A Whole-House Humidifier Buying Guide

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There may be no “ideal” climate in North America where you can fling the doors and windows open at any time for fresh air. So, most U.S. homeowners need air conditioning. But without a whole-house humidifier, A/C can zap much-needed moisture from each room.

Without a humidifier, the air inside your home may feel very dry, which could irritate your skin, nose, mouth, and eyes. Plus, sometimes, it can aggravate respiratory illness and lead to increased nighttime snoring and interrupted sleep.

Additionally, you may even find that dry air affects the home’s furnishings and fittings, especially those made from wood. This is because these products may begin to shrink, warp or crack over time.

So, if it’s time to moisten the air in your property, what type of whole-house humidifier should you look for? Here are some options to get you started.

Choose a Smart Hybrid Whole-House Humidifier for Smaller Properties

If you’re looking for a humidifier for your small space, you may want to look at the LV600S from Levoit. This machine is a smart hybrid ultrasonic humidifier, which means its hybrid design allows you to choose either warm or cool mist.

This whole house humidifier is:

  • Good for small homes with a coverage of up to 753 sq ft.
  • Equipped with dual 360-degree nozzles for two different mist directions
  • Paired with a VeSync smart control up so that you can manage your humidifier from your phone
  • Compatible with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant for hands-free operation
  • Fitted with an aroma box, where you can add some drops of essential oils
  • Simple to operate with an easy touch display

Also, if you choose this humidifier, you’ll also get two water filter sponges, three absorption pads, and a cleaning brush.

Pick a Vortex Design for Open Plan Apartments

Once you start shopping for a humidifier, you may be surprised to find just how many kinds of machines are available. For example, one option is a vortex design. These humidifiers have deep-pitch blades so that large volumes of dry air go through its twin humidifier filters. This makes them ideal for open-plan apartments or small homes.

If this sounds like the kind of whole-house humidifier you need, consider the Evap40 Evaporative Humidifier from Vornado. This humidifier can transform a space of up to 1,000 sq. ft. and has three fan speeds for flexibility.

This whole house humidifier also has:

  • An extra-large 4-gal. capacity
  • A simple design for easy cleaning
  • 2 evaporative filters
  • An automatic humidity control
  • A 5-year limited warranty

Go for Portability With a Compact but Powerful Humidifier

If you’re looking for value for money or if you don’t have a lot of free space, the Space Saver whole house humidifier from AirCare could be perfect for your needs. While it may have compact dimensions so you can place it anywhere, it can still provide humidity for homes of up to 2,700 sq. ft. It’s also easy to move from place to place with casters on the bottom.

This evaporative whole-house humidifier features:

  • A 6-gal. water capacity
  • Digital controls and displays
  • A 3-speed motor
  • An adjustable humidistat and automatic shut-off for extra control
  • Up to 70 hours of continuous operation
  • Automatic low-water-level and filter-changing alerts
  • A 2-year warranty

Consider an Evaporative Humidifier for Medium-Size Properties

For medium-size properties, consider the The Console humidifier from Aircare. Despite its relatively modest size, it can still cover a space of up to 3,600 sq ft. 

Additionally, this humidifier features automatic operation, once you’ve set it up to your requirements, and has a digital humidistat you can control from an easy-to-read front-mounted panel.

This product also features:

  • An easy-to-fill water bottle
  • Water refilling and check filter indicators
  • A 4-speed motor
  • A 3.6-gal. water capacity

This whole-house humidifier has casters and a built-in handle making it one of the most portable humidifiers you can find.

Take Sustainability Into Account With This Whole-House Humidifier for Larger Places

If you’ve got a much larger property, you’ll want a heavy-duty humidifier that you attach to your HVAC ductwork like the HE280 By-Pass Humidifier With Electronic Humidistat from Honeywell Home. Honeywell designed this humidifier with sustainability in mind so that it uses much less water than typical units, saving you water and energy while keeping your house hydrated.

This whole house humidifier is:

  • Ideal for homes of up to 4,000 sq. ft. (for homes less than 20 years old)
  • Fitted with a perfectFLO water distribution tray, which helps save water
  • Equipped with an adjustable thermostat for even more control
  • Shipped with a 1-year warranty

Though this humidifier has fewer duct connections than other similar models, it’s best to get a professional technician to install it for optimal results. However, the company does supply installation instructions.

Make Your Home a Much Nicer Place To Be With a Whole-House Humidifier

There are a lot of options when it comes to humidifiers, from ones compact enough for small apartments to units that fit into HVAC systems for larger open-plan homes.

A whole house humidifier adds moisture to the air in your home, helping to fend off respiratory irritants. And don’t forget that the whole house humidifier can also help to protect your furnishings and fittings. All-in-all, a humidifier is good for the people and things inside your home.