Category: Humidifiers

Humidifiers are notorious for being high maintenance machines because of the nature of their design and that they require a basin of water to work.

3 different types of Humidifiers that qualify as “self cleaning”:

1. UV sterilization
2. Germ resistant plastic
3. Germ and Bacteria Resistant Water Additives
4. Vaporizer

Why does that make Humidifiers high maintenance?

Because of the easy formation and growth of mold that happens inside of a humidifier when it is not maintained properly.

And the fact that the mold growth inside of the machine becomes part of the humidity being expelled into the room when the unit is in operation.

Breathing mold spores can trigger asthma and exasperate allergies. That’s not good.

Wouldn’t it be great if there was such a thing as a “self cleaning humidifier”?

Technically a vaporizer is a type of Humidifier that is considered a self cleaning humidifier because is boils water as a means of creating steam. The boiling process kills any mold or bacteria in the operation.

But vaporizers are not for everyone and most people considered them to unsafe to keep in the babies room or children regardless.

So where does that leave the idea of a self cleaning humidifier?

There is not yet such a thing as a completely self cleaning humidifier that requires no maintenance.

But there are multiple ways that the issue the mold growth in humidifiers is being addressed, and different technologies that are being invented and used to make humidifiers safer.

1. Antimicrobial plastic

One of the most exciting innovations in humidifiers is the use of germ and bacteria resistant materials in the construction of the humidifier.

Antimicrobial plastic contains biocide polymers that combat the production of mold and mildew on the surface of the plastic. It has a ton of applications and seems to be perfectly suited for humidifiers.

Not only can humidifiers be completely built out of antimicrobial plastic, the filter inside of the humidifier can also be coated with the same type of product to keep the filter from becoming a moldy mess too.

Which, as you probably have already realized, is an amazing leap for appliances like humidifiers and dehumidifiers, as well as air conditioners and water-based air purifiers.

Since the one thing all of these appliances have in common is that they are subject to mold and bacteria growth,

If the materials that the humidifier is constructed of are resistant to mold growth, and the filters within them are also resistant to mold, then the search for a self cleaning humidifier is nearly half over.

Nearly half?

Yes, nearly half. The reason is, that humidifiers not only grow mold on the plastic and construction itself, they also have a tendency to get mold on the surface of the water inside of the basin when it is not changed often.

And keep in mind, the whole point of the humidifier is to use the water in the basin to emit into the air to increase the humidity in a room.

If the water in the humidifier basin has mold and mildew when the machine is running, then the humidity droplets in your air will also be full of mold spores and bacteria.

Keeping mold and mildew from growing on the surface of the humidifier, regardless of it being inside or out, is a mind-blowing advancement in humidifier innovations, but it is yet only half the battle.

Keeping mold and germs from growing in stagnant water is the other side of the equation that would make a humidifier actually “self cleaning”.

2. Ultraviolet sterilization

Fortunately there is already people who are making products to remedy the situation of mold growing on the surface of the water inside of a humidifier.

UV lamps are used in multiple industries to help reduce the spread of mold, bacteria, and viruses.

You have probably seen aquariums with a blue light inside of them. The blue light is a ultraviolet lamp that is targeted on the inside of the aquarium to help reduce the amount of algae and mildew that tends to take over an aquarium pretty fast.

Another place might have seen this same procedure in action is in a barber shop. Barber shops oftentimes have a cylinder that they put their Combs and scissors in that employees a UV lamp to clean and disinfect their utensils while they are not in use.

This is exactly the same way that ultraviolet light can be used in a humidifier.

Positioning a ultraviolet light inside of a humidifier to continuously Target the water inside of the basin is a proven method of reducing the amount of contaminants that may be emitted into your airstream in the humidifying process.

Combining ultraviolet light in a humidifier that is constructed out of antimicrobial plastic seems to cover all the bases in the search for a self cleaning humidifier.

3. Germ and Bacteria Resistant Water Additives

Another technology that is used to combat the production of mold in the water of a humidifier is anti mold and germ pods that you purchase to place inside of the basin with the water.

This is more of a back road country recipe that has become more mainstream.

The ideal is to put an additive in the water that keeps mold from taking hold.
Colloidal silver is a natural antibiotic that also has antimicrobial properties.

Although you can purchase colloidal silver and just add it to the water in your humidifier, you can also purchase pods and sticks that contains silver in them that will do the same thing as adding colloidal silver.

“There is a problem with these additives though, they are only useful in ultrasonic humidifiers.”

Another do-it-yourself home recipe for keeping the water in your humidifier fresher longer is to add a little bit of vinegar to the water in your humidifier.

Vinegar is actually one of the best all natural mold cleaners there is. Even edging out bleach because of its ability to get down under the surface better.

Some people even advocate breathing vinegar steam to get rid of chest and head congestion. But if that is something you want to try, you should do your own research and probably stick with apple cider vinegar which is loaded with enzymes and vitamins.

Recap

There is no humidifier that it is 100% self cleaning. But there are newer technologies available that make it nearly a reality.

Technologies like antimicrobial plastic that resists mold growth can be used in the construction of the humidifier making the materials the humidifier is made out of already mold resisting.

The filters inside of humidifiers can be coded with the same type of polymers that are contained in the antimicrobial plastic, which we’ll also help the filter for becoming a mold farm.

As for the water in the basin, there is a couple of technologies that can help keep the water fresher, longer.

One one is the use of ultraviolet light targeting the surface of the water so that mold and algae cannot take root.

Another is to add anti mold pods that contains silver. Silver is a natural antimicrobial that can help the water in the basin of your ultrasonic humidifier stay safer.

After all the point is to add clean humidity to your air so that you can breathe better.
Adding humidity that is laced with mold and germs is a quick way to trigger allergies and asthma.

9 Self Cleaning Humidifiers and or Options

1. Aqua stick
2. Safety First A clean humidifier
3. Pure guardian h5450bca
4. Dyson am-10
5. Pure Enrichment Mistaire Eva
6. Air innovations
7. Winix humidifier
8. Crane
9. Boneco

Many of the reviews of so-called germ-free humidifiers are negative because people seem to have the expectation that there is no cleaning involved whatsoever. Unfortunately that’s just not the case.

For instance, The main issue with using UV in a humidifier is that the UV light has to be targeted directly on the bacteria or mold to be effective at destroying the germs.

So even though incorporating a UV lamp inside of a humidifier will definitely help cut down on mold and bacteria,

You shouldn’t expect every square inch of the humidifier to be in the direct target of the UV.

Some, like the Dyson a.m. do a much better job then others,

But the idea that you do not have to clean the humidifier ever because it has a UV lamp is not realistic.

The same thing goes for humidifiers that have the antimicrobial silver induced plastic. Do they help reduce germs in the water tank of a humidifier? Yes, no doubt.

But does that mean that there is no cleaning to be done? Not at all. There has yet to be invented an additive but you can place it in a humidifier that will completely kill 100% of all bacteria and mold.

Self-cleaning humidifiers are better called low maintenance humidifiers because they incorporate methods to help curb bacterial growth and reduce the amount of cleaning.

Some are better than others.

