Table Of Content
- I Tried the Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool PH04: Is This Machine Worth Its Hefty Price?
- Aircare Whole-House Console-Style Evaporative Humidifier
- Q. Do whole-house humidifiers cause mold?
- Honeywell Home HE280A Whole-House Bypass Humidifier
- Boost your HVAC knowledge
- Best Overall: Aprilaire 600 Bypass Whole-House Humidifier

“Regardless of type, it is essential to clean the water tank regularly to avoid the growth of mold and bacteria,” Cox advises. We felt this humidifier was quite effective at humidifying approximately 2,000 square feet, with noticeably less static and less dry nasal passages within just one day. Writer and product analyst Olivia Lipski covers everything from consumer electronics to travel, home, fitness and more for GH. Since joining the Institute in 2021, she has tested everything from fans to humidifiers, space heaters and more.
I Tried the Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool PH04: Is This Machine Worth Its Hefty Price?
The more water the tank can hold, the less often you have to go through the hassle of filling it up. In general, I would aim to purchase a humidifier with the largest possible tank capacity. HVAC humidifiers generally are connected to your home water supply and have no water reservoir, so they can keep running indefinitely. This isn’t often a scientifically accurate measurement, but it gives you an idea of the humidifier’s output power and helps you match it to the size of your home. How can you know which unit is the best whole-house humidifier for your home? The variety of devices might seem confusing, but picking a humidifier is easy once you know what to look for.
Aircare Whole-House Console-Style Evaporative Humidifier
And it doesn’t require constant maintenance or leave dank puddles of dew to dapple everything you own. With so many amazing brands producing quality whole-house humidifiers, it can get confusing knowing which product to take home with you. When buying a humidifier, you have to make sure the specs tally up with what you have going on at home. For this list, we considered the sizes of the humidifiers themselves. Some people value portability, for example, while others want a built-in option. Proper humidity levels help to reduce the airborne incidence of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and dust mites, that can cause respiratory infections and symptoms related to allergies and asthma.
Recall alert: Over 36K steam humidifiers recalled due to fire hazard - KIRO Seattle
Recall alert: Over 36K steam humidifiers recalled due to fire hazard.
Posted: Thu, 22 Jun 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Q. Do whole-house humidifiers cause mold?
Whole-house humidifiers can cause mold growth if you allow them to over-humidify your living space. You should closely monitor humidity levels in your home with the unit’s built-in humidistat or a separate hygrometer. The APRILAIRE 800 is a steam humidifier capable of delivering balanced humidity across areas up to 10,300 sq ft, making it the best whole home humidifier for large houses and other spaces. Customize the humidity level in your home with this unit’s six output levels that can disperse up to 34.6 gallons of moisture into the air per day. The Vornado UH200’s huge, streamlined tank leads to less maintenance than other humidifiers. The 1.75-gallon tank is large enough to last for more than a day, even in bigger spaces; the company claims it works in rooms up to 900 square feet.
Building a Healthy Home with an AprilAire Whole-House Humidifier
Dry air can wreak havoc on your nose and lungs and make existing conditions worse, Dr. Nicolacakis says. Along with protecting you and your home, humidifiers simply add to the overall comfort in your home. The too-low humidity dries out your nasal passages while you’re sleeping, causing interruptions in your night’s sleep.
The most important factor to consider when choosing a whole-house humidifier is the square footage of your home. Most models clearly state the maximum square footage that they can effectively humidify, and whole-house models can cover anywhere from 1,000 to 10,000 or more square feet. However, their efficiency may be lower if your home is poorly insulated, as the humidity will be able to escape through drafty areas.
Runner-up: Levoit Classic 300S Ultrasonic Smart Humidifier
Olivia is a graduate of George Washington University, with a bachelor's degree in journalism, political science and French, and she holds a master’s degree in communications from Sciences Po Paris. Levoit humidifiers have consistently been top performers in our Lab tests, and our pros cannot wait to test the brand’s latest freestanding, whole-house humidifier. Installation is a relatively straightforward process when compared with other HVAC humidifiers, and all the necessary components are included. For more shopping help with whole-house humidifiers, check out our What to Look for Section below.

We have documented the benefits and drawbacks of whole-home humidifiers. Now is the time to consider installing a whole home humidifier to maximize comfort and health in your house. A portable whole-home humidifier is less expensive than an HVAC central model. You don’t have to pay for installation because it isn’t connected to the furnace. All you need to do is assemble it, fill the basin with water, and turn it on. People also have fewer issues with chapped lips, sore throats, dry skin, and sinus irritations when the relative humidity is within the ideal range of 30% to 50%.
Best Overall: Aprilaire 600 Bypass Whole-House Humidifier
This is frequently caused by failing to clean the filter on your heating unit regularly and not cleaning a portable unit every two weeks. The maximum output per day describes how much moisture your humidifier can put into the environment during the 24-hour period. You certainly don’t want to get a model that doesn’t have the output you need. This would lead to a dry environment in your home, which is, obviously, less than ideal. Make sure that the output matches your moisture needs, so you don’t run into these issues.
We selected models with built-in humidistats, and all of our picks are suitable for homes 2,000 square feet or more. We also cross-checked our choices with consumer reviews and top sellers to ensure that we didn’t miss any new models worth a look. Most of the whole-house humidifiers we recommend cost under $300, with freestanding units priced as low as $125. The UH200 is specifically designed for larger rooms (up to 900 square feet), with a 1.75-gallon tank—nearly twice the size of the tanks on our other picks. It’s also one of the only models we recommend with warm-mist capabilities.
Dry air can also impact pets, so they feel more comfortable with ideal humidity, too. However, people who have specific health issues should always consult a medical professional before installing a humidifier, as these devices may not be appropriate in all cases. In general, a console-style evaporative humidifier is less powerful and has less coverage than its HVAC counterpart. They range in coverage from around 2,500 to 3,600 square feet, which will be sufficient for many homes. The Honeywell Home HE280A bypass humidifier is a fan humidifier that is designed for DIY installation and can be mounted on either the warm-air supply or the return duct of any forced-air furnace.
While the company has somewhat simplified its sprawling privacy practices, it can still be difficult to parse, let alone verify, exactly what the app will track and collect. While this shouldn’t be an issue if you’re buying a new humidifier, it can complicate things if you’re traveling with it or looking to sell or buy a used one. 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. When the house is prone to low humidity, a whole-house humidifier, like this product by AprilAire, is a great solution to the problem.
It will be important to determine the size and capacity of the unit to achieve optimal humidity levels. A professional can also help you better understand the different types of humidifiers and dehumidifiers as well as their features and functionality. If you are the proud owner of a large home, then you know how hard it can be to keep the humidity at the right level. Thankfully, this steam humidifier is available to you, and should be able to solve this problem quickly. It has the highest coverage area of any of the humidifiers that we looked into, as it can humidify a space all the way up to 6200 square feet. It also has a humongous maximum output, which is about 35 gallons per day.