A lot goes into choosing the best evaporative humidifier. You have to consider the noise, tank capacity, and coverage. Humidifiers are must-have home appliances, whether you live in cold or hot regions. This is because they alleviate damages caused by dry air. These may include respiratory complications and damage to furniture.
The evaporative humidifier is one of the two main types. The other common one is the ultrasonic humidifier. Evaporative models work by blowing air through a wick and disperse mist into your room. They differ in operation and noise levels, but we will discuss this in the evaporative vs. ultrasonic humidifiers section. This post is meant to help you choose the best evaporative humidifier, as well as understand the differences between evaporative and ultrasonic humidifiers.
Before you dive into our detailed review, find our 3 best picks out of the list:
- Best Overall – Vornado EVDC300
This model tops our list thanks to the 5-years warranty, 745 square feet coverage, and smart DC motor that enhances effectiveness and energy efficiency. It also has several fan speeds and an LCD for easier control.
- Best Whole House Evaporative Humidifier – AIRCARE EP9 800
We believe that this model kills two birds with one stone. First, it covers 2400 square, making it ideal for large homes. Secondly, it’s an excellent evaporative humidifier thanks to the auto-shutoff feature, digital display, and several other advanced features.
- Best Value for the Money – AIRCARE MA1201
This is the best value you will ever get in an evaporative humidifier. It is designed for rooms as large as 3600 square feet. It also has a large tank capacity, extended run-time and it’s portable thanks to the four caster wheels. The filters also last long, minimizing the number of times you may have to replace them.
Contents
- Best Evaporative Humidifiers Review
- Best Overall – Vornado EVDC300
- Best Value for the Money – AIRCARE MA1201
- Best Whole House Evaporative Humidifier – AIRCARE EP9 800
- Honeywell Cool Moisture Console Humidifier
- Vicks Starry Night Cool Moisture Humidifier
- Venta LW25 Airwasher 2-in-1 Humidifier and Air Purifier
- Honeywell Top Fill Tower Humidifier
- OPOLAR EV01
- VORNADO EV100 EVAPORATIVE WHOLE ROOM HUMIDIFIER
- TaoTronics Evaporative Humidifier
- Evaporative vs. Ultrasonic Humidifiers
- Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Evaporative Humidifier
- Benefits and Drawbacks of Humidifiers
- Drawbacks of a Humidifier
Best Evaporative Humidifiers Review
Best Overall – Vornado EVDC300
To assure you of its durability, the Vornado EVDC300 has a warranty of 5 years and ten years guarantee on the motor. It is energy-efficient and highly effective thanks to the smart DC motor. It can also humidify a space as large as 745sqf. The tank is easily cleaned and removable for a refill, and it outputs 3ltrs of water every day.
It comprises an automatic-shut feature that switches off the device when the tank is empty, and the light signal alerts you when it’s time for a refill. It has multiple fan settings that allow you to adjust the noise level and moisture output. The touch screen and LCD also makes it easier to control the humidifier.
Dimensions: 7.8” x 13.2” x 12.2”
User Critic
Judging from the reviews of customers, the Vornado EVDC300 humidifier offers absolute value thanks to the 5 years warranty, efficient motor, and large coverage. However, some users noted some leaks after using it for some time.
Pros
- The water tank cleans easily.
- Automatic shut off.
- Fill light-indicator.
- Adjustable fan speeds.
Cons
- Starts leaking over time.
Final Verdict
This is the best evaporative humidifier because it delivers great quality for the price. The warranty is very impressive for any repair or replacement needed. It also comes in a compact size that can easily fit in most parts of your home.
Best Value for the Money – AIRCARE MA1201
If you’re considering buying an evaporative humidifier to humidify your whole house, then this Aircare evaporative humidifier is a favorite pick. It covers up to 3600sqf. The inbuilt digital humidistat adjusts the humidity based on the room’s conditions. Once the scheduled level is reached, the device shuts itself down hence saves water and electricity.
We love the caster wheels that make it portable, and it’s easy to clean. This humidifier serves a longer time and requires fewer refills per day. The 3.6-liters water capacity allows it to run for more than 24 hours.
Dimensions: 14.5” x 21.5” x 20.5”
User Critic
Most customers’ reviews stated that this humidifier gets the work done. They also noted that the reservoir tank should not be allowed to run dry.
Pros
- The filter lasts long.
- Wide coverage
- Wheels for easy moving
- Digital humidistat
Cons
- The reservoir is opaque, making it impossible to see the water level.
Final Verdict
The night-time setting enables less noise while you are asleep even though some users may find the fan too loud. Overall, it offers the best value for money.
Best Whole House Evaporative Humidifier – AIRCARE EP9 800
This is another excellent Aircare evaporative humidifier. It is a Tower styled humidifier that’s ideal for larger spaces, up to 2400sq feet. The humidistat accurately regulates the humidity level of your room.
