How do you know if you need a humidifier for your home?
If you are living in a dry place and the indoor moisture level is lower than 30%, or you feel your skin dry every time, you just need a humidifier. A humidifier increases the humidity level in your home by reducing dryness in the air with the help of releasing steam by converting the water into vapors. Steam humidifiers almost kill all the bacteria because they use heat to boil the water and provide a soothing warm effect. Here we discuss the Best Steam Humidifiers with their pros and cons that help you decide which model perfectly fulfills your moisture needs.
With a humidifier, you will get an actual moisture level that not only keeps you hydrated but also gives you relief from allergies and respiratory infections. Humidifier decreases low humidity, which is the leading cause of dryness of nasal passages and sinusitis congestion. However, you need to carefully use the steam humidifiers around your children and pets because they use heating material that causes severe burns. Below we recommend the 6 Best Steam Humidifiers from which you can select any you want.
Some houseplants need an adequate humidity level for their proper and healthy growth. If you do not give them a humid atmosphere, they start looking dull, and their growth will also be affected badly. But when they get an actual and sufficient humidity level, they will grow adequately, which keeps them healthier. However, it would be best if you were careful because excess moisture is also not good for the houseplants. Therefore, to maintain an ideal moisture level, use a hygrometer to adjust the humidity according to your needs.
Humidifiers have different types: evaporative, ultrasonic, cool mist, warm mist, and whole-house humidifiers. All types of humidifiers help increase the humidity level to give you a humid environment. Some humidifiers come with filters, so you have to replace the filters on time for an excellent performance of the humidifiers. Using filters, the model provides you with clean and fresh mist to breathe because the filter traps all the water-borne germs and bacteria. Here are the 6 Best Steam Humidifiers given in detail.
This model has a water tank capacity of one gallon, which makes it able to run for 24 hours continuously without any hassle. It gives you a standard coverage area making it an ideal option for medium to large-sized rooms to get an actual amount of moisture, and this unit fits perfectly into any room. So, you do not face any difficulty while using this model.
It is tranquil in its operation, so you can keep the model in your bedroom to sleep peacefully in a humid environment without any disturbance. The auto shut-off option prevents your device from damage because it automatically turns off the unit when the water level is low in the tank. With this option, the humidifier becomes a safe option to use near your kids and pets without any burning risk.
This humidifier is filter-free, so you do not need to waste your money on the replacements of filters. That’s why it requires low maintenance compared to other models. The model is also a vaporizer because it is a warm mist humidifier primarily used in dry and allergy seasons to keep your body moisturized. Two mist output settings adjust the humidity level according to your requirements.
It gives you an aromatherapy option with a place for an essential oil cup where you can put your favorite essential oils and spread a beautiful aroma throughout your home. However, do not add the oils directly into the water, this will damage the tank and the heating element. But you need to be careful while using this model around your children and pets because it uses a heating element that enhances the risk of burns.
Pros
Large tank capacity of one gallon.
Runs constantly for a whole day.
The auto shut-off option makes the unit safe to use near children.
Silent in its working because it produces significantly less noise.
Two moisture output settings for adjusting the humidity level.
Aromatherapy option for adding essential oils.
Keep your nasal and throat passages moisturized
Cons
Because of the heating element, you must be careful while using it around children and pets.
It is filterless, so always use distilled water to refill the tank.
Do not add the essential oils into the water tank.
It has a large coverage area of 5,300 square feet, making it an excellent option to provide moisture in your entire home. This humidifier has a large water tank capacity of 11.5 to 34.6 gallons per day, through which it runs continuously for up to a whole day without any problem. It gives you six levels to adjust the moisture level according to your requirements to maintain an ideal humidity level.
Dual sensors are used to monitor the temperature and moisture level to release optimum humidity in your home. This unit worked on the electrode technology, which means it needs impurities in the water to encourage the transfer of electricity. Thus there is no need to use distilled or demineralized water for refilling the tank as it works perfectly with tap water that contains lots of minerals.
This model helps maintain the optimal moisture level between 30% to 60% inside your home, which helps reduce problems such as allergies, respiratory disorders, and sinusitis congestion. It reduces the formation of bacteria, mildew, and germs in the air so that you will feel more comfortable and relaxed breathing in a bacteria-free environment. The canister used in the model must be changed once a year for the device’s better performance and working efficiency.
