Top 5 Best Humidifiers for Your Family | 2017 Reviews
Having humidity inside the room does not necessarily mean a bad thing.
Although some people might want to make sure that the moisture levels in their homes are kept to the lowest level possible and use a dehumidifier, there are also those who want to add in moisture into the air and use a humidifier.
What does a humidifier do?
You might wonder, why would anyone to use humidifiers at home when having high levels of moisture in the air can result to physical discomfort and can even damage clothing, furniture and even the walls of the house.
During the winter months or when the air conditioner is used in summer, the air inside the home can get so dry that it becomes uncomfortable. Using the best humidifier helps prevent dryness that causes irritation to the skin, nose, lips or throat. Some parents even use a humidifier for baby to protect them against flu, the common cold or any other respiratory problems.
A lot of physicians even recommend the use of such an appliance inside the house as it helps relieve congestion without having to use over-the-counter medicine against cold and cough.
Even so, it should be remembered that too much humidity can result to health issues as it encourages the buildup of mold and mildew which then becomes the breeding ground for viruses and bacteria.
You are probably already considering getting a room humidifier or even a whole house humidifier to protect your family but with so many available in the market, which one do you choose? Check out our Best Humidifier Buying Guide here.
We have put together our top 5 best picks and have even added in humidifier reviews to give you a clear view on the pros and cons of each model. Are you ready?
Quick Comparison Table
|
Honeywell Humidifier, HCM-350 |
Holmes Humidifier, HM1865-NU |
Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier |
Pure Enrichment Ultrasonic Humidifier |
Crane Drop Shape Ultrasonic Humidifier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
$$$ |
$$$ |
$$$ |
$$$ |
$$$ |
|
Evaporator |
Cool mist |
Warm mist |
Ultrasonic |
Ultrasonic |
|
2 gallons |
1.5 gallons |
1 gallon |
1.5 liters |
1 gallon |
 |
|
|
|
|
Honeywell Humidifier, HCM-350
Let’s start off our list with the best in the lot, the Honeywell Germ-Free Cool Mist Humidifier. This model comes with quite a huge tank which makes it slightly larger and heavier than the Holmes model. Even when it runs on its highest setting, it can still last around 18 hours so you can use it for two nights without doing refills.
This Honeywell unit is one of the best humidifiers we have tried here at ParentsNeed HQ. It is great in that it does not have water condensation (those annoying white powder when the water dries off) around the base or elsewhere. Even if it does not have a visible humidistat, you can still feel a noticeable difference in the air inside the room.
Another plus about this humidifier is that it is super quiet and the filter only needs to be replaced every six months or so. Plus, you can easily fill up the tank with a quick gush of water from the tub and it is super easy to clean and set up. Just take out its platter and reservoir and place it in the dishwasher – you don’t have to worry so much about deposits in the surface because it doesn’t accumulate that much.
There are just too many good things to say about the Honeywell Humidifier which is why we are putting it at the top spot as the best humidifier in the market.
|
Details of the Honeywell Humidifier, HCM-350 |
|
|---|---|
|
Dimensions |
18.6 x 10.4 x 13 inches |
|
Weight |
9.9 pounds |
|
Type |
Evaporator |
|
Tank Capacity |
2 gallons |
|
Recommended Room Size |
Large |
Holmes Humidifier, HM1865-NU
Another cool mist humidifier option that you might want to look into is the Holmes Cool Mist Comfort Humidifier HM1865-NU.
This cool mist humidifier is your best companion during the coldest and driest months of the year. It works really well and has no trouble keeping a decent humidity level in medium- and large-sized rooms, making it one of the best whole house humidifier models available.
What we love about this product is that it uses cool mist technology so you do not have to worry about contaminants getting into your furniture or even inside your lungs. Instead, sediments and other impurities in the air are trapped in the filter and what is left is fresh, clean mist for everyone to breathe.
Another thing we love about this humidifier is that it comes with a built-in humidistat that you can read through its digital control panel. Turn it on, run it in a speed that you think best fits your needs and forget about it. Of course, make sure you refill the water every day or two.
The fact that its wick lasts quite long (and you can buy aftermarket ones at affordable prices) and that its filter only needs replacement every three months or so, even when run constantly is still a huge plus.
Despite being able to run for 48 hours, its price tag and a slightly more frequent filter change (compared to the Honeywell model) are the only reasons why we are pushing this model to number two.
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Details of the Holmes Humidifier, HM1865-NU |
|
|---|---|
|
Dimensions |
17.5 x 12.8 x 14.4 inches |
|
Weight |
8.7 pounds |
|
Type |
Cool mist, with filter |
|
Tank Capacity |
1.5 gallons |
|
Recommended Room Size |
Large |
Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier
When it comes to clearing up clogged noses and sinuses, we know Vicks is known to be a strong household name and we love that they have a humidifier!
This warm mist humidifier has a boiling chamber where the water is heated into a pure steam vapor. The vapor then mixes with the dry air found in the cooling chamber and warm air is released into the room.
For many parents, flu can be a source of major worry in the family and we here at ParentsNeed HQ love it that this model works with the Vicks Vaposteam or Kaz Inhalant which lets it produce a medicated vapor. Doing so certainly helps reduce the chances of flu viruses from surviving in the air inside the house and it helps relieve one from coughs, too.