But there is no such thing as a humidifier that is completely germ-free.

Click here for AquaStick

Aquastick

Aqua stick is an additive that you place inside of your humidifier similar in looks to a cleaning stick that you place in the back of your toilet.

They are an inexpensive way to help keep mold and bacteria from growing inside of your humidifier. They can be used for up to two to three months without having to be replaced.

They also have a reputation of being able to use tap water. Which carries with it a huge advantage.

Many of the humidifiers that we review that are designed to be antimicrobial for less cleaning use silver induced materials in their construction.

Aqua stick is a way of using silver in your humidifier tank without having to pay for a humidifier that is made from antimicrobial silver induced plastic.

This product is made by guardian technologies who also build antimicrobial humidifiers.

Remarks:

One of the easiest ways to keep bacteria and germs from growing in your humidifier. And they work with any humidifier regardless of the brand.

Buy Safety 1st Stay Clean Here

Safety 1st Stay Clean humidifier

The entire marketing of this humidifier is based on the fact that it is supposed to be self cleaning. But to be fair, the literature says there is “less cleaning”.

Unfortunately the reviews on Amazon are pretty heavily slanted to the opposite. Lots of complaints of pink residue in the bottom of the humidifier.

The fact that the Blue lamp in this humidifier is an LED light and not an ultraviolet light is probably the reason people are not seeing the results they expected.

As a basic humidifier it does not require a filter which is a plus but it does not have any of the regular features like humidistat, or aromatherapy tray.

Dimensions 10.75 * 8.9 * 8.9 in
Weight 3 lb
Square footage: unlisted
Tank size: unlisted

Features:

• Antimicrobial LED light

Buy Pure Guardian Here

Pure Guardian H5450BCA

This humidifier has different methods to help to keep bacteria and mold from growing inside of a humidifier.

The first is a non ozone UV-C light. The second is that it has silver embedded into the housing.
The third is the fact that it works as a warm mist humidifier as well. Which means that the water in the humidifier must be risen to a boiling temperature which will destroy bacteria.

Ultraviolet light is a proven method of destroying germs and bacteria when it is targeted directly upon them.

Silver is an all natural antibiotic that has a purifying effect on water.

This humidifier doesn’t make any claims suggesting that it is 100% germ-free or self-cleaning, only that it has incorporated a couple of methods that work to help reduce germs and cleaning.

And this pure guardian humidifier has a lot of features that make it an excellent humidifier regardless.

Features:

• Works as a warm mist or a cool mist humidifier
• UBC
• 100 hour runtime
• 380 square feet coverage
• Aromatherapy tray

Remarks

The real deal. Pure Guardian not only employs the UV lamp to target bacteria and germs inside of the tank, the tank itself is embedded with silver, an all natural antibiotic known to reduce bacteria.

Purchase Dyson AM-10 Here

Dyson am-10 humidifier

This is a humidifier and fan all-in-one.

Dyson am-10 uses a UV lamp that exposes every drop of water to the ultraviolet light.

And claims to kill 99.99% of bacteria inside of a tank.

It is an intelligent appliance that measures the temperature and moisture of the air to control to keep the ideal climate continuously in your room.

It is a 3 l tank and works up to 12 hours before having to have a refill.

Manufacturer: Dyson
Dimensions: 8.7 by 9.4 by 22.8 in
Weight: 7.5 lb
Tank size: 3 l
Square footage: not listed
Type: ultrasonic

Features:

• UVC lamp
• Fan
• Humidistat Auto shut-off

Remarks:

This is a Dyson product so the price is significantly higher than most.

They do have a reputation of being very effective and the fact that it is a powerful fan as well as a germ-free humidifier makes it very interesting.

This air purifier doesn’t feature a way to diffuse essential oils.

The reviews are a mixed bag. Some people love this humidifier, other people hate it.

Click here for Pure Enrichment Mistaire Eva

Pure Enrichment Mistaire Eva

This is a low maintenance humidifier that incorporates an antimicrobial filter.

It doesn’t make any huge claims of killing 99% of bacteria or even reducing it.

Only that it helps fight allergies by trapping and killing airborne allergens in the filter.

It does claim to dramatically reduce the amount of white dust you typically find around ultrasonic humidifiers though.

The humidifier uses a technology called whirlwind fan that captures cools and humidifies the air up to 500 square feet.

It offers for fan speeds and an auto off timer. It also offers turbo speed.

It also serves as a night light that can be changed to 7 different colors.

One feature missing is the aromatherapy option.

Item model number: PHHUMEVA

Dimensions: 9.5 by 9.5 x 13.5 in
Weight: 5.49 lb
Square footage: 500 square feet
Tank size: 2.8 l
Warranty: 5 years

Features:

• 500 square feet
• Antimicrobial filter
• 25 hour runtime
• Multiple settings including turbo mode
• 7 color night lights

Remarks:
It has an amazing new technology that helps it cover large areas. But they don’t tell say what it is or how it works. A little fishy.

Purchase Air Innovations on Amazon

Air innovations

Air innovations feature one of the most stylish humidifiers available.
But style is not the only thing it features.

This humidifier can run 96 hours and humidify a room up to 600 square feet without refilling.

It also includes a remote and a digital display hygrometer / humidistat.

The reason it is featured as a low maintenance, germ-free humidifier is that it is made from antimicrobial plastic. Which resists the growth of mold and bacteria in the tank.

Manufacturer: great innovations
Dimensions 8 by 8 by 18.5 in
Weight: 3.83 lb
Square footage covered: 600 square feet
Run time without refilling: 96 hours

Features:

• Adjustable humidistat that adjust according to the relative humidity in the room
• Remote
• Auto shut off and beat notification when it runs out of water
• 15 inch extension nozzle
• Aromatherapy option
• Antimicrobial plastic construction

Remarks:

Easily one of the all around best humidifiers available. The humidifier features just about everything you can possibly want out of a humidifier and looks great doing it.

Buy Winix LightCel UV Humidifiers Here

Winix Ultrasonic humidifier with LightCel UV

Winix is known for their air purifiers that feature Plasmawave technology.

With this humidifier they have dove into the humidification world with a humidifier that has a UV +LED Light that targets bacteria and germs before they can become an issue and your humidifier.

It includes demineralization capsules that will help reduce the amount of cleaning also.

This humidifier holds two gallons of water and it will run for 120 hours without having to refill it.

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

Manufacturer: Winix
Dimensions 8.5 x 10.6 by 14.6 in
Weight: 5.9 lbs
Tank size: 2 gallons
Maximum noise level: 30db

Features:

• UV + LED antibacterial light
• 120 hours between refills
• 2 gallon tank
• Programmable timer
• Auto shutoff
• Very quiet at 30 fb
• Warm mist and cool mist
• Demineralization capsules included

Remarks:

Winix have successfully managed to carve out a space for ionic technology in the air purification world that is dominated by HEPA filters.

And it looks like they have managed to design an excellent humidifier that helps control bacteria as well as keeps the humidifier cleaner longer as well.

Click here for Crane Humidifiers

Crane humidifier with UV

This is a humidifier that features all the bells and whistles but with a twist, it contains a UV lamp to kill bacteria and germs in the water tank before they become a cleaning issue and a breathing issue.

