As the cold winter months settle in, you may notice that it’s a bit harder to breathe and your skin is starting to crack. The unpleasant side effects of dry air are an unfortunate part of winter, but they don’t have to be. Investing in the best steam humidifier can add much needed moisture to your home and leave you feeling much more comfortable.
There are two types of steam humidifiers: room models and whole house ones. While room models can produce enough vaporized air to cover a bedroom or a living room, whole house humidifiers tap into your existing heating system to direct humid air into your whole home. We have rounded up the five best steam humidifiers, including different models of each type. Our reviews focus on important features such as tank capacity and coverage area. This will allow you to find the best warm steam humidifier that will sufficiently meet your needs. For most people, we believe that our Editor’s Choice, the Steamfast SF-920 Warm Mist Humidifier and Steam Vaporizer, will be an excellent option.
More features: auto shut-off; filter-free design, 2 steam settings
There’s no better way to increase the humidity in your space than with this steadfast warm mist humidifier. The brand is popular for superior designs and performance and this humidifier is no exception. It is ruggedly built to offer full satisfaction. The company even offers a 2-year satisfaction guarantee together with an efficient and responsive customer care team .
The humidifier features a large removable tank that can carry content up to 0.8 gallons. The tank has an integrated handle that provides up to 2 gallons of output every 24 hours. Moreover, it has an easy top-fill design and a maximum fill indicator that makes refills super-easy.
The most unique thing about this Steamfast warm mist humidifier is its filter-free design. It doesn’t require any sterilization or mold killing agents either as it accumulates all the minerals left from your water after it boils. You can remove the mineral accumulation with vinegar. What’s more it is low-maintenance and aromatherapy ready. You can add any type of essential oil to the oil ring to enjoy your favorite aroma as your space gets humidified.
Another praiseworthy feature of this humidifier is the auto shut-off. It gives you peace of mind that even when you are not around or fall asleep, the unit will shut itself down. You will also love that the unit takes only 3 minutes to heat up and you can get the steam released into your space in 2 different ways.
More features: uses cold water, which may be hard, soft or softened; Automatic Digital Humidifier Control
Those that have a large home but still want the convenience of a steam humidifier should seriously consider the Aprilaire 800 Residential Steam Humidifier. With an impressive coverage area of 6,200 square feet, this product will ensure that moist air finds its way into every room in a house.
Simply install the Aprilaire 800 Residential Steam Humidifier so that it connects to your HVAC system and the humid air will flow through your existing ducts. There is a digital control panel so that you can set your optimal humidity levels and not have to constantly adjust them as the weather chances.
As for water capacity, depending on the electrical draw that you choose from, it can cycle through up to 34.6 gallons of water per day. You only need to use cold water, and don’t worry about whether it is hard or soft; either will work well with the Aprilaire 800 Residential Steam Humidifier. This is truly one of the best steam humidifiers for furnace use.
More features: Medicine Cup for use with liquid inhalants such as Vicks VapoSteam
For anyone who has suffered from a dry cough in the middle of winter, the Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier V745A is a product that you can’t pass by. It is harder to breathe dry air in, and as your nasal passage becomes irritated, it can leave you considerably uncomfortable. Furthermore, if your nose is clogged, you will breath through your mouth, which can leave you with a painfully dry mouth and lips.
Thankfully, with the Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier V745A you can combine the benefits of warm, moist air with the soothing medicine of Vicks. Together this is a potent combination that will clear your sinuses and make it a lot easier to breathe. You will wake up feeling well rested and a lot happier.
This best steam humidifier for sinus problems is a smaller machine, which means that it is compact and fits well into even a tiny room. Due to its size, coverage area, no-filter design, and VapoSteam inhalants compatibility this model could also be nominated as the best filterless humidifier for bedroom.
The 3.8 liter water tank lasts for up to 12 hours, which means you can turn it on before bedtime and can rest easy knowing it will power through the night.
More features: includes the stainless steel humidifier assembly, automatic flushing timer, automatic humidistat, water filter, saddle valve, fan control relay, blower safety switch and mounting frame
Whether you live in a dry climate year round, or just can’t stand the intense dryness that winter brings, installing a whole house steam humidifier is a great idea. Not only is the Emerson HSP2000 Whole House Steam Humidifier convenient and easy-to-use, but after its initial installation, you don’t even have to remember about it, just let it do its work for you.
Included in the purchase is the humidifier itself as well as an installation kit, mounting frame, and control dial. Together, this means that you can easily control your humidity settings with the knowledge that everything will be taken care of.
The unit is recommended for spaces of up to 1,400 square feet in size which means it’s an ideal whole house humidifier for small and medium-sized houses.
Online reviews for the Emerson HSP2000 Whole House Steam Humidifier are nothing short of universal praise. While installation is best left in the hands of professionals, once installed it worked perfectly and there were very few reported problems.
More features: auto humidity control; 3 air-assisted steam temperature settings; 1-12 hour auto-off timer
The best steam humidifier that looks like it’s from the future is the Vornado Element A2 Air + Steam Humidifier. However, its design does have a purpose, and that is to make the humidity output as customizable as possible. The two tanks make it easy to refill and together they can cover an area of up to 1000 square feet. If you live in an apartment or have an open concept living area, then this is the product for you.
