During winter, many highly sensitive people develop respiratory problems, allergies, and dry skin. The cold air that dries out the lungs, nose, and lips is one of the main reasons for these infections. Dirt, allergens, and unsafe air in your home are culprits as well.
The good news is you can use the best cool mist humidifier for large rooms to add moisture to the air and counteract these problems. However, many people don’t know whether to choose a cool mist humidifier or warm mist humidifier.
We have compiled a list of ten best cool mist humidifiers because they disperse a micro-fine cool mist silently into your room. Also, they use less electricity and safe near kids.
If you’re shopping for a humidifier for the first time or looking to replace an old model, these cool mist humidifier reviews will help you pick one that’s perfect for your needs.
Top Rated Cool Mist Humidifier for Large Rooms Reviews
1. Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
The Pure Enricnment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier moisturizes the air in your home or office within minutes.
This powerful and sleekly designed humidifier is packed with smart features, making it the ideal solution to improve the air quality and humidity in the space you desire. It has a 1.5-liter capacity tank that can deliver 150 ml of moisture per hour, so the change will be noticeable, but it also doesn’t make the room too humid.
Ideal humidity levels are around 30 percent, and the natural humidity during winter is about 10%, so this humidifier will help you achieve balance in your home without going overboard. It can run up to sixteen hours on a single tank when you use the lower setting, so if you have it constantly on the higher setting, it will need to be refilled more quickly.
You will probably still get ten to twelve hours out of it even on the high setting, so this is pretty good. It means you won’t have to constantly refill it every two or three hours. You can simply refill it once a day while you’re doing some other errand so that it won’t be too much of an inconvenience.
Pros:
- Decent tank capacity
- 16 hours on the low setting before refill required
Cons:
- Quite large and bulky
2. Honeywell Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier HCM350W
The Honeywell Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier HCM350W is quiet and powerful. It adds cool moisture to dry air, thereby improving the humidity levels within your home.
It has a very large capacity tank of one gallon, which will certainly last a long time. If you’re a person who hates having to constantly check up on appliances you buy, this will certainly be a persuasive factor for you.
This powerful model continuously kills up to 99.9% of bacteria in the air. Any time you buy a humidifier, you need to ensure it’s easy to clean because the moisture it emits needs to be safe from contaminants. Well, this one looks like you can dismantle the tank from the main unit, so cleaning should be no problem when build up starts to occur.
It should be noted that this unit is huge, almost laughably so. It isn’t designed to look cute in your home, either. Placing this without it being an eyesore might be a challenge.
It’s so big that you might not have any surfaces it can sit on, so you might have to put it on the floor. If so, be careful that someone doesn’t trip over it.
Pros:
- One gallon tank (which is the same as 3.78 liters)
- Can run for up to 24 hours on the low setting
Cons:
- Very large and bulky, so placement may be an issue
3. VicTsing Cool Mist Humidifier
The VicTsing Cool Mist Humidifier has a dial knob that allows you to control how much humidity will be released into the room. It runs as quiet as a whisper and helps to create an environment conducive to a long and restful sleep during the night.
This ultrasonic humidifier runs at only 32 decibels, which is quieter than a computer running in the background. Thus, you can ensure your home has clean and healthy air without it interrupting your comfort and relaxation.
It has a 45 degrees tilted nozzle to direct the flow of the moisture and emit it continuously. This provides a wider and more consistent coverage of moisture.
The tank capacity allows for up to two liters of water and provides ten hours of working time before a refill is required on the lowest setting. Thus, this one might require more refills than some other models. However, it has several useful features that offset this disadvantage, including an automatic shut-off when the water level is low. It is also easy to refill thanks to the arc-shaped handle with anti-slip grooves.
Pros:
Very quiet
Efficient mist output
Cons:
Must be cleaned once a week to avoid scale and stains
4. Aennon Cool Mist Humidifier
The Aennon Cool Mist Humidifier adds a bit of fun to the process of cleansing and humidifying the air in your home. This device has a fun bubble shape and includes a seven color LED light, so it looks more aesthetically pleasing than some other, bulkier models. It is still hardly a diamond ornament, of course, but for a humidifier, it’s pretty cute.
