Cool mist humidifiers work in a way that moisture streams from the pan to raise a Relative Humidity (RH) level in your room. But does a cool mist humidifier make the room cold? Your instinct may answer “yes”, but it is not as obvious as it seems at first.
Does a cool mist humidifier make the room cold?
A cool mist humidifier may make the room feel cooler. However, cool mist humidifiers may also make the room warmer sometimes.
As the humidity raises, you feel how the temperature raises, too.
If it was the only reason why you wanted to buy a cool mist humidifier, you may check the following paragraphs to find more ones or at least find out what kinds of mist humidifiers there are.
Cool mist humidifiers: types
It is easier to differentiate between mist humidifiers by calling one type warm and the other one cool, but there are more factors that you may pay attention to.
Evaporative humidifier
- does not have any heating element
- has a basin that makes the air moisture
- takes the air from the room and after moisturizing gives it back
- the easiest system of humidifying
- costs less
If you use an evaporative cool mist humidifier, it can save you much money if you treat it with caution, and it will work for many years.
Ultrasonic humidifier
- needs less energy for working
- works by breaking water molecules at high speeds by a vibrating plate and then releasing them into the air
- releases an ultra-fine mist
- operates mostly quiet
- compact size
If you choose an ultrasonic humidifier, you need not replace the filter as in the previous one, but you still have to clean it and change the distilled water.
However, this type of cool mist humidifier can spread dust into your space.
The Impeller humidifier
- operates on a disk that makes water droplets.
- release stem into a larger space.
Warm mist humidifiers
Warm mist humidifiers operate on boiling water and then streaming it into the air. They make the air feel warm in your room and can help you to raise the humidity levels in a small space.
What are the benefits of a cool mist humidifier and a warm one?
Benefits of Warm Mist Humidifier
Relieving congestion
The warm mist produced by the humidifier can help to relieve congestion and ease respiratory symptoms such as coughing and congestion, especially during the cold winter months.
Improving sleep
The humidifier can help to keep the air moist, which can prevent dry throat and nasal passages, making it easier to breathe and promoting a more restful sleep.
Alleviating dry skin
Dry air can lead to dry skin, and a warm mist humidifier can help to alleviate this problem by adding moisture to the air and preventing skin from becoming overly dry and itchy.
Reducing static electricity
Dry air can cause static electricity, which can be particularly annoying during the winter months. A warm mist humidifier can help to reduce the amount of static electricity in the air, making it easier to move around and reducing the risk of damage to electronic devices.
Improving air quality
A warm mist humidifier can help to improve the overall air quality in a room by adding moisture to the air and reducing the amount of dry, stagnant air. This can be particularly beneficial for those with allergies or asthma.
Relieving sinus pain
The warm mist produced by the humidifier can help to relieve sinus pain and pressure by adding moisture to the sinuses, making it easier to breathe and reducing inflammation.
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Benefits of Cool Mist Humidifier
Relieving respiratory symptoms
A cool mist humidifier can help to relieve respiratory symptoms such as coughing, congestion, and sinus irritation by adding moisture to the air and making it easier to breathe.
Improving sleep
The humidifier can help to keep the air moist, preventing dry throat and nasal passages, which can lead to snoring and other sleep disturbances.
Soothing dry skin
Cool mist humidifiers can help to alleviate dry skin by adding moisture to the air and preventing skin from becoming overly dry and itchy.
Reducing static electricity
Dry air can cause static electricity, which can be particularly annoying during the winter months. A cool mist humidifier can help to reduce the amount of static electricity in the air, making it easier to move around and reducing the risk of damage to electronic devices.
Improving air quality
A cool mist humidifier can help to improve the overall air quality in a room by adding moisture to the air and reducing the amount of dry, stagnant air. This can be particularly beneficial for those with allergies or asthma.
Providing relief from allergies and asthma
A cool mist humidifier can help to alleviate symptoms of allergies and asthma by adding moisture to the air, reducing the amount of allergens in the air, and making it easier to breathe.
I also recommend reading: How you can get cool air from one room to another?
Do these humidifiers have weak sides?
Warm mist humidifier
Due to the minerals it accumulates, it may be difficult to clean a warm mist humidifier on your own.
Cool mist humidifier
This type of mist humidifier is better for families with small kids and that is why many parents choose it for the reason of not harming their children.
I also recommend reading: How much water should a dehumidifier collect in a day?
Portable and permanent humidifiers
A permanent humidifier, also a Central Humidifier, usually is much bigger than a portable one. If you have a space that is always dry and you want to raise humidity levels there, you can place it in that room. As for the portable humidifiers, you may look at the next paragraph.
Where can I keep the portable humidifier?
- Bedroom. The best room if you have a sore throat. If you have a cool mist humidifier, not a warm one, you can place it near your bed. But you should pay attention to the noise: some models are loud while operating, and that is why you may have problems with sleeping with your modifier on.
- Office. This room is the best for keeping a humidifier if you work from home and spend most of your time there.
- Children’s room. Babies can also have allergies or problems with the skin, and a cool mist humidifier or a warm one can help them by adding moisture into their room so they will feel better.
- Rooms with plants. Some people enjoy having plants in their rooms and you should know that herb demands a high RH level.
Anyway, you should not keep your cool mist humidifier near gadgets or other electrical instruments.
They do not like humidity at all. High humidity levels can cause corrosion.
FAQ
Can a mist humidifier help in summer?
When you feel that there is dry air in your home, it is better to use it even if it is hot outside, it will not harm you. Also, it can improve the condition of your dry skin if you have this problem.
But you should check your humidity level in this space before turning it on, if this level is not low, there is no need for a mist humidifier.
How can mist humidifiers help in winter?
In winter, the RH level at home usually is low and that is why that dry air can only bring problems to your nasal passages. If you want to improve the air quality in your room, you should use it despite the fact it is winter outside. It even helps to make the room feel warmer.
Can I use my humidifier all the time?
You can, but the humidity levels may change throughout the year and that is why you should be attentive and check it each season.
How often should I clean my cool mist humidifier?
Any humidifier should be cleaned once or twice a week. You should also change the water regularly. All humidifiers need distilled water.
Does a humidifier make a room feel warmer or cooler?
You can feel a bit chilly when your cool mist humidifier is working, but in fact, it can reduce only a few degrees. However, if the humidity level is high, the temperature can even raise a bit.
Conclusion
The cool mist humidifier is louder than the warm mist humidifier, but it can help you to improve your condition like asthma, and reduce itching. They also can spread pathogens so you should clean them constantly. You should not use tap water with any kind of humidifier. This water can contain different bacteria and so you will spread them.
You may choose an evaporative humidifier or an ultrasonic humidifier if you want to have a cool mist. Ultrasonic humidifiers are energy-efficient. You can use your cool mist humidifier at any time of the year if there is a low humidity level at your house.
Some models of cool mist humidifiers include monitors which can help you to check an RH level at home.
There are different places for portable humidifiers. If you do not want to have noise close to you, you should choose an ultrasonic cool mist humidifier. Ultrasonic humidifiers are also small in size and they will not take up a lot of space.
The evaporative cool mist humidifier costs less than the previous type and its system works much easier so you will not have many problems while cleaning it. Evaporative humidifiers operate like a bowl of water left in a room.
Humidifiers can also make your room feel cooler and fresher or feel the cool air in it, but a warm mist can also make you feel warmer in the winter months. They also can help you to recover from different conditions such as asthma, cold, flu, and many others.
It is up to you to choose which one fits you best when you know all the issues you can face.
