Humidifiers Archives - Page 10 of 15 -

How Can Humidifiers Help With Respiratory Problems?

We all know that when we get a respiratory infection, it gets difficult to breathe through the nose and mouth, and it even gets worse at night when we are trying hard to get to sleep,

but the cough and difficulty in breathing don’t let us get sleep peacefully. If any seniors have such a disease, Respite Care in Seal Beach is ready to help all seniors of Seal Beach

These are mostly caused due to dry air, so moisture in the air is a must. Humidifiers may be very beneficial because they provide complete moisture at your home and shield you from many clinical conditions like dry skin, angry eyes, dryness within the throat or airways, allergic reactions, common coughs, bloody noses, sinus complications and cracked lips.

Some people revel in respiratory signs and symptoms in the summer months, whilst the climate is hot, and the air consists of extra allergens.

Air conditioners lovers can circulate dry air via the room. But these air conditioners eliminate the humidity from the room completely. A humidifier can be beneficial all through this season.

What are Humidifiers?

Humidifiers are gadgets that release water vapor or steam to increase moisture degrees in the air (humidity).

Benefits of a humidifier:

It keeps your skin and hair moist

Few people know that their skin, lips, and hair become dry and fragile in wintry weather.

Many heating gadgets pump hot, dry air thru the residence or workplace, making the pores and skin dry, itchy, or flaky. Outside air can also dry out the pores and skin.

The use of a humidifier to feature moisture to the indoor air may also assist in lessening the prevalence of dry, cracked pores and pores and skin.

Helpful around the home

Moisture provided by the humidifiers are beneficial for you homes. Plants, your furniture and many other things in the house remains good and last longer. Humidity in the house can save your home wallpapers or the paint from cracking and damaging.
Humidifiers can be helpful for winter seasons as the humid air feels more warmer the the dry air, so you can save your money from utility bills.

Creating a cough greater productive

Dry air can motivate a person to have a dry, unproductive cough. Including humidity in the air can get more moisture into the airways, making coughing more efficient. An efficient cough releases trapped or sticky phlegm.

Lowering loud night breathing

growing the quantity of moisture within the air also can lessen snoring. If the air is dry, a person’s airlines are much less likely to be sufficiently lubricated, making snoring worse.
Adding humidity to the air by going for walks and a humidifier at night may also help alleviate some symptoms.

Helps loosen congestion

Humidifiers also can loosen congestion via moistening the nasal passage. Whilst you get ill, the cells lining your respiration tract generate extra mucus, Stiehm says. Whilst the mucus dries, it can become “sticky, ” making it tough to blow or cough.

Growing air moisture could simplify, allowing you to expel the mucus whilst coughing or blowing your nostril, stopping it from drying, Stiehm says.

Humidifiers are often delivered to non-stop positive airway pressure remedy (CPAP) machines used on sleep apnea sufferers. That’s because CPAP blows dry air up your nose, which could boom congestion.

How to measure humidity

A hygrometer is an excellent way to check humidity stages integrated into your home. This device seems like a thermometer. It measures the quantity of moisture built-in-built integrated air. Hygrometers can be bought at hardware shops and department stores.

Types of humidifiers

Steam vaporizers use power to create steam, which cools earlier than it leaves the unit. But, there’s a chance of burning the pores and skin, and people should avoid using steam vaporizers around kids.

Ultrasonic humidifiers: Those devices use vibrations to vaporize water instead of energy.

Evaporators: these produce humidity by using blowing air beyond evaporating water.

Impeller humidifiers are generally infant-pleasant and use rotating disks instead of warmth to vaporize water.

Imperative humidifiers: someone connects this kind of gadget to the central air conditioning within the domestic or workplace to feature moisture to the entire area.

To benefit those humidifier blessings, it’s critical to ease your device every three days and keep tune of humidity degrees, so they stay between 30% and 50%.

Suppose you want humidifiers to help you with respiratory problems. In that case, it is also important To keep humidifiers free of harmful mold and bacteria and follow the guidelines recommended by the manufacturer.

These tips for portable humidifiers also can help:

Change humidifier water often.

Don’t allow film or deposits to develop inside your humidifiers. Empty the tanks, dry the inside surfaces and refill with clean water every day if possible, especially if using cool-mist or ultrasonic humidifiers. Unplug the unit first.

Clean humidifiers every 3 days.

Unplug the humidifier before you clean it. Remove any mineral deposits or film from the tank or other parts of the humidifier with a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution, which is available at pharmacies. Some manufacturers recommend using chlorine bleach or other disinfectants.

Always rinse the tank after cleaning. This can keep harmful chemicals from becoming airborne — and then inhaled.

Change humidifier filters regularly.

If the humidifier has a filter, change it at least as often as the manufacturer recommends — and more often if it’s dirty. Also, regularly change the filter in your central air conditioning and heating system.

Keep the area around humidifiers dry.

If the area around a humidifier becomes damp — including windows, carpeting, drapes or tablecloths — turn the humidifier down or reduce how often you use it.

Prepare humidifiers for storage. Drain and clean humidifiers before storing them. And then clean them again when you take them out of storage for use. Throw away all used cartridges, cassettes or filters.

Wrapping Up!

Moisture is a must in your atmosphere, as it provides many health benefits and keeps your respiratory system good going. So a humidifier is a useful gadget in your home to keep yourself away from many problems.

Protect Your Health and Sleep Better with a Humidifier

Humidifiers can do wonders for your fitness by keeping the air in your house moist and at ease.

It’s instrumental in winter when dry air can cause breathing issues, skin irritations, and static strength. A humidifier can also assist you to sleep higher by reducing loud night breathing and congestion.

There are a few matters to maintain in mind when choosing a humidifier. The best way to know everything is to take guidance, or you can also find a counselor UK. First, decide what sort of humidifier you need.

There are both heat mist and cool mist options to be had. Heat mist humidifiers use boiling water to create steam, that’s then released into the air. Cool mist humidifiers use ultrasonic era to generate a pleasant mist dispersed into the air.

Next, consider the size of the unit. If you have a large home, you will need a larger humidifier. Conversely, a small unit will be sufficient for a smaller space.

Finally, consider any special features you may want in a humidifier. Some units come with filters to remove impurities from the water, while others have built-in humidistats to help maintain the ideal humidity level in your home.

Humidifiers are an important part of keeping your home healthy and comfortable. Adding moisture to the air can help relieve various ailments, including dry skin, sinus problems, and respiratory issues.