This cool air humidifier provides clean and fresh air to help improve your mood, relieve stress, and make your skin radiant. This model has an interesting feature that allows you to add essential oils due to its built-in aroma diffuser, so you have even more options for the air quality within your home. Lavender, for example, is a natural disinfectant that always reduces stress and promotes relaxation, so this could be a welcome addition to your humidifying routine.
This unit is ETL safety approved so you can have peace of mind while using it. Its 2.8-liter tank capacity allows for 20 hours of continuous use. It is also an incredibly quiet unit that won’t interfere with your work or sleep while it is on in the background.
Pros:
- Large tank capacity
- 20 hours of use before refill required
Cons:
- The filter needs to be changed every six months
5. TaoTronics TT-AH002 Cool Mist Humidifier
The TaoTronics Cool Mist Humidifier TT-AH002 promises to be quieter than a library, so you can even have it running in the background with young children who are light sleepers. This model silently infuses your room with moisture without creating the slightest disturbance to your routine.
It has an impressively large water tank capacity of 3.5 liters, which is almost a gallon. Proportionately speaking, the ten-hour refill requirement is quite short considering how large the tank is. Still, this assumes you have it running constantly. If you use it for short periods of time instead of turning it on and leaving it to its own devices, you can get a lot more humidifying out of it before you have to refill.
It includes a high quality built-in ceramic filter so you can feel confident that the moisture it emits is fully filtered and pure. This will reduce any bad odors and purify the air in your home effectively.
The mist nozzle is rotatable, allowing you to precisely adjust the mist output direction and volume to ensure that your home is sufficiently humidified without raising the humidity level too much. It is also easy to refill and will automatically shut off when the water level is too low.
Pros:
- Large capacity tank
- Runs quietly
Cons:
- Only 10 hours before refill required
6. Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
The Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier safely moisturizes the air in your home for up to 25 hours of continuous operation before you have to refill the water tank. This allows you to breathe more easily and get higher quality sleep.
This is one of the best humidifiers for bedrooms, offices, and other medium-sized rooms. This unit has been upgraded to include several sleep-friendly features. When the unit is turned on or off, the beep is much quieter than other models in this line, for example. The power light also shuts off after ten seconds, so if you’re using this when you’re about to go to sleep, you won’t be distracted by background light or noise.
This has a 360-degree mist nozzle, so the mist doesn’t just go in one direction, but humidifies the air all around it evenly and effectively.
The kit includes the unit, a power adapter, a cleaning brush, and a very impressive 5-year warranty, so you know you’re investing in a high-quality product. The only real downside to this humidifier is that it has a power on and off button but doesn’t appear to have any dial knobs or other methods of adjusting the amount of moisture released into the air.
Pros:
- Sleek and modern design
- Up to 25 hours of continuous operation
Cons:
- No dial knob
7. Crane Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
The Crane Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier features a one-gallon water capacity tank. This tank will fit under most bathroom sinks but looks a bit awkward when refilling as it is so large and bulky. However, once you get to grips with this aspect of the humidifier, it has a lot of advantageous features for effective humidifying of the air in your home.
For example, it is designed with bacteria-fighting power in mind. It is made of an anti-microbial material which reduces mold and bacteria growth by up to 99.96 %. As such, you can simultaneously breathe in healthier, more humid air, and reduce the risk of a bacteria-rich environment in your home at the same time.
This humidifier provides soothing relief for a restful and peaceful night’s sleep, and it has the power to humidify up to 500 square feet of space in the home. Thus it is suitable for both medium and larger sized rooms within your house. If you have a large, dry and dusty living room, or looking for a humidifier for sinus problems this will help improve the air quality, for example.
Pros:
- More aesthetically pleasing than many other humidifiers
- One gallon tank
Cons:
- The tank is quite bulky: might be awkward when refilling
8. Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifer XL
The Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier XL provides long-lasting relief for many allergies and breathing problems as it vastly improves the moisture content and overall quality of the air in your home. Its ultrasonic cool mist technology safely moisturizes the air for anywhere between ten and twenty-four hours of continuous operation depending on what mist setting you choose.