This humidifier is very expensive compared to the other models because it is a whole-house humidifier. You can also connect this humidifier to the HVAC system of your home. In this way, you do not face more difficulty installing this model, but this unit requires professional installation to work perfectly. Moreover, this model gives you a large warranty of 5 years, so if you have any issue with your model or it breaks down, you can replace it without any hassle and receive a new unit.
Pros
The large coverage area of 5300 square feet.
It runs for up to 24 hours.
It works well with tap water.
Dual sensors to control the temperature and moisture level.
It works on the electrode technology.
Six levels for adjusting the humidity level.
It can be connected to your home’s HVAC system.
It comes with a warranty of 5 years.
Cons
Requires lots of water supply.
Do not compatible with distilled or demineralized water.
This humidifier is best for small to medium-sized bedrooms and offices. It gives you a water tank capacity of a one-gallon tank with a run time of 24 hours constantly at its lowest setting or 8 to 9 hours at its highest setting and provides you mist for a long period without any problem. The model is quiet in its operation because it produces significantly less noise and does not create a disturbance while you sleep. So, you can easily place the humidifier in your bedroom to get a good sleep without interruption.
This humidifier is filterless, so there is no need for filter replacements, saving you additional expenses on replacing the filters. But it works well with a Vicks VapoSteam, through which you will get medicated vapors that give you an extra soothing effect. It is the best option to use for everyone, such as babies, adults, and young kids. This model gives you a large warranty of 3 years. Thus, in case of any problem, you can easily return your model and get a new one.
There is an optional night light that can not be turned off. That is a bit annoying while you sleep. Its simple and elegant composition makes it effortless to refill and clean. You can easily fill the tank without any problem and clean it using a damp cloth, soapy water, or a mixture of bleach or vinegar. But avoid using the mixture of bleach and vinegar together for cleaning the humidifier because this will damage your humidifier and badly affect its performance.
Pros
The best option for cough.
Temporarily relieves cold and flu by increasing humidity.
A large water tank capacity of one gallon.
It runs for almost the whole day at its lowest setting.
Quiet in its operation.
Easy to refill and clean.
It is very budget-friendly.
It works well with Vicks VapoSteam.
It comes with a warranty of 3 years.
Cons
It is a filterless model so avoid using tap water to refill the tank.
It has a coverage area of 430 square feet which makes it ideal for small to medium-sized rooms and kids’ bedrooms. This humidifier is very safe to use near kids and pets because it does not have a very high temperature level which is not too hot. So, it reduces the risk of burning and is perfect for increasing moisture in the children’s bedroom.
This model produces very little noise less than 42dB, making it the best option to place in your and your kid’s bedrooms to get a disturbance-free sleep at night. It gives you the option of a digital LED display with a touch control panel and humidity indicator so you can easily adjust and set the mist output level according to your needs.
It has a water tank capacity of 0.8 gallons with a running time of almost 24 hours without hassle. This humidifier does not come with a filter or additives, so it does not require filter replacements. Thus, it saves you additional expenses and needs less maintenance. There is also a fantastic cleaning mode in this humidifier used to clean the unit and an indicator that reminds you to refill the water tank.
It comes with a removable water tank with an easy-carrying handle, so you do not have difficulty holding the model and moving it anywhere you want. This humidifier gives you an aromatherapy container where you can put the essential oils that diffuse into the air and fill a beautiful fragrance across the entire room to give you a soothing atmosphere.
Pros
It has a coverage area of 430 square feet.
The best option for medium-sized rooms and kids’ bedrooms.
It is hushed in its working because it produces a sound of less than 42dB.
Digital LED display with touch control panel.
There is no need for filter replacements.
It comes with a cleaning mode.
Removable water tank with a handle to carry the unit easily.
Aromatherapy box for adding the essential oils.
Cons
It does not work well in large and master-sized bedrooms.
It needs a little bit extra maintenance than other models.
It comes with a tank capacity of 0.5 gallons of water with a working time of 8 hours. So, you must refill the unit repeatedly to get continuous moisture output. The auto shut-off option is built as a safety function when the device runs out of water, is overheated, or is not connected perfectly. This option saves the unit from damage if you forget to switch off the humidifier, especially at night. There is a medicine cup in this humidifier where you can put the vapor pads such as HS-1950 and HS-1950L.
