Last Updated: February 27, 2024
Are you looking to buy a humidifier for cough? Here’s everything you need to know while choosing the best humidifier that help you in curing the tickle in your throat.
A cough is a voluntary or involuntary hacking sound that expulses air from the lungs to clear irritations. A cough can be dry (nonproductive) or wet/ chesty, producing mucus or phlegm (sputum). Whether wet or dry, cough is one of the most irritating health concerns. It could keep you up all through the night and even prevent you from engaging in your normal daily activities.
What Is a Cough and it’s Triggers?
Most often, cough and its complication arise from the tightness and dryness of the respiratory tract. Cough is often associated with colds, flu, postnasal drip, sore throat, chest tightness, hoarseness, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
See also:
- Humidifiers For Sleep Apnea
- Humidifiers For Allergies and Asthma
- Humidifiers For Nosebleeds
- Humidifiers for Snoring
There are three types of coughs acute, subacute, and chronic, with overlapping symptoms. An acute cough generally lasts for three weeks and is typically associated with a virus infection. A subacute cough typically lasts for 3 to 8 weeks, with common causes consisting of post-infectious cough, postnatal drip, and eosinophilic bronchitis. Finally, chronic cough is the most severe type of cough, and it can last longer than eight weeks. Some common triggers for coughs are Asthma, smoking, bacteria, viruses, allergies, and environmental factors.
Can a Humidifier Alleviate Cough?
Humidifiers help relieve cough and discomfort by releasing moisture into the air. The increased humidity will moisten the dry nasal passages and removes excess mucus for easier breathing. While they are not a magic cure for all kinds of cough, these appliances help alleviate discomfort and lessen the severity of cough-related symptoms.
A humidifier is also helpful in reducing inflammation, nasal congestion and prevent cough from spreading to other people. In addition, it can help alleviate seasonal allergies and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary diseases such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema in the long run.
Things to Consider While Buying a Humidifier
Mist type: Most of the humidifiers generate either warm or cold mist.
A warm mist humidifier releases moisture into the air by heating water and can help cure cold and flu symptoms. Warm mist humidifiers produce minimal noise since the steam comes out of the unit without the aid of a fan. However, one of the primary drawbacks of the warm mist humidifier is that it consumes more energy as it uses electricity to boil water draws power. Moreover, warm mist humidifiers are not recommended for use around children or pets since the boiling water, along with the steam the unit emits, may be hazardous if a child gets too close or knocks it over.
Cool mist humidifiers consume less electricity as they do not modify the water temperature before dispersing it to the atmosphere. Cool mist humidifiers mostly employ ultrasonic or evaporative technology to circulate cool soothing air throughout the house environment. In addition, as per the Food and Drug Administration, a cool-mist humidifier can help shrink swelling in nasal passages.
Run Time: The run time denotes the amount of time the humidifier can disperse mist before running out of water in the tank. If you wish to operate the humidifier through the night, it would be ideal for running at least 10 hours straight.
Noise level: Every humidifier makes some noise, regardless of how quiet it is advertised to be. If you have a bedroom model, it needs to be very quiet not to disturb your sleep. In general, the larger the unit, the noisier it is.
Essential oil usage: Besides their wonderful smell, essential oil helps you relax after a stressful day. If you have an interest in essential oils, consider a humidifier with an essential oil diffuser. This will help you save space and money.
Ease of cleaning and refilling: Before purchasing a humidifier for cough, consider how easy or difficult it is to clean and refill. This is because there is a need to continually clean humidifiers meant to resolve cough issues or make them worse.
Water tank capacity: Larger the tank’s size, the more mist you’ll be able to disperse into a larger area for an extended amount of time. Also, a larger tank would not require frequent refilling making it more convenient.
Ease of Setup: If you suffer from a cough, you will loathe spending hours setting up the humidifier. Most modern humidifiers have a straightforward setup process, where you need to open the machine and plug the device, and it’s ready to help you from cough.
Cough Dehumidifiers Review:
1. Pure Guardian H4810AR Ultrasonic Warm and Cool Mist Humidifier
The Pure guardian H4810AR guards against dry air and is perfect for colds, allergies, and dry skin. The ultrasonic warm and cool mist humidifier features an easy-to-fill 2-gallon tank and is ideal for usage in rooms up to 600 square feet and provides up to 22 hours of run time.
