If you live in a drier climate or suffer from asthma and/or allergies adding a large room humidifier to your home is a simple solution to help you breathe easier. This can help with cold symptoms, improve the appearance of your skin by keeping it supple and moisturized, and even improve your sleep. However, it is essential to choose the proper size humidifier for your space. If you go too small it won’t properly bring the moisture level to the ideal 45%. If you go too big the excess moisture could form bacteria and mold growth on your wall which could potentially harm you and your family.
Here are some easy ways to find the right large room humidifier for your home.
Measure Your Space
Get out your handy tape measure and find the square footage of the bedroom, nursery, office, or living area you’ll be using the humidifier in. Once you have the width and length of your room then simply multiply the two numbers together. For example: a room that is 12 feet wide and 12 feet long you would multiply 12×12 to get a square footage of 144. If the room you require a humidifier for is an odd shape, break the room down into smaller sections that are easier to calculate and then simply add up the results.
Once you have the square footage of your space you will then want to take this measurement and compare it to the humidifiers you are shopping for. Humidifiers will vary in size from personal humidifiers, good for about 25 square feet, to large room humidifiers that work for up to 1,000 square feet.
Also take into consideration the floor plan of your home. If you want to use a humidifier but have an open floor plan you have to consider the total square footage of the open space. This is when a large room humidifier will be the only option.
Cool Mist vs Warm Mist
Humidifiers will either create cool mist or use heated coils to create a warm steam. There are pros and cons to each type. There are also dual humidifiers which allow you to choose what temperature the moisture output will be.
Cool Mist
Pros:
- Can help shrink swelling in nasal passages from cold/allergy symptoms
- Ultrasonic cool mist humidifiers are quieter and require no filter changes
- Aromatherapy options
- Safe around children and pets
- More energy efficient than warm mist humidifiers
Cons:
- Models with fan require wick changes and can be loud
- Can make a room feel colder
Warm Mist
Pros:
- Can make a room feel warmer during cold winter months
- Quiet since there is no fan required
- Better for small rooms and offices
- Healthy air since the boiling process which creates the steam kills off bacteria and mold
Cons:
- Can cause nasal swelling so not recommend for allergies or cold symptoms
- Hot water can be dangerous around children and pets
- Higher energy cost and output due to heating elements
Dual
Pros:
- Can create either warm or cool mist
- Allows you to choose depending on season
- Have specific settings that control humidity level in room
Cons:
- Bulky and more difficult to move and store
- More expensive than simpler models
Other Things to Consider
Once you know the size of your room and have decided on what type of humidifier to purchase also take into account:
- Maneuverability – how easy is the humidifier to move around your home and refill?
- Some models are incredibly bulky
- While these could cover a larger area they may be pesky to refill depending on the layout of your home
- For easier filling a tabletop option may be better, but will require more fills per week than a larger model
- Water Tank – how often will you have to fill the tank to keep the humidity in your room at the right level?
- For a typical large room (about 500 sq ft) a 6 liter tank should last about 50 hours before needing to be refilled.
- Cleaning Required– how often will you have to clean out the humidifier and how much work does sanitizing it entail?
- Check the consumer reports of the model you are considering
- Some involve rinsing and drying certain compartments daily
- Find and follow manufacturers instructions for proper cleaning
- Price– how much are you willing to spend on your new humidifier?
- Typically you can find the perfect option for your space for under $100
- Larger models with fancier settings, like control of moisture level, will cost more
- Small personal size humidifiers will cost less
- Models with filters or wicks may be cheaper up front but constantly replacing them may cost you more over time.
Hopefully with this guide you can find the perfect large room humidifier for your home.
Sources:
https://www.sylvane.com/cool-mist-humidifiers-and-warm-mist-humidifiers.html
https://bungalow.com/articles/how-to-calculate-square-feet-using-one-easy-formula
https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/humidifiers/buying-guide/index.htm
https://www.consumerreports.org/humidifier/right-size-humidifier-for-any-room-a8809021186/
https://www.everlastingcomfort.net/blogs/comfy-reads/small-room-humidifiers
