Choosing a Humidifier

Consumer guide to finding the right size for your humidification needs

by Mercia Tapping, President, AllergyBuyersClub.com

There are three major sizes of humidifiers and they each have a different gallon dispersion rating, as well as square footage usually covered. Decide how much square footage you are aiming to cover and how many rooms.

INFO LINKS Humidifiers Overview - view all humidifiers sold by AllergyBuyersClub.com Humidifiers Comparison Chart - a comparison with pluses and minuses of all the best humidifiers Warm mist vs. cool mist humidifiers - Learn the differences between cool mist humidifiers and warm mist types Best Humidifier Articles - Editor's top picks on humidifier info

Portable / Tabletop humidifiers are the least expensive and best for a single room like a bedroom. These tabletop humidifiers require the most frequent refilling and are available in both warm and cool mist humidifier choices. If one had talk in generalities as to the difference between Warm and Cool Mist humidifiers. Cool mist humidifiers are noisier but cheap and easy to run, whereas warm mists are quieter but more trouble to clean.

Air-O-Swiss Models 7135 and Air O Swiss 7133 and Graco (formerly Hamilton Beach) are table top humidifiers.

Console Humidifiers have larger tanks and stand on the floor. Because they are larger they humidify multiple rooms but remember those larger tanks require some muscle to fill. They are all evaporative cool mist and are relatively noisy although do a good job or humidifying larger spaces.

Air-O-Swiss Model 7142 is a console humidifier.

In-Duct Humidifiers can be used if you have forced air heating and duct work. These humidifiers are attached to your heating/ air conditioning system and run themselves silently with no need to refill. The replaceable filter only needs to be cleaned once a season. While the most expensive to buy up front, they are inexpensive and easy to run.

Desert Spring is an in-duct humidifier

First Published: January, 2006
Updated: April 2007

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