The Crane humidifiers are filterless, so there is no need to waste your money on replacing the filters. However, the manufacturer gives an optional demineralized filter HS-1932 that traps and removes all the excess minerals in the water. This humidifier works on a whisper-quiet operation, so you can easily keep it in your and your kid’s bedrooms to sleep peacefully without interruption in a moisturized environment.
This model is easy to clean because it has a detachable bottom-filled tank. So, you can easily clean the humidifier with a wet cloth and soapy water to prevent mold growth by removing the mist chamber and cap. You can easily use this model as a personal steam humidifier by replacing the humidifier tank with the inhaler attachment. So, if you want the benefits of a humidifier and a personal steam inhaler, you must add this model to your home.
Pros
It gives an optional demineralized filter.
Auto shut-off option to protect the unit from damage.
Whisper-quiet operation.
There is no need to replace the filters.
It comes with a medicine cup for adding the vapor pads.
Easy to refill and clean because of the detachable bottom-filled tank.
It gives you the benefits of both a humidifier and a personal steam inhaler.
Cons
This model requires frequent refillings.
It gives you very less moisture output compared to other models.
It has a large water tank capacity of one gallon, giving a run time of almost 24 hours. So, with one refill, you can enjoy a warm mist with a soothing effect for the whole day. An auto shut-off option turns off the model when running out of water. This option makes your model more energy-efficient and prevents it from consuming extra units. Thus, you will get low electricity bills which will save you money.
It gives you an auto shut-off option which turns off the model when it runs out of water or when the water level is low. With this option, the humidifier remains safe from damage due to overheating when running on an empty tank. This humidifier comes with a night light that gives your kids a soothing and soft glow at night.
This unit is also very silent while working, so it does not disturb you when you sleep at night. Thus, it becomes the best option to place in your kid’s and baby’s rooms to get a moisturized atmosphere. There is a medicine cup in this humidifier for adding oils and inhalants that provide extra soothing effects and relief from cough or flu symptoms. Essential oils also help get a pleasant sleep by reducing the issues of snoring and sleep apnea.
Pros
The best option for kids.
The water tank capacity of one gallon.
Auto shut-off option.
It comes with a night light.
This comes with a medicine cup for adding oils and inhalants.
It is Silent while working.
Cons
Do not add the inhalants directly into the medicine cup. This will damage your humidifier and affect its performance.
What to look for before buying the best steam humidifiers for your home:
When you decide to buy the best steam humidifiers for your home, you have to look at certain things that help you buy the best option. Because there are many options in the market choosing the right option between them is very difficult. So, you have to keep the following things in mind before buying the best humidifier.
Tank Capacity and Size of Humidifier:
Water tank capacity is an essential factor when deciding to buy a humidifier. If you have a large humidifier with a larger tank capacity, you will get more mist for a long time. Large humidifiers are best for providing moisture for open spaces and large-sized bedrooms. A large tank humidifier saves you time from the hassle of refilling the tank because it provides you with humidity for almost two days in one refill.
However, if you have a small humidifier with a smaller tank capacity, you need to refill it repeatedly, which is very irritating because refilling makes lots of mess. A small tank humidifier is best for small-sized rooms to provide essential moisture. Using a large humidifier in small rooms increases the chances of over-humidification, which means you will get too much moisture, which is also not good for your health.
Maintenance:
Maintenance is essential for the better performance and working of your humidifier because regular cleaning and maintenance increase the lifespan of every electronic device. Clean the humidifier regularly and properly using water or soap. After washing, dry it well before using it again. You can also use a mixture of bleach or vinegar to clean the humidifier.
The models that come with filters often require more maintenance and cleaning than those that are filterless. For good working efficiency of the humidifier, change the filters on time. So, if you do not want to waste your time and money on maintaining or replacing the humidifier’s filter, choose a filterless model.
Noise level:
Noise is a crucial factor to note when you decide to install a humidifier in your home. Some people are easily annoyed or disturbed by little noises. So, if they use large humidifiers, they have to face the problem of noise because large humidifiers make loud noises while working. However, some models, such as ultrasonic models, produce less noise that is not hearable by humans.
