Warm vs Cool Mist Humidifiers

Many physicians recommend you get a good humidifier for your own personal use at home. Many people however don’t have all the information and knowledge on humidifiers let alone know the difference between them. The differences between warm and cool mist humidifiers are worth investigating and we’ll take a closer look at them below.

Warm Mist Humidifiers

Warm mist humidifiers actually boil water causing soft distilled steam to be dispersed in a warm gentle spray all across the room. This warm mist is much easier to breath in a cool room and is many times used in facials, steaming medications and other vapor therapies. Warm mist humidifiers work best for small to medium spaces as well.

Warm mist humidifiers are slightly quieter than their cool mist counterparts and are also sold in small units. One downside of warm mist humidifiers is that regular cleaning is essential. Warm water coupled with a moist and dark environment inside the humidifiers is the perfect area for bacterial growth. Warm mist humidifiers are perfect for areas where there is less traffic such as the bedroom this is because of its heating element. The risk of injury is evident due to the humidifier’s hot water hence, making it a least favorable option for a child’s room.

Cool Mist Humidifiers

Though slightly noisier, cool mist humidifiers have become a preferred choice among parents. There are generally two types of cool mist humidifiers- the evaporative type and the ultrasonic type. These two types uses two different methods of turning water into mist, quickly cooling down room temperature and making it easier to breath. Newer models of cool mist humidifiers have a silent feature making it usable in children’s room or even your own bedroom. Cool mist humidifiers can be found in varying sizes and you can even find units that can be installed and connected to a home’s heating duct or ventilation system so that the cool mist can be dispersed and circulated throughout the whole home.

So which type is better?

Generally, there aren’t too many pros and cons between warm and cool mist humidifiers. But, there is one huge deciding factor between these particular two and it has to do with the safety of them comparatively. Warm mist humidifiers can be thought of as a hot kettle- since there is hot water present in the tank and there is also the presence of a hot heating element, thus making it not a common preferred choice among parents with toddlers. For peace of mind, most people actually consider cool mist humidifiers for their home.

A lot of people purchase humidifiers after a doctor of physician’s recommendation to aid in better breathing, lessen conditions such as chapped lips, asthma and other ailments. If your doctor recommends the warm humidifier over the cool mist one and you are worried about its safety, then you can discuss these options with your doctor as well as the sales person of the humidifier.