Variable speed settings and an adjustable 360 degree Mist lid make it excellent for using in a large area. It can humidify rooms up to 500 square feet and run for 24 hours without having to refill.

But it does not contain an aromatherapy option.

Manufacturer: Crane
Dimensions: 14 by 10 by 16 in
Weight: 7.26 lb
Square footage covered: 500
Tank size: 1.2 gallons
Run time: 24 hours between refills

Features:

• ultraviolet ionizing light
• 500 square feet
• Adjustable sit and leave humidistat
• Easy to clean

Remarks

This crane humidifier does not feature an aromatherapy essential oils option.
But it does say that it creates a refreshing smelling mist.

Ionizing air purifier manufacturers often spin the smell of ozone coming from their units as an “after a thunderstorm fresh smell”.

This humidifier doesn’t make any claims of ozone production but it is interesting that they use the same language and that they have an ultraviolet ionizing lamp included.

The reviews are hit-and-miss with a lot of people saying that the humidistat failed fairly soon after their purchase.

Click Here to Purchase Boneco s450

Boneco s450

There is a way to bypass all the issues of adding a ultraviolet lamp to a humidifier or putting additives in the tank or purchasing a humidifier that’s made out of antimicrobial plastic,

And that is to purchase a warm mist humidifier that boils the water before it is emitted into the air as steam.

Warm mist humidifiers or vaporizers are not for everyone because steam will raise the temperature in a room.

But as far as warm mist humidifiers go, Boneco has a humidifier that is next level.

It can humidify an area as large as 860 square feet. And it is very quiet coming in at 37 db on the high side.

Manufacturer: Boneco
Country: Switzerland
Dimensions: 13.2 by 9.5 by 14 in
Tank size: 2 gallons
Weight: 10.1 inches
Wattage: 480

Features:

• 860 square feet coverage
• Humidity display
• Humidistat
• Mist output control
• Safety Auto shut-off
• Programmable timer
• Essential oil options

Remarks

This is a warm mist humidifier that has all the bells and whistles you typically find with the big brands like Levoit.
Warm mist vaporizers or an easy way to get a bacteria free experience from a humidifier.

But they do use steam to humidify, which can make a room feel swampy.

This is a real nice humidifier but personally I would pick a humidifier that has a cool mist option as well as a warm mist often.

Stuffy Nose Solutions: Choosing Between a Humidifier and Dehumidifier

When dealing with a stuffy nose, the choice between a humidifier and a dehumidifier hinges on your home’s current humidity levels.

A humidifier is beneficial in adding moisture to the air when indoor humidity is below the optimal range of 40-60%, often during dry winter months or in arid climates.

Conversely, a dehumidifier is useful for reducing moisture in overly humid conditions, which can be common in hot, damp climates or during rainy seasons, to mitigate allergens like dust mites and mold that thrive in high humidity and can exacerbate nasal congestion.

Here’s a table to help you decide:

Condition	Humidity Level	Recommended Device	Reason
Dry Indoor Air	Below 40%	Humidifier	To add moisture and alleviate dryness-induced stuffiness
Excessively Humid Air	Above 60%	Dehumidifier	To reduce moisture and control allergens causing congestion

Do you have a stuffy nose? Is Congestion stopping you from thinking great thoughts? Oh the humanity… or is it the humidity?

The humidity outside and inside seems to have a lot to do with a lot of things. But what things? That’s not always too clear.

Stuffy Nose Dilemma: To Humidify or Dehumidify?

It depends.

Is the humidity in your home too high or too low?

A humidifier is to add humidity to a room or space when the relative humidity is too low.

A dehumidifier extracts humidity from the air when the humidity level is too high.

Another way to put it..

Is it winter outside and the house is dried out from the heater being on?

Or is it hot and humid outside and you’ve got a frizzy hairdo to go with your stuffy nose?

Stuffy Noses can happen when the humidity is too high and when the humidity is too low.

Dry air can cause you to feel stopped up and humid air can also cause cold-like symptoms because of dust mites and mold spores, along with other allergens.

What Should the Humidity be Set at?

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

So if your hygrometer is sitting at 50%, the relative humidity in your home is good.

But if you’re below 40%, using a humidifier to add moisture back into the air is the device that will help you correct your humidity and hopefully get you breathing through your nose better again.

If the relative humidity according to your hygrometer is sitting above the 60% mark, then your stuffiness may be due to allergens and dust mites which can be found in the air, when the humidity is too high.

Keeping your Humidity Copacetic (steady as she goes)

Humidity levels inside your home can often be corrected by doing a few things to keep the good in and stop the bad from getting in.

Excessive Humidity

Windows and doors are an easy place to start. Moisture can find its way indoors through the smallest of cracks. And when your windows have not been resealed for a long time, excessive humidity around the windows can cause the seals to warp and rot.

Ceiling of the windows with some caulking and weather stripping can help even out your relative humidity.

Extraction fans or another easy fix.

Those houses come equipped with extraction fans in the bathroom and kitchen and some even have them in the washroom.

Extraction fans are fairly inexpensive and can be put into the ceiling quickly.

Anytime you’re cooking with boiling water or taking a steamy shower or just washing the clothes, using your extraction fans will pull moisture out of the house and into the Attic.

Leaking pipes?

Other sources of humidity in the house can be coming from places or things more undesirable.

For instance if you have plumbing problems or a broken pipe that is leaking inside the house, you are going to be experiencing excessive humidity especially in the area where the pipe is broken.

Leaks not only cause humidity, they cause mold. And mold that has gone unchecked for very long can turn into a big problem fast.

And if you have mold allergies, you may have discovered why you were suffering with a stuffy nose in the process.

Water under the house.

Any water that gets underneath the house can cause humidification to rise from under the floor. This can also be a source of mold and affect your air quality to the point of suffering from allergy symptoms.

Sometimes water under the house can be corrected by stopping any type of ravine that has been maybe etched out by watering the grass. Putting a barrier in front of the water runoff will help it to keep from running beneath your home.

Crawl space encapsulation is a big process that entails putting a plastic barrier between the ground and your house.

Broken and stopped up gutters can also direct water to flow beneath the house.
Fixing these items can often keep the humidity down inside of your home.

Run the air conditioner.

Many times, we forget that the air conditioner works as a dehumidifier to reduce moisture in the air as it cools the air down.

Most modern air conditioners have a dehumidifier setting ready available so that you don’t have to have the cool setting running at the same time.

Basement Dampness

Basements tend to be damp and humid by nature. Since the walls are typically concrete that are built against the moist ground, moisture has a way of working itself into the basement through the concrete.

Sealing up any cracks in the concrete wall is a must to keep moisture out.

The excessive humidity in the basement makes it a less than desirable spot to hang out or sleep. The air quality in the basement can also be responsible for allergy symptoms.

Low Humidity Remedies

Some of the easiest low humidity remedies for your home can be found in the same place that you’re trying to keep the humidity out of in the hot and humid season.

Shower

One of the easiest ways to add some humidity back into your room is to take a long hot shower and leave the doors open. That will allow the steam to migrate into the adjoining rooms as well.