The digital display ensures you monitor the fan speed and humidity level. The nine-speed level allows you the flexibility to choose your desired humidity and noise level. The auto-shutoff activates once the humidifier reaches the scheduled level.
Dimensions: 18” x 18” x 27.25”
User critic
Judging from customers’ feedback, they showed their satisfaction on the AIRCARE EP9 800 because it performed excellently in their large spaces. They also loved the espresso color and towering design.
Pros
- Digital display
- Auto-shut feature
- Nine speed level for flexible adjustments
- Contains humidistat for humidity regulation
Cons
- Loud on higher fan speeds
Final Verdict
Since it covers a large area, you don’t need to move it around from one room to another. It has a beautiful design and enhances the look in your space. The humidistat also functions as expected.
Honeywell Cool Moisture Console Humidifier
This type of humidifier is for large or multiple rooms. It has two tanks with a capacity of more than 3 gallons of water. On the low setting, it can go up to 24hrs, which is a great feature for busy people who constantly forget to refill it. The humidistat is adjustable, which mechanically turns on and off according to your preferred humidity level.
The three-speed levels enable you to adjust the sound and humidity emissions. The water tanks are not only large but also easy to fill and clean. The indicator lights alert the user of the humidifier condition. Due to its color option, you can easily match the décor of your home.
Dimensions: 23.15” x 14.96” x 17.48”
User Critic
Referring to the customers’ feedback, the Honeywell Cool Moisture Console Humidifier is perfect for the winter season. They claimed that it kept the humidity levels comfortable during the cold season.
Pros
- Ideal for large spaces or many rooms
- Flexible humidistat
- Easy-to-read indicator lights
- Puts out a lot of moisture
- Can run on a one tank
Cons
- Awkward tank design
- Delicate plastic tank
Final Verdict
Grabbing the handle of the tanks and turning them upside down can be daunting for most users. The warranty is limited hence unable to cover fragile plastic tanks that are vulnerable to breakage. However, if you promise not to handle it with care, it will serve you for a very long time.
Vicks Starry Night Cool Moisture Humidifier
The Vicks Starry evaporative humidifier contains a filter design that kills microbes. It is ideal for kids’ rooms since it fills the ceiling with moving stars and a moon. It also emits clean mist for better night sleep.
The wick filter in it sucks out water from the tank and emits the moisture into the room. There’s no need to worry about excess humidity since the air only takes in the humidity it can hold. In case you are using hard water, this humidifier purifies it and prevents the white dust.
Dimensions: 13.19” x 11.34” x 11.38”
User Critic
The stars and antimicrobial filters seem to work great according to most customer reviews. But a lot of them complained about a design flaw that caused leaks.
Pros
- Stars and the moon helps kids fall asleep.
- The filter inhibits the thrive of mold and bacteria
- Simple to clean due to the large easy-fill lead-ins
Cons
- Complains of leaks from some parts
Final Verdict
This is an affordable device with unique features like the star projection. Watch out for the design flaw since several users complained about it.
Venta LW25 Airwasher 2-in-1 Humidifier and Air Purifier
This device, both humidifiers and purifies. It’s an excellent choice if you want humidity and pure air at the same time. The Venta LW25 gets rid of dust allergens and pet dander from the air. It humidifies a space of 400sqf, meaning it’s ideal for an average common room. It doesn’t have filters, so you don’t have to worry about cleaning and replacing.
The ten-year warranty is quite impressive since it gives you a long duration to replace or repair your device. Moreover, rooms with books are perfect for this humidifier because it doesn’t cause excess humidification. The Venta LW25 works on Disc Stacks and Cold Evaporation automation to capture airborne pollutants inside the tank.
Dimensions: 11.8” x 13” x 11.8”
User Critic
Judging from the users’ feedback, most customers expressed their satisfaction with the Venta LW25 on the fact that it’s easy to clean and use. However, some users complained that it’s too expensive.
Pros
- No filters
- Lengthy warranty
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Requires specific cleaning agents
- It’s quite expensive.
Final Verdict
This device is light-weight, making it easily portable from one space to the other. Even though the Venta LW25 is among the top choice for humidifiers, the high setting emits loud noise that can be a nuisance when you are sleeping.
Honeywell Top Fill Tower Humidifier
If you need to cover a big space, go for this Honeywell Top Fill Tower Humidifier. It doesn’t take up much space. The in-built digital humidistat enables monitoring of the amount of humidity in your house. The tank design allows easy refills even from a sink. It has 24 hours running time, auto shut-off feature, and a 12-hour timer. The large opening is easy to clean with an adjustable vapor direction.
Dimensions: 9.84” x 8.66” x 24.72”
User Critic
Some users agreed that this humidifier does a great job of maintaining humidity. But most users complained of the cost of replacing the filters and maintaining the humidifier.
