Best Humidifier for Asthma | Comparison, Guide and Reviews 2021

Too dry air in the house can lead to a series of problems. Those problems, such as chapped lips and itchy skin, are not only irritating but also harmful. But dry air can also make breathing problems like asthma worse and increase our risk for colds and the flu.

If you are suffering from asthma, your airways become thin. Pulling enough air into your lungs becomes challenging. Humid air can be more difficult to breathe. Additionally, it creates the air stagnant to trap pollutants. If the air is more difficult to breathe, it can cause asthma symptoms.

Air humidifiers can increase the humidity in the air and help prevent these problems. They can ease the environment, whether in a small room or throughout the house.

To determine the best humidifier for asthma at the moment, we did extensive research for quite some time. We will analyze the options at different prices so that you can choose the one that best suits your needs.

What Is Humidifier?

“A humidifier is a device that is responsible for maintaining optimum humidity for our body and preventing various respiratory problems related to dry air.”

In short, a humidifier is a device that aims to increase the humidity in a room. Many people have already verified that it is good to have a humidifier at home. And more and more are also installing them in events, commercial premises, or industrial spaces. 

A humidifier is used for asthma, allergies, babies' sound sleep, and many more. If there are indoor plants, then a humidifier for plants is used for your plants' good health.

The operation of a humidifier will depend on whether it is evaporative or ultrasonic.

An evaporative humidifier firstly collects the cold or hot water from the tank. Then passes water through a filter, later evaporates water through a fan and thus moistens the environment.

On the other hand, the ultrasonic humidifier manages to humidify the air thanks to a metal plate's vibration. The plate emits an ultrasonic sound that evaporates the water in the tank without making any noise.

8 Best Humidifier for Asthma: Review

We have made available only the brands that have received the most positive opinions and reviews from customers. Discover them all below and choose the one you prefer.

Here is the list of the best humidifier for asthma and allergies in 2021.

01. Honeywell HWM-705B: Best Warm Mist Humidifier For Asthma

Honeywell has always been around as one of the best options for asthma patients. As a result, the quality of this particular product will not disappoint you at all.

It is a warm mist humidifier with a 4-liter capacity. This allows you to use it for about 24 hours without worrying about filling water continuously. There is a sensor that automatically shuts down the device when empty. Also, the sensor gives the signal when the humidifier needs a refill.  Very quiet, and thus the device always keeps you at the optimum humidity levels without being aware.

Finally, it has an illuminated manual control and 2 moisture settings, ideal to select the mode that suits you. Warm steam produced by this humidifier helps relieve nasal congestion and dry cough, which also reduces the risk of asthma that occurs in winter with the use of heating and the environment's dryness.

Also, this humidifier has an essential oil tray for aromatherapy; all you have to do is buy your favorite flavor.

02. Pure Enrichment® MistAire™: Best Cool Mist Humidifier For Asthma

Next, we have a cool-mist humidifier from another well-known brand Pure Enrichment®. If you like something classy yet colorful with a unique design- this might be for you.

Ultrasonic cold steam, this humidifier comes with a smaller capacity, 1.5 liters. Maximum operating autonomy is 12 hours and with the capacity to generate 150ml/h. You can operate this humidifier with a single touch button.

The outlet nozzle can be rotated 360º to direct the water vapor in the direction we need it most. It shuts off automatically once your tank is used up. 

The ultra-quiet technology makes sleeping relaxing and comfortable. One of the best things is that this is a suitable humidifier for plants that moisturizes them. In short, this humidifier is the best friend for both you and your plants.

03. Honeywell HCM350B: Best Germ-Free Humidifier

Another Honeywell humidifier is on our list, this time with a different approach: germ-free. If we have to look for an adjective to describe this humidifier, we would say that it is robust and big.

Water tank's capacity is almost 4 liters, and we have enough autonomy of almost 24 hours. And best of all, you can regulate the amount of steam that comes out. The steam output can be adjusted in an analog way with a rotary knob.

Filling the tank is a simple task; it has a wide opening that allows it to be placed easily under the tap. To clean tank, we can insert a cloth through the same filling opening and clean the interior. Compared to other humidifiers, it is usually relatively quiet. Thus, being a humidifier for asthma patients, this humidifier ensures comfortable sleep all night.

As an important note, we must bear in mind that this humidifier is not suitable for oils or aromatic essences.

04. Everlasting Comfort Cool Mist Humidifier: Best Value For Money Humidifier

If you are still looking for the best humidifier on the market, let's check our next item from Everlasting. One of the best humidifier for asthma with a better value for money, so you can improve the air in your home without spending too much.

It is a large and powerful humidifier, which will allow you to vaporize up to 6 liters of water. Thanks to the manual control panel, the controls are very intuitive and will give you a large number of options for use.

A very remarkable feature is that it is filterless, so you don't need to spend more on filters. Unlike many other humidifiers, the Everlasting Comfort Cool Mist will also allow you to vaporize aromatic oils. In this way, in addition to improving the breathing, you can create a pleasant and perfumed environment with a single device.