And humidifiers also greatly benefit your sleep beyond just making you feel better. Here are ways a humidifier can improve your sleep quality and overall health:

Relieve Dry Skin:

A humidifier can be a lifesaver if you be afflicted by dry skin. The more moisture inside the air will assist in hydrating your skin and prevent it from becoming angry or cracked. It’s particularly beneficial in wintry weather when the air is dry.

Prevent Nosebleeds:

Nosebleeds are often caused by dryness in the nasal passages. A humidifier can help to prevent this by keeping the air moist and reducing the risk of nosebleeds. Dry air can cause your nasal passages to become irritated and lead to nosebleeds. By adding moisture to the air, a humidifier can help prevent these nosebleeds from occurring.

Reduce Snoring:

If you or your partner snores, a humidifier can help. The air’s moisture will help keep the throat lubricated and reduce irritation. It can lead to quieter nights for everyone involved!

Soothe Sinuses:

Dry air can cause sinus problems like congestion, headaches, and even nosebleeds. Adding moisture to the air with a humidifier can help to soothe these symptoms and provide relief.

Prevent Colds and Flu:

Humidifiers can also help to prevent colds and flu by keeping the air moist. It can reduce the risk of viruses spreading through the air and causing illness.

Relieve Asthma Symptoms:

People living with Asthma often find relief with a humidifier. The air’s moisture can help open up the airways and make breathing easier

Reduce Allergy Symptoms:

Like Asthma, allergies can also be improved with a humidifier. The air’s moisture will help reduce irritation and inflammation caused by dryness.

Boost Immune System:

Humidifiers can also help to boost your immune system by keeping the air moist. It can reduce the risk of illnesses like colds and flu.

Detoxify the Air:

Some humidifiers also come with features that help to detoxify the air. It can remove harmful toxins and chemicals, making the air healthier for you to breathe.

Reduce Stress Levels:

The extra moisture in the air can also help to reduce stress levels. It can lead to calm and relaxation, which can benefit your overall health.

Alleviate respiratory problems:

Humidifiers can help alleviate congestion, sinus infections, and nosebleeds by adding moisture to the air. If you have Asthma, a humidifier can help alleviate your symptoms by adding moisture to the air. The extra moisture will help thin mucus secretions, making them easier to expel.

Protect your hair:

Just like your skin, your hair can also benefit from the extra moisture in the air. Indoor heating can cause your hair to become brittle and dry, but a humidifier can help reverse these effects.

Ease congestion:

A humidifier can help ease congestion by thinning mucus secretions if you’re struggling with a cold or allergies. The extra moisture will also make it easier to breathe through your nose.

Soothe a sore throat:

Humidifiers can also help soothe a sore throat by keeping your throat moist. It is especially important if you suffer from a cold or the flu.

Improve sleep quality:

More moisture within the air can also improve your sleep by making breathing easier and stopping your skin from becoming too dry. When you have a problem sleeping, a humidifier can help. The extra moisture inside the air will assist you to breathe extra easily and make you feel greater at ease. It could cause a better nighttime sleep.

Prevent Static Electricity:

The extra moisture in the air can also help prevent static electricity from building up. It is especially important in the winter when indoor heating can make static electricity more pronounced.

Reduce dust mite allergies:

Dust mites are tiny creatures that thrive in dry environments. By adding moisture to the air, a humidifier can help reduce dust mite allergies by making their environment less hospitable.

Purify the air:

A few humidifiers come with filters that could assist purify the air by eliminating allergens and other contaminants. It may help improve your common fitness and sleep great.

Wrapping Up!

If you’re looking for ways to improve your health and sleep quality, consider using a humidifier. It can make a big difference in your respiratory health, skin health, and overall comfort level.

Humidifiers may be useful to your home, particularly all through winter. Keeping the air in your house wet and comfortable can lessen respiration problems, skin irritations, and static strength.

A humidifier can also assist you sleep better by decreasing snoring and congestion. While selecting a humidifier, consider the type, length, and special capabilities you could need. By doing so, you could locate the precise humidifier in your wishes.

Pink Mold in Your Humidifier: Why It’s Dangerous and How to Stop It

Is pink mold in a humidifier dangerous?

Yes — it can be, especially for people with allergies, asthma, or weakened immune systems. The microbes behind the pink film (often Serratia marcescens bacteria or the yeast‑like fungus Aureobasidium pullulans) can irritate the lungs, skin, and eyes, and may contribute to infections with repeated exposure. The good news is it’s common, very fixable with a thorough clean, and preventable once you dial in your humidity and maintenance routine.

What Pink Mold in a Humidifier Looks Like (and What It Really Is)

Open the tank to top off water and you see it: a salmon‑pink film, maybe a slick ring near the waterline, or a faint stain around the mist outlet. It’s not your humidifier “going bad,” and you don’t need to throw it out. That color usually points to microbes that love damp, mineral‑rich places — exactly what a warm water tank provides. A quick reset (clean, dry, refill) clears it, and a couple of smart habits keep it from returning.

Why you’re seeing pink mold now

Pink growth is more likely when indoor air stays moist for long stretches and water sits in the tank between refills. Minerals in tap water leave a light scale that microbes can cling to. If your unit has been running a lot, or the room feels a little “clammy,” your home might simply be running too humid — and the humidifier tank is where that shows up first.

Think of pink mold as a friendly warning flag. It’s your cue to check the broader humidity picture in the room and adjust before the problem spreads beyond the tank.

Do a quick humidity check (takes 30 seconds)

If you have a hygrometer, glance at it. The healthy target is 30–50% relative humidity. When readings sit above 55–60% for hours at a time, you’ve created great conditions for mold and bacteria — in the tank and around the house.

No meter handy? Look for simple clues: persistent condensation on windows, a faint musty smell, towels that don’t quite dry, or allergies that seem worse when the humidifier runs. Any of those point to “a little too damp.”

Easy ways to nudge humidity back into the sweet spot

You don’t need a renovation — just a few friendly habits:

Let fresh air help. On mild days, crack a window for 10–15 minutes; moving air pulls excess moisture out. Use bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans during showers and cooking.
Give the humidifier breaks. If you’re over 45–50% RH, pause the unit or lower its setting. Many models don’t need to run 24/7.
Consider a dehumidifier. Basements and tightly sealed rooms benefit from occasional drying cycles, especially after storms or laundry days.
Use distilled water. Fewer minerals mean less residue on tank walls — and fewer places for pink film to get started.

