Humidifiers are appliances that heat water into steam, raising the humidity of indoor spaces. They can help to increase the moisture level of skin, alleviate conditions like dry eyes, eczema, and clogged sinuses, and reduce the level of pathogens like viruses in the home. Unlike portable devices for small spaces, whole-house models can humidify your entire dwelling .
Whole-house humidifier reviews provide specifications and other useful information, like how long you can expect the appliance to last. You’ll need to consider features like these:
Evaporative or steam:
An evaporative humidifier uses a wick to draw water from its reservoir to moisten the air and can only be used when your furnace is running. A steam humidifier, also called a vaporizer, works alone, boiling water and releasing steam.
Square footage:
Whole-house
models come in sizes to humidify small dwellings with less than 1,500
square feet up to large ones with more than 4,000 square feet.
Type
of water: Some models need distilled water to work properly, while
others can use water straight from the tap.
Reading
whole-house humidifier reviews can guide you to choose the appliance
that offers you the performance, value, and ease of maintenance you
want. Here are tips for using a whole-house humidifier:
Only
Run It at Times of Year When You Need It
There’s no reason to run your humidifier all year along. Turn it
off during warmer times of year. Leaving humidifiers on when it’s hot
outside simply makes people hotter and more likely to become ill, and
can shorten the life of the appliance.
Clean
With Chlorine or White Vinegar
Before
you clean your humidifier, make sure to unplug it. Mix a teaspoon of
chlorine bleach with a gallon of water, then fill the reservoir at
least halfway with this liquid. Or use a half-and-half solution of
white vinegar and water in the reservoir. Let the cleaning liquid sit
for five to 10 minutes. After you pour it out and dry the appliance,
it will be ready for use or long-term storage.
If you’re
shopping for a whole-house humidifier, visit Humidifier Mentor at
for reviews and comparisons to help you make the best choice.