Taking more baths than showers?

Leaving the bathwater in the bath after you bathed will help humidify the area around the bathroom as well.

Dry air pulls humidity from anywhere I can. That’s why dry and cracking skin is such a huge symptom of low humidity.

Cups of water around the house.

Simply leaving some containers of water open around the house can help alleviate some of the dry air. But remember stagnant water can develop bacteria fairly quickly and cause other types of problems. So don’t fill up a 5 gallon bucket so you don’t have to mess with it later.

Boiling water.

This is an old trick I remember from growing up. Mom always had water simmering and boiling in the kitchen and on the heater vents that used to be part of the floor back when.

She often put Vicks and other essential oils in the water to disseminate throughout the house.

Leave the washroom door open.

This may be a little bit on the iffy side if you have any type of allergies to detergents that can make it into your airstream if you leave the washroom door open.

But if you don’t, leaving the washroom door open while you’re washing clothes can invite humidity into the surrounding area.

Leave the dishwasher.

Another one is as simple as leaving the bathwater. Let the dishwater sit after you’re done washing the pots and pans and let the water naturally condense into your Air.H

Recap.

Should you use a humidifier or a dehumidifier when you have a stuffy nose?

The answer depends on whether humidity is too low or too high at the moment.

Low humidity can cause raw stuffy noses, where high humidity can be full of dust mites and bacteria that equates to having a stuffy nose.

A hygrometer is an inexpensive tool that can measure your humidity and tell you exactly or near exactly what your relative humidity is sitting at.

If it is below 40%, then your air is too dry and you need a humidifier to raise the moisture level.

If the humidity is above the 60% mark, then you need a dehumidifier to reduce the humidity.

And the humidifiers and dehumidifiers can be awesome tools, they are not always needed.

There are many things you can do around the house to lower and raise your humidity without purchasing any type of device.

Shutting the bathroom door or leaving the bathroom door open depending on the season is an easy way to add and diminish some of the humidity in the house.

Our humidifier guide answers questions you didn’t even know to ask.

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.

What is the Ideal Humidity Setting in Winter?

It seems that humidity and humidification are a subject that are gaining interest as people are becoming more aware of the impact that moisture levels in the home, School, work or otherwise, can have not only on dry noses and cracking skin but even more importantly the transmission of viruses.

“The ideal humidity setting on a hygrometer or humidifier is 50 Percent. 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%.”

When conditions are dry, airborne viral particles become smaller and or able to travel much further.

Humidity makes the particles wider and weighs them down so they are not able to float, which reduces the particles located in the ambient air (the air you breathe) and inhibits their capacity to spread.

Exciting.

It’s interesting that simply adding moisture to the air can create indoor conditions where viruses and bacteria along with other dust particles can reduce respiratory illness.

Humidity levels in the winter are typically exceptionally low. The lack of moisture in the air creates all types of havoc with your body including:

• Dry skin
• Lowered immunity
• Raw and bloody noses
• Dry throat
• Acne
• Congestion
• Static electricity
• Frizzy hair

But you may be asking how do you know what your humidity actually is in the house?

That’s all good and fine knowing that humidity can affect your health but if you don’t know what your humidity is or how to correct it, what’s the use?

Humidity is measured with what’s called a hygrometer.

Hygrometers can be purchased as standalone devices but you will mostly find them as digital units combined with thermometers these days.

A thermohygrometer coupled with a humidifier to add moisture to the air is all the tools you will need to increase your relative humidity when conditions are too dry in your home or workplace.

This method works by using trial and error and increasing or decreasing the output of your humidifier as needed.

But even though it works, it’s not the most convenient as it will take a lot of monitoring between the humidifier and the hygrometer to achieve and maintain the proper humidity level.

Lucky for us, humidifiers have raced into the new age and are among the upper echelon of appliances that come equipped with smart technology to auto control your humidifier, but it turns on and off as needed according to censored hygrometer technology.

In other words, it increases and decreases humidity automatically.

Smart humidifiers not only can be controlled using Alexis and Google Assistant, they can also tell you your home humidity levels directly from an app on your phone and let you control it as needed.

Smart technology is only the beginning of where this new generation of humidifiers get started.

For instance the Levoit 6 l whole house smart humidifier can be utilized as either a warm mist or a cool mist humidifier.

It is equipped with sleep mode, essential aromatherapy oil ready, and is ultra quiet.

And one of the smartest features of this new breed of humidifiers is that they are top fill.

Which means they are much easier to put water in than the old plastic pharmacy style humidifiers that had to have the tank taken off and turned upside down underneath a faucet to fill it.

Other advances in humidifiers include methods of keeping humidifiers cleaner longer.

Technologies like UV light and antimicrobial plastic or advancing humidification to a new level. see: Self Cleaning Humidifiers

It’s no secret that humidifiers are among the most maintenance heavy devices.

Humidifiers must be kept clean to avoid germs and bacteria from growing inside of the water.

Unfortunately the same device that can reduce your chances of getting sick in the winter can also make you sick if it is not maintained properly.

That’s what makes these new technologies like ultraviolet light and antimicrobial materials so exciting.

You can imagine that in the future we are going to see humidifiers that alert us when they are in danger of developing bacteria and humidifiers that simply clean themselves.

We’re not quite there yet. But it’s definitely on the horizon. (Vaporizers use boiling water to create steam. Since the water is brought to a high temperature, bacteria is not able to survive)

What Humidity Setting Should You Use in Winter?

According to PubMed, 40 to 60% relative humidity in the home, School, or workplace is the ideal humidity to minimize adverse health effects caused by humidity.

Humidity can adversely affect your health when it is too low or too high.

Though most people generally pull out the humidifier when they start getting bloody noses and congestion, humidifiers can relieve all types of conditions including dry and cracking skin, dried out nasal passages, acne, viral spread, and lowered immunity.

Though they can be purchased separately and used in conjunction with your humidifier, hygrometers, which are the tool that is used to measure humidity, come built in to humidifiers as a standard feature these days.

Smart humidifiers can automatically increase or decrease the humidity level inside of the house to maintain the optimal humidity of 40 to 60%.

They also give you the advantage and convenience of being able to control and schedule your humidifier with your phone or using an Alexis device or Google Assistant.

This new breed of humidifier offers features like the capacity to use the humidifier is either a warm mist or a cool mist device. Antibacterial features like ultraviolet light and antimicrobial plastic, and one of my favorites, the ability to fill it from the top.

Top fill humidifiers take a huge amount of hassle out of using a humidifier.

It hasn’t been that long since humidifiers only came with basins that had to be taken off and turned upside down in order to fill.

Top fill humidifiers can be filled with a water pitcher.

Mold is a very destructive agent, not only to your home and property but also to your health. Mold growth can also be very consuming when it is left unchecked. And damage can occur very quickly.

Finding the source and stopping it is of the essence when you are dealing with it.

Can Humidifiers Cause Mold?

“No. A well maintained humidifier that is operating in the right humidity range will not cause mold.”

But a humidifier that is not cleaned often and allowed to run with water that has been stagnated will not only accumulate mold and bacteria inside of the basin, it will dispense mold and bacteria into the air you breathe.