Right size matters (so you don’t over-humidify)

A humidifier that’s too large for the room can overshoot your target quickly and keep the air damp — exactly what pink mold prefers. Matching output to room size prevents “tropical” conditions and makes maintenance easier. If you’re not sure your unit is a fit, here’s a simple guide:
How to choose the right size humidifier for your room.

Okay — how do I get the pink out right now?

Here’s a gentle, effective clean that most manufacturers are happy with:

1) Power down and empty. Unplug, remove the tank, and pour out any water.
2) Soak to loosen. Fill the tank with white vinegar or 3% hydrogen peroxide and let it sit for about 30 minutes. This softens residue and disrupts the biofilm.
3) Light scrub. Use a soft brush or toothbrush to reach seams and corners. Avoid abrasive pads that can scratch the plastic (scratches give microbes hiding spots).
4) Rinse thoroughly. Warm water rinse until you no longer smell vinegar or peroxide.
5) Dry completely. Air‑dry parts on a clean towel before reassembly so you’re not trapping moisture in crevices.

Tip: Skip bleach unless your manufacturer specifically recommends it — it can pit plastics and leave fumes you don’t want to inhale.

Simple habits that keep pink mold from coming back

Refresh daily. Don’t let water sit in the tank more than 24 hours. A quick dump and refill knocks down growth dramatically.
Weekly reset. Do the soak‑and‑rinse routine once a week during heavy use. It takes about the length of a TV episode and pays back all season.
Mind the minerals. Distilled water reduces scale (less “grip” for microbes). If you stick with tap, clean a touch more often.
Optional helpers. Some people like a drop or two of tea tree oil or a labeled “humidifier treatment” tablet; use sparingly and only if your manual allows additives.

When to consider replacing the unit

If pink film returns immediately after a proper clean, or the tank has deep scratches and permanent staining, replacement may be cheaper (and safer) than battling hidden biofilm. Motors and misters last longer — and run quieter — when the water path is clean.

The bigger picture: a healthy home humidity rhythm

Humidifiers shine when they take the edge off dry winter air — preventing nosebleeds, easing coughs, and protecting wood furniture — without pushing your home into the soggy zone. Keep an eye on that 30–50% range, size the unit to the room, and give the tank a weekly reset. Do that, and pink mold tends to become a non‑issue.

Want a broader, step‑by‑step overview that covers types, setup, safety, and maintenance? Dive into our
Complete Humidifier Guide
for clear tips you can use today.

Quick answers to common questions

Is pink mold the same as black mold?

No. Pink growth is most often Serratia marcescens (a bacteria) or Aureobasidium species (yeast‑like fungus). It’s generally less hazardous than black mold but still irritating — especially with repeated exposure. Treat it seriously, clean it fully.

Can I keep using the humidifier while there’s pink film?

Pause it, clean it, then resume. Running through the film can aerosolize contaminants and worsen irritation or allergies.

What humidity should I aim for?

30–50% RH is the comfort and health sweet spot for most homes. If you’re consistently above 55–60%, reduce runtime, ventilate, or use a dehumidifier until the reading drops.

Will a bigger humidifier fix dry air faster?

It will — but it’s easier to overshoot and end up damp. For steady comfort without pink mold, match capacity to your room:
humidfier sizing guide.

Bottom line

Pink mold in a humidifier is a nudge, not a nightmare. Clean the tank thoroughly, keep your indoor humidity in the 30–50% range, and make sure your unit is sized for the space. With those pieces in place — and a quick weekly reset — you’ll keep the pink film away and your air comfortably healthy. For deeper how‑tos and setup tips, explore the
Humidifier Guide.

Is “White Noise” a Reason to Buy a Humidifier?

There is something about the noise that a humidifier makes while it’s misting the air that has an almost instantaneous sleep effect to it.

It’s very calming and hypnotizing at the same time. Combined with the relief of being able to breathe because of the moisture it emits into the air, humidifiers are kind of an elixir for helping you rest.

Interesting enough, you can browse YouTube and find a number of videos that provide the sounds of a humidifier that you can play while you are sleeping.

But not all humidifiers produce that white noise effect. And even though there are many people who enjoy the calming sound of a humidifier, there are just as many people who do not want to be able to hear their humidifier working at all.

And I can’t blame you, whatever side of the fence you’re on, because I can see the point of both.

Types of Humidifiers that produce White Noise

1.Evaporative cool mist humidifiers create a white noise effect that can be comforting to sleep with.

2.Impeller humidifiers have a spinning disc that makes a humming noise that can be

But if you’re looking for a quiet humidifier, ultrasonic humidifiers do not have a fan or a disc which makes them the quietest type of humidifier. relaxing too.

Should you buy a humidifier based on the White noise it makes?

Probably not.

Humidifiers can be pretty sophisticated devices these days. And come with all kinds of bells and whistles.

But one of the benefits to these humidifiers is that they are quiet.

And quiet seems to be a feature that most people are looking for when they are looking to purchase a humidifier.

Take the Levoit lv600s

This humidifier fully hooks up to your Wi-Fi and can be controlled by your phone or an Alexa or Google Assistant.

You can simply tell your humidifier what percentage of humidity you want, and it does the rest.

It is easily filled from the top, which is a huge improvement over other kinds of humidifiers that require you to take the tank off and turn it upside down to fill it.

It runs up to 50 hours without having to be refilled and can humidify a 500 square foot room up to four times faster than any other humidifier.

It features a built-in hygrometer and hydrostat so that you can set the humidity level to what you want and then leave the humidifier to reach and maintain that level.

And it can be used as either a cool mist humidifier or a warm mist humidifier.

And don’t forget, it is a fully functioning essential oil diffuser at the same time.

But if you’re looking for a white noise humidifier. This one is not it. This one is very quiet as a benefit.

Noisy humidifiers tend to be less sophisticated and rely on technologies that aren’t as good at humidifying the air.

Which is the primary point of having a humidifier.

But if the humidifier noise is something that you are very much interested in,

Air Care in a Whole House humidifier

This is a large humidifier that doesn’t have most of the bells and whistles that say the Levoit does but it does come with a hygrometer / humidistat automatic shut off to maintain the correct humidity.

You can also cover up to 2600 square feet which is pretty amazing.

It also comes with casters, which can give you an ideal of how heavy this thing can be with water in it.

And being a larger unit, it definitely has the humidifier sound that people either find relaxing or despise

Other White Noise options.

And like I mentioned before, there are plenty of videos that play the sounds of a noisy humidifier to sleep by.

And if you don’t want to use your phone or tablet to play a video while you’re sleeping,

you can always take another route and purchase a white noise machine dedicated to giving you a dozen or so soothing White noise sounds and a night light to boot.

