1. Determine your purpose for using a humidifier

One of the first things you need to think about when shopping for a humidifier is what you are going to use it for. It could be to relieve your household members from allergies by purifying your air from dust, pollen, and even smoke. According to Homeclimatecenter.com, the best air purifier for smoke is one that has a HEPA filter, which removes almost 99% of particles in the air. On the other hand, if you are keen on maintaining a fresh-smelling home, you may need a humidifier with an activated carbon filter that is highly efficient in neutralizing odors. Hence, your purpose in using the humidifier will determine which type is perfect for your use.

2. Research on the humidification process

When shopping for a humidifier, you may want to research the humidification process to have a good insight into which humidifiers are typically used to generate steam. The cheapest humidifiers often use an evaporative humidification process while ultrasonic ones produce a finer mist. The latter is considered as the safest option because it doesn’t need hot water to produce mist.

3. Compare a cool mist and a warm mist

Humidifiers can also be classified as cool mist or warm mist humidifiers. The former disperses water at room temperature, while the latter needs boiling water in order to generate steam. Warm mist humidifiers are better at killing bacteria because of the heat, but cool mist humidifiers are generally safer, especially with children around. Nevertheless, there are humidifiers that have a dual-mode, wherein you have the option of using it either as a cool or warm mist.

4. Consider the size and capacity of the humidifier

Humidifiers come in different sizes namely portable, console, or flow-through bypass. A portable humidifier is very compact and efficient only for personal use because of its limited area of coverage. It is mostly used in bedrooms or living room areas. A console is a larger unit that is usually a freestanding unit, with a larger capacity to cater to an entire home. Finally, a flow-through bypass unit needs to be installed in the duct system of a home.

5. Examine the noise level

Humidifiers make some noise when they are in operation, but some are noticeably quieter such as an ultrasonic type of humidifier. The high-frequency sound waves that create a fine soothing mist are higher than what a normal human ear can hear, making the sound unnoticeable. This type of humidifier is best used in a bedroom.

6. Check for safety and other features

Some humidifiers offer more features than others, such as auto shut-off, a humidistat, as well as a water tank and filter indicator. An auto shut-off feature provides convenience because you no longer need to monitor the water level in the reservoir. This will avoid the risk of your humidifier from burning out. On the other hand, a humidistat is crucial in maintaining a healthy moisture level, but not all humidifiers have this functionality.

7. Evaluate the ease of use and maintenance

While it is true that humidifiers are relatively low maintenance devices, it follows that you still need to clean the water tank every so often. Aside from this, there are humidifiers with an internal wick filter that can help create a soothing mist. These wick filters also need to be changed periodically.

8. Realign your budget

The price range of humidifiers varies depending on their size, capacity, and features. You may need to find a balance between your budget and the features that you need if necessary. Rest assured that there are cost-effective humidifiers which provide the functionality that you are after.

To wrap things up, humidifiers have numerous benefits that can be difficult to ignore. This is the reason why more and more people are getting humidifiers for their homes. If you are also in the process of acquiring one for your home, it will help to think about where you will use it and what you will use it for. At the end, when your plan is clear and set in your mind, you will not have a hard time choosing the perfect humidifier for your home.