Humidifiers: The Benefits of Going Big

Choosing a humidifier for a single room is pretty easy since any type of humidifier will work in a smaller space. But smaller humidifiers require almost daily refills, especially during the winter, which can be a hassle if you’re running smaller units in every room of your house. You can simplify your life by going BIG, and getting one whole house humidifier that covers your entire home.

Before we jump in to the best humidifiers for large spaces and whole houses, it’s helpful to understand the different types of humidifiers:

• Evaporative humidifiers: use a wicking filter to absorb water. As the water evaporates, the humidifier's fan blows the evaporated moisture into the air. These humidifiers are the best option for whole-house humidification.

• Ultrasonic humidifiers: instead of a wicking filter, these models use a nebulizer, vibrating at an ultrasonic speed that breaks water particles into an ultrafine mist. The humidifier then, silently, propels this mist into the air.

• Steam humidifiers: these models are also wickless and include a heating element that boils the water in the humidifier. This mist is then released into the air. These models are a great choice for bedrooms, and the best choice for treating respiratory illnesses.

Ultrasonic and steam units are typically smaller and, therefore, don’t have the output needed to humidify a whole house. For whole house humidification – or for any area 1,000 square feet or larger – an evaporative humidifier is best. Our evaporative models can humidify up to 4,000 square feet because they hold more water, have bigger motors, and have more powerful fans.

Now that you know you’ll need an evaporative humidifier for your home, you’ll want to make sure you get a correctly-sized model. Humidifiers are rated by coverage area, so check the packaging to see how many square feet the humidifier covers. Keep in mind that homes in regions that are extremely dry or extremely cold – or both – are the hardest to humidify, so size up if you live in these areas.

PRO TIP: If you’re unsure about the humidifier size you need, choose one that’s rated for more space than you have, and has a humidistat. A humidistat tracks the humidity level in your home and signals the unit’s fan to stop when the desired humidity level (that you set) is reached. So even if your humidifier is rated for more space than you have, the humidistat will keep your house from becoming too moist.

Evaporative humidifiers are our bread and butter here at AIRCARE HQ, so we’d be happy to help you pick the perfect model for your house (but with each unit looking chic and being easy to use, you can't go wrong with any humidifier you choose). If you need help or have any questions, please give us a call at 1-800-547-3888, Monday through Friday, from 8am to 5pm CST.