Best Cool Mist Humidifiers

After 3 weeks of crowdsourcing feedbacks and hands on testing, we conclude that the Bionaire Ultrasonic Filter-Free Tower Humidifier, BUL7933CT may be the best cool mist humidifier available in 2018. Owing to its large 3L tank capacity with 48 hours of straight use, the product basically excels in all the right departments [Read more].

Are you always suffering from a stuffy nose?

Are your day to day activities bugged down because of an annoying clogged nose?

If so then you must be sourcing over the internet for an instant remedy.

While there are several over the counter decongestants you can buy, the relief is only short term and will not last long.

As you probably have learned that The cool mist humidifiers may help to decongest clogged nose and treat other respiratory problems.

But the problem is, finding the right cool mist humidifiers to place in your room isn’t always simple as there are so many choices to look for.

Lucky for you, we have created this article to show you how to pick the right product, avoid bad brands and at the end we will show you our best 5 picks.

So without further ado.

Let’s dive in!

5 Best Cool Mist Humidifiers

What You Need to Consider Before Buying Cool Mist Humidifiers

Choosing a cool mist humidifier may seem like an easy task.

However, the fact is, there are several things that you need to consider.

1. Noise Level

One of the first thing that you need to consider is the noise level of the humidifier. This is important since humidifiers are usually turned on when you sleep or when you want to rest.​

Because of this, you would not want one that sounds like an old humming aircon, you might not be able to rest under the annoying noise of the humidifier.

Product packages and labels usually come with the noise level rating. So with this, it is suggested that you take a look at these ratings before buying them. Noise levels come in numerical ratings. They usually appear at the back or bottom portion of the unit​

2. Auto Shut Off Feature

There are several cool mist humidifiers that come with an auto shut off feature. This feature is also important since it saves time for you to constantly check on the unit and turn it off manually.

With this function, you can doze off in peace while leaving the unit to turn off at a certain time.

Leaving too much humidity in a room is not good since it retains moisture in the room, resulting to accumulated moisture in appliances leading to eventual damage to them. Moreover, having this feature also saves you a lot of money for your electric bills.

​With the auto shut off feature, you are able to set the level of humidity emitted as well as the desired time for emission.​

3.​ Antibacterial Feature

Not all cool mist humidifiers have the capacity to remove bacteria and microorganisms in the unit. Some units employ the use of antibacterial agents such as phenol and hypochlorite embedded in the system to help remove or prevent the accumulation of harmful pathogenic microorganisms.

More advanced humidifiers come with special filters or cartridges with antibacterial agents while recent innovations employ the use of UV light to do this function. You will know if the humidifier comes with this feature because manufacturers usually place them in the packaging or labels.​

4.​ Area Coverage

​A good cool mist humidifier must also have ample area coverage. Humidifiers have a wide array of coverage ranging from a small room to even a large function room.

Before considering a humidifier, you must first know its area coverage as you would not want to have one that can power an entire large function hall when all you have is a small bedroom. Because of this, there will be excess moisture and humidity in your area.​

If you want a safer option you can always opt for a cool mist humidifier with a large coverage area and then place it in the center area or the living room. This way, you will be able to humidify several rooms with one unit.

5. Tank Capacity

One of the important things to consider is a humidifier with a large tank capacity. A humidifier with a large tank capacity will elicit few frequencies of water refilling. That way, you don’t need to constantly check on the unit whether it has adequate water supply.

Moreover a large tank capacity will also be able to humidify a room for more time compared to those with smaller capacities.

​​6. Maintenance

​Lastly, you also need to consider a humidifier with lesser maintenance needed. This is important as you would not want to constantly clean the unit over and over again.Humidifiers

can accumulate an amount of mold and mildew, because of this clean up and maintenance is a must. With the advent of advanced technology, newer humidifiers have employed the use of self cleaning options with a single touch of a button.

With this, you save time in cleaning the unit.​

How We Assessed and Evaluated These Products

We have scoured the market and the internet regarding potential cool mist humidifiers which possess the necessary traits of a reliable and durable product.

