Last Updated: February 26, 2024
During dry weather, humidity can drop very low, giving rise to a lot of complications, health and otherwise. It is something that left unchecked, can lead to more problems. Dry skin, dry and inflamed mucous membrane, puffy hairs, cold, flu, and many other symptoms can accompany low humidity, leaving you incapacitated.
Not only is this a problem for your health, but it is also problematic for your house and everything in it. Electronic devices are always in danger. With low relative humidity (RH) in the environment, electrostatic discharge (ESD) is more likely to affect your electronics, causing a lot of damage.
That’s why the humidity in your home needs to stay at ideal levels of 30- 50%. There are many different things you can do to maintain the right levels. One of the most common solutions is using a vaporizer or a humidifier.
To decide which one of these you want for your home, first, you need to be familiar with what a vaporizer and a humidifier are, and how they differ from each other. By knowing more about them and comparing their properties, you can make a better decision.
In this article, we’ll be discussing and comparing these two devices. So, without further ado, let’s get started.
What is a humidifier?
A humidifier is a device designed to alleviate the humidity level of a space. Mostly, it’s an electrical appliance that increases the humidity in a small space such as a room or larger areas such as the entire house or commercial settings. The smaller portable units are easily movable, whereas the whole house humidifier or big commercial units are used generally with the HVAC system.
There are many different types of humidifiers that users can choose from, and these generally different a little bit from each other in terms of the working mechanism.
Here are the four main types of humidifiers:
- Evaporative Humidifiers
- Vaporizers
- Impeller Humidifiers
- Ultrasonic humidifiers
In this topic, however, we’re discussing cool mist humidifiers and vaporizers. So, when we say humidifiers, it’s an evaporative humidifier or a cool-mist humidifier.
Cool mist humidifier, or evaporative humidifier, is a humidifier that uses a reservoir, wick, and a fan to operate, and releases cool mist into the environment. These humidifiers use a wicking aid for the evaporative process. It consists of a porous material that absorbs water from the reservoir and provides a larger surface area for evaporation. The fan is also there adjacent to the wick and helps move the process along faster.
Now let’s have a look at some of the benefits of a cool-mist humidifier:
A cool-mist humidifier creates a cool mist and adds moisture to the environment. These humidifiers are quite efficient and get the job done. This type is available in portable, as well as whole- house/ commercial settings.
- A cool-mist humidifier is a safe bet, and you don’t need to worry about these being harmful to you in any way. You do need to keep cleaning these humidifiers from time to time, but with that, everything else becomes safer. It is the reason why these are usually the first choice for parents who have young kids.
- These humidifiers are also an efficient option. They do not use a lot of energy and save users a lot on bills. But, that does not mean that these humidifiers compromise on the quality of the performance. These devices are probably the most popular choices amongst users.
- Cool mist humidifiers are also available in the impeller and ultrasonic types. This type is more commonly in use in most households. These are also quite affordable and do not cost as much as the other option i.e., warm mist humidifiers.
Now, let’s get familiar with the vaporizers.
What is a Vaporizer?
Vaporizers are a kind of warm mist humidifiers, used for humidifying a space. These steam mist/warm mist humidifiers work by boiling the water and then turning it into the warm mist. You can also add medical inhalants in most of these humidifiers to relieve cold symptoms.
These humidifiers do not have wicks, and fans like evaporative humidifiers. Vaporizers produce heat along with the moisture and can get a little hot. There are chances of overheating and other electrical disturbances in case the product or the heating source is out of order.
So, parents need to be careful while using these in the presence of their child.
Vaporizers do not have a filter and do not need one. Usually, a vaporizer consists of a small plastic base and a small upper cup-shaped portion. You can fill water in the lower portion, and vapors come out from the upper part.
Here are the top benefits of using a Vaporizer:
- The vaporizer is a type of warm mist humidifier and hence releases a warm mist into the room. Using a vaporizer is ideal in colder climates, where it is also useful as a room heater. Although it does not create a lot of heat, it can still make the room quite comfortable. Winters can be testing, and if you have the added benefit of a heating device.
- You can also use the vaporizer for medical purposes. If you’ve been prescribed inhalants for your cold or some other similar condition, you can add the inhalant to the water reservoir, and enjoy the benefits of the medication. However, you should always consult with your physician before using something like that.
- A vaporizer is a safe option, as the mist made by these devices is less likely to spread any mineral impurities or microorganisms from the water. It is because the water is heated to produce the warm steam, ensuring there are no microorganisms.
Humidifier vs Vaporizer
Design
The vaporizers are a compactly designed device and usually consist of a bottom water container and a cup-shaped upper part. Whereas, the evaporative humidifiers or the impeller humidifier uses fans for facilitating the evaporative process. The vaporizers have a less complicated design, as compared to other humidifier types.
Operation
A vaporizer uses a heating element to warm the water, and it evaporates to form a stream of warm mist. The vaporizers work by boiling the water. However, cool-mist humidifier, for example, an evaporative humidifier works by the process of evaporation, using a wick and a fan.
Efficiency
Vaporizers require a lot of energy to boil the water. Between a vaporizer and cool mist humidifiers, cool mist humidifiers are more efficient, as they need less energy to impart humidity to the environment.
Safety
Vaporizers can get very hot while operating, and are considered unsafe, especially around children. But, since they work by boiling the water, the mineral impurities and microorganisms in the water are less likely to end up in your environment.
Compared to vaporizers, the cool mist humidifiers are safer, as they release a stream of cold mist. Most cool mist humidifiers have filters to keep out any impurities in water. These filters need to be changed every once in a while.
Both types require regular maintenance.
Cost
It depends on the model that you’re buying, but generally speaking, cool mist humidifier ay cost more. However, with vaporizers, you have to consider the large amount of electricity that they require for functioning.
Conclusion
Both vaporizers and humidifiers are effectual in creating an appropriate environment for you. However, both devices are different in terms of how they achieve this for you. Cool-mist humidifiers are kid-friendly, and safer option in general, while vaporizers warm your space, and let you use various medical inhalants. If it’s a matter of simple humidification, a cool-mist humidifier is probably a better idea. It is a popular option among parents. But, depending on what your needs are, you can make a sound decision.