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To find the very best humidifiers for every space and need, we've tested a total of 51 humidifiers. We first purchased and tested 27 of the top humidifiers on the market in The Lab and assessed them on their setup, effectiveness, design, size, ease of cleaning, and overall value. We simulated real-world situations by testing the humidifiers within different-sized rooms and running them each for 15 minutes with each tester. We also assessed them on noise production, ease of use, and overall aesthetic for different areas of a home.
The 8 Best Whole-House Humidifiers of 2024
The Safety 1st Stay Clean Humidifier is simple but effective, with a single knob to control the mist levels, and an antimicrobial blue LED system that doubles as a pleasant nightlight. It’s typically marketed as a friendly-family option, and we agree that it’s a good choice if you’re concerned about cleaning or curious kids. The company also sells a WiFi-enabled model, the ultrasonic Safety 1st Connected Smart Humidifier, which has more customizable child controls as well as an onboard hygrometer that actually works. The night light looks just as nice, too, although it doesn’t have the same germ-killing capabilities. We don’t think either feature is crucial (or even necessary), but we know that some folks are keen to have them. It’s also important to remember that warm mist does carry some potential health risks, thanks to the heating element that turns the water vapor into steam.
Our Testing Process
After three hours on the high setting, the humidity in the 186-square-foot room increased by 42%, one of the biggest increases we measured. Our nose felt less dry and the essential oils we added filled the room with a pleasant—not overwhelming—scent. While testing the Aircare Whole-House Pedestal-Style Evaporative Humidifier, we found it easy to set up and monitor, thanks to a digital display.
Homedics TotalComfort Deluxe Ultrasonic Humidifier
As an engineer and someone who has installed whole-house humidifiers, I have a hands-on understanding of how they function. To support this, the Bob Vila team researched the latest models from every leading manufacturer to ensure we had up-to-date information. Feedback from customers who live with these devices day-to-day also formed an important part of our selection process. When this happened, we had to unplug the base, empty out any water, and clean it with toilet paper, or cotton swabs for the smaller areas. If you don’t clean the reservoir and the sensor, the humidifier won’t work, even if you reset the cleaning reminder button.
Can a Humidifier Help Your Atopic Dermatitis? - Everyday Health
Can a Humidifier Help Your Atopic Dermatitis?.
Posted: Mon, 23 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Despite the need for regular cleaning (which is necessary with any humidifier), we love this humidifier’s smart features and think it’s a great alternative to higher-end brand humidifiers at just under $100. This humidifier also has no lighted features on it, making it a great option for a home office or children’s playroom. We recommend using fewer drops of your preferred essential oil when this humidifier is on its highest setting, as too many drops can cause the scent to be overpowering for the entire run time. A large water tank ensures that you can leave this humidifier unattended for the whole day without having to worry about its water level. It also has a relatively small footprint, making it ideal to sit on a side table, desk, or dresser. The engineers and product analysts at the Good Housekeeping Institute have been testing HVAC equipment for your home for decades, from the best humidifiers to air purifiers, dehumidifiers and more.
There are no special features like lights, automatic shutoff, or even a timer. Within the first hour of use, we noticed a two percent change in the humidity level in the room on the low setting, which steadily increased over three days of testing. There was no detectable vapor cloud, making this an extremely unobtrusive option that shouldn’t damage or warp any artwork or furniture placed nearby. Set-up is simple, thanks to clear instructions and a removable tank—aside from adding the water, it was pretty much ready to use straight from the box.
Besides how effective it is with moisturizing the air to prevent nose bleeds and provide common cold relief, we love that it’s small enough to keep in an apartment or office. Keep in mind that because of its small size, you may have to refill the tank more often. Given its impressive humidifying capabilities, we were surprised at how little water the humidifier uses. Even on its highest setting, you should only have to refill the tank every three or four days if you run it all day.
LEVOIT™ REVOLUTIONIZES INDOOR HUMIDIFICATION WITH THE SUPERIOR 6000S SMART EVAPORATIVE ... - PR Newswire
LEVOIT™ REVOLUTIONIZES INDOOR HUMIDIFICATION WITH THE SUPERIOR 6000S SMART EVAPORATIVE ....
Posted: Tue, 24 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
It's perfect for wintertime when you can even save energy by upping the humidity level. After testing 51 humidifiers, the Levoit Classic 300S Ultrasonic Smart Humidifier has remained our best overall pick. This compact humidifier covers a wide square footage with multiple smart settings and silent operation, plus, it is very easy to clean and maintain. After testing at home for over 18 months, we still love the Honeywell Cool Moisture Humidifier, our best for bedrooms pick, because it has no lights to disturb you while sleeping and is very quiet.
Everlasting Comfort Cool Mist Humidifier
While it was a strong performer in our tests, models that cost a fraction of the Dyson’s $800 price tag performed just as well. The Taotronics 4L Cool Mist Humidifier was one of the simplest humidifiers to set up of all the ones we tested—it was essentially assembled right out of the box. We were impressed with how quiet it was on all the settings and how well it increased the humidity in the room.
It can handle homes up to 4,000 square feet, and the convenient water level indicator ensures that you won’t have to worry about unexpected refills. A digital humidistat also keeps it operating at the precise humidity you set. The EVDC300 had some of the best circulation of any humidifier we’ve tested. Vornado makes some of our favorite fans, and this humidifier uses a similar design to help move the humidity around the room.

Dreo is still a newer company, however, so we can’t vouch for the quality of its customer service in the same way we can for Vornado’s and Levoit’s. This model has the same smart-home features, and it comes with the same two-year warranty, as well. We’ve updated our Other good humidifiers section to include two new models from Safety First, the Stay Clean Humidifier and the Connected Smart Humidifier. Tobie Stanger is a senior editor at Consumer Reports, where she has been helping readers shop wisely, save money, and avoid scams for more than 30 years. During off-hours, she works on her own fixer-upper and gets her hands dirty in the garden.
If you’re looking for a humidifier with a warm mist setting, we recommend the Dreo Humidifier 713S. This ultrasonic pick can switch between cool and warm mists up to 133°F at the touch of a button. We appreciated that the display changed color to indicate which mode it was operating on, which makes it easy to view at a glance.