The simple control panel allow you to choose between cool, warm, or hot air. As well, the digital controls can be locked, in case any little fingers want to start playing with it. Another nice bonus is the fact that you can use essential oils with the Vornado Element A2 Air + Steam Humidifier, adding to its versatility and making it an ideal humidifier for cough and allergy symptoms relief. The Vernado is equipped with humidity control sensors that can not only measure the humidity level in your home, but also maintain your desired one. You can set the humidity level you want and rest assured that this machine will turn off once it has hit that level. Many users were really impressed with how responsive it was.
Purchasing your new steam humidifier can seem overwhelming, but the more information you have, the easier your experience will be. We’ve put together a list of the most important features to consider with a steam humidifier to help you decide what is best for your needs.
Steam humidifiers are energy-efficient which not only helps the environment, but reduces your utility bills, too. While traditional humidifiers need a lot of water to produce heated vapor, steam humidifiers need much less. While some steam humidifiers are stand-alone products, many are able to be connected to your home heating system. Then they work in tangent with the naturally heated air to add moisture which is radiated throughout the whole house. If you have extremely dry air in your home and want the continuous benefits of moisture in the air, then investing in a steam humidifier is a good idea.
There are two types of steam humidifiers on our list: stand-alone products that come with a water tank, and system products that hook up to your HVAC system. For whole house system steam humidifiers, you get the benefit of not having to worry about refilling water tanks, as the water input is continuous.
For stand-alone products, the water tank will need to be refilled continuously to run your steam humidifier. The Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier V745A has the smallest water tank, with a capacity of 3.8 liters. It can only work for about 12 hours before needing to be refilled. The Steamfast SF-920 Warm Mist Humidifier and Steam Vaporizer has a much larger water tank capacity, of 13.25 liters, and can run for 24 hours on one refill.
For stand-alone steam humidifiers, the water tank capacity will determine the mist time. Basically, the smaller the water tank, the less time steam will be produced. As for whole home system steam humidifiers, the maximum output will vary by construction and power. The Aprilaire 800 Residential Steam Humidifier is by far the most powerful system on our list and has a maximum output of 34.6 gallons per day, which means that it will work for very large homes.
Some steam humidifiers, like the Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier V745A, are stand-alone machines that are made for one room, such as a bedroom or living room. Other steam humidifiers, like the Aprilaire 800 Residential Steam Humidifier can cover an entire house. There’s no need to purchase a humidifier that won’t work for the space you need.
If you live in a small apartment, or just want a humidifier for night time use, then you can save a bit of money with a smaller appliance. If, however, you want to alleviate your entire home of dry air, then a large steam humidifier that can tie into your existing heating system is the right way to go.
The incessant hum of a heating and steam humidifier system around the clock can drive anyone a bit batty. Therefore, noise level is a serious concern. Thankfully, the products on our list all have minimal noise levels, which means that even as it cycles through at night, your sweet dreams won’t be disrupted.
While some steam humidifiers are made for the whole house, those that are made for individual rooms may have the option of being an essential oil diffuser. This feature allows you include a few drops of an essential oil to the machine which is then dispersed into the air. The result is a subtle fragrance that can elevate your mood. The Steamfast SF-920 Warm Mist Humidifier and Steam Vaporizer is one product on our list that can double as an essential oil diffuser.
If you plan on using a steam humidifier in a room, then be sure you know where you want to place it ahead of time to ensure it will fit. Some steam humidifiers have nice aesthetics, and therefore will blend in with your home’s décor. Others can be a bit obtrusive and you will want to hide them.
For those wanting to purchase a steam humidifier to work in conjunction with your heating system, be sure to look first at how you will hook everything up. While most steam humidifiers are built fairly compact, your existing space may determine what size will actually work with your current system.
In addition to these standard features, your steam humidifier may come with something extra that will really set it apart from the rest. Automatic shut off is important for stand-alone steam humidifiers as it is a crucial safety element. Timers are also great as you can set your humidifier for a few hours at night and not have to worry about shutting it off while you’re asleep. Some humidifiers require filters. If this is the case, it’s a nice bonus if extra filters are included in the purchase.
We hope that the products chosen for our article will help you decide on which steam humidifier will work best for you.
The Steamfast SF-920 warm mist humidifier and steam vaporizer is our best overall pick because of its removable large capacity tanks and ease of use. It has a simple top-fill design for easier refills and maintenance. It also features auto shut-off for peace of mind and 2 steam settings for the ultimate aromatherapy experience.
If you want a whole home unit on a large scale, a further best steam humidifier is the Aprilaire 800 Residential Steam Humidifier. It has easy-to-use settings and allows you to breathe a little bit easier knowing that you don’t have to deal with dry air anymore.
Finally, as a budget pick, our recommendation is the Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier V745A. This model is especially good if you want to relieve some medical issues such as dry cough since you can use this thing with Vicks VapoSteam liquid inhalants.
