If you’re thinking about getting a humidifier for your house, there are a few things to think about before you buy one.
For people who suffer from chronic air dryness, a humidifier is a blessing. It operates by turning water to vapor and raising the room’s humidity level. This makes it easier to breathe while also assisting in the treatment of a variety of ailments.
We’ll go over a few different elements that make any humidifier a good buy if you’re buying one for the first time and don’t know what to look for.
Beginning with Humidifier Selection
Before you look into the technical characteristics of a humidifier, make sure to ask yourself why you need one in the first place. Is it going to be in your kitchen, workplace, or bedroom? When and how long do you intend to use it during the day? Will you be operating it with children or pets present?
Even though you know the technical characteristics, you won’t be able to make the best decision unless you properly outline your requirements.
1. Choosing a Humidifier Type
Warm mist and cold mist humidifiers are the two most common types on the market.
In warmer climes, the cool mist humidifier supplies moisture to the air at room temperature. These humidifiers are louder, but they are also easier to clean. Their operating costs are also quite minimal. However, unless the humidifier has a high-end filter, it’s best to use distilled water, which is free of pollutants, in cool mist humidifiers to avoid pathogens migrating with the mist.
Warm mist humidifiers, on the other hand, are ideal for chilly climes and smaller areas. Heating components boil water to eliminate germs and bacteria, then add beneficial moisture to keep you breathing comfortably. They do, however, use more energy and are dangerous to use around children and pets. They are more harder to clean, despite their quietness.
In addition, dual-mist devices can be used in any situation.
2. Humidifier Runtime, Moisture Output, Tank Capacity, and Coverage
When looking for a humidifier, you’ll come across the following terms:
Runtime: The runtime of a humidifier refers to the maximum number of hours it may run between refills.
Moisture Output: The pace at which a humidifier adds moisture to the room air is referred to as moisture output. Gallons per hour or gallons per day are the most common units of measurement.
Tank Capacity: The tank capacity of a humidifier refers to the maximum amount of water it can hold after being refilled. It’s usually expressed in gallons or liters.
Coverage: The amount of area that a humidifier can easily humidify is referred to as coverage.
It is determined by the manufacturer.
A humidifier’s runtime will be longer if its tank capacity is higher. Similarly, the higher the moisture output, the shorter the runtime, but the faster it will keep your chosen humidity level. With each refill, a humidifier with a bigger tank capacity to moisture output ratio will last longer.
By modifying the fan speed on some humidifiers, you can change the moisture output to low, medium, or high. This not only extends or shortens the duration, but also allows you to adjust the humidification rate of the machine to suit your demands.
3. Usability
The simplicity of use of a humidifier is determined by three factors: mobility, cleaning, and refilling. Let’s take a look at each component one by one.
Portability: Smaller, lighter humidifiers are easier to transport around the house. Even a bigger unit may be readily transported from room to room with the help of casters.
Refilling: The frequency with which you replenish the tank, as well as how simple it is to do so, are both important factors. Humidifiers with big top openings are easy to refill, however those that must be disconnected or removed while being refilled can be difficult.
Cleaning: The filter and water tank of the humidifier play a big role in how easy or difficult it is to clean it. It will be a problem for you if the filter is low-quality and needs to be washed on a frequent basis, although the removable tank is easier to clean than the permanent tank.
Keeping these three factors in mind will assist you in selecting a humidifier.
4. Noise and Consumption of Energy
When purchasing a humidifier, two crucial operational elements to consider are energy usage and noise level. Due to noise levels averaging 30 decibels, which is akin to the sound of a whisper, low-noise humidifiers are suitable for usage at night. Certain humidifiers allow the user to regulate the fan speed, lowering or raising the noise level.
Furthermore, the unit you purchase should not be a permanent drain on your finances. Cool mist humidifiers are the greatest option because they require less energy when operating, but keep in mind their drawbacks.
5. Inventive Features
Certain features distinguish a humidifier from others, and you should consider them before making your choice. Your life will be much easier with features like remote control, mobile app support or Alexa integration, timer, smart memory, night mode, auto-shutoff, hygrometer, and child-lock. Let’s have a look at how each of these options can assist you.
While a remote control allows you to adjust the humidifier’s settings while relaxing on the couch, a smartphone app and smart speaker support make controlling the humidifier a breeze. You may also use the timer to have the humidifier operate only during certain hours of the day to save electricity.
The humidifier’s night mode shuts out the lights and lowers the noise level for use at night. Smart memory humidifiers restart with the same settings as when they were turned off, either intentionally or through a power loss.
When the water tank is empty, the auto-shutoff mechanism keeps your humidifier from malfunctioning. In addition, the hygrometer turns off the unit when the humidity level in your room reaches the set level, preventing air saturation.
Humidifiers also come with a child lock, which is a useful feature. It allows parents to lock humidifier settings to prevent their children from meddling with them. As a result, even if your children continue to play with buttons, they will be unable to change any settings.
6. Other Points to Consider
Here are some other things to think about while purchasing a humidifier:
- Warranty: The peace of mind that comes with buying a humidifier that is backed by a warranty is invaluable. Some firms even offer guarantees on filters that have been installed.
- Certifications: Humidifiers with certificates like UL Listing (which confirms that the item is safe to use), ETL Listing (which has the same authority as UL Listing), and others lend credibility to your equipment.
- Dimensions: Choose the proper size for your humidifier based on where you plan to put it. If you choose one that is too large, it will be difficult to fit where you want it, while purchasing one that is too tiny will result in a smaller tank and a shorter runtime. So, before you buy it, carefully consider the dimensions.
Choose the Best Humidifier for Your Room
It should be easy for you to decide what to seek for in a humidifier now that you’ve read our article.
Take into account the price, since the more advanced a humidifier is, the more it will cost. As a result, make sure you strike the correct balance between pricing and features.
