10 Best Humidifiers for Large Rooms in 2022 (Everlasting Comfort, Levoit, and More)

A humidifier is a device that emits water vapor to increase the level of humidity. It is meant to improve the air condition of places where the air is normally dry that could otherwise result in allergy and breathing issues.

The use of a humidifier is beneficial in treating conditions like dry skin, sinus congestion, nose bleeds, chapped and cracked lips, or dry cough due to low humidity levels. Those who experience any such discomfort during the winter months or with the use of an air conditioner could benefit from the use of a humidifier.

The health risks associated with inhaling air that's poorly-humidified are many. When the medications aimed at curing the conditions only work temporarily, the air around you needs to be improved for a total recovery. 

Read on to find how you can select the best humidifier for large rooms without going wrong. 

When the winter arrives, you observe that your lips are chapped, your skin is dry, and your breathing is difficult. Finding a humidifier to address these problems involves knowing the various humidifier types and what each can do.

Ultrasonic humidifiers are very common and let out a cool mist of vapor with high-frequency ultrasonic vibrations. They use a metal diaphragm that vibrates at an ultrasonic frequency to create the droplets of water. Some ultrasonic models facilitate the use of essential oils. 

These are available in various sizes and two mist settings: cool and warm. Cool mist humidifiers are ideal when you have children around. They operate silently and produce a cool fog through the dispenser. 

If water is not changed regularly, the stagnant water in the humidifier can encourage bacterial growth. Any minerals present in the water will also be dispersed into the air through the fine mist. The high-end models come with features like ultraviolet light to kill the bacteria and demineralization cartridges to filter mineral content in the water.

As the name suggests, central humidifiers are built into the air conditioner or the heating unit of your home. They can vary in sizes depending on the area they're covering. Most units are expensive, but they can humidify the entire house with one unit. 

Central humidifiers are also called bypass or furnace humidifiers. They don’t emit steam and pose no risk of burns while in use. However, they can take a longer time to humidify. It's ideal if you live in an area with dry air year-round and want to humidify the entire house. 

Evaporative humidifiers are powered using a fan to blow moisture into the air around you through a wet filter, wick, or belt. They are mainly used to humidify one room. The filters are replaceable, and you need to clean them as often as required. 

Most filters used by a good quality evaporator last one season without the need to replace. These humidifiers are good to use for a while, but prolonged use can dispense a lot of moisture into the air and encourage the growth of allergens.

Steam vaporizers use electricity to heat the water used in the tank and disperse it into the air around you like a warm mist. The mist is warm and is helpful for those with respiratory conditions. These devices are portable and inexpensive.

Some models come with a separate compartment to add inhalants and vapopads to get relief from cough and cold. However, you need to be careful in getting close to these devices due to the risk of burns from warm steam. You shouldn’t use this type of humidifier if you have children at home.

Impeller humidifiers are also budget-friendly and feature rotating disks running at high speeds. The disks produce a frequent stream of cool mist that's expelled through comb-like diffusers. The fine water droplets appear like cool fog leaving the humidifier's outlet.

Impellers come with no risk of burns, making them child-friendly. They are suitable for one room, but overuse can worsen conditions like asthma.

Similar to ultrasonic humidifiers, impellers also pose the risk of bacteria growth if the water is not changed regularly. Besides, they also expel minerals in the water, if any, to the air around you. These can accumulate as dust in your room.

For large rooms, you need to look for a unit that can hold a lot of water and can cover a wider area. Other features like built-in humidity and mist settings can help maintain the room humidity at an optimum level without discomfort. 

A big room needs a big humidifier to moisten air effectively. The larger the water tank, the more mist it dispenses. A larger water tank capacity limits refilling frequency and can humidify your large room for a longer time. Go for a humidifier containing a water tank with a minimum one gallon capacity. 

The best choice will be a humidifier with dual tanks that has a higher mist time. Larger tanks such as those with four gallons and above are ideal for larger rooms and can run the whole day. However, with bigger water tanks, the device will be heavy and becomes less portable.

To humidify a large room, you need a device that expels mist to a larger area. A central humidifier is the best choice to humidify every corner of the house. Before buying the humidifier, measure the area of your space and look for the area specification mentioned in the product description. 

It's not worth it to use a smaller humidifier for a bigger room. Neither should you go for a humidifier with a smaller coverage area. They are not capable of adding enough humidity to a large room. 

At the same time, you should not go for a humidifier with a coverage area of more than what you require. This can result in too much humidity and lead to problems. Tower humidifiers, which are taller than regular humidifiers, are also popular. 

Most humidifiers make a certain level of noise. Some can be heard significantly, while some only make a humming noise. A low decibel or dB specification means that the device operates quietly.

Some humidifiers are designed to perform at whisper-quiet levels, regardless of what speed you set them to. You can find many ultrasonic models that operate silently. Pay attention to this feature while buying a humidifier for a bedroom. 

Some humidifiers feature adjustable timers to control the mist time. Some have an auto shut-off option that prevents waterless operation and shuts off the device for its safety in case it runs out of water. Having this feature also eliminates the need to manually shut off the device.

The speed level decides how much mist is dispensed at a time. Large room humidifiers come with mainly three-speed settings – high, medium, and low. The settings come in handy when you need to adjust the levels as the humidity in the air around you is subject to changes.

Some devices feature a dial to adjust the intensity from minimum to maximum. Other devices have an auto mode that automatically regulates the humidity inside the room and sets it to an ideal level. Once the desired humidity level is reached, the unit shuts off.

The advanced type of humidifiers features both warm and cool mist settings. While set to warm mist, the water heats up to a higher temperature and kills the germs to dispense a warm mist outside. It is beneficial during the winter months and can lightly heat the room while giving you respite from dry air.

Likewise, the cool setting from a humidifier expels cool mist and is suitable for use during summer months. Cool mist is beneficial for those with allergies such as asthma and respiratory problems, as it can relax your lungs.

Not all humidifiers come with a remote control. But those that do make operation easy by letting you control the device from a distance. They can be very handy when you are using a humidifier for a baby’s room.

The ideal humidity level for a room is between 30% and 50%. A humidifier with a built-in humidistat can help you maintain optimal humidity levels in your room. If your device does not have a humidistat, go for a hygrometer, which is an external device to measure humidity inside the room.

The warranty is a way of ensuring you’re buying the product from a trustworthy manufacturer. Most good quality humidifiers come with a minimum of three years' warranty. 

All devices wear out over time and might require maintenance and repairs from time to time. So you need to make sure the manufacturer is a reputed one. Reading customer reviews about the manufacturer could help.

You should change the water inside the tank every day to prevent deposits inside. It’s recommended to use low-mineral water, such as distilled water, to prevent white deposits and maintain proper functioning of humidifiers. Before adding new water, empty the tank and then dry the inside.

If using an ultrasonic or an electric humidifier, unplug the unit before cleaning. Clean the water tank every two to three days to keep it free from germs, mold, and mildew. If you are using a cleaning solution to clean the inside, rinse thoroughly to remove any chemicals left afterward. 

Use a descaler whenever necessary, to remove scales and rust. Also, check the mist outlet to ensure it is clean to allow the proper flow of mist. You should also change the filters, if any, as soon as they get dirty or as recommended by the device manufacturer.

Here's our list of 10 best humidifiers for large rooms that you can find online!

By now you know how to buy the ideal device to humidify a large room. How about some additions to make breathing better and to make your space smell clean? Please see our recommendations below. 

Author: Biji Ravindran

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