinus passages, cracked lips, dry, scaly skin, respiratory irritation, etc.
Using a humidifier can help fix health, comfort, and interior problems caused by dry air or environmental conditions. These appliances add moisture into space by dispersing an invisible mist of moisture. Humidifiers help relieve dry and itchy skin, moisturize parched respiratory passages, reduce the amount of static electricity in your indoor environment, and alleviate respiratory problems and protect household furnishing.
Types of Humidifiers
Humidifiers are available in varied shapes and sizes, catering to different needs. Compact, portable humidifiers are designed for smaller spaces, while larger units can humidify up to 1,000 square feet or more. Humidifiers can also be classified based on what method they employ to add moisture to the air.
Warm mist humidifiers, also known as steam vaporizers, use a heating element to boil water and produce a warm mist. Due to this, they also consume a higher amount of energy.
Cool Mist Humidifiers do not alter the water temperature in the tank before dispersing it to the atmosphere. Due to that, their electricity consumption is relatively lower when compared to warm mist humidifiers. Cool mist humidifier models also use less electricity. As per the Food and Drug Administration, a cool-mist humidifier can help shrink swelling in nasal passages.
Types of Cool Mist Humidifiers
Cool mist humidifiers mostly employ ultrasonic or evaporative technology to disperse cool soothing air throughout the house environment.
Evaporative cool mist humidifiers use a filter (also referred to as a wick) to absorb water from the attached reservoir and remove the impurities. A fan blows air through the wick, where it picks up moisture through evaporation, and then the mist is dispersed out into the room.
While evaporative humidifiers don’t have the higher energy costs of warm mist humidifiers, they require frequent cleaning to avoid mold growth and require regular filter replacement, which will add to the long-term cost of owning the appliance. Another downside of evaporative humidifiers is that they generate a bit of noise while operating; since many people keep their humidifiers in the bedroom, the noise could potentially disturb them while sleeping.
Ultrasonic humidifiers use ultrasonic frequency from a small vibrating metal diaphragm (called Nebulizer) to break down water into a fine humidifying mist released onto the air. Some larger models include a fan to propel the mist farther. Since the human ear can’t hear ultrasonic sound waves, they are much quieter in operation (except for any sound produced by fan-assisted models). For light sleepers or anyone who gets annoyed by the sound of a running appliance, this is an added advantage.
Ultrasonic humidifiers do not require changing or replacing filters, making them a low maintenance option, and they are also energy efficient. However, regular cleaning of the water tank is recommended to prevent a build-up of mold or bacteria. The main downside of ultrasonic humidifiers is that they produce white dust while creating the humidifying mist, which is then spread across the room. They are also not as efficient as evaporative humidifiers in humidifying large spaces.
Things to Consider While Buying a Cool Mist Humidifier
Room Size: Selecting the right humidifier is primarily dependent on the room’s size where you plan to use the appliance. Humidifiers are available in three sizes: Portable, also known as Tabletop, Console, and Whole House.
If you’re looking for a humidifier that will take care of a small room or just the space around a bed, a tabletop or portable humidifier will be enough. These appliances can cover spaces up to 300 square feet, and in some cases, may go as high as 500 square feet. Portable humidifiers are affordable and lightweight and can be easily moved into places, but they have limited water tank capacity and require frequent refills.
Console humidifiers are larger units that sit on the floor and have increased-capacity containers that require less frequent refills. These humidifiers are ideal for spaces up to 1,000 square feet. Because of their size and weight, they are challenging to maneuver when full.
Whole-house humidifiers can be attached to the home’s ductwork and add humidity throughout the house. They are equipped to add moisture on a large scale and handle spaces greater than 1,000 square feet. Since this type of humidifier is directly connected to the water source, they don’t need water refills.
Noise: Evaporative cool mist humidifiers tend to be louder as they employ a fan to disperse the mist. Ultrasonic humidifiers are generally more silent. If you are a sensitive sleeper or have kids, look for the sound decibels generated by the machine at different speeds to ensure that it doesn’t disturb you if you plan to use the device through the night.