In line with this, we also sought recommendations from our peers and friends. As expected, there were several cool mist humidifiers (over 30) that come with several features and functionalities. To be honest, it was overwhelming and confusing.

So we thought it would be a great thing to be able to narrow down the list of products so that you do not need to spend too much time on research.

We started doing so by establishing the common buying criteria based on the feedback and opinion we have gathered from our peers and friends.

The criteria we focused on were durability, output, ease of use, noise level as well as maintenance.

After determining the criteria, we have designed a scoring system for each of the mentioned aspects. We have applied the same system to all the cool mist humidifiers shortlisted. We then aggregated the scores and categorized them in ascending order, with the highest score placed on the top spot.

The products that lagged behind in the different criteria mentioned above were eliminated to give way to the better performing ones. Through this, we were able to determine the top five based on the aggregated scores.

Aside from the scoring system, we also did hands on testing and crowd sourced opinions from reputable websites such as The Spruce and TheSweethome . Doing this allowed us to have a more holistic view of each of the shortlisted products. In addition, we also asked feedback from our peer reviewers regarding their opinion for each of the product.

As a result of this series of tests and research which lasted for 3 weeks, we were able to narrow down the list and come up with 5 of the best cool mist humidifiers for 2018.

In the product reviews below, we have highlighted the important features as well as our view of their pros and cons to help you further decide.

Product Reviews

The first entry on our list is the Vicks Incorporated V3900 Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier. Vicks, a known and reputable brand when it comes to making medicines for respiratory symptoms also have deviced a reliable and durable cool mist humidifier in the form of the V3900.

The primary goal of this product is to help people keep a fragrant and aromatic environment for their houses while also treating cold and flu symptoms.

The V3900 comes with a tank capacity of one gallon which is large enough to carry water for long durations. It also comes in two speed settings providing you with more humidifying options to choose from.

A full tank can be able to humidify a medium sized area for a whopping 18 hours. It operates with minimal to no noise ensuring you of a sound and peaceful sleep. The unit is dishwasher safe making it very convenient to clean and maintain.

One of our gripes with the product is the fact that it has an uninspired bland design. Moreover, another important disadvantage is that the coverage area is quite small. So don’t expect that it can power a large area like the living room or dining room.

The second entry on our list comes from another reputable brand, Honeywell. The HCM-350 boasts of their patented QuietCare feature which provides very minimal noise with each use. In fact, when we tested all the other products, we considered this one as the one which functions very quietly.

The product emits a calming and invisible moist air that helps improve breathing as well alleviates clogged sinuses. The amount of moisture it emits is regulated enough that is not overbearing or too much.

The HCM-350 comes with 3 speed settings that lets you adjust the moisture and sound level for each use. Having a tank capacity of one gallon, this humidifier is able to run to a whopping 24 hours of use at low setting. That is one day of cool and soothing air.

To aid in cleanup and maintenance, the product has a wicking filter which helps discard any impurities that may have accumulated in the unit. Most of the time, humidifiers suffer from white dust from hard water evaporation. This product removes accumulation of white dust with its clean up filter.

Moreover, the filter is embedded with antimicrobial agents to help reduce the presence of pathogenic microorganisms or molds. The unit is considered to be dishwasher safe making it easy to clean.

Our main caveats with this product is the fact that it is not meant for larger rooms. With this, you can only use it in small to medium sized rooms. Moreover, the unit is a bit bulky and large compared to the other humidifiers.

Another worthy entry on our list is the Bionaire Ultrasonic Filter-Free Tower Humidifier. This unit has one of the most compact and portable size. Despite its modest size, it packs an elegant and attractive design that is sure to astound. With its chrome accents, the product is definitely a stand out.

The humidifier houses an easy to clean filter that saves you time in cleaning and maintaining. Moreover, the filter comes with antimicrobial agents that help kill and reduce the accumulation of mold and bacteria.