Pros
- occupies less space
- scheduled timers
- Auto-shutoff when empty
- Adjustable rotation speed
Cons
- Expensive filters
Final Verdict
It emits warm mist and is ideal for larger rooms. The maintenance costs may be a turn-off, but most evaporative humidifiers require you to replace the filters so it’s manageable.
OPOLAR EV01
The OPOLAR EV01 is a small device ideal for smaller spaces. It works well for a baby nursery and an average room size. It has a lasting and tough filter that works well if you don’t mind cleaning rather than buying a new one. No special cleaning agents required to clean the filters, instead, just use vinegar and hot water. The top-fill design is less daunting when refilling.
The OPOLAR EV01 has a touch-sensitive LED display that enables you to use your preferred settings. The silent/ quiet mode allows you to sleep soundly without any noise. Fill it beforehand when you go to bed; otherwise, you will wake up to refill it in the middle of the night because of the short run-time. Lastly, the blue LED light cannot be turned off; hence can pose a hindrance when sleeping if you are the type that requires total darkness when sleeping.
Dimensions: 14.9” x 13.6” x 7.8”
User Critic
The “no-mist” operation was the most attractive feature for most users. They claimed that it was more effective and easier to clean. They also loved its quiet operation, which made it ideal for baby’s rooms.
Pros
- Lasting filter
- The filter can be cleaned with common, household remedies
- Easy to refill
- Quiet operation
Cons
- Somewhat short runtime
- LED light stays on
Final Verdict
This OPOLAR EV01 runs on the silent feature that promotes baby sleep patterns because it can go for up to 20 hours. However, the normal mode doesn’t create much noise either, so it’s safe on both modes. Also, it provides sufficient humidity to any room it’s placed. Even though you will have to unplug the whole device when refilling, it’s not heavy.
VORNADO EV100 EVAPORATIVE WHOLE ROOM HUMIDIFIER
This evaporative humidifier is strong enough to humidify a space of 299sq. The tank is transparent, so you can see the level of water remaining to refill even though it can go for up to 24hours on one fill.
With modern technology, this device has adjustable settings, a broad opening cap that enables easy refilling and cleaning. The wick and fan prevent excess humidity into your space.
Dimensions: 13” x 8” x 12.3”
User Critic
This humidifier seems to work great for those with smaller rooms. However, it still took a long time to humidify their rooms. There were also complaints about some being shipped with defective parts.
Pros
- Warranty of five years
- The design takes up less space.
- Several speed settings.
- It has a nice look.
Cons
- It has very small coverage,
Final Verdict
The simplicity, efficiency, and great looks of this little machine seem to outdo most of the negative reviews. We still recommend it for those with small rooms. The warranty is also the best offer you can get for such an appliance.
TaoTronics Evaporative Humidifier
This TaoTronics Evaporative Humidifier has an attractive design that enhances the décor of your room. It runs smoothly and is ideal for small spaces. The top-fill design makes refilling and cleaning easy with knobs that are easy to control.
It leaves no white dust residue and evenly moisturizes the room. Before it starts to operate, the wick filter kills almost all the germs in the air. The digital humidistat regulates the level of humidity in your space appropriately regardless of the seasons.
Dimensions: 12.6” x 7.09” x 13.5”
User Critic
The customers were pleased with this device because of its noiseless operation and filterability, even on hard water.
Pros
- Ideal for small spaces
- Easy to refill and clean
- Digital humidistat to easily regulate the degree of humidity
Cons
- No auto-shutoff
Final Verdict
TaoTronic cool mist humidifier is among the best options for small space humidifiers. This device is user-friendly and easy to maintain. The humidistat monitors to give you the best experience. It has an attractive build to incorporate with your décor.
Evaporative vs. Ultrasonic Humidifiers
As mentioned earlier, there are two main types of humidifiers, evaporative and ultrasonic. They differ in their operation, noise level, and costs.
Evaporative Humidifiers
These are the most common models you’ll find. They heat water, and when it turns into vapor, they use a fan to disperse it into your room. The fan draws in the air, passes it through the moist wick filter, and disperses it back to your room.
Ultrasonic Humidifiers
Unlike the evaporative humidifiers, this model doesn’t heat water. Instead, it uses a high-frequency sound to break water particles and disperse the mist into the room. As a result, most people find them safer than evaporative models. They are also often quieter and they don’t use filters, minimizing the maintenance costs. However, they may be more expensive.
Key differences
- Size – Evaporative humidifiers are often bulkier because of the tanks, filters, and fans. Ultrasonic models are smaller and more portable. However, you can always find compact evaporative humidifiers with lower room coverage.
