Tips for Buying a Humidifier

Cost and Maintenance Time are Key Factors

Before you buy a humidifier, do some research because the wrong type of humidifier can be a hazard to you and your family. Buying the right humidifier can have a great effect on your family’s health.

Keeping the relative humidity between 45 percent and 65 percent can enhance the overall comfort of everyone in the home. A humidistat can help you identify what your humidity level is.

To help you find a humidifier right for you, your lifestyle and your home, here are 10 things to keep in mind:

  1. If cost is an issue, consider the replacement cost of filters. If a humidifier filter is $12, but you have to change it 6 times in a year, your unit cost will be more than it is for a unit with a $20 filter that you change twice a year.
  1. If you have small children, do not purchase a steam humidifier because the risk of injury and burns is higher than with other models.
  1. If you don’t have time for regular maintenance (including sanitizing your humidifier before every use), pay the extra money and get one with an ultraviolet sterilizer and HEPA filter. Bacteria grow quickly in stagnant water and can be emitted into your air, possibly creating more problems than before you started.
  1. Some cheaper models of steam humidifiers may disperse minerals into the air, leaving behind calcium and other deposits on your furniture.
  1. Without proper maintenance, evaporative humidifiers can trap water impurities in the pad or filter and these also become a breeding ground for bacteria. If you’re looking to buy an evaporative or wicking humidifier, check cost of replacement pads and filters as well as the price of a new motor (if the warranty runs out).
  1. Buy a humidifier with the settings you want. Some models have up to seven settings to allow you to disperse the right amount of humidity into the room.
  1. Check warranties to compare what is covered and for how long.
  1. Pay attention to how many hours the humidifier will work for its tank size. An average tank should be around 2 gallons and run for at least 24 hours.
  1. Be mindful of the noise level. There is nothing worse than the annoying sound of a machine running too loud.
  1. Do your research on furnace humidifiers or cooling system humidifiers. If you want your whole home hydrated, a centralized unit may be a better option than a portable humidifier unit.

One other thing to consider is an automatic shut-off humidifier system. Automatic shut off will help to ensure the long life of your motor. Motor replacement will likely cost you big bucks, plus this could be a fire hazard.


Guide 2 Humidifiers