These Whole-House Humidifiers Add Moisture to Your Entire Home With One Simple Device (2024)

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Dry winter air can cause more damage to your home than you might expect. If humidity levels are too low, problems like gaping floorboards, peeling wallpaper, and even warped furniture can arise due to moisture loss. Low humidity also creates more static, which can ruin electrical components over time.

That’s where a humidifier can help. While small units may be fine for your bedroom or living room, they won’t be powerful or effective enough to handle dry air concerns throughout your entire house. Luckily, whole-house humidifiers do just that.

There are standalone whole-house humidifiers, wheeled models you can transport from room to room, and furnace-mounted options that connect directly to an HVAC system. Along with type, selecting a model designed to meet your home’s square footage is essential.

Our buying guide covers the best whole-house humidifiers we recommend, plus tips on how to select the right unit for your needs.

If you’re concerned about the air quality in your home, check out our picks for the best air purifiers, best air conditioners, and best dehumidifiers.

The Best Whole House Humidifiers

• Best Overall Console: Aircare Space-Saver Evaporative Whole House Humidifier
• Best Overall Furnace-Mounted: AprilAire 500 Whole-House Humidifier
• Best for Homes Without Ductwork: AprilAire 865 Whole Home Steam Humidifier
• Best for Hard Water: Aircare Whole-House Console-Style Evaporative Humidifier
• Most Compact: Aircare Valiant Digital Whole-House Console-Style Evaporative Humidifier

What to Consider

First, check your home’s humidity levels—ideally, it sits around 30 to 50 percent—with an inexpensive digital hygrometer. Make sure to check various rooms, and leave the hygrometer in each space long enough to get an accurate reading. If your rooms have humidity levels lower than 30 percent, it’s time to think about investing in a whole-house humidifier.

Type

There are two main types of whole-house humidifiers: furnace-mounted and console. Furnace-mounted units, also called ducted humidifiers, use your home’s HVAC ductwork to disperse humidity throughout your home. If you have an older home without ductwork, you won’t be able to install this type of humidifier.

These models connect directly to your furnace, tapping into its electricity for their own power, and they also connect to your home’s water supply so they can automatically pull the liquid needed for operation. Because they have to be hooked up to both your furnace and water line, these models require professional installation—and you may void the warranty if you try to install the unit yourself.

There are also console or self-contained whole-house humidifiers, which are similar to regular single-room models. However, they’re bigger, more powerful, and have a larger water capacity, (typically between 3 and 6 gallons), so they can increase the humidity level across a larger area. These freestanding units are much easier to install—you just plug them into an electrical outlet—but they must be placed fairly centrally in your home for the best results.

Operation

All humidifiers add moisture to the air, but this can be achieved in different ways. The following are common types of humidifiers and how they work:

• Evaporative: Evaporative humidifiers contain a filter that’s saturated with water. ​​A fan blows on the filter, pushing moisture into the air. These humidifiers require regular filter changes.
• Steam: Steam humidifiers work by heating up water to create steam. They increase humidity levels faster than evaporative units and kill off germs in the water, but they cost more to operate.
• Ultrasonic: Ultrasonic humidifiers have a metal diaphragm that vibrates at a high frequency, creating tiny water droplets that are propelled into the air. They’re quieter than fan-powered humidifiers but can create a fine, white dust that settles on surfaces around your home depending on the minerals in your water.

Coverage

The most important factor to consider when choosing a whole-house humidifier is the square footage of your home. Most models clearly state the maximum square footage that they can effectively humidify, and whole-house models can cover anywhere from 1,000 to 10,000 or more square feet. However, their efficiency may be lower if your home is poorly insulated, as the humidity will be able to escape through drafty areas.

Console humidifiers typically aren’t effective for homes with multiple floors, so a furnace-mounted unit is best in this situation. Alternatively, if you don’t have an HVAC system, you can use multiple smaller units on each level of your home.

Humidistat

A humidistat works similarly to your home’s thermostat—it monitors the humidity level, and when it senses low humidity, it signals to your whole-home humidifier that it needs to be turned on. Humidifiers with a built-in humidistat work autonomously, turning on and off as needed in response to the air’s moisture levels.

Without a humidistat, you’ll need to monitor the humidity levels in your home using a hygrometer and turn your humidifier on and off manually.

Maintenance

If you choose a self-contained console humidifier, its water tank needs to be refilled for continued operation—most can run for 50 to 80 hours per fill.Refilling a large water tank can be tricky, so you may want to place the humidifier close to a tap if possible. Most humidifiers also need filter replacements every six months, and it’s a good idea to check the cost of those filters to get an idea of ongoing maintenance costs before you buy.

In the case of ultrasonic humidifiers, there may also be the issue of white dust, which is caused by minerals in the water supply. The minerals in the humidifier’s water vapor can gather on surfaces around your home, creating a fine white powder. It’s not harmful, but it can make cleaning more of a chore.

No matter the size of the unit, it’s important to clean your humidifier as recommended by the manufacturer to prevent bacteria and mold from forming. Humidifiers create ideal conditions for bacteria and mold growth, and if they aren’t cleaned regularly, these particles can be spread into your house along with the moisture.

How We Selected

We found excellent whole-house humidifier options in both freestanding and furnace-mounted styles. With quality in mind, we chose products made by reputable brands that we’ve come to trust, like Honeywell and Aircare, and we prioritized models that are easy to operate, clean, and maintain. We selected models with built-in humidistats, and all of our picks are suitable for homes 2,000 square feet or more. We also cross-checked our choices with consumer reviews and top sellers to ensure that we didn’t miss any new models worth a look. Most of the whole-house humidifiers we recommend cost under $300, with freestanding units priced as low as $125.