If you choose the lowest setting, you can have it running for an entire day without having to refill it, but if you need a more powerful injection of moisture into the space, you will have to refill it every ten hours if you opt for the maximum moisture output.
This is quite a short time considering its large capacity tank, but this is because it effectively humidifies and releases a lot of moisture in the air every hour, so it all depends on what your priorities are.
It includes an optional night light, which is a nice feature if you have any children who are still at the stage where they don’t like to sleep in utter darkness. It’s also useful for people who have acquired tastes in their sleeping pattern. Some people find it more conducive to sleep to have some background noise or light, for example, so they may prefer to leave the night light on.
Pros:
- Includes three light mode options
- One gallon water tank
Cons:
- Only ten hours of continuous operation on the highest setting
9. URPOWER MH501 Cool Mist Ultrasonic Humidifier
The URPOWER Cool Mist Ultrasonic Humidifier MH501 has an impressive five-liter water tank, the largest of all the humidifiers on this list. This allows you to humidify the surrounding environment for long periods of time without having to constantly refill the unit.
This model is one of the few that has been designed to look sleek and fit in nicely with the decor of your home. It is black with a brushed stainless steel finish and looks more like a technological gadget or music speaker than a humidifier.
It includes a useful sleep mode feature. If you hold the power button down, it will select the medium mist output and all indicator lights will switch off, allowing you to get a peaceful night’s sleep without being distracted by the lights on the machine. Alternatively, you can press the power button quickly to select the mist output.
One of the best things about this humidifier is the easy method of mist selection. By simply pressing the power button quickly, you can select low, medium or high mist output. If you’ve been running it on high for hours and the environment is already humid enough, the low setting is perfect for maintaining the desired humidity level.
Pros:
- Large five-liter water tank: more than one-gallon capacity
- Includes sleep mode
Cons:
- Quite large and bulky
10. Vicks Filter-Free Cool Mist Humidifier – Best Cool Mist Humidifier Without Filter
The Vicks Cool Mist Humidifier uses a filter-free humidifying system that means you will never have to buy replacement filters. Buying replacement filters is standard for many humidifiers, so if you want the unit that requires the least maintenance and filter monitoring, this may be the one for you.
This humidifier is brought to us by the well-known brands Vicks, best known for its vapor rub, so it makes sense that they manufacture a product that helps you breathe better air too. Humidifiers improve your overall health and can speed up the healing process when you get sick or have allergies.
The Vicks line of products that help you breathe more easily include humidifiers and steam inhalers. All of these products are designed to offer temporary relief from ailments like coughs and congestion.
This product has a large 1.2-gallon capacity tank, useful for when you’re feeling sick and don’t have the energy to keep refilling the tank. It also has a dial knob function for mist output control, so you have the power to adjust the humidity of the environment around you.
Pros:
- Dial knob function for mist output control
- Large 1.2-gallon capacity tank
Cons:
- Not designed with aesthetics in mind
Cool Mist Humidifiers Buying Guide
When you’re shopping for a humidifier, you have two options; a cool mist and warm mist humidifier. Cool mist humidifiers are popular and preferred over warm mist humidifiers. You’ll come to realize why in the next sections when we discuss their benefits.
However, let’s first discuss what a cool-mist humidifier is, how they work, different types, and how to choose one depending on your needs.
What is a Cool Mist Humidifier?
The more popular choice among consumers, a cool-mist humidifier is a type of humidifier that disperses cool humid air into your rooms with the help of a diaphragm.
The most significant difference between cool mist and warm mist humidifiers, therefore, is warmth. The mist released by warm mist humidifiers is warm and can help with home heating to a small degree. The mist released by cool mist humidifiers, meanwhile, is cool.
Cool mist humidifiers come in two main types; evaporative and ultrasonic. We’ll discuss these two in detail shortly. They also come in many shapes and styles, with some designs created to boost interior decor. Nonetheless, you have endless models to choose from and more than two dozen manufacturers to consider.
