So hearing about humidifiers is all very well. Reading lists of the chop choices gives you a good idea of which ones other people love. But how do you know which is the right one for you? There are so many on the market, and they all seem to offer the same thing.

Don’t they?

Well, no.

Humidifiers come in several different options, from how they work to how big they are, to what you intend to do with them. Choosing the right one for you depends on your requirements.

For example, you may not want the hassle of having to buy new replacement filters, so a humidifier with a permanent filter will be your best bet.

Ultrasonic Warm/Cool Mist

These humidifiers use a metal diaphragm that vibrates at ultrasonic speed to break apart water droplets. The result is a super fine mist that evaporates before it hits the ground. The mist can be either cool or warm, depending on your preferences.

An ultrasonic warm/cool mist humidifier is a great option for you if:

• You want a quiet machine that just gets on with the job.
• You are only looking to humidify a small area such as one room.
• You want the option between cool and warm mist.
• You live in the North, and your winters are pretty cold.

Evaporative Cool Mist

This humidifier uses a fan to produce a cool mist. It draws air from a room using a fan and blows it through a damp wick. The wetness of the wick humidifies the air that passes through it, resulting in slightly damper air that is blown out the other side. Because it also makes use of evaporation, the air is cooler than when it went in.

Evaporative cool mist technology will suit your needs if:

• You don’t want a heating option.
• You are only looking to humidify a small area such as one room.
• You don’t mind the noise of a fan.
• You don’t live in a cold climate.

Air Washers

These are the most common little humidifiers that you see sitting in shops. They often have bright lights, and continuously swish water around. There is not a whole lot of science involved here; rotating disks basically “wash” air. They trap pollen particles and large dust particles, returning cleaned humidified air to the room. Surprisingly they can cover quite a big space too.

Air washers are a good option if:

• You want a small, robust, and cheap humidifier option.
• You are not looking for a heat option.
• You aren’t looking to remove sub-micron ling particles.
• You don’t live in a cold climate.

Steam Vaporizer Warm Mist

These are also pretty straightforward. The water in a tank is heated to create steam, which is released into the room. The steam both warms and humidifies a room. It’s kind of like having a kettle on permanently.

Steam vaporizer warm mist may be perfect you if:

• You don’t mind a constant stream of damp steam
• You only want warm mist.
• You aren’t looking to remove sub-micron ling particles.
• You don’t live in a warm climate.
• You have air ducts and want a steam system to heat your entire home.

The size of your space

So the next aspect that you have to take into consideration is the size of the area that you want to humidify. Mostly we only want to do a room, such as a bedroom or living room. In this case, you most likely need a portable or a room humidifier

• A portable humidifier can sit on a table and is easy to carry around

• A room humidifier is a relatively big bulky unit that is a pain to get from one place to another.
• Possibly you have air ducts and are looking for a whole house system that heats your entire home.

So, what’s best for you?

Most likely, you are looking for something small that you can move around. So a portable unit is your best choice. You may love in a cold climate, so a unit that offers warm mist is on the top of your list. And finally, you want an ultrasonic humidifier as it is both more healthy and quieter to run.

Unless you are looking to heat your whole building, then a steam-powered air duct dependent system may be the route for you. Of course, this is all dependent on your budget.