The ultrasonic models are very quiet in their working due to the ultrasonic technology, so they do not create disturbance in your sleeping at night. Therefore, if you are a sound-sensitive person, you have to go for ultrasonic and steam humidifiers because steam humidifiers are also very silent.
Automatic Shut-off:
If you want to avoid the problems of burning risks and over-humidification, you need to select a model that gives you the facility of automatic shut-off. With the auto shut-off option, the unit will automatically turn off when it runs out of water or when the water level is low in the tank to protect the device from damage. When you run your humidifier on an empty tank, the unit becomes overheated and enhances the chances of burning.
This option also reduces over-humidification as it switches off automatically when an ideal moisture level is reached. Over-humidification encourages the growth of bacteria and mildew in the air, which is not good for people with asthma. This way, you will also get lower electricity bills because your unit becomes energy efficient due to the auto shut-off option.
Addition of Essential Oils:
This factor is not very necessary, but if you want comfort and a soothing, delightful atmosphere, then you have to go for the option that comes with an aromatherapy option or works as a diffuser. The humidifier has a place for adding essential oils to get a beautiful fragrance throughout your room. You will also get peaceful sleep using essential oils because they help reduce insomnia, sleep apnea, and snoring.
However, you need to be careful while adding the essential oils to the unit and avoid putting them directly into the tank because this will damage the unit. Always put the essential oils in the aroma tray or box to enjoy a pleasant scent everywhere in your room.
Coverage Area:
Coverage area means the ability of the humidifier to humidify a certain place or area. So, before buying a humidifier, always measure the place or area where you want to place the unit to get a sufficient moisture level. If the humidifier has a large coverage area, it would be best for large rooms and offices.
But if the humidifier gives you a small coverage area, it will not be able to provide enough humidity in large areas. The humidifiers with small coverage areas are best for small places or rooms. However, the whole house humidifiers have a large enough coverage area to provide moisture throughout your whole house.
Other Features:
Other features you should consider before buying the best humidifier include a remote control facility, humidity sensor, and warranty. The humidifier that comes with a remote control allows you to adjust and set the settings of mist output from anywhere across your room. You do not need to get up from your bed to adjust the settings because of the remote control.
Humidity sensors are used to maintain an ideal moisture level. So, when the humidity reaches a sufficient level, the humidity sensor will automatically turn off the unit. Moreover, if the humidifier comes with a decent warranty, you can replace it without any issue in case of any problem or if the model breaks down or leaks after some use. These factors help a lot in choosing the best model for your home.
Benefits of a Steam Humidifier:
Using a humidifier will give you lots of benefits and improve your home’s indoor quality. Some of the benefits of the steam humidifier are listed below.
Required Indoor Moisture Level:
A humidifier helps you maintain the humidity level according to the required indoor moisture level. It increases moisture by adding steam to the atmosphere and reduces dryness to give you a comfortable environment. To maintain an ideal humidity level inside your home, use a hygrometer or a humidistat through which you can easily adjust the moisture level between 40% to 60%. The ideal humidity level is essential for you and your family and has good health impacts.
Help Get Rid of Allergies:
The use of humidifiers helps get rid of allergies like itchy eyes, coughing, sneezing, chappy lips, and runny noses. Humidifiers can help keep allergens away by preventing bacteria and germs from spreading in the air. Allergies are mainly caused because of the dryness of nasal and throat passages. Therefore, using a humidifier will give you enough moisture to keep your nasal passages hydrated, which gives you relief from allergies.
Improve Your Comfort:
With the use of a humidifier, your comfort level will be improved when you get adequate humidity. Because of the dryness, everyone feels discomfort, but using a humidifier removes dryness by increasing the humidity to an essential level. It gives a clean mist for breathing and relieves dry skin issues. So, if you want to improve your comfort level, you must add a steam humidifier to your home, which gives you a soothing warm effect.
Compulsory Hygiene:
The steam humidifiers usually boil water using the heating element, destroying almost all the water-borne germs and preventing the growth of microbes inside the tank. So, when you use vaporizers or steam humidifiers, you will get more purified mist output than other models. Because of this hygienic steam and mist output, you will get a clean and safe humid atmosphere for breathing. in this way, the indoor quality inside your home will be improved, and the chances of spreading diseases will be decreased.
