Best Air Humidifier Reviews: Warm Or Ultrasonic Cool Mist?

Moisture is the most vulnerable element in the atmosphere and is easily influenced by temperature variation. If it’s too hot, the air can lose over 20 percent of its water, creating a very inhospitable environment for you.

This often leads to dry, itchy and irritated skin, chapped lips, inflamed sinuses and even blocked nasal passages. People with various respiratory problems like asthma and allergies suffer most.

Adding a little moisture to your home or workplace can help prevent all these symptoms, and even reduce the amount of dust in the air. It’s time to give your body and lungs a break with today’s catalogue of most popular humidifiers in the market.

Here are our top picks among cool mist air humidifiers on the UK market:

Best Air Humidifier – Our Top Picks

Let’s take a closer look at each of the air humidifiers now.

Air Humidifier Reviews

1. Ogima 2.8L Cool Mist Humidifier And Aroma Diffuser With LED

Like most people, you probably use house heaters during the winter. This really devastates the moisture in your air, and only a monster humidifier can handle the tasks.

The Ogima 2.8L Capacity Cool Mist Humidifier and Aroma Diffuser is a mammoth, drop shaped humidifier that utilises ultrasonic capabilities as well. The superior 2.8-litre water tank allows over 12 hours of consistent use without as much as a refill.

In addition to being the biggest and bulkiest humidifier on the list, this particular product also packs a generous amount of features such as colour changing, therapeutic mood light, ionizer, diffuser, and purifier. Read our full review of Ogima air humidifier.

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2. Prem-i-air Bébé Mayor 2.5 L Ultrasonic Humidifier

If you like to either go big or go home, then this is the perfect colossus for you. The Prem-i-air Bébé Mayor is a very generously sized and well-endowed humidifier designed to engulf a room with cool mist.

With a massive 2.5-litre water tank that goes the distance, you can rest assured that it will hit the 15 hour mark without needing a refill. This particular humidifier is super durable and can use even the hardest tap water without any problems.

However, in addition to having a subtle hum and the occasional dripping sounds, people who prefer to sleep in the dark might find it hard due to the constant power indicator light. Read our full review of Prem-i-air air humidifier.

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3. TaoTronics Cool Mist Humidifier

Thanks to its ultrasonic technology, the Taotronics humidifier operates at whisper level. It’s perfect for the nursery or your bedside.

It comes with a humidistat meaning you can set your desired humidity level. There is also a mist control button and a 360-degree nozzle to direct the mist’s direction.

If you are using it in the bedroom, there is a dedicated night mode that’s even quieter. You can also set a timer for the humidifier to switch off automatically after a number of hours.

Set up is easy; you just need to fill the large-capacity 1-gallon tank with distilled or boiled water and then plug it in. Read our full review of TaoTronics Cool Mist Humidifier.

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4. COOLEAD Aroma Essential Oil Diffuser And Ultrasonic Air Humidifier

This eye-catching, medium sized Ultrasonic Humidifier is as functional as it is vibrant. With a water tank capacity of 500 ml, the COOLEAD can operate continuously for up to 10 hours.

For a relatively smaller humidifier, this particular product contains all the features you would find in much larger counterparts such as an aromatherapy diffuser, salt ionizer, air purifier; all in a very attractive and beautifully designed exterior with an array of mood lights that transforms through 7 different colours.

It even allows you to set the timer between 60, 120 and 180 minutes, or just let it run until the automatic off switch does its job. On a lower key, the manufacturer could have worked on the settings for high and low mist since there is no real difference there. Read our full review of COOLEAD air humidifier.

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5. IMS 2 L Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier

For parents, there’s nothing more valuable than a good night’s sleep. This means improving the little children’s air quality, and making things as quiet as possible. Nothing fits the description better than this product.

The IMS Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier is a large, dispenser-looking, volcano shaped humidifier with a clear see-through water tank for easier operation. Although it is relatively large, the IMS humidifier runs almost silently, making it ideal for nurseries and newborn babies rooms.

The salt ionizer also relieves stress and promotes a happy environment. One minor issue with the product are the instructions that are barely decipherable, but it’s very easy to use. Read our full review of IMS air humidifier.