How Does a Cool Mist Humidifier Work?
The structure of a cool-mist humidifier is simple, which partly explains why these appliances aren’t expensive. A typical cool air humidifier comprises a mist-dispersing nozzle and a refillable water tank. Evaporative humidifier models then have a fan to blow the mist into the room while ultrasonic models use a unique diaphragm for this purpose.
Once water is broken down into mist (evaporative and ultrasonic humidifiers do this differently as we shall see shortly), the mist is pushed out into space. All cool mist humidifiers are very efficient. The only significant drawback is that you have to refill the tank when water runs out. Otherwise, the humidification process can’t go on.
Types of Cool Mist Humidifiers
There are two main types of cool mist humidifiers; evaporative and ultrasonic. The following is what you need to know about each type;
Evaporative Cool Mist Humidifiers
The more popular of the two options, evaporative cool mist humidifiers work by having a fan blow the cool water in a filter into your home. Evaporative humidifiers comprise a wick filter that absorbs water and removes impurities. Once the water is clean, the fan then blows this air into your rooms.
Compared to warm mist humidifiers, they are less costly. However, they are also more difficult (expensive) to maintain. Additionally, evaporative humidifiers are louder than their ultrasonic counterparts. In a nutshell;
Advantages
- Affordable
- Effective
- Better in large spaces
Drawbacks
- Loud
- Demanding maintenance
Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifiers
If you find evaporative humidifiers too loud and maintenance-intensive, ultrasonic cool mist humidifiers are an excellent alternative. These humidifiers have a diaphragm that vibrates at high speed to break down water into mist. The mist is then blown into your rooms.
These humidifiers don’t require a filter. So, you don’t have to worry about replacing the filter every few weeks. You’ll, however, need to keep the tank full and clean to prevent the build-up of dirt. Also, ultrasonic humidifiers are quieter than evaporative humidifiers and consume less energy too.
Unfortunately, the process of creating the mist in these humidifiers usually produces white dust that will spread around the room with the mist. The humidifiers also can’t humidify spaces more extensive than a medium-sized room. In a nutshell;
Advantages
- Quieter
- More energy efficient
- Easier to use
- Fewer maintenance duties
Drawbacks
- More expensive
- Creates white dust that requires cleaning
- Only useful in small to medium-sized spaces
Benefits of Cool Mist Humidifiers
Like warm mist humidifiers, the fact that cool mist humidifiers release moisture is suitable for dry skin. The constant supply of moisture ensures that your body doesn’t lose too much moisture to the surrounding. As a result, you’ll also be safe from chapped lips.
The extra moisture in the air also rehydrates nasal passages and the respiratory system, relieving congestion, nosebleeds, and sore throat. It also makes it easier to breathe even for people with constricted airways.
Those, however, are just the general benefits of any humidifier. Cool mist humidifiers come with several additional advantages over their warm mist counterparts. These include;
They are less dangerous
As the name suggests, cool mist humidifiers produce no heat at all. Unlike warm-mist types that use some form of a heating element to produce the heat or steam, cool mist humidifiers are entirely cool. They use a fan to blow cool mist into the air so that people can breathe better. As such, unlike warm mist options that can burn young children and pets that get too close, cool mist humidifiers are safe for all.
They cover a much larger area
Warm mist humidifiers typically spread their air in a concentrated area; a strategic, operational mechanism intended to provide warmth to people close to the humidifier. This operation, however, comes with a downside in that the fresh air rarely reaches people far away from the humidifier. Cool mist humidifiers are different. Since there’s no warm to focus on, the cool air is blown vigorously into the surrounding air, allowing the air to reach a larger space. This makes cool mist humidifiers the better choice for whole-room humidification.
They are comparably cheaper
If everything else is kept the same, a cool-mist humidifier will be more expensive than a regular (warm mist) alternative. The main reason for this is that regular humidifiers have a special device inside the unit designed to warm up the water being used for the mist. That heating device adds to the cost. Cool mist humidifiers are also less expensive in the long run because they merely use a fan to push cool air into your rooms whereas, in warm mist humidifiers, heating is involved. It’s, therefore, easier to maintain and replace cool mist humidifiers.
