Best Humidifier For Allergies

Comparison Chart

Humidifier for Allergies Buyer’s Guide

Humidifiers and Allergies

Maintaining the right humidity levels at home is essential for the treatment of allergies. When the air is too dry, allergies like allergic rhinitis become aggravated because your nasal passages are irritated, which could lead to a sinus infection. Conversely, when the air is too humid, it creates the perfect environment for allergens such as mold, mildew, and dust mites to thrive.

Keeping the humidity between 30%-50% with the help of a humidifier can help clear your nasal passages and relieve any discomfort you may feel from allergic reactions. Having clear nasal passages helps rid your body of any allergens to which you might have been exposed. Having well-balanced humidity will ensure that mold and dust mites are minimized.

How Humidifiers Work to Limit Allergens

A good humidifier will significantly reduce the growth of allergens by creating an environment in which they are unable to thrive. As previously mentioned, common allergens like dust mites and mold can’t grow when humidity levels hit 30%-50%. By keeping the humidity at this level, humidifiers prevent these allergens from surviving in your home.

For the humidifier to remove allergens there needs to be mechanism that separates them from the air. Evaporative humidifiers that use a wick filter can do this as both the water and dry air pass through the filter before being released back into the room. Minerals and other pollutants are then trapped in the filter to allow clean, moisturized air to leave the humidifier.

An air washer is a type of humidifier that is also marketed as an air purifier because it can effectively lessen air pollutants in the vicinity. These air washers use an evaporative system but are usually more expensive than regular evaporative humidifiers. With these air washers, pollutants get trapped in evaporative mats or disks inside the humidifier.

The pros and cons of humidifiers for allergies:

1. Substantial room coverage – Although this is generally desirable for a humidifier regardless of planned use, larger room coverage will ensure that larger areas of your house remain comfortable for you.
2. Medicinal cup or compatibility with essential oils – You can add medicinal inhalants to medicinal cups built into humidifiers for added relief from cold, flu, and allergy symptoms. The same goes for humidifiers that are compatible with essential oils. Essential oils like lavender and peppermint can help alleviate allergic reactions.
3. Easy to clean – This is an essential requirement if you’re planning to use a humidifier for your allergies. An awkwardly shaped humidifier will be challenging to clean and may leave places for mold, mildew, and bacteria to grow. When left unchecked, these microorganisms can be released into the air when you use your humidifier.
4. With an antimicrobial feature – Although it isn’t required, having an antimicrobial feature on your humidifier can be beneficial to ensure that the growth of mold and bacteria is reduced.
5. With a filter – If you want your humidifier to get rid of allergens, then you’ll want one that has a filter. A filter effectively removes air pollutants as well as prevent white dust from spreading.

The disadvantages of humidifiers for allergies

1. Frequent cleaning – If you don’t maintain your humidifier you could be putting mold spores back into the atmosphere, and that defeats the object of owning a humidifier in the first place.
2. Replacement filters – Remember to factor in the long-term running costs before you commit to buying a humidifier. Some replacement filters are expensive and have to be changed every 2-3 months.
3. White Dust – In areas with high mineral content water expect an element of white dust residue on your surfaces. You can buy filters that reduce this but they are expensive.

FAQ

What is white dust and how can you prevent it?

If the water you put into your humidifier has a high mineral content, you are going to suffer with white dust. When a humidifier uses tap or unfiltered water, the mist it produces often leaves dried mineral deposits or “white dust” on furniture and other surfaces. For most people, white dust isn’t a cause for concern, but it may be problematic for people who suffer from allergies, asthma, or other respiratory health conditions.

To prevent the spread of white dust, it’s best to use distilled or demineralized water for your humidifier. Unfortunately, this may add up to quite a hefty sum in the long run since distilled water is more expensive. Another option would be to purchase a demineralization cartridge for your humidifier which traps minerals before they become airborne. Otherwise, you can opt for an evaporative humidifier which has a wick filter that removes minerals from water before releasing it into the room.

How often should I clean my humidifier?

A humidifier could potentially be a double-edged sword when it comes to allergies. Due to the water it holds, a humidifier can be a breeding ground for dust mites, mold, and bacteria. When a humidifier is poorly maintained, these microorganisms are released into the room, doing more harm than good.

That’s why it’s important to stick to a strict cleaning schedule for your humidifier, and always read the instruction manual.

Manufacturers suggest thoroughly cleaning the humidifier once a week with white vinegar and bleach. The white vinegar is for descaling the humidifier and for removing any mineral deposits that might be stuck to the walls of the water tank and other parts of the humidifier. The bleach is for disinfection, making sure that the humidifier is free from any bacteria or mold. However, for safety purposes, it’s important to rinse the humidifier parts after bleaching so that you don’t end up inhaling any harmful chemicals.

Should I get a humidifier or an air purifier for allergies?

While humidifiers and air purifiers go hand in hand in improving overall air quality, their functions are different, and it would be impossible to expect one to be able to replace the other.

If you’re looking to remove pollutants like pollen, dust, smoke, volatile organic compounds, and odors, then you’re better off with a HEPA air purifier. A good HEPA air purifier will be able to lower the particle count in a room to zero in seconds. If air pollution isn’t too much of a problem and you’re just looking to make your home a little more comfortable, then a humidifier might be a better fit. If you’re looking for one device to both purify and humidify the air, though, then you might be interested to know about air purifier-humidifier combos. Read our review on the best air purifier-humidifier combos here.

What is an ideal tank capacity?

The ideal tank capacity will be different for each person and will depend on what you’re planning to use the humidifier for. If you’re planning to use it for traveling, then a smaller tank would be better. You might even consider a water-bottle humidifier.

However, generally speaking, a tank capacity of at least 1 gallon would be best. Humidifiers with a tank capacity of 1 gallon or more will be able to run for up to 30 hours before having to be refilled. Of course, this duration would depend on the model and brand of humidifier that you’re using, so it’s best to check these numbers first before making a purchase.

Final Thoughts

Whether you suffer or have a family member who suffers from allergies, introducing a humidifier into your home will bring benefits. And at night, when you could argue we are more susceptible to allergens, a humidifier could make the difference for a restful sleep.