My Review
According to my experience, if you want relief from a low humidity problem, the steam humidifier is an excellent option. I mostly use steam humidifiers to get an adequate humidity level and relief from dry air. The steam humidifier adds moisture to the air in the form of steam by boiling water using a heating element. However, if you have children and pets in your home, you must be careful while using the steam humidifiers due to the heating element, as it increases the risk of burns. Therefore, if you want the best quality steam humidifier for your home, you should use the Honeywell HWM-705B HWM705B Warm Moisture Humidifier.
FAQs About The Best Steam Humidifier:
Which is the best steam humidifier?
As discussed, all the humidifiers are the best steam humidifiers, but the model that I primarily used and recommended is the Honeywell HWM-705B HWM705B Warm Moisture Humidifier which is the best steam humidifier. It gives you two moisture output settings, an aromatherapy facility for putting essential oils, silent operation, an auto shut-off option, and a run time of 24 hours.
Can you add essential oils to your humidifier?
Some humidifiers give you the facility of using essential oils for a delightful atmosphere. These humidifiers have an aromatherapy tray or box where you can add your favorite essential oils to enjoy the beautiful scent everywhere in your room. Using essential oils will also help get a good and peaceful night’s sleep and reduce sleep deprivation problems. So, if you want to fill your room with beautiful fragrances, choose a humidifier that comes with aromatherapy or works as a diffuser.
What percent should I need to maintain an ideal moisture level in our homes?
For a comfortable soothing humid environment, the moisture level should be between 30% and 60%, which is ideal. An ideal humidity level is sufficient to keep your body moisturized and remove dryness from the air by increasing the humidity level. If the humidity is below 30%, your skin will become dry, and if it is above 60%, you will get too much moisture which is not good for you. However, to maintain the ideal moisture level, you must use a humidifier with a hygrometer or humidity sensor that automatically switches off the unit when the humidity level reaches your desired level.
Can I run my humidifier the whole night?
If you want to run your humidifier the whole night, you need to use a model that has an auto shut-off option that prevents your device from being damaged. So, if you forget to switch off the unit at night, the unit will automatically turn off when the tank becomes empty because of the auto shut-off option. In this way, the model protects from damage when overheated and reduces the risk of burning. Then you can easily run the humidifier the whole night around your kids without any threat of burns.
Conclusion:
After reading this article, you will know about the best steam humidifiers with their advantages and disadvantages. A steam humidifier increases the moisture to an adequate level and reduces dryness in the atmosphere by providing steam. However, when you face excess moisture in the air, you must use a dehumidifier that reduces extra moisture and maintains an ideal humidity level.
All the humidifiers are the best I mentioned above, but I mostly use the Honeywell HWM705B Warm Moisture Humidifier which comes with a large tank capacity of one gallon. It has many features such as an auto shut-off option, silent operation, two moisture output settings, an aromatherapy facility, runs for up to 24 hours, and keeps your throat passages hydrated to relieve your cough.
Secondly, the Aprilaire – 700M Whole Home Steam Humidifier is included in my top picks for the best steam humidifier. This model is more costly than other steam humidifiers because it is a whole-house steam humidifier that gives moisture throughout your home. It has a large coverage area of 6200 square feet with a running time of 24 hours. Moreover, it works well with tap water because of the electrode technology and comes with dual sensors, six levels to adjust the moisture output, and a warranty of 5 years.
Furthermore, the Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier is also the best steam humidifier and is very inexpensive compared to other models. So, if you want quality on a budget, you must use this model to get an actual amount of moisture. This model is the best option for kids because that comes with a tank capacity of one gallon, an optional night light, an auto shut-off option, a whisper-quiet operation, and a medicine cup for inhalants.
You can visit our website if you want to know more about humidifiers, air purifiers, diffusers, nebulizers, vaporizers, and dehumidifiers.
Mark B. Smith is an experienced freelance writer who contributes lots of reviews and blogs about different products related to home improvements, such as humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and air purifiers. He also specializes in Soviet Union history and has a writing experience of almost 9 years. Moreover, Smith is a corporate executive and consulting partner in global and executive organizations. He also wrote a journal about Russia’s past, wrote many scholarly articles, and covered many other topics in his blogs.