The Pure guardian H4810AR is equipped with the option for warm or cool mist and comes with three-speed settings. The humidifier sports a low water indicator light that alerts you know when the tank needs a refill. The machine also features a soft glow night light and a timer. The humidifier does not contain evaporating pads or wicks that require regular cleaning or replacement.
The Pure guardian H4810AR features a silver clean, protected tank that guards against the growth of slimy mold and mildew on the water tank surface. In addition, thanks to ultrasonic technology, the machine disperses a fine mist into the air and is ultra-quiet making it ideal to have on while you sleep. The device comes with directional nozzles that disperse mist in two directions throughout the room.
The Pure guardian H4810AR also includes an aromatherapy tray option that helps create a relaxing environment with your favorite essential oil to create a better home environment and optimize your comfort with an ultra-quiet, soothing, cool mist.
Pros
- Large Water Tank
- Cool and Warm Mist Option
- Quiet Operation
Cons
- The filled tank is a challenge to handle and set adequately onto the humidifier base.
2. Vicks Filtered Cool Mist Humidifier
The Vicks VEV400 is an essential part of a good night’s sleep when family members are sick, during allergy season, or the air is dry. In addition, the filtered cool mist humidifier works with Vicks VapoPads that relieve cough and congestion and delivers extra soothing comfort during cold and flu season when it’s difficult to sleep with cough and congestion.
The Vicks VEV400 comes with two output settings, high and low. At the lowest setting, the machine is so quiet that you can hardly hear it; on high, it is a little louder but sounds like a soft fan. The filtered humidifier features an automated evaporative system that automatically adjusts the output for maximum effectiveness. In addition, the humidifier comes with a filter that sifts minerals from the water and helps prevent mold, algae, and bacterial growth on the filter to deliver cleaner moisture.
Since it uses evaporative technology, it does not create the white dust that gets everywhere. The mist Humidifier features a 1.1-gallon tank that is easy to fill and clean, and it includes a wicking filter that removes minerals and impurities from water for cleaner moisture. The humidifier can provide a run time of up to 24 hours on the low setting and is ideal for medium-size rooms.
Pros
- Easy to use and maintain
- Long-lasting filter
- Whisper Quiet Operation
Cons
- No auto-turn off, so it will continue to blow air and dry out the filter
Don’t forget to check our detailed guide on buying the best vicks humidifier.
3. LEVOIT 4L Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
The Levoit Classic 200 provides a soothing atmosphere with a relative humidity of 40-60% to relieve your cough, nasal congestion, and allergies. The cool mist humidifier uses Levoit’s advanced ultrasonic technology that atomizes water, turning it into a fine mist (<5μm) efficiently spread through the independent air duct, humidifying the room while keeping furniture dry. The cool mist humidifier is ideal for bedrooms, baby nurseries, and other mid-sized rooms.
The Levoit Classic 200 comes with a dual 360° nozzle and three mist speed settings that help you create a soothing, comfortable environment. Its one-touch button control design makes it easy to use. The humidifier comes with a 3. 8 in / 9. 65 cm opening that lets you easily refill the water tank and wipe down the interior of the humidifier. You can also remove the detachable silencer for a thorough clean.
The Levoit Classic 200 comes with a 4 L water tank that delivers up to 40 hours of run time at the low setting and 10 hours of continuous use at the high setting. The cool mist humidifier automatically shuts off when you lift the water tank or when it runs out of water. The machine is also BPA-free, ETL listed, and CA65 tested.
With its patented silencer and DC hydraulic fan, the Levoit Classic 200 operates at less than 30dB. You can also turn off the display light by pressing and holding the power button for 3 seconds. Additionally, you can use essential oils to the aroma tray of the filter-free humidifier to infuse the air with your favorite fragrances. After you refill the water tank, the manufacturer recommends aligning the arrow on the water tank cap to the lock symbol on the tank so that the machine doesn’t leak. Also, please do not add water into the base directly.
Pros
- Dual 360 Nozzle
- Aromatherapy
- Ultra-Quiet Operation
- Large capacity and runtime
- Auto shut off
Cons
- Refilling with water requires removing and inverting the upper part of the device
4. Crane 2 in 1 Personal Steam Inhaler & Warm Mist Humidifier
Crane’s 2-in-1 inhaler and warm mist humidifier provide natural relief from cough, cold, flu symptoms, nasal congestion, sinus irritation, nose bleeds, etc. Warm Mist Humidifiers are highly effective for alleviating symptoms caused by dry air, such as bloody noses, dry cough, and dry skin and hair.
