Learn how air humidifiers can make your home healthier and more comfortable.
Particularly during cooler months, you might notice the air in your home is dry. It’s common to experience dry skin, eye or nose irritation, or even worsened respiratory issues like asthma when the air is too dry. One easy solution to combat dry air: a home air humidifier. These small, simple gadgets can have a huge impact in your home air quality and help create the ideal humidity levels.
Common Types of Air Humidifiers
There are several different types of air humidifiers that you can use in your home, from portable humidifiers to centralized humidifiers. Each one works in a slightly different way, so understanding the differences can help you pick out the one that’s right for your home and family.
- Ultrasonic humidifiers:These common household humidifiers use a vibrating metal diaphragm that agitates water into mist, which is then blown out into the room with a fan. Most models keep the water at room temperature, but some offer warm or cool mist capabilities. Ultrasonic humidifiers are nearly silent, making them a great option if you like to sleep with a humidifier and don’t want any additional noise. Maintenance requirements on ultrasonic humidifiers are low, but it’s important to ensure regular cleanings to cut down on potential allergens. These humidifiers can be a little more expensive, but they tend to be extremely energy efficient. Because there’s no hot surfaces, ultrasonic humidifiers are good choices for nurseries or children’s rooms.
- Impeller humidifiers:Impeller humidifiers function similarly to ultrasonic humidifiers, but instead of a metal diaphragm that vibrates at ultrasonic speeds, impeller humidifiers simply use a rotating disc that accelerates water onto a diffuser that aerosolizes water particles. These are affordable and safe for children because they only make cool mist. However, it’s important to keep an eye on how often this humidifier is used. It can over-humidify a room easily, so make sure to aim for total humidity levels between 40-60%.
- Evaporative humidifiers:Using basic principles of evaporation, these simple humidifiers commonly utilize a soaked wick and a fan to suck in the air in your room and blow it through the wick. As air passes through the wick, it causes water to evaporate and increase the humidity within the room. There is some sound from the fan, which can act as a calming white noise for children or adults. However, if you’re looking for a silent option, the ultrasonic humidifier is likely a better choice.
- Steam vaporizers:Steam vaporizers use electricity to create steam that cools before leaving the machine. Bacterial contamination and mineral dust accumulation are less likely with this type of humidifier, but the hot water inside may cause burns if spilled. If you have children or pets running around the house, it’s safest to avoid this type of humidifier. Vaporizer humidifiers also tend to have high energy consumption, making it a less-sustainable option than other humidifier types.
- Central humidifiers:This type of humidifier is directly connected to your homes central heating and cooling. Central humidifiers are typically the most expensive humidifying solution but can reach every room without the need for multiple, portable humidifier units. If you live in a particularly dry climate or have a larger home, investing in a central humidifier is the most efficient solution for combating dry air.
Air Humidifier Benefits
Air humidifiers can provide a number of benefits for you and your family. Here are some of the benefits of using an air humidifier:
- Improve sleep quality. Dry air in your home can actually make it harder to breathe at night and can even worsen common sleep issues like snoring.[1] Dry air means that a person’s airways are less likely to be lubricated, which can lead to snoring. Using a humidifier while sleeping can keep your room at the optimal humidity level, between 40 and 60%, and help set the conditions for a better night of sleep.[2]
- Fall asleep faster. Some portable humidifiers make a soft, soothing hum while they run, which can act as a white noise machine. Studies suggest that white noise may reduce the time it takes to fall asleep by nearly 40%, and that white noise is particularly effective for babies and young children.[3]
- Create the feeling of warmer air. While a humidifier won’t actually change the temperature on your thermostat, the increased moisture in the air makes you feel warmer.[4] It’s an efficient, sustainable way to regulate your temperature at home and even save on heating bills.
- Help with allergies. If you struggle with the symptoms of allergies, an air humidifier might make you more comfortable. Breathing higher humidity air can reduce inflammation of nasal passages and help with congestion.[5]
- Reduce risk of illness. Humidifiers can actually help keep you healthy. Dry nasal passages have a harder time filtering out germs and bacteria, so keeping your air humidity higher will help your body protect its respiratory system.[6] Viruses also have more difficulty traveling and surviving in humid air, so keeping your home humidity levels around 40-60% can reduce viral transmission.[7]
- Healthier hair, skin, and scalp. Excessively low humidity can contribute to dry skin and poor hair or scalp health.[8] Hair is made up of collagen, which needs moisture in the air to stay healthy. If you experience cracked lips or dry skin, especially in the winter, a humidifier can help restore much-needed moisture to your body.
- Happier houseplants. Humans aren’t the only ones who struggle with dry air. Many houseplants, especially those native to tropical environments, love the additional moisture from a humidifier. Help your home become greener– literally – by revitalizing your houseplants with increased humidity.
Considerations When Using a Humidifier
Air humidifiers can add many health benefits for you and your loved ones, but like anything, it’s important to take precautions so that you get the best results.
As a best practice, keep your home’s ideal humidity levels in mind and avoid accidentally creating a damp environment. Humidity levels of 40-60% are perfect; any higher, and you might create conditions for mold to grow.
The most important thing when using an air humidifier is to keep it clean. Without careful maintenance, humidifiers can develop mold and bacterial growth, and cause more harm than good to your health. Here are some tips for keeping your air humidifier clean:
- Use distilled or demineralized water. Tap water, especially in certain areas, may have minerals that can create deposits in your humidifier and promote bacterial growth.[9]
- Change water often. Leaving stale water stagnant in the tank can allow a film to develop. Empty and dry the tank before refilling it with clean water every day.
- Clean the humidifier every few days. Unplug and drain the humidifier, then use a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution to wipe down the tank. This will remove any mineral deposits or film.
- Change your filters regularly. The filter requirements will depend on the humidifier type so change your filters as often as the manufacturer recommends—and more if it’s visibly dirty.
You can also look for a self-cleaning humidifier, which will prevent mold or mildew from forming all by itself. That way, running your home air humidifier is as simple as the touch of a button and comes with even more peace of mind. Using an air humidifier to keep the ideal humidity level in your home is a great way to keep your family healthy, comfortable, and breathing the best air possible.
[2] National Library of Medicine