05. Dyson 303516-01 AM10 Humidifier: Best Dual-Functional Humidifier

The Dyson AM10 humidifier is the ideal appliance for living in healthy spaces. The Air Multiplier ™ technology allows for uniform and long-range nebulization of clean and hydrated air.

It constantly detects the temperature and humidity of the air and kills 99.9% of bacteria. With an autonomy of about 18 hours and can be used in winter and summer (by virtue of the dual function). Because of quietness, this humidifier is also perfect during the night hours.

The tank capacity of this device is approximately 3 liters and has a remote control for managing the airflow. Dyson AM10 is specially designed and certified for use in the presence of allergic people. It guarantees sterilization of the water before nebulizing it for use as a humidifier.

06. Homech Cool Mist Humidifier: Best Ultrasonic Humidifier

Medium-high range model that, despite being largely due to its container's capacity, is very manageable because of its design. It incorporates all kinds of features, including a dial knob and 360-degree nozzle for convenience.

You do not have to continuously fill the water as in other models with less capacity, which is very effective in increasing humidity percentages. One of the most valued aspects is the filterless construction. It eliminates the hassle of changing filters now and then. Very good autonomy lasts over 15 hours without a problem and very quiet, making it ideal for the bedroom.

07. Cool Mist Humidifiers by Homech: Best Humidifier For Larger Room

Homech is committed to ultrasonic humidifiers. In this case, it offers a device aimed mainly at the largest of the house. Its model is beautiful and can be found in the color white, which suits perfectly any kind of interior.

The Cool Mist Humidifiers by Homech offers a beautiful, powerful, and fairly quiet device. The device is designed for people living with asthma in the house but also works for any user. This humidifier is perfect for babies to breathe properly and sleep well.

The largest capacity of 6 liters, with an autonomy of 90 hours, and its ability to generate steam is around 280ml/h. The dispensing nozzle can rotate 360º. This humidifier is one of those that are easily filled.

08. LEVOIT Humidifiers: Best Humidifier For Babies

Can’t decide which one to get: humidifier or dehumidifier for asthma? Opt for this one, which has both functions in one. If you choose to buy this model, you will get a multifunction humidifier. It will help you avoid irritation in the nose and throat, in addition to benefiting your skin.

You can configure it with both hot and cold steam, and its controls are simple through its manual buttons. It has a minimalist design in white and grey. Tank capacity is 1.8 liters allowing continuous use for up to 20 hours.

And to ensure your safety, it has an automatic shutdown function when the tank runs out of water. The smart sleep mode feature and 3 adjustable steam levels that can reach 220mL/h make this humidifier one of the best in the market. But without a doubt, the best thing is that it is very quiet. It emits only 26 decibels, much less than other models.

Effects of Humidity on Asthma

Numerous studies show a connection between humidity problems in homes and the increase in common health problems. Asthma is one of the serious problems that arise due to humidity. Other problems are:

• Irritation of the throat and eyes,
• Repeated attacks of coughing,
• Shortness of breath, as well as a series of allergic reactions, is caused by humidity problems.

Untreated humidity in homes can cause serious respiratory ailments that mostly affect children and adolescents:

• Respiratory allergies
• Permanent rhinitis
• Allergic asthma

There are many causes of asthma. 1 in 5 asthma cases is linked to a humidity problem in the home. Dry rot, mites, molds, and other parasites are the main causes of respiratory ailments. Allergic asthma is often linked to the presence of mold.

Molds are tiny fungi that form black, brown, or green spots on the walls. These fungi cause very harmful effects on health. They reproduce by emitting spores and release mycotoxins, which are toxic to humans.

The person who inhales the airborne spores can develop serious respiratory conditions such as allergic asthma. Children and adolescents are very susceptible to mold.

Importance of Well-Balanced Humidity for Asthma

Well-balanced humidity is essential, especially for older people and babies. For well-balanced humidity for asthma, it is recommended to keep the environment's humidity between 40 and 60%.

When the humidity is lower than recommended, it tightens the respiratory nerves in the body. As a result, it created difficulty in breathing. This can result in severe and chronic asthma. But the humid environment relaxes the nerves and eases asthma or breathing difficulty.

What Does a Humidifier Do For Asthma?

As we said before, a humidifier increases the humidity in the air, which eases our nerves and relaxes respiration. Thus, it helps to reduce the effect of asthma. The other benefits are:

• When the climate becomes arid and dry or when the heating keeps the home with little humidity, keep the throat and nose free from irritation.
• To avoid dry lips and relieve flu symptoms.
• If children or adults have any type of respiratory problem, to promote breathing.
• To keep home plants fresh and alive by keeping air humidity high. A humidifier is not only beneficial for people but also for plants and animals.

Buying Guide for the Best Humidifier for Asthma

Types of Humidifier

There are two types of humidifiers. You can choose according to your need:

Evaporative:

This model is classic and the most basic on the market. Its system consists of a cold water tank that is evaporated and distributed in the room through a ventilation system.

As a disadvantage, they do not have a humidity leveling system. They require constant maintenance and are quite noisy, although they are quite inexpensive.

