What’s the Best Humidifier?

Winter can be a beautiful time of year, but it has its fair share of annoyance. Freezing temperatures tend to make the air around us very dry, causing a host of skin and breathing problems. Have you ever woken up in the Winter only to find your lips chapped, nose chafed, and throat sore?

This is the result of breathing cold, dry air for too long. When we do so, the air can damage our breathing passageways such as the mouth, nose, and throat. If the air has too low of a humidity level, breathing it in will certainly cause discomfort. If you want to avoid this issue, seek a humidifier.

The humidifier is an incredible device for your home that can increase the humidity level in your home. In this article, we will go over the basics of humidifiers. We’ll discuss what they do, how they work, why you might need one, and the best ones on the market today.

What does a Humidifier Do?

Humidifiers are devices that emit steam or water vapor into the air around it. There are a few different types of humidifiers that increase air humidity through different methods and in different scopes.

Central Humidifiers are a type of humidifier built into the HVAC system of a home. These devices are designed to humidify an entire home instead of a small space. Ultrasonic humidifiers have a device built in that produces ultrasonic vibrations. When applied to a water supply, these vibrations create a cool mist.

Evaporators are another type of humidifier that are very simple in design. There’s a wet wick inside of every evaporator and an internal fan blows on the wick to spread water particles into the air around it. Impeller humidifiers use a rotating disk to move water and produce a cool mist.

The most common type of humidifier is the steam vaporizer. These work by using electricity to heat the small water supply stored inside of it. Electric coils or radiators built into the device heat the water reservoir and produce steam. This steam is cooled internally before being released from the device, into your home.

Almost every type of humidifier offers the option to add scents or essential oils. Sometimes you can just add the oil to the water supply of the humidifier. Other more advanced humidifiers have specially-designed oil reservoirs that you can pour the oil into.

Why Would I Need a Humidifier?

There are many reasons why a humidifier can be a great addition to your home. As mentioned before, humidifiers can be the answer to dry skin and sore throats in the Winter. Many people put humidifiers in the bedrooms or entire homes due to how dry the air becomes in the Winter.

Those who suffer from nasal congestion of any type will also find comfort through a humidifier. The same soothing effect of taking a hot shower can be achieved through the help of a humidifier. There are also certain oils that can be put into the device that can treat symptoms of sinus diseases.

Asthma patients will benefit from an increase in humidity. Humidifiers can ease any breathing issues experienced by children and adults that suffer from asthma. Additionally, those who chronically suffer from allergies will find great relief.

Those with infants and toddlers often use humidifiers to help them sleep soundly at night. Keeping a baby’s room nice and humid will soothe them while they try to sleep and help decrease the chances of their air passages becoming inflamed or itchy. Humidifiers are the best way to help babies with a case of the cold fall asleep and stay asleep while minimizing discomfort.

In summary, there are many applications for humidifiers. The best time of year to use them is in the Winter when air humidity is at an all time low, however, they can be applied whenever you may need some more humidity in the home.

It’s also important to know what the ideal humidity levels are. Ideally, your home should have a humidity level between 30% and 50%. Too little humidity will cause dry skin and irritate your air passageways. Too high of humidity can cause condensation on surfaces. This can lead to mold developing and the growth of harmful bacteria. Through the use of a humidistat, you can keep an eye on the humidity level in your home.

What’s the Best Humidifier?

Here are the 5 best humidifiers on the market:

Vicks Cool Moisture Humidifier is the best humidifier for those with clogged sinuses. This incredible humidifier produces a nice, cool mist via electricity-based cooled steam. What’s great about this humidifier is that it uses a compound similar to Vicks Vapo-Rub to soothe sore throats, raw noses, and clogged sinuses.

The Essick Console Humidifier is the best option for those who need to add some humidity to their entire home. This device can increase the humidity of a 2,500 square foot area, and can hold a maximum of 5½ gallons of water.

The Heaven Fresh Travel Ultrasonic Humidifier is the best option for those who need to take humidity control on the go. If you travel a lot and find yourself needing humidity in the hotel rooms you stay in or homes you visit, this is for you. This small humidifier is battery-operated and can be transported easily. You use a simple water bottle as a water supply, and it humidifies up to 100 square feet.

The Crane Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier is the best humidifier for babies and young children. This ultra-quiet humidifier will keep your kids sleeping comfortably. Additionally, they have built-in nightlights and come in cute kid-friendly designs.

The Air Innovations Cool Mist Digital Humidifier is the most convenient option for those who need some humidity in their homes. This stylish humidifier has a cool design and a remote control. This allows you to control the humidifier from your bed or from the couch. On top of that, this device has a built-in humidistat.