Poor air quality that is full of mold and bacteria can be dangerous and cause symptoms that are similar to pneumonia and the flu, etc.

However if a humidifier is being operated how it is intended to be when the humidity in the room has dropped below 40%, it will only benefit you.

Are there any special circumstances where a humidifier could cause mold to grow?

Yes. For instance, you were running a humidifier when the humidity is well above the need for the humidifier to be running.

If you already have 80% humidity and you’re doing something to add more humidity, like run a humidifier, then you’re going to have condensation, which given the right circumstances can begin to grow mold.

Another scenario is that you have a humidifier that has a physical leak and is allowed to drip onto the wall or behind a desk or other furniture.

Anywhere you have a leak in your house, regardless of the source, you have a good chance of finding mold.

But a good working humidifier will not cause mold in the right circumstances. A humidifier doesn’t even have the output to create a huge condensation situation. Even on the scale of taking a shower.

What about the opposite?

Can a Humidifier Prevent Mold?

Yes.

And yes you read that right. Studies have shown that excessively dry air creates a much easier path for allergens like mold spores, pollen, airborne bacteria and viruses, to be able to travel much further.

The idea is that when the humidity of the air in your home, business, School, etc. Is kept between 40 and 60%, the moisture in the air does not allow for these “airborne health threats” to travel nearly as far before they are forced to the surface by the weight of the humidity drops.

The right moisture level in the air will actually keep mold spores from being able to travel as far as they would be able to in dry air. And keep it out of the ambient air that you are breathing in.

Maintaining the optimal humidity in your home has so many benefits that it outweighs any of the potential negatives by a mile.

Benefits of a humidifier:

1. Alleviate dry skin
2. Stop nosebleeds
3. Help control acne
4. Keep viruses at Bay
5. Control static shock
6. Help control dust
7. Helps immunity
8. Help control allergies
9. Increase oxygen

1. Alleviate dry skin

Dry skin is a universal problem that we all deal with from time to time. And it is a problem that is in direct correlation to the amount of moisture in our airstream.

Simply put; if the air is dry then your skin does not have the available moisture to be able to absorb. And to make matters worse, dry air means extra dust in the air, which pulls moisture out of your skin.

A humidifier is the perfect tool to add moisture back to a home that is suffering with low humidity.

2. Nosebleeds

Nosebleeds and congestion are the main telltale signs that it is time to pull out the humidifier for the season.

Whenever the air gets excessively dry because of the low humidity content in the air combined with the heater blasting, dry nasal passages become intolerable.

Humidifiers are one of the best things you can do when you are suffering from nosebleeds and dry nasal passages with congestion.

3. Help control acne

Acne is not something most people associate with low humidity. But according to Hadley King MD” dry conditions expose deeper layers of skin to the outside world”. Increasing the level of moisture in your room can help maintain the level of hydration needed to keep dry cracking skin from allowing acne to get a deeper root.

4. Keep viruses away

Where the air is excessively dry, there is a wide open pallet for particles including viruses, germs and bacteria, to be able to float in the ambient air and much further than when air is properly hydrated.

Humidifiers will add moisture back to the air which can keep viruses from being able to travel as long and as far as they can in dry air.

5. Control static shock/electricity

Static electricity is another one of those telltale signs that the humidity is low.

Without the proper humidity in the air, electrons have a lot less resistance and jump from one body to the next very easily.

Adding moisture to the air with the humidifier will cut down on the amount of static electricity that you are experiencing in your house.

6. Helps control dust

When there is a lack of humidity, dust does not have anything to keep it from floating and moving throughout the air settling on your skin and into your lungs.

Providing humidity back into the air with a humidifier will create moisture in the air that will bind with airborne dust and cause it to settle.

7. Helps immunity

A study published by medical news today states that the hair-like organelles outside of the cells that line the body’s airways, called cilia, do not function as well and dry conditions – they cannot expel viral particles as well as they otherwise would.

It’s Amazing how a humidifier can actually help your body resist viral particles much better when the air is too dry.

8. Help control allergies

Airborne allergies like pollen and mold spores that do not have any moisture in the air to keep them from floating will eventually make it into your airways and cause you to have a whole host of allergic symptoms.

Restoring the humidity in a room with a humidifier will help keep allergens from being able to float nearly as long and far as they are able to and dry air. Which can mean big relief for allergy sufferers.

9. Increase oxygen

Increasing the humidity with a humidifier when the air is dry can indirectly increase your oxygen intake.

“a humidifier is not an oxygen concentrator and it should not be mistaken for one or substituted for one”

The humidity droplets created by humidifiers can weigh down airborne allergens and dust by weighing them down and decreasing their ability to float in the ambient (air that you breathe)airstream.

Thus allowing for better oxygen intake.

Secondly, humidity combined with oxygen producing plants such as rubber plant, aloe vera, and mother-in-law’s tongue can create an oxygen-rich environment. Amazing.

Summary

Can a humidifier cause mold?

A humidifier used correctly at the right time will not cause mold.

Humidifiers are made to add moisture back to the room when the air is excessively dry and under the 40% relative humidity mark.

But a humidifier that is not used correctly or is allowed to be operated when it is unmaintained or has standing water in it, well more than likely has mold and bacteria growing in it and can create an air quality problem that can be very serious.

Other times that humidifiers could be responsible for mold is if they are run when the humidity is already high and does not constitute the use of a humidifier.

And secondly, if there is a physical problem with the humidifier and it is allowed to leak onto the furniture or floor.

” When the air is extremely dry, it can make an already painful sore throat feel that much worse. A humidifier is the perfect tool to add moisture back into the room and help alleviate some of the pain. But if you’re talking about the dreaded summer cold when the humidity is already high, a humidifier will not help.”

Everyone knows the feeling of waking up with a sore throat. And to be honest there are very few quick remedies that can make a big difference when you do have a sore throat.

There are some decent sore throat lozenges like the Mucinex and the Vicks brands that provide that ultra cool feeling on your throat but they are not all that long lasting and they do nothing to help at the root of it. And you don’t want to fall asleep with a throat lozenge in your mouth. Or you might end up waking up choking on it.

Drinking a lot of liquids ( coffee and Coke not included) and gargling with warm salt water also have a calming effect on a sore throat. And staying hydrated is absolutely the best policy to get you out of your sickbed quicker.

But the one thing that can exacerbate a sore throat more than any other and in turn help you when you do have a sore throat is maintaining the proper humidity in the room.

Is a Humidifier Good for a Sore Throat?

Humidity levels in the house have a great deal to do with how dry your throat can feel. And though most throat issues are caused by a virus and there’s not a whole lot you can do besides wait it out.

If the humidity in your house is excessively low, it is going to have a compounding effect on your sore throat which will make it more painful. And since sore throat often accompanies nasal congestion, it follows that you tend to breathe through your mouth more which is only drying out your throat further.

Most professionals including the national library of science say that keeping the humidity level at between 40 and 60% in the home is the optimal level for keeping winter related symptoms at Bay.

“The humidifier is the perfect tool for adding humidity back into a room that is lacking the level of humidity that is required to keep viruses from spreading easier and to provide essential moisture for your nasal passages and throat.”