White noise machines come in an array of different styles. Some are made to look like an office device that blends in with the other office supplies, while other white noise machines are cute and come in shapes that look like anything from turtles to owls for the baby’s room and bed.

Rose White Noise machine

This is a nice noise maker that would look good in the kids room, for the living room.

It illuminates in seven seven different colors and it has 16 soothing sounds that range from ocean waves, the chirping of insects and birds, water flowing in the valley, and rain.

It also has four lullabies for the young ones.

In addition it features an automatic shut off timer. See Here

Another noise machine that has some interesting sounds including the usual rain and thunderstorm, campfire and ocean sounds.
But also has some very unique sounds including vacuum cleaner, fetal tone, gentle surf and shushing.

This white noise machine is called the “Dream Egg“.

recap

The white noise that you can get from a humidifier is one of the most relaxing sounds especially when you factor in the relief that you are getting from the additional moisture that is providing.

If you were specifically looking for a humidifier to get you that “white noise”, then you should look more at evaporative humidifiers and impeller humidifiers.

Both of these types of humidifiers use fans and discs that create that humidifier hum and gurgling sound.

But even though the noise from a humidifier may be something that many people enjoy, it is also something that many people do not enjoy in the least.

Most of the humidifiers you find these days are exceptionally quiet. Because quiet is what sells.

But the features that you can get in a humidifier these days are amazing. And make the drug store humidifiers of the past seem like pretty small potatoes.

And the truth is if you’re searching for the white noise that you are used to hearing from running a humidifier,

You can find videos of humidifiers running on YouTube.

And if that’s not an option for you, White noise machines are inexpensive and can give you a couple of dozen different options right at the push of a button.

Air Purifier vs a Humidifier for Your Baby?

There’s nothing like having a new baby in the house. And as parents we want to do everything possible to ensure that babies and children get the best protection from airborne transmitted illnesses.

The air we breathe has much more of an effect on the state of our health than many people realize.

And quality of your air including how clean it is and the relative humidity can affect a baby even more so because of their delicate immune systems.

So how do you know what is the best way to keep the air quality healthy so that your baby is breathing healthy air?

Do you need an air purifier or a humidifier for a baby?

Air quality is a combination of the proper relative humidity and the cleanliness of the air. It’s hard to separate the two.

Humidifiers and air purifiers are both needed to keep the air in your baby’s room both hydrated and clean to ensure protection against airborne viruses and allergens.

During the winter months, a humidifier edges out the air purifier when it comes to keeping your baby healthy and comfortable.

During the dry winter months, a humidifier will not only moisturize the air, it will help keep the air clean as well.

Is a humidifier the same as an air purifier?

Not too many people talk about this point, but a humidifier is actually a type of air purifier all on its own.

How so?

Humidity droplets way more than dust particles including viruses, bacteria, pollen, mold spores, and other allergens.

When there is a lack of humidity in the air these particles are allowed to float and travel further and longer.

When the proper humidity has been added back into the air through the use of a humidifier, the particulates floating through the air become too heavy to float and fall to the surface.

That means that viruses and allergens cannot transmit through the air as easily.

Another aspect that makes a humidifier a type of air purifier is that moisture washes the air when it is emitted.

That is one of the main reasons the air seems so fresh after a good rain.

But….

Humidifiers are not needed all year long. And though there are plenty of exceptions, humidifiers are usually used primarily during the winter months then stored away for the rest of the year.

Air purifiers, on the other hand, are beneficial all year long.

An air purifier will filter the airborne particulates that can get into your baby’s lungs and interrupt their sleep as well as cause sneezing and coughing fits.

But air purifiers do nothing to humidify the air.

A vicious circle.

A Better Way

A better way to judge whether or not you need a humidifier or an air purifier for your baby is to buy the right equipment to actually measure the moisture level and the allergen content of the air.

Hygrometer is a humidity gauge/meter that will let you know if the humidity has dip below the 40% mark that indicates that your humidity is too low and could be causing adverse health effects in your baby and everyone in your family.

An air quality tester, test the air quality to ensure that the air in your home is not full of mold spores, and other bacteria.

So fortunately there is a way to measure your air quality other than your hair is frizzy or you’re sneezing a lot in certain rooms in the house.

A hygrometer and an air quality tester are the only scientific way to know whether or not you need an air purifier or a humidifier for your baby.

Air purifier /Humidifier Combination units.

Product manufacturers realize that air quality is not humidity versus Air cleanliness. It requires both to maintain the health of your air and family.

There are many air purifiers/humidifiers on the market.

Some better than others and some much better than others.

1.Air Washer

When you first start looking for a humidifier-air purifier combination device, you quickly discover an appliance called an air washer.

Air washers use water as a type of filter to clean the air. The air is drawn into a big basin of water where it goes through a cleaning process and then is released back into the atmosphere.

Air washers make very good humidifiers.

And if you are just looking for a humidifier and air purifier that you will use during the winter, air washers are very efficient and do a great job.

But… They have the same problem as any other humidifier in that the air is not dry all year long and there is a huge portion of the year where you do not want to have a humidifier running and adding extra humidity to the air.

2. Another type of humidifier / air purifier combination device is simply an air purifier that has a humidifier setting.

This is more of a conventional HEPA air purifier that has a humidifier with it all in the same box.

So you can get away with one device to use as a humidifier when you need it to moisturize the air and an air purifier when you want to filter the air.

This is a pretty good idea as far as convenience goes and if you have a lack of space.

But because these units have to have room in them for the HEPA filters and the water basin, the water basin tends to be smaller. Which means you will fill it up more often. And the humidifier is the most basic version you can purchase.

And for the price of one combination of humidifier and air purifier, you could get a much better humidifier and still get an air purifier that functions as well..

Humidifiers and air purifiers these days come with the proper measuring equipment installed.

You can get a humidifier with a hygrometer / humidistat that can be used as a cool mist / warm mist humidifier that can be controlled with your smartphone and filled from the top and still be able to afford a decent sized baby air purifier.

Do you need an air purifier or humidifier for your baby?

The truth is both. Air quality is a combination of the proper relative humidity and the cleanliness of the air.

During the winter, a humidifier will get you through and do a better job than an air purifier.

But they are not useful all year long because the humidity does not stay dry all year long.

So an air purifier is needed and is beneficial throughout the year.

There are some combination air purifier/ humidifier devices available.

But they either have the problem of being a humidifier all year long or being equipped with a water basin that is much too small anyways to provide the most basic of humidifier functions.

