The Benefits of a Cool Mist Humidifier
A cool mist humidifier quietly disperses room-temperature water into the air. Its large tank opening allows it to be easily refilled, and it shuts off when the water runs out.
Its easy-to-use control panel includes intuitive buttons, an humidity readout and a remote that can be used up to 16 feet away. It also works with your smart home devices for hands-free and app-based control.
Cool Mist Humidifiers
Cool mist humidifiers expel a fine, invisible mist that adds moisture to the air. Humidifiers help combat dryness and its associated skin issues, such as cracked lips and irritated nose. They can also ease breathing and reduce static electricity that can cause annoying shocks when you touch certain objects in your home.
Unlike steam vaporizers, which heat the water before dispersing it into the air, cool mist models are safe for families with children and pets. Since they don’t require boiling water, cool mist units use less energy over time, especially when you leave them running at night while you sleep.
Some cool mist models have a built-in night light that lets you change the color or set a timer. This large three-in-one model from Pure Guardian, for example, can run for up to 18 hours and has a water tank opening that’s easy to refill.
Like warm mist humidifiers, cool mist models can be an effective way to soothe coughing and sneezing caused by allergies. Adding humidity can decrease indoor allergens, such as pet dander and mold spores, that can mist humidifier trigger these symptoms in sensitive people. And a humidifier can help save house plants, which typically need moisture to survive.
Warm Mist Humidifiers
A warm mist humidifier produces steam from heated water. It’s an easy-to-clean and affordable option for people who want a humidifier with fewer health concerns. It is also less prone to spreading mold and bacteria, as long as you use distilled or filtered water and follow the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions.
These humidifiers can also help lubricate your throat, making it easier to cough up any mucus that accumulates in the airways. They can be a lifesaver for people suffering from dry cough and other symptoms of the flu or cold.
Humidifiers with a warm mist are also better for moisturizing skin. This helps keep the skin from becoming dry and flaky, which can make you look older than you are. In addition, these humidifiers can help with the itchy skin that is often associated with eczema.
The one drawback of a warm mist humidifier is that the steam or hot water from it can pose a burn risk if you’re unable to keep it away from children. This can be especially dangerous if they accidentally knock it over or touch it.
Some warm mist humidifiers can also produce odors from the minerals or other materials found in the water you use. Some manufacturers recommend vinegar for disinfecting your unit. This will help eliminate odors and keep your lungs healthy.
White Dust
When you use a humidifier, it helps to relieve dry air symptoms. However, you need to be careful about the type of water you use. White dust is produced by minerals in your home’s water that are aerosolized into the air along with the vapor from your humidifier. This dust can collect on Misting humidifier manufacturer surfaces in your home and can also irritate your skin. The particles can even make their way into your lungs and cause respiratory irritation.
This problem is most prevalent in impeller and ultrasonic cool mist humidifiers that use unfiltered water directly from their water reservoirs. These types of humidifiers have been shown to produce a lot of white dust, especially if your home has hard water. This is because the high mineral content in tap water shows up as a chalky white dust when it evaporates and settles on surfaces.
If you want to keep your humidifier clean and free of white dust, it’s important to use only distilled water in it. Using distilled water helps to minimize this issue because it has much less mineral content than tap or bottled water. It also helps to limit the growth of bacteria and mold in the humidifier, which can lead to a build-up of white dust. You should also use a demineralization cartridge or filter in your humidifier, if the manufacturer recommends it.
Maintenance
Humidifiers need regular maintenance, especially cool mist models. If left unattended, standing water can disperse mold spores and bacteria into the air. This can exacerbate allergy and sinus problems, and potentially lead to respiratory infections like pneumonia.
Cool mist humidifiers require regular emptying and wiping down of the tank, water tray, and filter basket to prevent this from occurring. To make cleaning your humidifier a more hassle-free task, choose a model with a removable water tank for easy access. This way, you can simply pull out the water tank and wipe down all surfaces before returning it to the base and refilling.
Warm mist humidifiers also need a bit more regular cleaning than cool mist models. They work by boiling water in a heating element, creating a steam that is then released into the air. This helps to warm the air in colder weather and our experts suggest using one of these units during a cold or the flu, as they can help to break up congestion.
However, these humidifiers should be placed in a safe location as they can get very hot and present a risk of burns. They are also more likely to produce scalding hot water which may pose a threat to young children. They should be placed in a safe area away from reach of any children and regularly checked for the presence of scalding hot water.