And humidifiers have become pretty sophisticated devices over the last few years that include hygrometers to be able to measure your own humidity as well as give you the option of using cool or warm mist as well as doubling as aromatherapy diffusers.

And when they are performing in a diffuser mode, there are essential oils like eucalyptus they can also have a clearing effect and offer some relief for a sore throat.

But the humidifier is definitely not the answer in every situation. For instance, everyone is familiar with the dreaded summer cold as well. And most of the time, adding extra humidity to the room in the summer is not the solution since the humidity levels in summer typically range above what would be considered the optimal humidity of 40 to 60% indoors.

At that point, it makes zero sense to try to relieve a sore throat by turning on a humidifier.

Can a humidifier give you a sore throat?

A humidifier can actually give you a sore throat and here’s why.

Humidifiers have to be cleaned often. When they are not well maintained, they can easily become a perfect breeding ground for mold and bacteria.

Anytime that a humidifier is left with standing water in it, it can begin to accumulate mold and bacteria in as little as 48 hours.

Imagine turning the humidifier on after it has had standing water in it for an extended time. At that point, it has basically become a distributor of bacteria into your airstream.

And the symptoms of moldy air on your health look suspiciously like the symptoms of the flu. Sore throat, headaches, sneezing, runny nose, etc.

A dirty humidifier can account for the reason you are having a sore throat in the first place.

There are a few humidifiers and humidifier products that are made to hinder the production of bacteria.

On the subject of Moldy air, humidifiers are not the only source of mold and bacteria that can affect your breathing and cause you to have cold-like symptoms.

The HVAC system (Central heating and Air) is also famous for being a distributor of bacteria throughout the house. Persistent mold allergy symptoms like sore throat and headaches can often be traced back to a dirty heating and Air system.

Most HVAC supplies offer induct air purifiers that are placed inside of your ductwork and have a high kill rate for mold.

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Evaporative coolers or also known for being a huge breeding ground for bacteria and mold. These machines operate by basically blowing a fan across water to cool the air.

Just like humidifiers, they have the propensity to collect standing water from time to time and must be cleaned often to avoid blowing moldy Misty air into your home.

There are also products you can put into your evaporative coolers to help prevent bacteria from growing.

Summary: Sore throat humidifier. Good idea or not?

Though a sore throat is usually not the direct result of having dry air, dry air can definitely have a compounding effect on how a sore throat feels.

Waking up with a sore throat is often accompanied with other symptoms like congestion that lead you to breathing through your mouth.
Dry air in the room can make a sore throat that much more painful.

When the humidity in the air is low, a humidifier can be a great tool to add humidity back into the air and help relieve some of the pain of having a sore throat.

But if we are talking about a sore throat in the summer when the humidity is typically too high, the humidifier is not the answer to sore throat relief.

Many people have complained about getting a sore throat as a result of running a humidifier.

And yes, even though a humidifier can be a great relief to you when you have a sore throat and they can conditions are dry,

Humidifiers have a huge disadvantage in that they have to be cleaned very often.

Running a humidifier that has had standing water left in it can actually introduce mold and bacteria into the air which can cause symptoms very similar to the flu including sore throat, sneezing, and headaches.

Which all is directly and indirectly the result of poor air quality.

Poor air quality can be the result of an unmaintained humidifier but it can be the result of other circumstances including dirty HVAC ducts and evaporative air conditioning which has the same type of mechanics as a humidifier and needs to be cleaned very well and often.

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.

What is a Thermo Hygrometer?

 

A thermo hygrometer is a gauge that combines both a thermometer and a hygrometer in one measuring device.

What is a hygrometer and what is it used to measure?

A hygrometer is a device that is used to measure the relative humidity or the amount of moisture that is in the air.

The relative humidity is given as a percentage.

Hygrometers go by quite a few different terms.

Humidity checker, humidity sensor, humidity monitor, and humidity meter are all basically the same device though some may contain extra features here and there.

Most modern hygrometers combine a thermometer in a digital format that is easy to read.

1. Hygrometer Uses

The number one use of a hygrometer is simply to give you a way to keep an eye on the relative humidity.

Why would you want to do that?

There’s a lot of reasons actually. This is by no means exhaustive.

1. Comfort

Humidity as a day to day factor affects your comfort level substantially. For instance a day that he is 80° could easily feel 100°. If the humidity outside is too high.

It also does a number on your hair.

But though comfort and stylish hair are two things we tend to value highly, the relative humidity can affect your health much more than you may have believed.

2. Health

Low humidity equals dry air and dry air can cause a whole lot of issues when it comes to respiratory and skin health.

Low humidity and dry air are usually associated with winter. And winter just happens to be the time of year when people are closed inside with the heater turned on.

It’s not exactly a coincidence that cold and flu germs spread easier during that time of year.

Humidity or the lack thereof during winter plays a big part of staying healthy during those months.

For instance

1. Low humidity dries out the mucus lining in your airways which creates a type of docking station in your sinuses for viral particles.

In other words, dry air makes it easier for germs to get stuck in your respiratory system easier.

2. Viral particles tend to decay faster in humid air.

Viruses and germs stay alive longer and dry air because moisture has a decaying effect on airborne particles.

3. And low relative humidity provides an easier path of transmission for viral particles.

When humidity droplets come in contact with airborne particles including bacteria and viruses, it makes it too heavy for the particles to float.

The result is they fall to the surface faster, giving you a lesser chance of breathing them in.

It’s amazing how just adding moisture to your air when the relative humidity has dropped,

not only keeps viruses from being able to travel as far,

it also causes them to decay much faster

and provides the right dampness inside your airways to fight off viruses.

Not to mention, the relief from the pain and irritation of having a dried out nose and throat.

The hygrometer is an easy way to keep track of the humidity level in the home during the winter to avoid excessively dry conditions that help viruses and germs prosper.

Hint: One of the symptoms of low humidity in your house is the presence of static electricity. If you find yourself getting shocked while walking and touching things in your house, check your hygrometer. The humidity has probably dropped.

3. Skin care

Humidity has a big impact on your skin.

Dry air and Dust pull the moisture out of your skin and cause it to become damaged and crack.

Dry and damaged skin allows the bacteria that causes acne to burrow deeper into the skin.

Which also causes the epidermal layer to produce an over abundance of oil, all to which adds up to an excellent breeding ground for acne.

A vicious circle.

Using a hygrometer to monitor the humidity in the air during the winter and adding moisture back into the air with the use of a humidifier,

can mean the difference in dry and broken skin versus naturally shiny and hydrated skin.

4. Dust

Humidity has a “wetting” effect on airborne particles which is to say “Dust”.

Dry air allows dust particles to flow freely through the air and be kicked up every time you walk across the floor.

But adding the proper humidity back to a room, dust particles will come in contact with humidity droplets, which will cause a type of microscopic mud that will be too heavy to float and fall out of the ambient air.

5. Allergies

Humidity can affect allergies in a couple of different ways.

Low humidity allows pollen and other household allergens to travel easier and further through your home.

High humidity creates a breeding ground for dust mites and promotes mold growth which are also common household allergens.