My opinion is that if you have the space, you can get a much better humidifier and still be able to purchase a baby room size air purifier that is equipped with a HEPA filter and do a better job than one of the combination devices.

Should a Humidifier Run All Night?

Should the humidifier run all night?

“The dryness of the air should determine whether a humidifier runs all night. If the air is extra dry, then running a humidifier continuously till the relative humidity is back into the 40 to 60% range is what is needed and perfectly all right regardless of whether it’s the daytime or at night.”

Humidifiers can be an absolute lifesaver when the air is super dry and causing all types of side effects like chapped lips, bloody noses, congestion, static electricity, and cracking skin.

Humidifiers are simply devices that add moisture back into the air. A machine that you put water into, that mist it out back into the air as humidity.

There are plenty of telltale signs that the relative humidity of your air is too low.

Like we mentioned above, symptoms like dried and cracking skin, chapped lips, congestion and bloody nasal passages can all start showing up when the humidity is too low.

And if you find yourself getting a static electric shock when you touch certain items and other people, you more than certainly are looking at an issue with dryness in your air.

Knowing when to use a humidifier doesn’t have to be a guessing game.

And in fact taking the guesswork out of it could keep you from having to experience the side effects of having low humidity in your home at all.

Humidity can be measured by a hygrometer and adjusted to remain at the right level by a humidistat, just like the temperature can be measured and adjusted on a thermostat.

According to the National Library of Medicine” The majority of adverse health effects caused by relative humidity would be minimized by maintaining indoor levels between 40 and 60%. “

Most reference materials say that the ideal relative humidity should be 30 to 50%. So with that in mind, 45% is probably the ideal number.

So knowing when to use a humidifier is not a question of whether it is daytime or night time, but a question of what the relative humidity level is at the moment and how long it will take to become optimal.

The new modern humidifiers all have a digital humidity gauge or hygrometer and most come with a set it and leave it humidistat so that you can dial the level of humidity that you desire into the machine and then let it do its work.

And of course, provided your humidity level is not already too high, it won’t hurt anything to have the humidifier on while you sleep if it’s bringing you the relief you need to rest.

Humidifiers have come a long way baby.

I remember not so long ago, our humidifier being the most basic plastic appliance you can think of.

And though you can still buy those drugstore humidifiers for cheap.

The good humidifiers are actually an investment these days and come with a plethora of features and advantages.

A Few of the Newest Revolutionary features you can find in humidifiers

1. Top fill

One of the features that you can find on humidifiers these days is the ability to fill it from the top.

Filling up the humidifier has always been one of the worst things about using one to me.

You had to take the water basin off and turn it upside down to fill it from the faucet.

And unless you were using the bathtub, they generally didn’t go under the faucet too well.

The progression to being able to fill the humidifier from the top makes a ton of difference in the usability and convenience.

And a lot less messy.

2. Wi-Fi

Who would ever think that having the humidifier hooked up to the Wi-Fi would be such a good idea.

My initial reaction would be “what’s the point?”

But being able to know the relative humidity of the room and being able to adjust it right from the phone is very handy when you’re at work and want to make sure that you come home to a restful environment.

And the water level alert coupled with the voice command of Alexa is very helpful.

3. Hot or Cold

You can purchase humidifiers these days that run as either cool mist or warm mist humidifiers depending on what you need.

This is a very big innovation in the humidifier world.

Up too recently if you wanted a warm mist humidifier, you had to have a separate vaporizer for that.

Two different appliances that did the same thing only at different temperatures. Amazingly redundant.

And using a humidifier as a vaporizer is an excellent way to remove the threat of bacteria growing in the humidifier.

Now with the Levoit lv600s you can use your humidifier as a cool mist humidifier or as a vaporizer and a aromatherapy diffuser to boot.

4. Aromatherapy diffuser

There’s no need anymore to have a separate diffuser from a humidifier.

Diffusers have become a standard feature on most humidifiers.

And though this is very convenient, most of these humidifiers / diffusers require you to use their own essential oil blend.

So the cost is a little more.

5. Hygrometer / Humidistat

This is probably the most innovative and most important feature that you will find on the new breed of humidifiers.

Being able to dial in the humidity level that you need and then letting your humidifier be able to do the rest is an absolute game changer.

Unfortunately it still doesn’t fill the water for you or clean the machine,

But it is a feature that I would not go without now.

6. Germ-free/ Self cleaning

Though there is yet to be a humidifier that can completely keep a humidifier from getting moldy or growing bacteria, the goal is getting very close.

A couple of the technologies that you can find are UV light and antimicrobial plastic.

a. UV light

UV light in a humidifier seems like a no-brainer. After all, it has been used forever to keep bacteria and fungi from growing in aquariums.

It’s also responsible for the blue light in the liquid containers that you see barbershops soaking their Combs and scissors in.

UV ultraviolet light is a logical addition that is recently being incorporated into humidifiers.

b. Antimicrobial plastic

This is another absolutely amazing addition to the humidifier world.

Using antimicrobial plastics in the actual materials that the humidifier are made of means that bacteria cannot grow on the plastic.

These two technologies, UV light and antimicrobial plastic materials working together seems like an amazing combo to keep a humidifier becoming a germ farm.

But of course these are all just extra icing on the cake and you can get away without any of them.

But if I only had one of these features to choose from, it would definitely be the hygrometer and humidistat.

Being able to know what your relative humidity is and then being able to sit a humidifier to reach that humidity and keep it there is invaluable.

But if that’s not an option, you can always buy a cheap hygrometer and turn the humidifier on and off as needed according to the reading on the hygrometer humidity gauge.

Can you use a humidifier all night?

Using a humidifier all night can make for a restful sleep. And as long as the humidity is not too high, there is nothing that will harm.

But the better question is “do you need to use the humidifier all night?”

Is your humidity level according to your hygrometer humidity gauge below the 40% mark that the NLM says is the lowest that the humidity level in your home should be.

If it is, and it takes it all night to get to the right level, then using the humidifier all night is the perfect thing to do.

But an even more perfect way is to purchase a humidifier with a hygrometer / humidistat. Which is essentially a thermometer, but for humidity.

With this feature on your humidifier, you can set the level of humidity at 45%, and the humidifier will get the moisture level in the room to that point and keep it there.

Should I Turn Off My Humidifier in the Summer?

Should I turn my humidifier off in the summer?

Humidifiers are mostly associated with the dry months of winter. But anytime you are experiencing low humidity, regardless of whether it be winter, spring, or summer, a humidifier can add the necessary moisture back into the air to alleviate the problems they can be caused by low humidity.