Water Tank Capacity: The run time of the humidifier is dependent on the water tank capacity refills. The larger space a humidifier treats, the faster it will go through water. If you want to save yourself the trouble of frequent refills, look for a humidifier with a larger tank capacity. If you’re going to use the humidifier all day or night—or both, pick a model with a large enough capacity. You should also note whether the tank is easily removable to fill in a kitchen or bathroom and how heavy the device is when carrying it back.
Humidistat: A humidistat monitors the room’s humidity and automatically turns off the appliance once it reaches the room’s desired humidity level and back on when it drops below. It also prevents excess moisture in the air from fogging up windows or creating a musty odor.
Timer: If you don’t want the humidifier top run all the time, many humidifiers come with an adjustable timer that will automatically turn off after the prescribed time. This feature ensures that you overuse the humidifier in your absence and save you from unnecessary refills.
Adjustable Output: This option allows you to decide how humid you’d like your space to get. This is especially helpful if you’re worried that the humidifier will add far more humidity.
Auto-Shutoff: Many humidifiers come equipped with an auto-shutoff feature that automatically shut off when the water level in the tank gets too low and/or when the desired humidity level is reached. This is important if you plan to leave your humidifier on for extended periods, and it also helps prevent burn out.
Best Cool Mist Humidifiers (Reviews)
1. Hupro Warm Mist & Cool Humidifier with Humidistat
The HuPro PRO-773 cool and warm mist humidifier generates superfine mist by 2.4 billion vibrations per minute. The humidifier keeps humidity at a comfortable level between 30 and 70% and helps people with stuffed sinuses, dry skin, irritated eyes, and cracked lips. The humidifier features a large-capacity 5.5-liter water tank that can easily cover areas up to 500 sq. ft & delivers up to 40 hours of continuous operation.
The HuPro Pro-773 uses cutting edge ultrasonic technology and a smart humidification system that includes three types of humidity control. The humidifier’s cool and warm mist system (up to 140°F!) ensures around the year comfort. Cold mist reduces dust and statistic electricity. Warm mist relieves stuffiness and cold symptoms. The humidifier shuts down automatically when it runs out of water to prevent unit damage. With adjustable mist output up to 250ml/H, it has a low energy consumption level.
The Hupro Pro-773 promises a 100% safe air purification system with triple filtration. The ionizer produces 300 million cleansing ions per min, removing dust, pollen, smoke, & other allergens. Simultaneously, a specially engineered ceramic filter with active carbon & mineral pellets purifies water, keeps it fresh & prevents odor. It also comes with an essential oils box that fills the room with fresh fragrances. The large capacity bedroom humidifier produces a near-silent frequency (<30dB) for ultra-quiet operation. It also deactivates all lights and sounds in night mode, beneficial for babies, kids, seniors & sensitive sleepers.
The Hupro Pro-773 includes a detachable water tank with a secure built-in handle and an extra-wide opening for easy filling and cleaning. Reliable construction ensures a stable leakproof operation for a long time. It also comes with a 10-hour timer to program the hours of operation and save energy.
The humidifier comes with a one-year warranty and lifetime support from HuPro.
Pros
- Cool and Warm Mist Operations
- Triple Filtration
- Easy Fill Large Water Tank
- Low Sound Level
Cons
- Low Warranty
- Slightly Expensive
Why Buy: The 5.5-liter Hupro Pro-773 efficiently humidifies and purifies air, and delivers customizable aromatherapy. With a combination of style and efficiency, the humidifier will significantly improve your indoor air experience.
2. Honeywell HCM350W Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier
The Honeywell HCM350W comes with a one-gallon tank that runs up to 24 hours on a low setting, making it an ideal choice for bedrooms & medium-sized rooms.
The Honeywell HCM350W uses scientifically proven ultra-violet light technology that kills up to 99.9% of bacteria, mold, fungus, and viruses. Untreated tap water flows from the water tank into the UV water path where it is exposed to ultra-violet light, which kills mold, bacteria, fungus, and viruses. The sanitized water enters the base, where the wicking filter absorbs it. Dry indoor air is drawn through the filter absorbing the moisture and releases up to 99.9% germ-free moisture into the air as a fine visible mist.