Ultrasonic:

The ultrasonic humidifier uses a high-frequency system that allows water to vaporize, turning it into moisture in the air.

Unlike the evaporative model, these types of humidifiers do not use a fan. That's why they are much quieter and do not require maintenance, although usually at a higher price.

Type of Mist

We distinguish in this section two fundamental classes of humidifiers:

Hot mist:  The water vaporizes into hot air. It is excellent for expelling phlegm and purifying the lungs. However, it can cause serious burns if exposed too close to the humidifier.

Cool mist:  It is the most recommended for everyone, mainly for children. Thanks to the fact that steam does not endanger burns, you can use it for babies.

Size and Capacity

Humidifiers are usually very small, so this is not usually a very influential feature in the purchase. However, it is important to see your home's ideal size if you have little space at home.

Although these devices do not usually have information on power, they provide information on the capacity they offer. This regularly goes from 1 to 2 liters. But they can go up to 6 liters.

This point is very simple, the greater the capacity, the better. Remember that if the tank is very small, we will have to refill the tank every little time.

Coverage Area

Before buying a humidifier, the first thing that you need to decide is the space. The room where you will be putting the humidifier has a great effect on the performance. Ag general rule of thumb is, if you have a smaller room, choose a smaller humidifier.

If you use a large humidifier in a smaller room, it will create excessive dryness in the future.

On the contrary, if you want to use a small humidifier in a large room, you won’t get the result you want. Also, it will need to run longer, costing more energy.

The Runtime of the Humidifier

For those who need the humidifier during the day, a runtime of up to 6 hours is fine. But for those who plan to use their device at night, it is best to support up to 10 hours. It will ensure that there will be no problem, even on those days where we sleep more.

Filter

The filter is another important part of a humidifier that will navigate the future cost. Because depending on the quality, they have different cleaning processes as well as replacing method.

One quick tip: never buy a filter as expensive as a new humidifier.

Before buying the humidifier, you should check that the filters are easy to get. Check if you can replace them yourself and that they are not very expensive.

Noise

Humidifiers will normally be located inside the room, which makes noise can be annoying. A model with the least amount of noise is highly recommended.

Most devices regularly provide some information about the amount of noise they produce.

It is recommended to buy cheap humidifiers with no noise higher than 30-40 decibels. If you are demanding with your sleep, then a noise index of 25 dB is recommended.

Auto power off

The electricity bill is quite expensive. So the least we want is to leave our humidifier on for hours and hours. Our cheap humidifier of choice must have an automatic shut-off system. It stops the device when the water runs out.

Setup, Cleaning, and Maintenance

The different types of humidifiers have different cleaning processes. Among the most commons, a hot steam humidifier is easier to clean. These humidifiers are filter-less. Also, since they boil the water to create steam, it kills the bacteria in the process.

However, they need constant maintenance.

Speaking of maintenance, you will need to change the water tank in some humidifiers. So, it will be better to check if the product is easy to reassemble.

Finally, it is essential to maintain all of them; you just have to make sure that it is easy to do.

Recommended Reading

• Difference between dehumidifier and humidifier.

FAQ

What can I put in humidifier for asthma?

There are few things that can help to ease asthma if put in the humidifier, such as Magnesium powder in the humidifier for asthma.

Is a humidifier or dehumidifier better for asthma?

Dehumidifier vs humidifier is an ongoing debate.

But in reality, both help to increase the quality of the environment to get rid of asthma. A humidifier increases the humidity when it's low, and a dehumidifier decreases it when higher.

Which humidifier is better for asthma?

Honeywell HWM-705B.

Honeywell is one of the most recognized brands for this type of element. From which you can get a good quality of humidifiers. They have an excellent ranking and guaranteed adaptability to different spaces; it has become one of the best options when deciding which product to buy for asthma.

How do you maintain a humidifier?

• Cleaning, we must ensure that they themselves are not a source of non-beneficial microorganisms.
• Use it when convenient, that is when respiratory problems arise.
• Remember not to leave the humidifier within reach of children, be careful where you place it.

Is cool or warm mist humidifier better for asthma?

It doesn’t matter if you use a cool mist or warm mist humidifier for asthma. The effectiveness depends on how you use it.

For example, cold steam humidifiers are more suitable for summer, and hot steam humidifiers are for cold seasons.

What can I put in my humidifier to kill bacteria?

The water in the tank is never heated in a cool-mist humidifier. Thus bacteria and mold can proliferate. Put Hydrogen peroxide in a humidifier for asthma. Wait for half an hour and rinse well. It will kill the bacteria and clean the water.

What essential oils are good to put in a humidifier for asthma?

There are several essential oils in the market that are good for asthma, such as Lavender, rosemary, clove, etc. however, and there are no strong findings that support this theory that essential oil helps reducing asthma.

Conclusion

In this article, we wanted to dedicate space to choosing the best humidifier for asthma. Increasing the humidity in the air requires important precautions both in the choice and use of the appliance. We hope this article has been useful to you to understand which the best choice for your needs is.