Cool Mist Humidifiers - What Type Works Best

There are basically three types of cool air humidifiers and you really cannot go wrong with any of the three types. It all comes down to personal preference. These humidifiers can be used to make your home or office so much more comfortable, especially in the winter time when the air becomes so much dryer. If the air in your home or office dips below 30% relative humidity, you can suffer from dry mucous membranes which, in turn, can lead to infections and nosebleeds. Low humidity will often aggravate the symptoms of asthma. Cool mist humidifiers use a filter to trap minerals and impurities in the air and they release a cool, invisible mist that evaporates into the air. They do not heat the water so there is no burn risk which is a real plus if you have a child or older person living in your home. The three types are:

Evaporation Wick
This type of humidifier uses a wick to absorb water. The water is then evaporated by a fan. This is a very natural form of evaporation which some people consider to be an added benefit. The evaporation rate will slow as the humidity in the air increases so these units are actually self-regulating. Some people will go with another type of humidifier because of the noise from the fan while others say the sound relaxes them and helps them to sleep.

Impeller
For these cool mist humidifiers a spinning disk creates the mist. This process of creating humidity is much quieter than creating it with a fan. Impeller humidifiers are usually available as smaller units so they are easy to move from room to room. They use minimal electricity unlike warm mist humidifiers that have heating elements. These usually will not require any replacement filters.

Ultrasonic
The ultrasonic style is a much more modern type and creates a mist through sound waves that vibrate the water. They are very efficient and nearly silent to our human ears. You will find that this style almost always will include a demineralization filter which will trap minerals before they are released into the air. Some ultrasonic humidifies come with a heating option. When using the cool mist, they too, use a low power consumption.

Distilled water should be used in all cool mist humidifiers to prevent the build up of crusty mineral deposits or scale, as this can be a breeding ground for mold. The humidifiers that include demineralization filters will help with this problem as well.

Adding cool mist humidifiers to your room or your child’s room is a great way to help prevent colds and the spread of germs, especially during the flu season.