Portable Humidifiers

An Affordable Choice for Single Rooms

Portable humidifiers are ideal for specific rooms that need humidity. The ideal relative humidity for your body should be in the range of 45% to 65%. The best way to find out the current humidity level in your room is using a humidistat or hygrometer. Humidity can change by the hour, depending on many factors including the humidity outside and whether your home has sound, sealed construction or not.

Portable humidifiers are smaller and cheaper than whole home humidifiers. A portable humidifier is also ideal if you plan on taking it with you on your next move. There are also some notable disadvantages to these:

  • They require more maintenance, such as filling the reservoir.
  • You will have to sanitize the unit manually unless you purchase a model with an ultraviolet light or other bacteria killer. If you get a model that uses filters (like the HEPA filter models), you will have to change the filter regularly.
  • They are not as effective for the whole home. You will only be able to humidify a small area.

Portable and popular
Most people who buy portable humidifiers buy them not for their portability but because of the lower price and the fact that they are easier to use. They do not need to be installed and serviced by a service rep. You can put them near your main living area for healthy, humid air where and when you need it.

Different types of portable humidifiers
Ultrasonic humidifiers and cool mist humidifiers have to be sanitized after almost every use.

Steam humidifiers emit mineral deposits into the air that can build up on your furniture. Evaporative humidifier filters or wet pads breed bacteria and need changing frequently.

Things to remember when purchasing a humidifier for your apartment are:

  • How much time you will have to maintain your machine?
  • What is the warranty?
  • How much are replacement parts, such as filters?
  • How large is the humidifier? You don’t want it to be a conversation piece.
  • Is your apartment moldy? Humidifiers can contribute to the growth of mold.
  • In small areas, over-humidification can warp furniture and other wooden items.
  • Mind the noise. Buy an apartment humidifier with adjustable controls. Three to five settings is ideal.