Dry indoor air, especially during winter, can cause annoying and painful symptoms, which include irritated sinuses and bloody noses, itchy skin, cracked lips, and sore throats.
Humidifiers deliver soothing, moist air, and since both cool mist humidifiers and warm mist humidifiers have their strengths and weaknesses, it's essential to understand the differences before you buy.
| Which Humidifier Type Is right for you? | |
|---|---|
| Cool Mist | Warm Mist |
| Large Spaces | Small and Medium Spaces |
| Comforting Cool Mist | Sterilizing Warm Mist |
| Loud | Silent |
| Kid and Pet Safe | Potential Burn Risks |
| Year Round Cool Vapor | Winter Warm Vapor |
| Lower Energy Consumption | Higher Energy Consumption |
Cool Mist Humidifiers
Cool mist humidifiers use an internal wick filter to absorb water. At the same time, a fan blows the air through the filter. This process causes the water to disperse throughout your room as an ultra-fine, invisible mist. This type of cool mist humidifier can provide comforting moisture for larger rooms.
Benefits of Cool Mist Humidifiers
- Large Areas: Cool mist humidifiers typically add moisture to large areas or even entire houses.
- Use Less Electricity: These models may use less electricity because the water is not heated.
- Safer for Kids: Many parents also opt for cool mist humidifiers to avoid hot water accidents in children's bedrooms and common areas where curious fingers may find them.
Considerations for Cool Mist Humidifier
- Slightly Noisier: These devices use fans to blanket your room with moisture so that they can be noisier than other humidifier types. However, ultrasonic humidifiers are virtually always silent.
- Adds Cooler Air: The cool mist can cause the air to feel slightly chillier than usual.
Warm Mist Humidifiers
Warm mist humidifiers use an internal heating element that boils water before releasing it into your environment as a soothing invisible mist.
Benefits of Warm Mist Humidifier
- Healthy Air: It is possibly more beneficial than other options because boiling kills waterborne bacteria and mold, preventing them from entering the air you breathe.
- Quiet Operation: The absence of an internal fan makes warm mist humidifiers exceptionally quiet to operate.
Considerations for Warm Mist Humidifier
- Small Areas: Warm mist humidifiers are less suited than cool mist models for large areas since they do not have a fan. Instead, these humidifiers work best in smaller spaces like bedrooms and offices.
- Cost: Warm Mist humidifiers cost slightly more due to the higher energy consumption to heat the water.
Warm and Cool Mist Humidifiers
Some humidifiers feature warm and cool mist capabilities, allowing you to choose your preferred humidification method. These units are also known as Dual Mist Humidifiers. During winter, you may run your humidifier on its warm mist setting and then change to the cool mist setting during the warmer summer months.
You may also want to consider an Ultrasonic Humidifier, which vibrates a small metal or ceramic disk to create a fine mist. Ultrasonic humidifiers can be either warm or cool mist and are generally quiet, efficient, and safe.
Best Warm Mist Humidifier
Steamfast SF-920 Warm Mist Aromatherapy Humidifier
Type: Warm Mist | Room Size: 250 sq. ft. | Tank Size: 1 Gallon | Max Runtime: 24 Hours | Controls: Manual
The Steamfast SF-920 combines a large reservoir capacity and extensive runtime with multiple user-friendly features that make using it easy. Users will especially enjoy the top-fill water tank that is fully removable and the essential oil ring, which allows them to enhance their space with aromatherapy scents.
Best Cool Mist Humidifier
Vornado Evap40 Vortex Whole Room 4-Gallon Evaporative Humidifier
Type: Cool Mist | Room Size: 1,000 sq. ft. | Tank Size: 4 Gallons | Max Runtime: 24 Hours | Controls: Manual
The Vornado Evap40 is an excellent way to quickly and efficiently humidify medium to large spaces and avoid the adverse effects of dry air. This model has a substantial 4-gallon water reservoir and uses a high-power Vornado fan to vortex humid air throughout a space. Customers will appreciate the 5-year warranty and energy-efficient operation, which only costs pennies daily.
