Last Updated: February 26, 2024
Do you feel like your humidifier is not giving the performance you need? Have you made sure that you have the right-sized humidifier?
By maintaining the moisture in your home at just the right level, humidifiers create an ideal environment for living. That’s why it is crucial to find the appropriately sized humidifier to ensure there’s no corner left untouched.
With so many excellent options available for users today, and it can be confusing to determine the right one for yourself. Although these different models may be unique in their own right, not all of them are appropriate for all situations. So, determining which is the ideally-sized model for you can seem like a task.
Well, the good news is, deciding the best course of action is not as hard as it seems. By considering a few simple yet crucial factors involved in the process, you can make that decision with ease.
In this article, we’re going to discuss the types available to you in terms of size, and the factors you need to consider before finalizing your choice.
Before we go into the factors you must consider before buying, let’s discuss the types of humidifiers available to your basis of size. So, without further ado, let’s get started!
Types of Humidifiers (Based on size)
Small Humidifiers
These are the smallest humidifiers for your home and can cover up to 400 Sq. Ft. of space comfortably. You can use smaller units in locations like bathrooms, kitchen, closets, tabletops, and so on. You can easily transport these units from one place to another, and generally speaking, they can produce anywhere from 1.5 to 4 gallons of water per day.
If you have a small area you’d like to humidify, these models are the best way to go.
Medium Sized Humidifiers
After a smaller unit, you can start looking at the medium-sized humidifiers. These models have a little more capacity than the smaller humidifiers, and you can use these for slightly bigger rooms (400 – 1000 Sq. Ft.). These units can add anywhere from 2 to 4 (or more) gallons of moisture per day.
You can place these in your bedroom, kitchen, doorways, and so on. These units are still portable, although slightly sizable than most smaller humidifiers. You can also use these for your office space. These generally have more humidification capacity that the smaller units, along with coverage. So, if you need a humidifier that’s slightly bigger than the smallest humidifiers, this is where you can begin.
Large Humidifiers
Next in the same category are the large humidifiers. These are ideal for the larger rooms, although not big enough for the entire house. These can cover anywhere from 1000 (Sq.ft) onwards, up to 2000-2500 (Sq.Ft.).
These are ideal for larger bedrooms, living rooms, basements, hallways, and so on. Large humidifiers can release anywhere from 6- 8 (or more) Gallons per day.
These are heavier than the previous two types and usually come in tower and console options. You can choose between the different types based on the needs of your space.
Whole- House humidifiers
After the large scale humidifiers, there are the whole house humidifier units. As the name suggests, this type is ideal for humidifying larger areas, preferably the entire home. Generally speaking, this type of humidifier can cover anywhere from 1000 Square feet to 4,50 Square feet (or more).
These humidifiers usually have large r capacity as well, and typically these can release nine gallons (and more) of moisture per day, which is a considerable amount. These are ideal units for your entire homes and come in different types as well.
Commercial Humidifiers
If you need a humidifier, not for your home, but your commercial space, you will require a humidifier that can humidify a considerable amount of space. For a larger setting, humidifiers that can cover 2,500 Square feet and more are ideal and can cater to the needs of people who want to keep their commercial spaces in good condition.
These units can humidify a considerable amount every day, and are ideal only for commercial settings, and not for domestic use.
These are the types of humidifiers you can find in the market, based on their sizes. Now, let’s discuss the features that determine which of these types is ideal for your space.
Factors that determine your ideal Humidifier (Based on Size)
There are plenty of factors that determine what type of humidifier based on size would be ideal for your space. Here are some of the most noteworthy factors you should consider.
1. Dimensions of your space
Among all the various factors on this list, this is probably the foremost factor that you have to look into while looking for your ideal humidifier. By making sure you know what the overall dimensions of the space are, you can get a rough idea of what type would be the best for you. You should also keep in mind the volume of your space.
Based on the dimensions of your space, you can determine whether you should opt for a smaller, medium, or whole house humidifier.
2. Airflow
The airflow of your space is also an essential factor to consider. Whether you have an open room or an airtight room, will considerably affect the circulation of air, and the introduction of the moisture. In an airtight place, it is easy to determine the ideal humidifier as the airflow is predictable. With homes that have a drafty setting, it can be hard to ascertain the right humidifier before you fix the air leak.
3. Starting humidity
The starting humidity level plays a crucial part in deciding the size of the humidifier. For example, if you have a smaller room, yet the humidity levels are drastically low, even in comparison to a medium-sized room, a smaller unit will not be adequate. You’ll need to upgrade your search parameter to include medium-sized humidifiers.
Similarly, if there’s not a considerable drop in humidity, and a smaller unit can take care of your bedroom, or office, there’s no need to go for a medium-sized humidifier.
These factors determine the size of the humidifier you need to buy.
Bonus: There are a few other things you should also consider while you’re looking for a humidifier.
1. Type of Humidifier
There are two types of a humidifier, based on the moisture output. You can either go for a warm mist humidifier or a cool-mist humidifier. Warm mist humidifiers give out warm moisture, and the cold- mist humidifiers give out the cooling mist.
If you want to consider humidifiers for their working mechanism, you can choose between Impeller humidifiers, evaporative humidifiers, vaporizers, ultrasonic humidifiers, and other categories. It is up to you to decide the type you are most comfortable with, bringing in to your home.
2. Manufacturer (Brand)
You should also consider the manufacturer before you buy the product from any retailer. A trustworthy source is an ideal choice, and you should consider this carefully. By purchasing from a well- known manufacturer, you can get the benefit of not only the latest technology but also a quality product that will last you a long time.
That, however, does not mean that you should not check every other aspect of the product as well. It means that you should check the source first.
3. Special Features
Each humidifier comes with a few basic features that help in carrying out the task of humidification. However, with advanced features, it becomes more comfortable to operate the unit. These features include indicators (low water, filter change, etc.), auto- shut off, auto- defrost, night light, and so on. These features make the process of humidification more efficient. For example, a unit that has auto shut- off automatically shuts off when the water is running low, and a humidifier that has timer option is easy to program to shut off during the night.
By determining which of these features you’d like in your humidifier, you can shortlist the desirable options.
4. Budget
You should also consider your budget before you begin your search. Keeping all the points (mentioned above) in mind, you can make a list of your desired units. There are plenty of options in each range, and without compromising on the essentials, you can ascertain the best option for yourself.
5. Consider Opinions
There are reviews available on sites like Amazon, where users give their opinion on various products and share their experiences with the products. You get an idea about the product from there. You can also ask your friends and family for advice. But ultimately, it’s your call.
Conclusion
Humidifiers are the best way to ensure that you have a cozy environment. But the ideally sized humidifier is necessary for the best results. In this article, we’ve discussed all that determines which is the right size of humidifier for you. There are a lot of things to consider when you’re buying a new humidifier. However, once you can shortlist your choices keeping these points in mind, you then choose the one you like the best. It is easier than it looks.