They are suitable for indoor plants and furniture
The warmth produced by regular humidifiers might be great for the people in the home, but it’s not necessarily helpful to indoor plants and furniture. Indoor plants are most comfortable in the 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit region, which is room temperature. When you introduce extra warmth, plants become distressed, and some might even die. With regards to furniture, heat plus moisture increases the likelihood of warping.
Less expensive to run
This is a factor you should especially consider if you plan on leaving the humidifier on for extended periods. These humidifiers consume much less power compared to their warm mist counterparts. That’s because warm mist humidifiers need extra power to heat the heating element used to warm the mist before it’s blown into your rooms. This heating process consumes a significant amount of energy. Since cool mist humidifiers don’t require the heating, you can expect to use less than half the power a warm-mist humidifier would require.
They prevent static electricity
Static electricity is common when air is dry and even more prevalent in the winter months when people heat their homes, reducing the humidity in the air. A humidifier is, therefore, the logical solution t this problem. If you’re having severe static problems, a cool-mist humidifier would be a better option. By adding just the right amount of cool, comfortable mist to the air, the problem is eliminated. Warm mist humidifiers might also help. But, they tend to put too much mist into the air thus might not solve the static problem as efficiently.
They require less maintenance
As already mentioned earlier, warm mist humidifiers, just like humidifying heaters, have heating elements inside that heat the steam before it’s blown into your rooms. These heating elements get dirty over time and can even experience mineral build-up. As such, a regular cleaning with special chemicals is mandatory if you want to keep the unit functioning optimally for many years. Taking apart the components and thoroughly cleaning the unit requires extra effort. A cool-mist humidifier doesn’t contain any heating devices and thus doesn’t require special cleaning. All you need is freshwater and a soft piece of cloth to wipe down any dirt.
Difference Between Cool Mist and Warm Mist Humidifiers
There are several differences between cool mist and warm mist humidifiers. But, the biggest difference is that warm mist humidifiers produce warm air while cool mist models produce cool air.
Other differences are as follows;
- Cool mist humidifiers are less hazardous than warm mist humidifiers
- Cool mist humidifiers are less electricity than their warm mist counterparts
- They are available in portable sizes. Warm mist humidifiers are portable too, but typically bigger than cool mist models.
It’s important to remember also that cool mist humidifiers are more prone to mold and bacteria growth compared to warm mist humidifiers. Fungi and bioaerosols are also a common problem, especially if you don’t clean and maintain your humidifier properly.
Factors to Consider When Buying a Cool Mist Humidifier
Aside from understanding the difference between cool mist and warm mist humidifiers, shoppers also need to consider several factors when browsing through their options to pick the right cool mist humidifiers. These factors include;
Cost
Cool mist humidifiers are typically cheaper than their warm mist counterparts, with some models costing as little as $20. At the same time, though, some can still cost upwards of $600. So, you need to make your pick wisely.
The best way to determine a good price is to consider whether the humidifier meets your needs. Three main factors that affect humidifier prices are; the amount of space it covers, technology, and ease of maintenance.
A humidifier that covers a large area will cost a significant amount compared to one that only humidifies a small space. With regards to technology, ultrasonic humidifiers cost more than evaporative humidifiers with similar features/qualities. And, lastly, for maintenance, those that are easier to maintain typically cost more.
Still on cost, never forget about water and electricity bills. Cool mist humidifiers go through tanks of water to function and require electricity the whole time. For evaporative humidifiers, you also need to keep in mind the cost of filter replacement.
Maintenance
All humidifiers, regardless of technology or size, require maintenance to function properly and for a long time. First and foremost, the appliance must be kept clean at all times to avoid build-up of mold and bacteria. You’ll also need to fill the tank whenever it runs empty. Sometimes this might mean refilling your tank more than once in a day.