Best Humidifier for Large Rooms
AIRCARE Evaporative Whole-House Console Cool Mist Humidifier For Up To 3,600 Sq. Ft.
Type: Cool Mist | Room Size: 3,600 sq. ft. | Tank Size: 3.6 Gallons | Max Runtime: 36 Hours| Controls: Electronic
Use the AIRCARE Evaporative Whole-House Humidifier to add soothing moisture to even the largest indoor spaces. This model can release nearly 12 gallons of water into the air daily and regulate humidity levels between 25 and 65 percent relative humidity using the onboard humidistat. Owners will love this model's simple operation and maintenance and the “Dry Out Mode” that prevents mold and mildew growth when the unit isn't being used.
Best Humidifier for Small Rooms
Honeywell Reflection Cool Mist Humidifier
Type: Ultrasonic Cool Mist | Room Size: 250 sq. ft. | Tank Size: 1.4 Gallons | Max Runtime: 24 Hours | Controls: Electronic
The compact and practical Honeywell Reflection provides excellent humidification for small and medium-sized spaces using ultrasonic nebulizer technology. This model features a stainless steel reservoir tank and a 180-degree directional mist outlet. Users will appreciate Honeywell Reflection's antimicrobial cleaning cartridge, which continuously hinders bacteria and mold growth.
Best Warm/Cool Mist Humidifier
Honeywell Dual Comfort Cool + Warm Mist Humidifier
Type: Warm and Cool Mist | Room Size: 600 sq. ft. | Tank Size: 1.5 Gallons | Max Runtime: 36 Hours | Controls: Electronic
Packed with great features and flexible settings, the Honeywell Dual Comfort Cool + Warm Mist Humidifier is one of Sylvane's top warm and cool mist humidifiers. No matter what climate you're in or the conditions you're trying to alleviate, this model's warm and cool mist capabilities will have you covered. Customers will love this model's lightweight and compact design, the 90-degree mist direction outlet, and easy-to-clean parts.
Humidifier Recommendations Based on Your Needs
For most people, choosing between a warm and cool mist humidifier is essentially a matter of preference. However, if you're looking for help with a specific need or condition, consider these recommendations:
- Allergy Relief: Folks suffering from allergies may find some much-needed relief from using a cool mist humidifier, as they add moisture to the air without the risk of irritation from heated air
- Warm and Dry Climates: When the air in your home is warm and dry, a cool mist humidifier should have a soothing effect on the skin and respiratory system.
- Cold Regions: Warm mist humidifiers typically add a small amount of heat to the spaces where they are used, making them an excellent choice for cold regions.
- Energy-Efficient Homes: If energy efficiency is a priority for your home, consider an evaporative humidifier. These humidifiers use water-absorbing pads and fans to spread moisture throughout a space, making them one of the most efficient humidifier methods.
- Bedroom Humidifiers: Warm mist humidifiers are typically better for bedrooms as they are slightly quieter.
- Homes with Children or Pets: Cool mist humidifiers are typically safer for homes with pets or children because they do not heat the water they use, so there is no risk of being scalded or burned.
Is A Warm or Cool Mist Humidifier Better?
Whether you choose a warm or cool mist humidifier depends entirely on your home environment and your family's needs. Some might choose a cool mist humidifier for the larger effective range and safety or a warm mist humidifier for added comfort and health benefits. There are pros and cons for each choice, but no matter what you choose, adding humidity to your space is sure to improve your home's comfort.
Still Have Questions?
Ready to shop? Browse our humidifiers and find the right model for you. You can also learn more about these must-have wintertime solutions in our Humidifier Knowledge Center. Look at our best tabletop and top HVAC/Ducted humidifiers.
Not sure what's best for you? We can take the guesswork out of decision-making. Contact our air treatment experts toll-free at 1-800-934-9194 for a free consultation and product recommendation. We want to help make your indoor environment a healthy one.