Unfortunately, the Vicks Humidifier’s tank can only be filled up to a gallon and it only works for up to 12 hours. On the plus side, the constant need for refilling provides great exercise but the tank capacity for this model makes it most recommended for night use.
We love its translucent tank which quickly tells us the water level plus it comes with a soft glow nightlight so it works two functions. If you plan to use it in your baby’s nursery, it definitely makes a great companion and you can be sure that it will not disturb their sleep.
Its tank also comes with an easy drain design that allows it to drain completely so you do not have to worry about standing water. Even so, you should still remember to clean it up every so often to prevent mold and mildew from building up.
Despite this unit having a nightlight function and an inexpensive cost, the slightly longer weekly maintenance work, small tank capacity, occasional noisy operation and lesser run time are what pushed it towards the middle of the list.
|
Details of the Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier |
|
|---|---|
|
Dimensions |
12 x 7.9 x 14.2 inches |
|
Weight |
4.8 pounds |
|
Type |
Warm mist |
|
Tank Capacity |
1 gallon |
|
Recommended Room Size |
Small |
Pure Enrichment Ultrasonic Humidifier
If you are looking for an ultrasonic humidifier to use for small rooms such as bedrooms, small offices, dens and nurseries, definitely consider this model when shopping around.
There are many things to love about this humidifier from Pure Enrichment. It comes with an automatic shut-off design, a night light function and a whisper-quiet operation making it a highly recommended humidifier for baby. You do not have to worry if the water level goes low as it shuts right off safely.
You can also easily turn the mist nozzle around, 360 degrees, as well as control it in two speeds so you can change the direction of the mist and the speed depending on the level of your comfort.
Perhaps one of the things that put this unit to a disadvantage is that despite its huge 1.5-liter tank capacity, it does not work as well for larger rooms such as in the living room, dining room or the kitchen. There may be a need to go for more powerful models if you are to cover a larger area.
However, clean up and maintenance is not a very huge undertaking as the kit does come with a brush to help out clean the base. There is no need to buy or replace filters – this means added savings and an easier clean up process.
There are many things to love about this ultrasonic unit: hardworking and effective, compact size, easy set-up and clean-up and price. However, not being able to deliver the same high-quality moisture output for larger rooms is the major reason why it is being pushed further into the list, thus putting it in the number four spot.
|
Details of the Pure Enrichment Ultrasonic Humidifier |
|
|---|---|
|
Dimensions |
10.9 x 9.2 x 6.9 inches |
|
Weight |
1.8 pounds |
|
Type |
Ultrasonic |
|
Tank Capacity |
1.5 liters |
|
Recommended Room Size |
Medium |
Crane Drop Shape Ultrasonic Humidifier
Another ultrasonic model that we consider as the best humidifier for baby is this unit from Crane.
Just like the Ultrasonic Humidifier above, the Crane Drop Shape Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier has very cool features such as the automatic shut-off and whisper-quiet operation.
It is a pretty small unit that comes in a drop/tear shape, making it look very modern and stylish. It might not look much but it is actually able to hold a capacity of up to 1 gallon of water and can produce up to 2.3 gallons of moisture within 24 hours of running.
Operating it is not that difficult. You simply have to remove the water tank and unscrew its cap, place it under the faucet and fill it with water. Then, securely replace the cap and make sure the rubber cap seal is correctly set in its place. Put the tank back on the unit and turn it on. You can even just set it and forget about it – it turns off when the water tank goes empty to ensure your safety.
However, the cool and unique design that it comes with might just be the source of its major flaw. While we found that weekly clean-up and maintenance can be made easily using vinegar and after throwing the parts in into the dishwasher, dirt and grime can still get stuck at the bottom of the tank. The design makes the bottom hard to reach and clean.
Although the Crane Humidifier has great features and a pretty decent operation, the fact that it makes cleaning a little harder for everyone brings it to the bottom of our list, grabbing the fifth spot.
|
Details of the Crane Drop Shape Ultrasonic Humidifier |
|
|---|---|
|
Dimensions |
9.8 x 14.7 x 9.8 inches |
|
Weight |
4.5 pounds |
|
Type |
Ultrasonic |
|
Tank Capacity |
1 gallon |
|
Recommended Room Size |
Medium |
Conclusion
Finding the best among the top rated humidifiers available in the market can be a tough decision to make. You will have to look into its features (automatic shut-off, night light function, quiet operation, etc), ease of setup and cleanup, tank capacity, running time, the room size that it can comfortably cover and, most importantly, the cost.
You should not forget though that even with their awesome features, it still needs a certain level of looking after. Be sure to keep the level of moisture in your homes at a comfortable level but not too much that it damages your clothes, furniture or even the walls of the room. Of course, these units still need to be properly cleaned up from time to time to make sure that mold and mildew do not accumulate in any of its parts.
It is also highly recommended that you do away with using water that has lots of minerals in it. Instead of using tap water, we suggest that you put in distilled water or filtered water. Also make sure to place it on an elevated surface and not on top of towels, carpets or wood furniture.
We hope that our whole house and room humidifier reviews will help you make the best decision in your purchase. Happy shopping!
Originally posted 2016-07-23 15:14:02.
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