The Honeywell HCM350W’s large recessed tank handle is easy to carry. The bottom tray and tank can be placed in the dishwasher, while the wide opening tank can be easily scrubbed by hand. The humidifier uses evaporative technology to blow moisture off a wicking filter, helping it evaporate into the air quickly.
Pros
- Low Budget
- Durable
- Germ Free Mist
Cons
- The tank lid is difficult to clean.
- Wicks need Replacement
Why Buy: The Honeywell HCM350W is an excellent choice if you want a humidifier which is efficient, durable, easy to clean, last longer, and if you can deal with the cleaning and wick replacement.
3. OPOLAR Evaporative Humidifier for Bedroom, Large Room Quiet Humidifiers with Filters
The Opolar humidifier generates an output of 300ml/h and can effectively cover 400-600 square feet. The humidifier’s updated design traps mineral deposits, dust, and other tap water impurities and provides a healthy, comfortable, and moist atmosphere. The Opolar humidifier operates on the evaporative technique that converts water into nano molecules to moisten the air and not create any leakage or mess.
The Opolar humidifier features a convenient top-fill design, making it very easy to fill. It also comes with a gauge along the side to show you how much water is in it. The appliance is equipped with a sensitive humidity sensor detector that can automatically adjust the suitable humidity in auto mode. When the moisture level is greater or equal to 50%, it will run at low speed; else, it will run at high speed. The machine comes with a humidity light indicator that intelligently detects the humidity level and turns on the atmosphere light accordingly; less than 30% denotes low humidity, 30 to 60% comes with blue light, while greater than 60% is indicated in green.
The advanced noise-reduction technology of the Opolar humidifier makes less than 45dB of sound, making it an ideal choice for nurseries, bedrooms, offices, and living rooms. Its 3-liter water tank can work up to 17 hours, offering comfort for the entire day. The humidifier comes with a “sleep” mode setting that turns off all lighting except for the one indicating it’s in sleep mode, thus being a perfect fit for baby rooms and sensitive sleepers.
The Opolar humidifier comes with a timer that can be set for one, two, four, and 8-hour intervals, and the appliance will automatically turn off after that period, saving energy. The device also features an auto shut off feature. The humidifier will automatically turn off if it runs out of water, ensuring safety and preventing damage to the machine. It also comes with a removable filter making it easier to clean.
Pros
- Simple and intuitive control
- Night Sleep Mode
- Low Sound Generation
- Effective humidification
Cons
- Proprietary Opolar filter are difficult to find
Why Buy: The modern-looking Opolar humidifier features high build quality, and it’s super easy to use and ultra-quiet. The lights can be dimmed for night use and doesn’t leave condensation. The top-fill design makes it easy to refill.
4. Homasy 25dB Cool Mist Humidifier Diffuser
The Homasy humidifier can release clean and fresh mist for up to 30 hours and excellently cover up to 300 sq. ft. The ultrasonic humidifier comes with a 2.5-liter2.5-liter transparent water tank and a convenient touch control button, allowing you to know the water level with just a glance. The top-filling cool mist humidifier with a super large opening, making refilling easier.
The Homasy humidifier comes with seven changing mood lights (which could be set steady on). Press the “light” button, and the LED colors change automatically in slow cycles. You can also select one of your favorite colors by pressing the button again. Soft LED lights create a cozy atmosphere and can also be used as night lights. The humidifier is equipped with an essential oil diffuser, where you add some drops of essential oils to enjoy fresh and fine mist with fragrance. This ultrasonic humidifier is super easy to clean. Manufacturers recommend using citric acid water to clean the appliance once a week.
The Homasy humidifier will auto shut off when the water level is low or the tank is removed. The ultrasonic humidifier generates a considerate 25dB whisper-quiet operation and sleep mode, ensuring a sound sleep for you. Equipped with high and low mode and a sleep mode, you could freely adjust the mist output according to your personal needs. In sleep mode, the lights will automatically turn off. The switches are touch-sensitive and super easy to operate.
Pros
- Changing LED Lights
- Adjustable Modes
- Quiet Operation
- Added Diffuser
Cons
- Some users have complained about leaks
Why Buy: The aesthetically designed Homasy humidifier is an ideal choice for your living room or bedroom. The slowly changing lights are incredibly comforting, while the adjustable modes allow you to manage the humidifier intensity as per your convenience.