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6. Ayan Colour Changing Aroma Diffuser And Humidifier

If you are going for the perfect balance between therapy and medicinal, this is the ideal partner. The Ayan Colour Changing Humidifier is a small, ambience-enhancing, volcano-looking humidifier that uses ultrasonic vibrations to spread a fine haze of mist.

With only a 100 ml water tank, the Ayan Humidifier is among the smallest type in the market. However, with what it lacks in size, it more than makes up in functionality.

This particular product has an air purifier, aroma diffuser, salt therapy ionizer, humidifier and one of the most vibrant and ambient mood lights you will ever lay your eyes on. Read our full review of Ayan air humidifier.

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7. Kinga Ultrasonic Aromatherapy Cool Mist Purifier And Air Humidifier

Are you a fan of wooden floors, furniture or anything with a wooden finish? Then look no further than Kinga.

The Kinga humidifier is a medium sized, spherical 3 in 1 oil diffuser and humidifier with a marvellously wooden laminated exterior. Not only does this help your humidifier blend in an average office or home, but the 300 ml water tank runs for about 8 hours without requiring a refill and then the auto off switch takes over after that.

However, the round design does make balancing a bit hard due to the power cord. But if you are looking for an incognito helper around the home or office, this beauty will be right at home on a glass table or mahogany desk. Read our full review of Kinga air humidifier.

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8. Poweradd Ultrasonic Humidifier And Oil Diffuser Aromatherapy

The Poweradd humidifier is another petite humidifier that comes with a sleek, silver exterior and a futuristic look.

With the minimum 100ml water tank capacity, you get a run time of 5 hours depending on how high the flow of mist is. The metallic looking exterior might look dull, but once you get the mood light on, it’s a whole different story.

The settings allow you to cycle through all the colours with the mist on or off. However, the smaller size means more trips to the water tap. Read our full review of Poweradd air humidifier.

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9. 1byone Cool Mist Ultrasonic Humidifier and Essential Oil Diffuser

Do you continually find it difficult to sleep through the night? Insomnia and restlessness are a very major problem and affect a large percentage of the population. Fortunately, 1byOne has a solution.

The 1byone cool mist diffuser and humidifier is a huge, purple and white drop-shaped humidifier that not only works wonders at engulfing a room in cool vapour, but also works as a dedicated rainbow night light to help those with trouble catching a wink of sleep.

The larger 2.8-litre water tank that goes for 12 hours ensures you sleep through the night undisturbed and even a little left over to start your morning. One drawback is that although you won’t be doing too many refills, the tank needs to be upside down for tap refills. Read our full review of 1byone air humidifier.

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10. Aennon Cool Mist Humidifier

The Aennon cool mist humidifier uses ultra-quiet ultrasonic technology to release a relaxing mist of water into the air. An integrated filter ensures the mist is safe for breathing.

While you cannot choose a humidity level or set a timer, you can control the amount of mist produced. Set it on low when you need less humidity and high when the air gets too dry for your comfort.

It doubles up as a night light with 7 different LED colour options you can choose from to set different moods. You can also just switch it off.

If you also want a relaxing aroma to go with the cool mist, there is a compartment where you can add your own essential oils. Read our full review of Aennon humidifier.

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Benefits Of Air Humidifiers

Humidity just refers to the amount of water vapour in the atmosphere. Ideally, indoor humidity levels should remain anywhere between 30 to 50%, but due to various natural and man-made factors, most homes barely have half the required amount. When it’s too hot, atmospheric water evaporates, and when it’s too cold, the use of indoor heaters utterly devastates the balance of vapour in the air. Here’s how air humidifiers work to your advantage.

1. Easing Colds, Flus, Asthma and Allergies

Dry air can wreck havoc to your respiratory system, especially if you have prior complications like allergies and asthma. Air humidifiers physically add more moisture to the atmosphere and relieve blocked or swollen nasal passages and prevent build up of dust and pollen thus helping people with allergies keep all triggers at bay.

