Humidifier Reviews and Buying Guide:

Why even have a humidifier? They help provide relief from dry indoor air, which leads to dry skin, bloody noses, and scratchy throats. Humidifiers help prevent furniture from cracking and give your houseplants extra moisture they need as well as relieve symptoms associated with common cold or flu. Humidifiers come in 2 types - warm moisture and cool moisture - so a common question is which is best? The big difference is that warm mist humidifiers add warmth to chilly rooms while cool mist humidifiers offer cool, refreshing air. A humidity level between 40 and 50% is recommended and a hygrometer is a measuring device that measures humidity. The best warm mist humidifier is the Slant/Fin GF-220 ($100) with it's quiet operating mode. The Slant Fin boils water in the reservoir and uses an ultraviolet light to provide 100% bacteria free mist without having to use filters. It can actually increase make a room feel warmer. This unit uses more energy than others due to the heating element.

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The other top rated warm mist humidifier is the Honeywell HM2030 ($45). The inexpensive price is no knock on this model since it performs almost as well as the Slant/Fin. The Honeywell model has a 1.8 gallon tank, does not use UV light and unfortunately does not have a mineral pad to absorb calcium and other minerals in the water which means you will need to clean this unit with a vinegar solution. The HM2030 does come with a humidistat and will turn itself off when the tank runs dry. Console Humidifiers are larger units that can handle your whole house or apartment. The Bemis H12-300 ($130) is a whole house humidifier that can take care of up to 2500 square feet. Comes with a removable water tank and needs periodic filter replacements. You can buy them online at Amazon.com or Sears.com.

Evaporative Humidifiers - Vornado Vortex - Sunbeam:

Cool mist models (also called evaporative humidifiers) are the alternative to units that need to boil water. The best evaporative humidifier is the Vornado Vortex HU1-0012-11 ($50) with a 2 gallon tank and a 3 speed fan. Its filter wick (replace it every 60-90 days) is treated to prevent bacterial growth. The Sunbeam 1119 ($30) is another evaporative humidifier, that while cheaper than the Vortex, runs smoothly and is easy to maintain. It's even dishwasher safe. Every few weeks you will need to replace the filters ($8), or when they become hard or discolored. The Hunter Care-Free Humidifier Plus 34357 ($60) is a cool mist evaporative humidifier that performs well, but some reviewers complained of motor issues. Be sure to check them all out before making any purchases. You can buy them at Airshack.com or Aircareoutlet.com.

Where to buy humidifier filters?

Most humidifiers require a constant changing of filters, some as often as every 2 weeks. So finding a good cheap source for humidifier filters is key. You can get filters for many models online at stores like FilterSolution.com, they carry filters for Aprilaire, Trion, Duracraft, Trane, Holmes, and Emerson. If you buy in bulk, you can get filters for about $10-$15. Another great site for filters is at Oxyclean.com. Their selection of humidifier filters covers many models like Aprilaire/ Spacegard, Carrier/Bryant 318518-761, Honeywell /Duracraft HAC-514, AC-814, Duracaft AC-815, ACH-815, Skuttle A04-1725-010, Skuttle A04-1725-052, Sears/Kenmore 42-01478, AutoFlo 40EP, Hunter 31915, Hunter 31913, White-Westinghouse WWHM1600, Holmes HWF60 - HC-15, Holmes HWF64, Holmes HWF65 - HC-15, Holmes UH311 - UH325, Emerson HDC-1, and Bionaire 900.

Ultrasonic Humidifiers:

An ultrasonic humidifier uses a metal diaphragm vibrating at an ultrasonic frequency to create water droplets. An ultrasonic humidifier is usually silent, and also produces a cool fog. Ultrasonic humidifiers save energy and are easy to maintain. The Holmes HM500-UC ultrasonic humidifier is a quality product that sells for $34.99 on their website at HolmesProducts.com.

Aprilaire Humidifiers:

We didn't mean to leave out the ever popular Aprilaire humidifiers, but they rarely showed up in reviews and tests done by consumers. In any event Aprilaire carries some great models. Choose from their Model 700, Model 600, Manually Controlled: 550, 350/360, Model 550, Model 350/360, and Model 400. For complete details and descriptions and where to buy these products, check out their website at Aprilaire.com.

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