Low humidity symptoms

When the air is excessively dry there are plenty of telltale signs.

Dry and cracking skin
Bloody noses
Dry throat
Cold symptoms
Acne
Static electricity
lowered immunity

Are just a few things that you can experience when the relative humidity drops below 40%.

It is late April in Texas at the time that this article is being written.
So far in the city that I live in, there has been one afternoon that had a decent shower.

The air has been so dry that we are constantly shocking each other because of the level of static electricity.

Combined with the dust and the wind, the lack of moisture is not only makes it hard to make a yard look green,

It’s also been the source of constant congestion, bloody noses, and sore throats around here.

And mind you this time last year, there was so much rain that condensation was pouring out of the air conditioners.

It makes the point that even though the humidifier usually gets ran more in the dead of winter, when the doors are shut and the heater is blasting,

That’s not always the case, and this year even though it is the middle of spring, we are still having to run the humidifier constantly.

But that’s in Texas.

The Eastern side of the United States has been pounded with snow and record rainfall for a couple of months now.

Humidifiers or not specific to any season. But yes they are typically more useful in the winter, there are times in the summer when the humidifier can alleviate the symptoms of dry air too.

HVAC

Refrigerated air conditioning is one of the common sources of dry air in the Summer. It is because the AC condenses and extracts the humidity in the air as a byproduct of exchanging and cooling the air.

An air conditioner can remove up to 20 gallons of water out of the air.

But there are times when the temperature is very hot outside and yet the humidity is relatively low.

But you still turn the air conditioner on to cool the air. Unfortunately there’s no way to run a refrigerated air conditioner without it dehumidifying as part of the process.

So you can definitely reach a point where the air conditioner is drawing out too much moisture from the air and leaving your indoor air bone dry.

And the symptoms that you mostly associate with winter like chapped lips, bloody noses, headaches and dry throat all come cropping up right in the middle of Summer.

The lack of moisture in the house can also cause airborne allergens like pollen and mold spores to have free rein to travel throughout your house where they can be inhaled and make your homestead a sneezing fest.

Not to mention the fatigue and headaches that can come along with indoor allergies.

That’s when running a humidifier in the summer actually makes sense.

Because regardless of the time of year, the role of humidity should be kept between 40 and 60% to avoid health problems that are associated with humidity.

The dry air caused by a central heat and air system not only can cause physical symptoms in your body, it can dry out wood in your house.

Going from a hot day with little humidity one day to a hot and humid day the next day can mess with all kinds of things in the house.

The guitar you left sitting tuned on the stand, will be drastically out of tune when you pick it up the next day.

The wallpaper might start peeling and the windows and doors will swell and be a pain to open.

So how do you know what the relative humidity in your house is?

The best way to know your actual humidity level is to measure it with a hygrometer. Hygrometers usually come coupled with a thermostat and are fairly inexpensive. Under $20.

But well worth the money to be able to keep tabs on the relative humidity level inside of your house. Especially when you’re going from extreme to extreme in the summertime.

Recap

Should you turn off the humidifier in summer?

Humidifiers are definitely known for being winter appliances. And winter is when we typically experience lower humidity outdoors and indoors.

But winter is not necessarily dry all season long, and by the same standard, summer is not necessarily humid All summer Long.

Spring and summer can be very dry months. Some regions are naturally dryer and sometimes Summer is just dry wherever you are.

And another aspect of Summer that can create excessively dry air, is the refrigerated air conditioning systems that dehumidify as they cool the air.

As a result of running these systems, the indoor air can become very dry and cause low humidity symptoms like chapped lips and dry throat as well as allergies.

Which in turn makes running a humidifier inside of the house in the summertime a necessity sometimes.

The bottom line is that a humidifier is useful anytime of the year when the relative humidity has dipped under the 40% range.

Humidifiers may not be needed nearly as much in the summer, but they are still useful.

How Do I Know if I Need a Humidifier?

Do I Need a Humidifier?

The most sure way to know whether or not you need a humidifier is to measure the humidity in your room. The hygrometer is a gauge that will measure your humidity and tell you what the relative percentage of moisture you have in your air.

What should the humidity be in your home?

The ideal relative humidity range is between 40 and 60% according to the National Library of Medicine.

Most publications including Martha Stewart.com say that the ideal humidity is between 30 and 50%.

So going off on average, you should be sitting good at 45% relative humidity.

Don’t Have a Hygrometer Handy?

Don’t worry there are plenty of telltale signs that indicate your humidity is too low and that you need a humidifier without having to have an actual humidity meter.

Symptoms of Low Humidity in the House

1. Chapped lips

If you have noticed that your lips are extra dry and you are pulling out the Chapstick more often than usual, that’s a pretty good indication that the air is dry.

Dry air is like a sponge that draws moisture out of every possible thing it can.

When your lips get irritated and dry, they will eventually start cracking. And most of us just put more and more Chapstick on.

But the underlying condition is a lack of moisture in the air.

2. The Bloody Nose

Bloody noses are one of the more popular indications that air is too dry.

Whether you blow your nose and there’s blood on the tissue or your nasal passages have gotten so dry that they crack and bleed, there is one culprit that may be going unnoticed.

And that is the low relative humidity in your space. Increasing the moisture in the air will moisturize the inside of your nose and give you some much-needed relief.

3. Dry, Itchy, and Cracking Skin

Dry skin is one of the main telltale signs that dryness has taken over the ambient air.

And it is also one of the biggest reasons people seek out a humidifier to give them some relief with dry skin.

Dry skin is not only annoying, it can also cause your skin to break and allow airborne bacteria to burrow down into your skin and cause outbreaks of rashes and acne.

Replenishing the moisture in your air for the humidifier is one of the best skin moisturizers you can buy.

4. Dustiness

Dust is a problem when there’s not enough moisture droplets in the air to weigh down dust particles so that they fall to the surface.

Dust is also very greedy for any available moisture in the surroundings. That’s why dust dries your face and skin out so bad.

The humidifier will add the necessary humidity droplets to attach to wayward dust particles and keep them from floating.

5. Viruses

Along the same lines of using a humidifier to alleviate dustiness, is the need for moisture in the air to keep viruses from being able to spread as far.

When there is a lack of moisture, allergens, viruses, and airborne bacteria are free to float and travel further throughout a room or house.

When the proper moisture is added back into the air, humidity droplets attach themselves to the viral particles and cause them to be too heavy to float or travel.
Which reduces the chance of exposure to the viruses.