- Maintenance – The evaporative models’ filters need to be cleaned and replaced regularly. There are also a few filterless models. Ultrasonic humidifiers also accumulate a lot of white dust, especially if they have no filters. This dust is hard to clean and can get worse if you’re using hard water.
- Noise – Ultrasonic humidifiers are famous for their portability and quiet operation, making them ideal for bedrooms and kids’ rooms. Evaporative models may be noisier because of the fan.
- Cost – Both of these models have expensive and cheaper options. Even though you’re not replacing the filters in ultrasonic models, you will more likely purchase it at a higher price.
Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Evaporative Humidifier
Below are some of the factors you need to consider before making the purchase.
Check the Level of Humidity
Buy a hygrometer before purchasing a humidifier. This will help you assess your humidity levels and adjust the humidifier. But, some humidifiers come with an inbuilt hygrometer that allows them to adjust their emissions based on their surroundings.
Decide On the Type of Humidifier
There are various types of portable humidifiers: cool-mist humidifiers (ultrasonic, impeller, and evaporators) and hot-water humidifiers (steam vaporizers). Opt for the cool mist models in case there are children around to avoid burns from the steam vaporizers if accidentally spilled.
Consider Added Features
Some humidifiers come with a built-in hygrometer that automatically shut down once the humidity in the space gets to a defined level. Others will mechanically shut down when the reservoir is empty. Several have timers, which you can schedule the humidifier to set on every day before you sleep and set off when you wake up. Go for the noiseless ultrasonic humidifiers for peaceful nights. Give thought to any extra features that will be great for you and worth the investment.
Consider The Size Of The Room
Humidifiers are available in diverse sizes. Choose the ones with specifications that match your room size. The compact-sized ones are cost-effective with lightweight tanks, and they are portable. But they are required to be frequently refilled. Install a central humidifier in case many rooms need a humidifier. Central humidifiers are costly than portable humidifiers but the best in regulating the humidity of the whole house.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Humidifiers
There’s no debate about humidifiers being beneficial to your home and health in particular; however, they bear flaws of their own and without paying keen attention to them, they can cause severe problems to you. Advantages are:
Helps You Avoid Cold and Flu
Cold and flu is an airborne virus that can make you feel awful to the point of affecting your beauty sleep. This virus is common during winter. However, with the use of a humidifier, the air is moisturized hence lowering the infection rate of the virus. In higher humidity levels, the virus falls out of the air and reduces the risks of chances to us directly.
On the other hand, dry air causes dry cough, which is mostly unproductive. With the moisture from the humidifier, it gets into the airways and weakens the sticky mucus and releases it making the cough more productive.
Prevents Dry Skin
Many people tend to have dry skin due to cold and dry air. Dry skin causes wrinkles and cracks easily. Use of lotion to moisturize your skin may not be enough, hence the need for a humidifier. The humidifier will alleviate moisture levels in your home, making your skin absorb it and feel relaxed. Eczema can cause disturbed sleep, and dry air may accelerate it by making it itch. Always use a humidifier alongside the lotions and creams to maintain the moisture in your skin, which will result in minimizing scratching and non-stop sleep.
Healthy Scalp and Hair
Lack of moisture makes your scalp feel dry and irritated. This causes itchiness and dandruff hence affecting your hair and causing breakage. Hair is made of collagen, so it needs moisture to maintain it healthy to avoid being brittle and dry. A humidifier emits moisture that helps with this condition.
Reduces Snoring
Dry and restrained airways cause snoring. Snoring, therefore, results in a dry mouth and throat. This dryness affects the breathing airways to overreact by generating more phlegm and then more contraction and the possibility of emitting a loud pulsation like snoring. Dry air inadequately lubricates the airways hence worsening the snoring. Those with a snoring condition are likely to benefit from the use of a humidifier, which increases the level of moisture in the air.
Drawbacks of a Humidifier
Too Much Humidity
Extreme humidity levels can cause difficulty in breathing and worsen some underlying respiratory conditions or allergies. Allergens like mold and mildew thrive in damp areas, and too much humidity will cause dampness. Buy a humidifier with a humidity meter inbuilt or get one separately to regulate humidity levels in the room easily. Statistics show that the ideal humidity level is about 40%-50% and lower than 40% during winter, but generally, it should not exceed 60%.
Unclean Humidifiers
While humidifiers are very easy to clean, they can get dirty very quickly. The unclean water in the humidifiers can heighten bacterial growth that stimulates coughs and colds. Change the water between uses and rinse it properly before putting clean water. Frequently wash the humidifier following the manufacturer’s guidelines.
White Dust
When the water evaporates, it drops as white dust in your space. Even though there are no known effects of this type of dust, it is thought to be as harmful as normal dust in general. To avoid any health hazards from this white dust, use purified water in your humidifier that is known to contain minimal content, unlike normal tap or hard water.
