Home is your sanctuary, and you shouldn’t make any compromises with its comfort levels. And a great addition to your home’s comfort elements is a humidifier. But before purchasing it, you need to know what kind of humidifier is more suitable for you: A warm mist humidifier or a cool mist humidifier?
Humidifier-buying guides will tell you that the latter is the more affordable option. But is it the better of the two? And, exactly what does cool mist humidifier do? Read on to get your questions (and more) answered.
Table of Contents
What Does Cool Mist Humidifier Do?
The purpose of a humidifier is to increase the moisture in your surrounding air. A cool mist humidifier, as the name suggests, adds cold moisture. This added moisture increases the humidity in the air in a given space without raising its temperature.
Instead, a cool mist humidifier may lower the temperature of the indoor air it’s running upon. Hence, it is more suitable for warmer conditions.
What Types of Cool Mist Humidifiers Are There?
Three common types of cool mist humidifiers that you’ll see online sources rave about are Evaporative, Ultrasonic Humidifiers, and Impellers. Let’s look at how they differ from each other.
Evaporative Humidifier
Used by people for decades, this type of humidifier fans air through a paper, cloth, or wick filter located inside a tank of water at the bottom of the appliance. The filter absorbs the water, which then vaporizes and is sprayed into the surrounding, increasing the humidity.
Ultrasonic Humidifier
These humidifiers use ultrasonic vibrations to release a cool vapor into the surrounding air. The mechanism involves a metal diaphragm that vibrates at an ultrasonic speed, turning the water into ultra-fine water droplets or mist.
Then, the mist is released into the air outside, raising the humidity in the area yet giving off a cooling effect.
Impellers
These function somewhat similarly to ultrasonic humidifiers. However, instead of using ultrasonic vibrations, a rotating disc projects water through a diffuser which breaks the water down into fine water droplets.
The water droplets are then diffused into your room, as cool, foggy mist.
What Are the Benefits of a Cool Mist Humidifier?
If you’ve read this far, you now have a basic idea about cool mist humidifiers and how they function. But one pressing question remains unanswered. Why purchase a cool mist humidifier at all?
A cool mist humidifier is a device that increases the moisture or humidity level in the air by releasing a fine mist of cool water vapor. It works by using various methods to disperse water into the air, such as ultrasonic vibrations, a fan, or a wick. Here are some of the main functions and benefits of a cool mist humidifier:
1. Relieves Congestion:
Both warm and cool mist humidifiers alleviate allergies, sinuses, sore throats, allergies, congestion, etc., that are worsened by the otherwise dry indoor air.
Ultrasonic cool mist humidifiers can stop bacteria and viruses from entering your respiratory system. The water molecules combine with the airborne microbes and increase their weight, causing them to fall — and you don’t end up breathing them in. Asthma patients greatly benefit from these humidifiers.
2. Keeps You Cool:
Unlike warm mist humidifiers, the cool mist ones won’t cause any heating effect in your surroundings. Hence, during summertime and in hot, dry regions this type of humidifier is more suitable.
It is also a good fit for your home in winters when the air in your room turns into desert air due to indoor heating.
3. Soothes Babies:
A cool mist humidifier is an ideal soother for babies in nurseries who face breathing problems due to nasal blockage. The humidifier enables cool moist air to pass through their nostrils which helps improve their breathing.
4. Safer for Pets and Babies:
Another reason why nurseries and homes with children and pets use this type of humidifier over the warm ones is the safety they ensure. Cool mist humidifiers don’t run the risk of burning your skin from touching the device or spilling scalding water as warm humidifiers or vaporizers do.
5. Cheaper
As already mentioned, these humidifiers are cheaper. The mechanism is mostly natural, and there’s no need to heat the water. Hence, they require less electricity than warm mist vaporizers do and are quite cost-effective.
6. Covers Larger Areas
With cool mist humidifiers, the cool misty air spread uniformly over larger areas than with warm mist humidifiers. Even a small cool mist humidifier covers a bigger area than a large warm mist humidifier.
7. Protects Wooden Furniture
Low humidity levels can cause wooden furniture and floors to dry out and crack. Maintaining proper indoor humidity with a humidifier can help preserve the integrity of wood.
8. Reduces Static Electricity
Dry air can lead to an excess of static electricity, which can cause annoying shocks and damage to electronic devices. A humidifier can reduce static electricity by adding moisture to the environment.
9. Supports Houseplants
Some indoor plants thrive in higher humidity levels. Using a humidifier can create a more favorable environment for houseplants.
10. Sleep Improvement
Adding moisture to the air can help prevent dry throat and nasal passages, potentially leading to a more restful night’s sleep.
What Are the Setbacks of Cool Mist Humidifiers?
While there are some quite strong reasons for choosing cool mist humidifiers over their warm counterparts, they sadly don’t come free of problems. Before we wrap up, take a look at some of these setbacks.
- Fans used in evaporative humidifier makes constant noise, which can be disturbing, especially when sleeping.
- The “cool-misted” air can be a little chilly, making it difficult to use in cold dry winters.
- Minerals (if tap water is used), microorganisms, or dust may get combined with the mist and released into the air. The diffused minerals may accumulate on furniture and permanently stain it. Unfortunately, any unwanted dust may aggravate asthma and allergies.
- No heating creates a breeding ground for bacteria.
What does a humidifier do why you need it
Final Words
Learning about what does cool mist humidifier do was the first step of updating your home. Now that you have your question answered and your doubts cleared, move on to the next step — getting one that suits your needs the most!
It’s important to note that cool mist humidifiers do not heat the water, so they do not raise the room’s temperature. They are generally considered safe to use and are available in various sizes and designs to suit different needs and room sizes. Proper maintenance, such as regular cleaning and changing of the water, is essential to prevent the growth of mold and bacteria in the humidifier.
Cool Mist Humidifier Relevant Post
Where To Place Cool Mist Humidifier in Room
Do Cool Mist Humidifiers Kill Germs In Your Home?
Williams Kane is a blogger and writer. He’s passionate about writing and connecting with the community, especially when it comes to sharing his ideas through writing.
I am a versatile author with a passion for exploring a wide range of topics on our multi-niche website. With a background in research and a love for writing, I bring a unique blend of expertise to our platform.
My journey began in the world of science, where I earned a degree in biology and developed a deep fascination for the natural world. This background enables me to delve into topics related to ecology, environmental conservation, and the wonders of the animal kingdom.
However, my curiosity knows no bounds, and I have ventured into various other niches as well. From technology trends and digital innovations to health and wellness tips, I strive to provide well-researched and engaging content that informs and entertains our diverse audience.
Furthermore, my dedication to staying current with the latest developments in each niche ensures that our readers receive up-to-date and reliable information. Whether it’s deciphering complex scientific concepts or simplifying tech jargon, I take pride in making complex subjects accessible to all.
Join me on our multi-niche journey, where we explore the depths of knowledge and share insights on a multitude of topics to inspire, educate, and entertain.