2. Remedying Dry Skin Conditions

In the high temperatures of summer or houses that have heaters for winter, humidity levels can drop as much as 15 percent or less. This means that your body also loses vital water from the skin, mouth, and eyes. This leads to conditions such as chapped lips and dry, itchy and flaky skin. Dry air also amplifies the symptoms of eczema leading to outbreaks of acne, thyroid disorders, and psoriasis. Air humidifiers help keep your skin revitalised and rejuvenated with just the right amount of atmospheric water.

3. Reduced Heating Bills And Electric Shocks

Did you know that air with more moisture actually feels much warmer and retains more heat than dry air? A humidifier can help you save money on house heating by making everybody feel a tad warmer. They also help cure the air from being too overcharged. Dry air tends to develop more static electricity that can terrorize your sweaters, blankets, and even your pets.

Main Types of Air Humidifiers

There are different types of air humidifiers in the markets. The differences could be based on the technology used to power these machines or their functions and process. Here are a few of the main types of air humidifiers.

1. Warm Mist

Humidifiers classified as warm mist use a heating element to boil the water. Once this water comes to a boil, the humidifier emits the resulting steam. This works to increase the amount of moisture in the air as well as make the room warmer too. While the direct heating element poses a burning hazard for kids and some adults, warm mist humidifiers are exceptionally hygienic since the steam kills off all the waterborne germs and releases highly sterile moisture into the air. However, the steam does leave some lime scale deposits that need to be regularly cleaned out before they build up in the humidifier.

2. Ultrasonic Cool Mist

This type of air humidifier is the cheapest and most energy efficient since it utilises the power of ultrasonic technology as opposed to direct heating. Here, a metal diaphragm vibrates at very high ultrasonic speeds so as to agitate the stored water into a super fine mist. A small fan then pushes this fine mist from an opening where it comes out and spreads to every corner of the room. Since there is no heating element in cool mist humidifier, the mist feels slightly cooler. This is the most child-friendly type of humidifier since there are no risks of burning.

Things To Consider

Before buying an air humidifier, there are several things that you should consider to increase your chances of finding the perfect match. In addition to considering factors such as the size of your home and how long you will be using the humidifier per day, it is also important to consider risk factors and how much it will cost you in the long run. However, some features are critical and need to be given top priority. These include:

Easy To Use And Clean

It doesn’t matter how fancy an air purifier is if you have to break your thumbs using it. Always go for a humidifier whose use comes almost naturally. This includes a simple and user-friendly control panel, clear instructions, ease of disassembly and refilling as well as portability. If your humidifier is also very tough to clean in some places, it can become a breeding ground for fungus, mold, and bacteria of all types. Make sure you can get to every inch of the reservoir and even remove the filter for a thorough wipe down. Ignoring this fact could lead to aggravated breathing problems.

Low Noise Levels

The last thing you want in your bedroom is a humidifier that sounds like an internal combustion engine. Since air humidifiers are often used throughout the night or in offices, they need to be as quiet and as inconspicuous as possible even when in operation. For children, the silence is invaluable since one too many roars from noisy humidifiers could wake them up in shock. Leading in the field on zero noise emission are the ultrasonic humidifiers which run far much quieter than warm mist or evaporative models.

Safety Features

While it is beneficial when your air humidifier has a timer for setting in advance, the most important safety feature any humidifier needs to have is automatic shutdown. This allows the humidifier to shut itself off when the water runs dry. Without it, your humidifier will just continue running without water, which can be very dangerous. Some humidifiers even have warning indicators when the water reaches a certain level. It is always imperative to be safe and secure as possible, especially around children.

How To Use An Air Humidifier

Humidifiers are pretty basic and straight forward in their use. However, with rampant advancement in technology, some of them have complex features that require assistance. Once you buy your brand new air humidifier, here are a few general tips that will help you get familiar with the use.

1. Read The Instruction Manual Carefully

The first step involves unwrapping the product from its package and going through any instructions on the box. To ensure you don’t miss out on helpful information, read the instruction manual thoroughly. Different humidifiers come with an array of settings and various functions. Not all of them work the same, so make sure you read the instructions to your particular humidifier.

2. Assemble The Unit

Though not all humidifiers require assembly, others are taken apart for easier packaging. Ensure you use the manual to assemble your specific unit to make sure no crucial components are missing. Assembly includes adding things like handles, wheels for mobility or even customized installation of other parts.