Hygrometers are devices to help you maintain a healthy relative humidity between 40 and 60%. Which helps keep allergens from traveling as easy and dust mites from having the nutrition they need to expand.

High humidity is also thick which can be harder to breathe.

6. Cigars and humidors

 

Hygrometers are mentioned frequently in the world of cigar aficionados.

It’s because cigars require humidity to keep them fresh in their humidors.

Though it may not be a hobby that everyone embraces,

The people that do have a very great interest in it.

Which is a good thing for the rest of us because they also have some of the best recommendations for the best hygrometers and hygrometer calibration kits.

7. Mold damage

 

Excessive humidity leads to mold growth. And mold gone unchecked can cause significant damage in your home in a very short amount of time.

Keeping an eye on your hygrometer gauge will help you know when to add more or subtract more humidity to avoid structural damage to your home.

8. Plant life

 

Plants have a hard time in the winter when the humidity drops and the heater is blasting.
Monitoring your relative humidity with a hygrometer is an excellent way to make sure your plants are getting the amount of moisture out of the air that they need to thrive.

Recap

Thermal hygrometers are an indispensable tool for your home.

The relative humidity inside of your home has so many implications and effects on your health and property that keeping tabs on the humidity is essential.

Maintaining the proper relative humidity protects your personal health and the health of your family by keeping viruses and bacteria at Bay during the dry season.

It also helps keep your skin healthy and prevents the outbreak of acne. As well as providing relief from other skin ailments like psoriasis.

Finding the right hygrometer for your home can be as easy as looking to your friendly uncle who is a cigar aficionado.

Cigar aficionados are very particular about the humidity inside of their humidors.

Which makes their product research that much more detailed.

And also makes their recommendation for hygrometers and hygrometer calibration kits hold more weight.

The humidifier is not a cure for asthma.

But maintaining proper humidity levels in your home is very important to living with, and living well when you have asthma.

As stated in a research article listed by 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%.”

The article goes on to say that mite populations reach their maximum size when the relative humidity is at 80%. And that most species of fungi cannot grow unless the relative humidity exceeds 60%.

Conversely, as pointed out in this article” droplets and aerosols tend to stay afloat longer and travel farther and air with lower relative humidity. Virus containing aerosols, in particular, can penetrate more deeply into the lungs to increase the possibility of transmission”

“In addition, research shows viruses have the potential to live longer on surfaces in cold environments.”

The point is that the relative humidity in your home should be maintained at a level between 40 and 60% regardless.

And depending on the season and, or the climate you live in, you may very well need a humidifier. And, or a dehumidifier.

But whether you’re in a cold or hot situation right now,

The first thing you need to know is what the humidity level is in your house.

And for that you will need a hygrometer.

Hygrometers measure the humidity and show you exactly what the relative humidity in your home is.

Or if you are already in the market for a humidifier then the first feature you’ll want to be sure to include is a built-in hygrometer.

Because how will you ever know how much humidity you need to add to make your air healthier and easier to breathe if you don’t have a way to measure it.

After you have measured the humidity and found that yes, the humidity level in your home has dropped below or risen above the health and comfortability point, then it’s time to think about a humidifier.

Humidifiers come in different types and have a different range of levels of what they are capable of achieving.

And like everything else they come with the cheap version and there are also Cadillac versions.

Fortunately there are versions of humidifiers that are built for persons with asthma directly in mind.

Humidifier for Asthma

What types of features should you rank higher than others when you are in the market for a humidifier for asthma?

1. Humidistat

The humidistat will tell you what your humidity is in your home and allow you to set your humidifier to the desired humidity level you want.

Just like a thermostat that you dial in on a heater or air conditioner, a humidistat lets you dial in exactly the percentage of humidity you want in your room.

2. Secondly, you want to choose a humidifier that is germ-free.

“Germ-free” is a term used loosely here, because there is no such thing as a humidifier that doesn’t have the potential to produce mold and bacteria if it is allowed to go unmaintained.

But there are a few technologies available that can lower the risk of a humidifier becoming contaminated, and also lower the frequency that the humidifier needs cleaned.

A few options are:

a. Ultraviolet light

Ultraviolet light inside of a humidifier works the same way as putting a UV light in a fish tank or keeping one and a sterilizing container for combs and scissors works.

A UV lamp targeted directly upon the water in your humidifier will kill 99% of the germs and bacteria in the basin.

b. Antimicrobial plastic

Antimicrobial plastic is one of the coolest advancements to come along in humidifiers. It is a type of plastic that is actually resistant to fungi and mold.

It is also a great way to reduce the chance of a humidifier becoming a problem instead of a help.

c. Antibacterial additives

You can also purchase bacteria destroying additives that can be added straight to the basin of your humidifier.
Some humidifiers come with antibacterial drop in products included.

3. Combination cool mist and warm mist

Another option that you should think about including in your humidifier purchase is the capacity of the humidifier to run as either a cool mist or a warm mist humidifier.

Having the option to either use a humidifier as a warm or cool mist is a huge advancement in humidifier technologies also.

4. Larger tank size.

Humidifiers come with different tank sizes. The tank size is what determines how long you will be able to use the humidifier without refilling.

You can get humidifiers with tank sizes that last up to 60 or even more hours.

5. Whole house humidifier

A whole house humidifier, also commonly referred to as a furnace humidifier, connects directly into your duct work.

These units have a great advantage over portable units because they can produce the right relative humidity throughout your home via your already installed HVAC.

Another great advantage is the fact that there is no basin to refill with water.

They do however pose the risk of mold growth in walls and require the proper maintenance. They also have yearly replacement parts.

Summary

If you’re an asthmatic, maintaining the proper relative humidity is more important to you.

Excessively low and high humidity has consequences for everyone, but when you’re struggling with asthma, the difference in being in a room with the proper relative humidity between 40 and 60% can mean the difference in breathing or not breathing.

Humidifiers have come pretty far with advancements. There are humidifiers available these days that monitor and keep the relative humidity in your room at the optimal spot.

There are also humidifiers that have built-in cleaning methods such as ultraviolet light and antimicrobial plastics that keep the risk of mold and asthma triggering bacteria at Bay.

Humidifiers also come with many more options such as being able to use them in either cool mode or vapor mode and they also are sold large enough to be able to use them several days without refilling.

The best option however may be placing a whole house furnace humidifier that can keep the relative humidity in your entire home at the right level at all times.

How Boiling Water Works as a DIY Humidifier

To use boiling water as a humidifier, simply boil water on your stove or use an electric kettle, then carefully transfer the hot water to a heat-resistant bowl or pot. Place it in a safe location in your desired room. As the water cools and evaporates, it will add moisture to the air, acting as a simple and effective DIY humidifier.

Introduction

Did you know that you can use boiling water as a humidifier? As a kid growing up in the country of the plains of Texas, and although I didn’t know it then, I was privy to a lot of homegrown methods of getting things done, that even in my lifetime have gone to the wayside.

One of those methods that has kind of got forgotten but I remember quite well is the art of using boiling water as a DIY humidifier.