Something else that’s very important is changing the filter. Ultrasonic filters don’t have filters so you can skip this part if you’re using an ultrasonic model. However, all evaporative humidifiers use filters. The user manual will tell you how many times you need to change the filter. Failure to change the filter at the recommended rates might leave you with dirty, potentially unsafe air in the home. For ultrasonic models, regular dusting and cleaning around the room are advised to deal with the white dust the humidifier produces.
Before you make the final decision on the humidifier to buy, ask yourself which of these maintenance ideas you’re more comfortable with.
Space to be Humidified
This is another vital consideration. Most affordable humidifiers are designed to be used in small spaces. If you want to cover a bigger room or even more than one room, you’ll need to shop for a powerful large room humidifier.
We’d suggest you go for tabletop or portable humidifier if you’re looking to humidify just one small room or space around a bed. These appliances can efficiently spread their cool mist throughout a 300 square feet space, with some covering as much as 500 square feet.
However, for rooms or spaces larger than that, a large room humidifier would be your best option. This shouldn’t be difficult. All you have to do is read the label carefully. Manufacturers know that space is one of the critical considerations shoppers look at when buying, so the majority of them usually indicate a space value on the label.
For a huge single room, choose a humidifier rated at 500 to 1,000 square feet. Anything beyond that could make the space too cold. However, if you’re looking to cool multiple rooms, find a whole-home humidifier. Most of them cover as much as 1,500 square feet. If you can measure your room or the home before buying the humidifier, then that would be even better as it would allow you to find a unit that perfectly suits your space.
Size
Cool mist humidifiers aren’t so big as to cause placement concerns within the home. However, depending on the size, finding the right spot to place it can be a challenge. It’s advisable to keep this in mind too when shopping.
The reason this is important is that you can’t have the humidifier too close to people as the area the humidifier is typically very moist; the larger the humidifier, the bigger the problem.
A tabletop humidifier, for example, can sit on top of the table without affecting people working on the same table. But, large humidifier, if placed only a few feet from people, may leave those close by too moist.
Think about this when shopping. What type of space do you have? Where do you intend to place or install the humidifier? Would that position allow the humidifier to efficiently humidify the intended space without making the people around too moist?
Features
As competition intensifies and technology advances, we keep seeing humidifiers with special features enter the market. In the search for value for money, you may want to consider some of these extra features too. Some of the additional features to consider are;
- Combination settings: Some humidifiers come with both warm mist and cold mist abilities. All you need to do is switch settings. If you feel that you may need warm and cool mist cooling at different times, these combination humidifiers would be an excellent investment.
- Humidistat: A humidistat is a device used to measure the humidity of a space. A digital humidistat will do this job automatically, continually telling you the humidity levels in your home. If you’d like to keep close control of indoor humidity, choose a humidifier with humidistat.
- Timer: Running the humidifier round the clock isn’t energy efficient. It could also leave your home too mist. An in-built timer makes it possible to set the humidifier in such a way that it automatically goes ON or OFF as desired. Such control can improve comfort levels in the home.
- Reminders: If you’re buying an evaporative humidifier, you’’ need to remember to replace the filter as recommended by the manufacturer. If you’re not good with remembering, consider a model that offers reminders. Not all humidifiers have this capability. But, many modern models now come with have in-built reminders.
Other Considerations
Finally, you may also want to consider things like noise levels, tank capacity, and design. With regards to noise, all cool mist humidifiers produce some form of noise due to the fan used to blow out the mist. However, evaporative models are noisier than ultrasonic models. As for capacity, larger tanks last longer without the need to refill the appliance. Finally, the design is up to you. Humidifiers come in all shapes and sizes; ensure to pick one that adds style to your space.
Summary
Cool mist humidifiers allow you to improve the quality of the air in your home; a very important function considering how much time we spend indoors. The capacity of the tank, the amount of time you get from one use, the quietness of the machine, and special features are all important factors with regard to which one seems to be the best investment for you. Now that you’ve perused some of the best cool mist humidifiers, you’re better equipped to ensure you get the best product for you and your family.