3. Wash And Fill The Water Reservoir

Before using the humidifier, it is important to clean out some essential parts. Washing the water tank with soap ensures all residue from the manufacturing process is removed to avoid contaminating the resulting moisture. After cleaning, fill the humidifier with the indicated amount of water. Some humidifiers even come with measuring cups to get the accuracy right. Some humidifiers let you add essential oils for an aromatherapy experience.

4. Look For A Great Spot

The ideal position to place a humidifier should be level, raised and a considerable distance from any wall. If you place your humidifier near a wall, shelf or curtain, they tend to get damp due to being too close to the mist.

5. Switch The Humidifier On And Enjoy

After finding the perfect spot, plug the device in and turn it on. If your humidifier has control knobs, adjust the mist intensity to your personal preference. Other air humidifiers have nifty features like mood-lights and ionizers. Now is a very good time to give them a whirl.

6. Clean And Maintain The Humidifier Regularly

Just like any other product, a humidifier needs regular cleaning and maintenance to ensure its integrity. Cleaning prevents the build-up of harmful bacteria and fungi while maintenance allows it to function at optimum capacity. You can clean the water tank and nozzle with soap, vinegar or small amounts of alcohol for sterilisation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do you put moisture in the air without a humidifier?

A: There are so many ways to boost the humidity levels in your home we could barely fit them all here. Doesn’t mean we won’t try.

Alright, starting from the simplest, you’ve got your regular bowls of water. Leaving a few open bowls near a heat source will help keep your room cooler and more humid overtime.

Similarly, you could leave your door open when taking a bath or shower (as long as you value comfort over privacy). And if you use a tub, let the water sit there and cool after you’re done.

You could also simmer a big pot of soup on your stovetop or hang your clothes indoors to dry, but only in 1960.

As always, we saved the toughest for last. Get some houseplants. As long as you can keep them alive, plants add more oxygen and humidity to a room.

Q: Humidifier or air purifier: What is better for allergies?

A: This one’s very tricky to nail down. On one hand, air purifiers work by trapping smoke, dust mites, pollen, and a long list of allergens and contaminants.

On the other hand, humidifiers add moisture to the room helping avoid the effects of dry air whose symptoms can pose as allergies (eczema, coughs).

If you have allergies, you might want to lean more towards air purifiers. These ease allergy symptoms such as sneezing, rashes, and asthma triggers.

However, you’ll also want to complement it with a humidifier. It will come in handy, especially for people with skin problems and severe respiratory allergies.

Q: Why is my humidifier not working?

A: You put water in your humidifier but no mist is coming out. Well, there could be several reasons why your humidifier isn’t working.

While there are different types of humidifiers, one universal cause of malfunction is often insufficient cleaning. There are lots of different parts that are susceptible to dust or sediment buildup.

People that use hard water in their humidifiers will have sediment build up after a while.

As the water comes in contact with heating elements, it evaporates leaving minerals and other impurities behind. The sediment collects overtime and forms a crusty coating which prevents enough heat from being generated.

To remedy this problem, remove the crust and always ensure the heating element is clean.

Q: How do you clean an air humidifier?

A: Start by unplugging the humidifier first. Water and electricity are a notorious combination. Remove the filter and rinse it under a faucet to wash away impurities.

Next, proceed to remove the water tank and pour out the old water. Fill it with a cup of vinegar and swish it around so it covers both the sides and bottom of the tank. Vinegar is a natural cleanser that loosens buildup; let it sit for an hour in the tank before rinsing.

With a vinegar dampened sponge, wipe down the frame and outer surface. This prevents dust and other types of debris from moving to the tank and other areas. It also helps inhibit the growth of bacteria and mold, especially near the misting nozzle.

And remember; always keep the area around the humidifier dry.

Conclusion

Whether it’s freezing cold outside or sweltering hot, the air in a room undergoes some drastic changes. With humidity being the most susceptible, it is common for inhabitants to experience a host of physical discomforts such as nasal irritations, dry, chapped skin, allergies acting up and even the furniture might undergo warping. This is why every home, office or facility needs to have an air humidifier that will significantly improve the quality of air and the lives of the inhabitants too.