5. LEVOIT 4L Ultrasonic Cool Mist Air Vaporizer For Large Rooms
The Levoit ultrasonic humidifier comes with a dual 360° nozzle and three mist speed settings to provide soothing, comfortable mist. The cool mist humidifier has an effective range of 285-376 feet and is suitable for bedrooms, baby nurseries, and other mid-sized rooms.
Featuring Levoit’s advanced ultrasonic technology, the humidifier generates fine mist (<5μm) that is efficiently spread through the independent air duct. The one-touch button control design is easy to operate. You can also add essential oils to the diffuser’s aroma tray to infuse the air with your favorite fragrances. The display light automatically switches off after 30 seconds, ensuring no disturbance while sleeping.
The 4 Liter water tank allows for up to 40 hours of continuous usage at a low setting, while at higher settings, the humidifier provides 10 hours of continuous service. The wide 3. 8 inches opening allows to quickly refill the water tank and wipe down the machine’s interior. You can also remove the detachable silences and clean the humidifier for a more thorough clean. With its patented silencer and DC hydraulic fan, the Levoit humidifier generates less than 30dB.
The Levoit cool-mist humidifier automatically shuts off when the water tank is removed or if it runs out of water. The device is also BPA-free, ETL listed, and CA65 tested, making it perfect for your baby’s nursery. The humidifier comes with a one-year warranty optional 2-year warranty, and lifetime customer service support.
Pros
- Large Water Tank
- BPA-free, ETL listed, and CA65 tested
- Superfine mist
- Low sound level
Cons
- You need to unplug the base and pour the water out; else, the humidifier will not work
Why Buy: The sleek Levoit humidifier looks great and works excellently. This highly configurable humidifier disperses mist efficiently; although it has a fan, it is still hushed. The wide opening ensures that it can be easily wiped with hands, providing clean, breathable air.
Comparison of the Best Cool Mist Humidifiers
| Make | Tank Capacity | Room Size | Noise Level | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hupro | 5.5 Liter | 500 sq. ft | <30dB | Check price |
| Honeywell HCM350W | 1.1 Gallon | medium-sized room | <50dB | Check price |
| OPOLAR | 3 Liter | 400-600 sq. ft. | 45dB | Check price |
| Homasy | 2.5 Liter | 300 sq. ft. | 25dB | Check price |
| LEVOIT | 4 Liter | 285-376 sq. ft. | 30dB | Check price |
Maintenance and Cleaning Tips
By design, humidifiers create ideal conditions for bacteria’s growth thanks to the warm, moist environment. If you leave a full water tank in a humidifier that isn’t running, bacteria can quickly multiply. When the humidifier is active, any microbes inhabiting the water tank may get dispersed into the room along with the mist. If not cleaned regularly, impurities can be released into the air. Over time, breathing contaminated air may aggravate allergies and asthma, trigger flu-like symptoms, and may develop chronic issues such as weight loss, respiratory infection, etc. It can also cause a more serious lung condition called humidifier lung, also known as “humidifier fever,” that develops when you inhale vapors contaminated with certain bacteria strains.
Change the water in your humidifier daily as stagnant water is a desirable breeding ground for mold spores and bacteria. You should clean and descale your humidifier with vinegar and sanitize with bleach or a specially formulated humidifier cleaning agent at least once a week. Empty and wipe down the humidifier’s water every day and refill it with clean, fresh water before use.
If you use tap water, which is mineral-rich, to fill an ultrasonic humidifier, it can disperse white dust that mixes with the moisturizing mist and becomes part of your indoor air and settles a film in the house and furniture. Over time, inhaling this may impact your lungs. To help reduce the amount of mineral deposits, consider using distilled or de-mineralized water instead of tap water. Also, remember to change any filters and other parts regularly as prescribed by the manufacturer.
Use natural cleaning solutions such as vinegar, which doubles as a disinfectant and deodorizer, to eliminate mineral build-up and disinfect surfaces. It is especially beneficial to allergy- and people with asthma and multiple chemical sensitivities.