Warm Mist Humidifier Guide

Do you know the difference between a warm mist humidifier and a vaporizer? The answer is actually pretty simple, but important. While doctors all agree that humidifiers and vaporizers do just as well at relieving dry skin issues, helping cold symptoms, etc., the way that they do it is slightly different. In short, a humidifier puts cool mist into the air, while a vaporizer releases hot steam from a boiler attached to the unit. Again, they both do essentially the same things: They increase the humidity in the room. So, which one should you get? Which one is best for your children?

Well, in my opinion it comes down to safety. Being that humidifiers put out a cooler mist into the room, there is no risk of being scalded by the output of one of these units. This goes for both warm mist and cool mist humidifiers alike; the difference there is that a warm mist humidifier has a second stage cooling “section” that cools the water before being sprayed out. Cool mist humidifiers simply spray the mist as-is. Either way you go, the mist is cool when it comes out. That’s the safe thing to do for your baby, again, in my humble opinion.

Vaporizers can be a little bit hazardous, but people use them regularly without any issues. Vaporizers do not have a cooling section, so yes, you can be scalded or burned by the steam being put out. Also, many people feel that the warm steam put out by a vaporizer is a little bit less comfortable in warmer climates than a similar humidifier. A vaporizer can really add to the heat in the room. However, if you’re like me and live in a cooler climate, this can really create some more warmth in the room. You might actually like it, so try both.

So why would you get one over the other? Vaporizers are usually a little less expensive than a similar-capacity humidifier. This is because the air doesn’t need to be cooled after it’s been heated; simply boil and go. If you’re on a budget, you might consider getting a vaporizer. But, if safety is your top concern for your children, you might want to save up just a bit more and get a warm mist humidifier instead. It’ll serve the same purpose in the end.

Again, the trick here is to clean it constantly, no matter what it is. Bacteria isn’t your friend; even vaporizers with boiling water can release harmful bacteria into the air.

Related posts:

1. Warm or cool mist humidifiers for coughs and colds?