The tank can hold up to 1.5 gallons of fluids, a capacity that is larger than most humidifiers available in the market nowadays. A full tank can last up to 48 hours of use, wow! That is 2 days of full use without any refilling required.

The Bionaire comes with 3 speed settings that can be adjusted according to your preferred moisture level and noise level. To top it all off, it has an LCD display that displays the amount of fluid inside as well as the other necessary information.

While the Bionaire seems great when we tested, its narrow size a bit disappointing. Because of its narrow yet tall stature, the product was prone to tipping over with only minimal force.

The fourth entry on our list is the Crane Drop Shape Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier. The unit comes with a large tank that can carry one gallon of water. A full tank of this unit will be able to power 24 hours of straight use.

The unit also comes with anti microbial material that is able to reduce the accumulation of mold and microorganisms up to 99.96% With this, you can expect that the unit stays safe and clean even after years of constant use.

Boasting a large coverage area, the Ultrasonic Cool Mist can humidify areas that even span up to 500 square feet. This allows users even at far distances within the house to breath easily and aid in sinus problems for a sound and peaceful sleep.

The main selling point of this cool mist humidifier is that it does not require the use of a filter. However take note that if you are using hard water, the water needs to be demineralized before filling into the tank.

To add more icing to the cake, it has an auto shut off sensor that automatically shuts off the unit whenever the water level is low. You can also set the time for the unit to turn off by itself.In terms of its cons, we would say that the unit needs a bit more in the design department. Moreover, we noticed excess moisture on nearby furniture.

The last but definitely not the least entry is the Air-O-Swiss Ultrasonic Humidifier 7147. The product features one of the shortlisted products largest coverage area. Being able to humidify rooms up to 600 square feet, the AOS 7147 is definitely one to look out for.

It is equipped with a tank that has a capacity of 3 gallons. A full tank is able to humidify your area to a whopping 24 hours. With this, constant refilling is not needed.

What sets this product apart from the others is the inclusion of three accessories which are the cartridge for demineralization, a Hydro cell to keep everything hygienic and clean as well as a descaler. While some consider these as useful, some consider them to just add more expenses.

It also features an auto mode function which allows the unit to operate automatically. Moreover, the product boasts of a very silent operation assuring you of silent and peaceful rest times.

It features an LCD display that shows you all the essential information.

Because of the added accessories, the unit can be pricey. Another caveat is that the unit does not come with a self cleaning feature, which can be found in even less expensive counterparts.

Our Recommendations:

Editor's Pick: Bionaire Ultrasonic Filter-Free Tower Humidifier

Owing to its large tank that can hold up 3 L of water, it can be able to power the unit up to 48 hours on low speed settings. Moreover, it has 3 speed settings to choose from, depending on your desired amount of moisture and gust of air.

It has an LCD Display that will able to notify you regarding the operation of the unit. To top it all of, it has an antimicrobial treated filter that can be able to reduce and prevent the accumulation of mold and bacteria.

In regards to the design and size, the unit definitely delivers. Because of this admirable traits, the Bionaire Ultrasonic Filter-Free Tower Humidifier may be the best bang for the buck cool mist humidifier in 2018.

Runners Up: Crane Drop Shape Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier and Air-O-Swiss Ultrasonic Humidifier 7147

Coming in at second place is the Crane Drop Shape Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier. It has a very useful auto shut off feature that lets the unit turn off whenever water level is low. Moreover, it allows you to doze off while never worrying about constantly refilling the tank.

The product boasts off a filter less function that allows the unit to operate without the use of a filter. A single full tank will able to power the unit for a whopping 24 hours of use.

Along with these admirable features, the product dons a durable and elegant design that is sure to make heads turn.

At third place is the Air-O-Swiss Ultrasonic Humidifier 7147. This product probably has the largest scope in coverage. In addition, the unit boasts of an LCD Display that lets you check the operation of the unit.

It dons a durable and elegant design that is sure to astound. A single full tank of the unit is able to power the humidifier up to 24 hours. Lastly, it has an auto mode function that lets you rest peacefully without the need to constantly check on the unit.