6. Asthma

Asthma is another problem that can be triggered by airborne particles.

Particles that are allowed to flow freely throughout the air because of a lack of moisture droplets to weigh them down.

Many asthmatic episodes can be avoided by keeping the moisture level in the home in the 40 to 60% range.

7. Acne

Acne is not a condition that you normally consider being an issue with humidity.
But acne can actually be a dry skin problem.

Dry skin can break open and allow the bacteria that is causing the acne to get a deeper root inside of your skin.

Moisturization in the form of humidity can keep your skin from drying out and being a richer plantation for acne to grow.

8. Static Electricity

Static electricity is one of the first indicators that the moisture in the air has dipped.

Walking around, shocking each other, discharging on every metal object you touch is a huge neon sign blinking ” your humidity is too low!”

And just like every other humidity problem, it seems to go on weeks before you ever make the connection between the static electricity and the humidity level.

9. Dry Throat.

Just like the nasal passages, the throat needs proper moisture to function.

When the humidity is dropped, you will often start to get a sore, itchy, and dry throat.

And often just turning on a cool mist humidifier for a few hours will magically relieve the soreness.

10. Wood Cracking.

When the air is too dry it causes wood to shrink. The shrinking can eventually cause the wood to crack. And if it’s your furniture, not so good.

The lack of humidity also causes stress on an acoustic guitar which can make it buzz. And warp the neck to the point that the strings are hard to press down.
And it will eventually crack.

Too much humidity can eventually saturate the wood causing expansion and adhesives to give loose.

Warning:

You may need a humidifier if you have any of these symptoms.

But for all the benefits that keeping the proper humidity level in your house can offer you,

It’s important to remember that humidifiers are maintenance heavy by nature.

They require thorough cleanings often.

Most of the symptoms above would be negated if you were to use the humidifier wrongly.

And by wrongly, I mean if you were to operate the humidifier after it has had stagnant water sitting in it with bacteria growing.

The bacteria that grows on water can be very dangerous. That is why it is very important to understand that humidifiers must be kept clean.

Warm Mist Humidifier – Benefits and Impediments

The humidity in your home has so many direct benefits to your respiratory and skin health but you don’t even notice till the air is dry.

And regardless of the temperature of the humidity, moisture is moisture and you will reap the benefits of a humidifier all the same.

But is there any advantage to choosing a warm mist humidifier other than a cool mist?

What are the benefits of using a warm mist humidifier?

1. Kills bacteria and mold
2. Relieve nasal congestion
3. Good for additives like Vicks and eucalyptus
4. Will warm up a cool room
5. Silent
6. Less hard water buildup and fewer particles released into the air

Don’t miss our in-depth Humidifier Guide.

1. Kills bacteria and mold

Warm mist humidifiers have a built-in advantage to keeping bacteria and mold from forming in and around the humidifier.

What is it?
Heat. Since the water and a warm mist humidifier or vaporizer is heated to a boiling point to create steam, bacteria and mold are a much smaller problem than with a cool mist humidifier because they simply cannot survive the heat.

Does that absolve them of regular cleaning? Not exactly. Any appliance like a humidifier, diffuser, dehumidifier, or air cooler that has a chance for water to be left standing inside it for even a small amount of time can and do have a tendency to grow bacteria in the water.

The chance for bacteria becoming a problem in a warm mist humidifier maybe smaller but it still exists and should not be taken lightly.

2. Relieve congestion

If you have ever sit in a sauna, then you know the feeling of steam opening up your airways.
For many people, steam has a relieving feeling on their nasal passages and opens up their airways nicely when they are stopped up with congestion.

3. Good for Additives like Vicks and Eucalyptus

The combination of warm mist and Vicks congestion medicine can make you feel so much better when you are down sick that there is a whole line of Vicks warm mist vaporizers that have been created and sold just for that.

Other essential oils like eucalyptus and peppermint can also be used in conjunction with warm mist and steam to help break up phlegm and open up your airways to breathe better.

4. Warm a Room Up

Warm mist humidifiers will warm up a space and make it more comfortable when the temperature is chilly.

5. Silent

Warm mist humidifiers and vaporizers are completely silent.

6. Less hard water buildup and particles released into the air

Boiling water has the advantage of separating minerals out of hard water. Which can mean that there is less hard water buildup around your humidifier and less mineral particles that can be emitted into the air when you are using the humidifier.

What’s not to love?

Well there are a few things…

Disadvantages of warm mist humidifiers

1. Creates a swampy atmosphere
2. Not everyone experiences nasal relief from steam
3. Can be dangerous

1.Create a Swampy Atmosphere

Warm mist humidifiers can make a room feel swampy. Humidity is not always the most comfortable feeling especially when the temperature is hot.

And when you’re feeling sick, that steamy feeling is not always welcomed.

2. Not everyone experiences relief from steam.

When the air is dry, adding humidity to the air regardless of the temperature of the humidity will moisten your nasal passages as well as your skin and so forth.
But cool mist can offer more relief sometimes than warm.
Mayo clinic indicates that cool mist can be more of a relief for a cold than warm, but more research is needed.

3. Can Be Dangerous

Warm mist humidifiers heat water to a boiling point as a means of creating steam to humidify the room.

That means that the water would be scalding hot if it were to spill on someone.

That’s why you will find a universal warning on vaporizers that they should not be used in the baby or children’s rooms.

Hot and Cold Combination Humidifiers

There is really no reason to pit a warm mist humidifier up against a cool mist humidifier. There are specific advantages to using both and they both have their disadvantages.

There are many times when you need a vapor machine to help you breathe better immediately, but don’t need the vapor on throughout the night.

There’s also times when the warm mist feels good, but that doesn’t mean you want to sleep in a steamy room.

Modern humidifiers like the Levoit 6L give you the advantage of being able to use the humidifier as a warm mist or cool.

Being able to diffuse essential oils with these humidifiers is a basic feature anymore.
They can be filled from the top, set on auto and left alone, and
They also have the capacity to schedule and turn them off and on via a smart app that can be used with Alexa or Google Assistant.

Humidifiers like Air Innovations are made from mold resistant materials and can also have ultraviolet lamps that target the water to keep mold and bacteria from ever becoming an issue.

Recap.

Warm mist humidifiers have specific benefits that you do not get with a cool mist humidifier.

They have the advantage of heating water to a temperature that automatically reduces any bacteria, germ growth or mold that can take root inside of a humidifier.

They also work very well for disseminating essential oils like eucalyptus and peppermint and work great with Vicks. So much so that Vicks has their own vaporizer meant to do just that.