Crane’s EE-5202 heats up to 131 degrees ensuring germ-free mist. The 2-in-1 humidifier is made from anti-microbial material that prevents mold and bacteria growth by up to 99.96%. The humidifier also includes a medicine cup with a slot designed to hold its vapor pads. The machine is compatible with Crane’s Lavender (HS-1950L) or Menthol (HS-1950) Vapor Pads. While the Crane humidifier is filter-free, the company offers an optional demineralization filter (HS-1932) for people with excessive minerals in their water to help in the effective functioning of the machine.
Crane’s EE-5202 can be easily converted into a personal steam inhaler by replacing the humidifier tank with the inhaler attachment. The steam inhaler’s attachment pieces are designed to fit over your mouth and nose for instant directed relief to soothe congestion, sore throat, cough, sinus pressure, and irritation caused by dry air or cold/flu. The steam inhaler comes with multiple notches that allow you to adjust the amount of steam for your desired comfort level. In addition, both the warm mist humidifier and steam inhaler include an auto-shutoff safety function that will close the unit if it runs out of water, overheats, or is not assembled correctly.
Crane’s warm mist humidifier has a 0.5-gallon tank capacity and can run whisper-quiet for up to 8 hours in a small or medium-sized room, making it an ideal choice for light sleepers. The indicator lights also dim after 10 seconds, so you don’t have any unnecessary disturbances when sleeping. The humidifier features a detachable bottom fill tank. The mist chamber and cap also are removable, giving you access to clean the entire base.
Pros:
- Very easy to set up and use
- Effective at clearing congestion
- Dual functions
- Quiet operation
Cons:
- It takes a minute or two to heat up when you switch it on
5. Everlasting Comfort Cool Mist Humidifier 
The Everlasting Comfort is the perfect tool to convert your room from uncomfortably dry to comfortably perfect. The cool mist humidifier features a 6-liter tank and comes with an adjustable mist output. The machine can work in spaces up to 500 square feet and lasts for 50 straight hours, which means fewer refills and less maintenance, making it suitable for large rooms.
The Everlasting Comfort features a whisper-quiet ultrasonic motor that will ensure you don’t get annoyed or distracted by a constant buzzing. The adjustable motor pumps a cool-mist out of the 360-degree nozzle that disperses water molecules in a wide array. The easy to remove water reservoir provides convenient refilling and cleaning. In addition, the humidifier is filter less, meaning you don’t have to worry about the ongoing expense that usually comes with costly replacement filters.
The Everlasting Comfort features an essential oil tray for a customized aromatherapy experience. A couple of drops in the tray will enhance any space by circulating fragrant oils, giving you a clean, pure, and fresh smelling aroma. It also can be used as a baby humidifier and features a blue LED night light.
The vaporizer humidifier automatically shuts down when it’s out of the water, preventing damage to the unit. At less than 30 DB, the humidifier is nearly silent, making them suitable for baby rooms, bedrooms, living rooms. The machine is ETL/UL certified, BPA Free and comes with a two-year replacement policy.
FAQ
When to Change the Humidifier filter?
Evaporative humidifiers come with built-in filters that need to be periodically replaced as per the manufacturer’s specifications. For example, some units require filters to be replaced every season while others give more specific timeframes, like six months or one year.
How often should you change water in the humidifier?
If you are suffering from a cough, it is ideal to replace the water in the humidifier every day. Please only use distilled water in the machine to prevent calcium build-up in the water chambers and help avoid dirty water infections.
Use a clean cloth and wipe the components of the machine that is exposed to water. Use natural disinfectants such as vinegar to remove stubborn mineral deposits such as mold. Always rinse the water tank before changing water and give the unit a thorough clean once a week.
Can Humidifier Worsen Cough?
While a well-maintained humidifier will not give you a cough, a poorly maintained, a dirty humidifier may adversely impact your health. Some people have been known to suffer from “humidifier fever” by inhaling vapors contaminated with allergens such as mold, fungi, bacteria, viruses that may aggravate cough and other illness symptoms.
Do not overuse the humidifier. Using a humidifier in conditions where humidity exceeds 50% may worsen asthma and promote the growth of microorganisms. Some humidifiers allow you to manually alter the conditions for the humidifier, while some units come with an auto sensor. You can also purchase a hygrometer to monitor the home humidity level and use the machine when the humidity level falls below 30%.