Some humidifiers require filters or have other parts that need to be cleaned or replaced. For example, replace the filter in your central humidifier regularly according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Keep interior doors open When shopping for a humidifier, you'll want to consider important features like your room size, whether you want a filter, and mist temperature. Here are some more details to guide your shopping: Refill the water tank as needed to ensure optimal performance – Don't let the water level get too low in water tank, as this can cause the humidifier to work less effectively, or potentially even break.

Though you can change the humidity and fan levels yourself, you can also set it to auto, and it will decide the best levels for you based on local weather data and your Air Quality Index score. When we used the auto feature, it raised humidity levels to a nice 50% and kept it there even throughout a larger open-concept kitchen and living room area. Don’t add too much moisture to a room. You don’t want the humidity in a room to be at more than 50 percent. When the humidity exceeds this percentage, bacteria and mold can grow. This can trigger respiratory conditions like allergies and asthma. No matter what, humidifiers need to be cleaned regularly to prevent bacteria and mould from developing and causing health problems of their own. Do this with natural solutions such as vinegar, rather than bleach or other chemical cleaners. Are humidifiers good for babies? Most humidifiers on our list are ultrasonic, coming with the option of cool or warm mist. If you opt for a warm mist humidifier, then it's important to keep these away from unsupervised children or pets.

Decide what type of humidifier works best in your space. Cool mist humidifiers may be best if you plan to use the unit in your child’s room or in a space where the machine could be touched accidentally. Warm mist humidifiers may be preferable because they heat the water before releasing it, making the air safer, but they shouldn’t be used around children. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that indoor humidity be in the range of 30-50%,” says Melanie Carver, chief mission officer at the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). “If the humidity levels in your home are too low (less than 30%), you can add moisture by using a humidifier. Humidifiers produce water vapor or steam to introduce moisture into the indoor environment.” Energy efficiency– on a similar note, getting a humidifier that's energy efficient can help you lower your electricity bill just a tad.

This allows the humidifier to turn itself off after a certain amount of time in operation. Night mode Keeping skin and hair moist – if you’ve noticed that your hair, skin or lips are dry or scratchy, a humidifier could help to moisturise them.

Top 5 Air Humidifiers

Rinse and replace the water in your humidifier’s tank each night to avoid using old standing water that may contain molds or other bacteria or fungi. In dry environment, studies have shown that static charge accumulation is easier on surfaces than humid condition The tank is at the top, so just open it up to fill. This makes it just as easy as watering flowers and will take up to 2.5 litres to last for up to 30 hours.

One major con: After culturing the tank, we discovered that this humidifier held the most bacteria of any we tested. Still, considering its strong performance in all testing categories, we think this smart option would be a valuable addition to your household, as long as you’re willing to clean it regularly.Air purifiers help to clean the air, thereby reducing the chances of health issues caused by indoor pollutants which can trigger respiratory infections or aggravate symptoms in asthma sufferers.

in-1 patented wave-shaped UniBond refill tab made of ultra-absorbing crystals for advanced moisture absorption, patented anti-odour technology If you’ve bought a second-hand humidifier, read our guide to your rights when buying second-hand goods. How do I dispose of a humidifier? You can choose from three cool mist settings to best fit your space. These can be controlled using the intuitive buttons on the front of the humidifier. There is also the option to set an auto-off timer for four, eight or 12 hours.Cool mist humidifiers can be ideal for children as they can be quieter than warm mist humidifiers and there’s no risk of them hurting themselves on the hot water. You do have to clean the tank more regularly and thoroughly though as bacteria can grow. The heating process in warm mist, on the other hands, helps to stop any bacteria that may have grown from being distributed into the air. The TaoTronics Space-Saving Filterless Humidifier is an elegant, no-fuss option that gets the job done. According to the brand, this humidifier is suitable for spaces up to 500 square feet. From a two-foot distance, the unit increased the humidity of our space by an average of 53% on the highest setting, and 27% from a 10-foot distance. After running the tank overnight for three days, we still had excess water left over. It continued performing well, even after using it for six months. Do not let humidity level go too high – a humidity that is too high can cause growth of dust mites.