The old house that my grandparents owned had the furnace style that was kept beneath the floor and worked by sending heat into the house through metal vents that looked like a 2 x 3 grill.

I remember if you stood on it too long, it would melt your shoes.

I also remember my grandmother putting a pot of water on that furnace grill.

I didn’t know what that pot of water was nor did I have any interest in that as a kid.

But now I know she was using that pot of water as a humidifier. The furnace underneath the house was so hot that it was not only melting shoes, it was drying out the air and causing all kinds of havoc with dried out noses, throats, and lips. Putting a pot of water on the furnace was a way of offsetting the dryness in the air and relieving those symptoms.
See our full humidifier guide.

Boiling water as a DIY humidifier

is a trick that is as old as the hills you might say.

If you were to compare it to today’s humidifiers, the method of boiling water as a humidifier would be considered a vaporizer if you were to buy it at a big box store.

Vaporizers boil water to moisturize the air with steam. Boiling water on the stove is the exact same thing.

The only difference is the vaporizers usually come with some sort of medicinal additive like Vicks to help with congestion and breaking up phlegm.

Important Side Note: Boiling Water and Your Humidifier

As we explore various DIY humidifier methods, it’s crucial to clarify a common misconception. While boiling water can be used as a makeshift humidifier in the ways described above, it is not advisable to pour boiling water directly into a standard humidifier.

Humidifiers are designed to operate safely within specific parameters, and introducing boiling water can damage the unit, void warranties, and pose serious safety risks, including the potential for burns or causing the humidifier to malfunction.

Add Some Essential Oils

But there’s nothing saying that you can’t add essential oils to your boiling water and get a similar, if not better breathing effect.

Some of the most common essential oils for adding to a vaporizer, Diffuser, or a DIY humidifier are:

• Eucalyptus
• Peppermint
• Lavender
• Clove
• Rosemary
• Oregano
• Ginger

1.Eucalyptus oil

Next to putting Vicks rub all over your chest, eucalyptus oil is one of the most popular ways of combating breathing problems. It is known for its anti-inflammatory agents that help minimize respiratory flare-ups including bronchitis and asthma.

2.Peppermint oil

Peppermint is a lot like eucalyptus, it not only has a similar smell, it also has many of the antimicrobial properties that help ward off bacteria and viruses that eucalyptus oil has.

3.Lavender oil

If you ever do any research on what kind of things you can do to help you relax, lavender essential oils usually appear at the top. Lavender oil is known for its ability to reduce anxiety and promote a sense of calmness. Lavender oil is an excellent addition to your do-it-yourself humidifier.

4.Clove oil

Clover oil is another essential oil that is known for its benefits related to respiratory conditions. When inhaled, clove oil is a deterrent to allergy and asthma triggers.

5.Rosemary

Rosemary oil has a very unique smell that is great to add to your homemade vaporizer. Not only does it smell great, it contains an ingredient called “Cineole”

According to the US National Library of Medicine, Cineole reduces cough frequency after 4 days.

5.Oregano

Oregano oil in your homemade humidifier will help fight off a cold bug. It’s true. Oregano oil contains three ingredients that are known to fight off bacteria. Carvacrol, Thymol, and Rosmarinic acid, all found in oregano oil, create a natural antibiotic and fungicide.

6.Ginger

Ginger oil has been shown to effectively decrease the symptoms of a cold. If you got the sniffles, adding Ginger oil to your boiling water humidifier is an excellent way to open up your airways and make it easier to breathe in general.

Alternative DIY Humidification Methods

A bowl of water in front of a fan

You can get a good DIY cool mist humidifier effect by placing a bowl of water in front of a fan.

That is essentially what an evaporative cooler does. It blows a fan across water to add cool air to the house.

By

putting a bowl of water in front of a fan, the fan helps evaporate the water and moisturize the air and give you a cool breeze off the water at the same time.

Although it’s not going to be as effective as buying a cool mist humidifier, it’s still a very good option if you do not have a humidifier.

Humidify a room with a bowl of water

When you think about it, water evaporates. And though it may not evaporate at the rate that can give you instant relief, just leaving bowls of water around the house is a humidifier because the water will evaporate and add the moisture to the air.

Leave the water in the bath

One of the easiest ways to have a huge DIY humidifier is to run a bath and leave the water to evaporate instead of draining it out.

Take a shower for humidity

Leaving the doors open when you shower so that the moisture from the shower gets into the rest of the house is also an adequate do-it-yourself humidifier.

Air dry your clothes

I’m old enough to remember when dryers were much less popular and people dried their clothes on clothes lines in the backyard.

They also draw their clothes on clothes lines inside of the house when the weather is not permitting.

It may have taken a lot of door spaces up but nevertheless it increased the humidity inside of the home.

DIY Dryer hose humidifier

Dryers are hooked up to the wall with a hose that expels the heat and humidity outside when it is working.

Unhooking the hose so that the heat and humidity is expelled inside is a do it yourself humidifier that will actually do the job of a warm mist humidifier.

Get some fish

A fish tank is basically the same concept as leaving bowls of water around the house to evaporate.

Your aquarium serves the same purpose and it makes for an excellent hobby.

There are also fish tank/ humidifier combination devices being sold on Amazon. Might be worth checking out.

Flowers in a vase

Another way to keep containers of water around the house is to put flowers out in vases.

Same concept as leaving bowls of water around the house, only with the beautiful addition of flowers to help humidify the home.

House plant sweat

House plants can actually be a good source of indoor humidity because of the little known fact of House plant sweat.

It’s actually called plant transpiration. It’s the process where moisture passes through a plant’s stomata or pores and releases water into the air through their foliage.

This is one of the main reasons for keeping your plants clean. To ensure that their pores are not clogged.

Some plants make better humidifying plants than others though.

Spider Plant humidifier

Spider plants are really easy to grow and they increase the humidity indoors.
They are also on NASA’s big list of air purifying plants which gives them a double bang.

English ivy is another easy plant that has a high humidity increasing rate.

It also is good for reducing the carbon monoxide in the air.

Rubber Plant humidifier

Rubber plants are one of the coolest house plants you can own that also have a high transpiring rate.

They are also on NASA’s list of natural indoor air purifying plants.

Rubber plants also have huge leaves which aids in the humidifying process immensely.

Dwarf Date Palm

Also a cool looking plant to have in the house that is great for increasing the humidity in the home is the dwarf date palm.

Basically a miniature palm tree that can get pretty tall on its own.

Super easy to grow and keep healthy too.

Recap:

Boiling water as a humidifier maybe an old trick but it is one that still works as well as it ever did. It is not only a great way to add moisture to the air, it is also ready to add essential oils to help you breathe better or relax if you want to.

Other DIY tricks people use to increase the humidity in their home is to place bowls of water around the house to evaporate. Good one.

Keep flowers out in vases, same concept, also a good one.

Unhook the dryer hose. You will definitely get some humidity with this trick.

Humidifier plants.

Putting the right plants in your home will not only increase the humidity but will also increase oxygen and decrease indoor air pollution. Win. Win.

Check out the Levoit “everything you could need in a humidifier” if you want to skip the do-it-yourself route.

Other Resources: Vaporizer or Humidifier

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