And many people consider steam to be more of a relief to swollen and dried nasal passages with congestion then using cool mist.

And you can’t beat the fact that they are completely silent.

But on the flip side,..

Not everyone likes the feeling of hot humidity especially when they are sick and trying to sleep.

And there is the issue of being dangerous because of the temperature of the water that they create.

Warm mist humidifiers are never recommended for the children’s room where they can get bumped and accidentally spill.

Best of Both Worlds

Humidifiers like the Levoit 6l give you the advantage of being able to operate the humidifier as a warm or a mist humidifier.

There are times when using vapor to disseminate essential oils can be an awesome way to open up your airways but that doesn’t mean that you want to sleep in a steamy room.

Having the option to use the vapor and then turn the humidifier on cool for the rest of the night while you sleep is a great feature/benefit.

This new style of humidifiers also comes with built-in hygrometers and humidistats that allow you to set and leave your humidifier knowing that it will elevate the humidity and turn off when the appropriate humidity is reached.

Most have the option of being able to fill them from the top as well as operate them from your smartphone or an Alexa or Google Assistant.

Humidifiers like Air Innovations also have the advantage of being made from mold resistant materials that resist bacteria and create a much safer humidifier.

Can I Use Boiled Water in a Humidifier?

There is quite a bit of confusion when it comes to knowing what type of water you should put in a humidifier.

Some people say it doesn’t matter and some people are emphatic that it must be distilled and nothing else.

But what is the primary issue with using any type of water regardless of how it is processed?

Mineral content is the answer.

Water that has a lesser mineral content is going to be easier on your humidifier and not have as much white calcium dust buildup and a lesser chance of mold.

Can I use boiled water in a humidifier?

Boiling water is a way of taking hard water and turning it soft. In other words it removes the minerals. Or at least separates them. The idea is to boil the water and when it cools, the minerals will collect on the bottom of the pan.

We are talking about water that has been boiled and allowed to cool and not water that is boiling. Don’t make the mistake of pouring boiling water into your humidifier. It will more than likely melt the humidifier and could cause a terrible injury if you had an accident with it.

“Boiled water is good to use in a humidifier because boiling separates the minerals and causes them to settle.”

But the real trick of using boiled water in a humidifier is filtering out the settlement from the rest of the water.

If you can do that successfully, then you have good clean soft water that will work well in your humidifier.

If you can’t filter it well, then the water will have bigger chunks of sediment then otherwise, which would leave you worse off than you were then if you hadn’t boiled it in the first place.

Ideally, distilled water is the best water to put in a humidifier because it has gone through the process of removing the minerals. But when you know how much water a humidifier can actually go through, purchasing distilled water to use exclusively in a humidifier will get expensive.

So boiling tap water is an okay solution if you’re absolutely concerned about the content of your local water or if you just have hard water in your area. And mostly you just don’t want to pay for water.

There are a few products you can purchase though that are a little expensive up front can and I’m saving you down the road. Even if we’re just talking about your time.

One set of products is purchasing a hard water filter and placing it either on your kitchen faucet or your shower.

A Search on Amazon brings up quite a few more shower filters that kitchen filters when you do a search for a hard water filter. And if it’s all the same where you fill up your humidifier, the price for shower filters is a little better than putting a filter on the kitchen sink.

AquaHomeGroup 15 Stage Shower Filter

EFFECTIVE shower filters to remove chlorine and fluoride, heavy metals and other sediments.
Clean, soft water means no more issues with lime scale build-up on the shower head or fixtures and no hard water spots.

Another solution, although a little more expensive up front, the purchase of a water distiller. You can set up a water distiller in the kitchen for less than a couple of $100 and never have to purchase distilled water for your humidifier ever again.

CO-Z 1 Gallon Water Distiller

This tabletop water purifier by CO-Z purifies water, filters out impurities, and dissolves VOCs at 0.3 gallons per hour

The third product is made by pure guardian technologies and it’s called the aqua stick.
It is an additive that you place into your humidifier similar to a cleaning pod that you place in the back of a commode.
The aqua stick will keep mold from growing in your humidifier for up to 90 days.
So it is a recurring purchase.
But if mold occurring because of hard water is your primary concern, aqua stick can save you a lot of time and money versus purchasing distilled water all season.

Guardian Technologies GGHS15 Aquastick Antimicrobial Humidifier Treatment

Pure Guardian GGHS15 Aquastick humidifier water cartridge helps reduce the growth of mold and odor causing bacteria in the water of a humidifier tank

Clean your humidifier often.

Another solution which in truth should be your first solution is to clean your humidifier with an acidic vinegar cleaner more often.

Vinegar cleaner is 25% more acidic than regular white distilled vinegar and it will remove hard water deposits if you allow your humidifier parts to soak in it for 30 minutes or so whenever you clean your humidifier.

Bacteria and mold can take root in the water basin anytime the water is allowed to stand even in as little as 48 hours.

If you turn the humidifier on after there has been standing water in the humidifier then the bacteria will become airborne and can cause illness when inhaled.

Very serious diseases like legionnaires disease and Pontiac fever are caused by inhaling bacteria that has grown on water.

The symptoms are very similar to pneumonia.

So even though using the right water will help provide longevity for your humidifier and keep humidifier dust to a minimum, cleaning the humidifier thoroughly and often is a must.

Recap

When it comes to choosing the right water for your humidifier there is a lot of back and forth on the subject.

And a lot is made of being very careful not to use tap water because it is considered hard water and full of minerals.

And naturally that brings up the practice of boiling water before using it in a humidifier. Should you do it?

“Using boiled water in a humidifier is fine because it does separate the minerals and cause them to settle.

The only problem is filtering the sediment out of the boiled water so it doesn’t get into the humidifier.”

Otherwise, purchasing distilled water will save you the time and you will not have to worry about filtering the boiled water perfectly.

And if the cost of distilled water over the humidifier season is too expensive, then there are other purchases you can make that even though there is an up front expense, could end up saving you in the long run.

Hard water filters are available for your faucets. For around 50 bucks you can filter the minerals out of your tap water and not worry about it till it’s time to exchange the filter.

Another solution is to buy a water distiller and make your own distilled water. The upfront cost is a little more expensive but it will pay for itself and save you down the line.

Aqua sticks are humidifier additives that will keep your humidifier from getting moldy for up to 3 months.A reoccurring price but cheaper than buying gallons of distilled water from the supermarket.

Finally, and like I said before, and should be the first option, is keeping your humidifier cleaner by soaking your humidifier in vinegar more often.