5 Benefits and 3 Drawbacks of Home Humidifiers, and the Different Types

If you equate winter with dry skin, sore throats, and congestion, then you may want to consider getting a humidifier for your home.

“Outdoor weather conditions directly impact indoor air quality,” says John James, MD, a spokesperson for the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) and a fellow with the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI). “During cold seasons, people tend to use heating sources such as furnaces and forced air heating that may dry their indoor air.”

Lack of moisture or low humidity conditions outdoors can also be reflected in your indoor humidity, adds Dr. James. In turn, dry air can lead to some troublesome health symptoms.

“Dry air — whether hot or cold — can cause symptoms like dry skin, eyes, and mouth and even cause a sore or irritated throat. These irritations can make breathing more difficult and can sometimes trigger allergy and asthma symptoms,” he explains.

This is where a home humidifier can come in handy. “A humidifier can add moisture to the air, which can reduce these symptoms,” says James. There’s also evidence that humidifiers may reduce the spread of nasty cold and flu bugs.

However, too much moisture (humidity above 50 percent) can create an environment that promotes mold growth and dust mites, he warns.

Below is a list of some of the main benefits of getting a home humidifier, as well as some of the drawbacks, plus different types of humidifiers to consider.

1. They May Make Your Home’s Environment Less Conducive to Cold and Flu Germs

“There have been reports that higher humidity levels (around 40 to 50 percent) can play a role in decreasing the concentration and transmission of airborne viruses that cause the common cold and influenza,” says James. “Humid air can trap and neutralize viruses, making it difficult for individuals to inhale them.”

In a 2022 study, researchers tracked the spread of virus particles inside two New York City classrooms. They found that increasing relative humidity (or the amount of moisture in the air) using humidifiers can significantly reduce the spread of airborne viruses in indoor spaces. The reduction of spread was particularly significant when the relative humidity was greater than 40 percent.

Another study found that maintaining indoor relative humidity greater than 40 percent will significantly reduce the infectivity of aerosolized influenza.

2. Humidifiers Can Help With Allergies, Asthma, and Sinus Problems

Low humidity can cause your eyes, nose, and lips to dry out. “It can also result in an irritated nose, a dry and scratchy sore throat, and itchy eyes, which can occur when you have allergies (for example, hay fever), as well as worsening asthma and sinus problems,” says James.

Therefore, the proper use of a humidifier in the home can be beneficial for preventing dryness and decreasing symptoms that can occur in seasonal allergies, asthma, and sinus problems, he explains.

In addition, proper humidity can reduce airway irritation by providing much-needed moisture to your breathing passages. James advises keeping your home’s relative humidity around 30 to 50 percent, as recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency.

3. They Can Moisturize Skin and Help Relieve Eczema

Low humidity can dry your skin and worsen eczema, says James. “Humidifiers help to restore moisture in the air, which can be beneficial to manage dry, irritated skin that is common in eczema,” he explains. Using a humidifier can be part of your overall treatment plan if you have eczema, he adds. The National Eczema Association recommends running a humidifier when you go to bed or during the day if you spend a lot of time at home.

4. Humidifiers May Help Soothe Coughs and Colds

Cool mist humidifiers may help ease coughing and congestion, says James. “This occurs by relieving irritation in the nose and airways, as well as breaking up mucus that can make it harder to breathe and cause coughing.”

While cool mist humidifiers may ease cold symptoms, heated humidified air doesn't seem to have the same effect.

5. They Can Help Reduce Heating Bills

Maintaining optimal humidity levels in your home can help reduce overall energy consumption, save energy, and lower your heating bills for a number of reasons.

Firstly, you may not feel as chilly. “Dry air and low humidity in the home can lead to the misconception of needing higher indoor temperatures for comfort, which can increase heating costs,” says James.

Secondly, humid air requires less energy to heat, which can lower energy consumption and your heating bills, he adds. Thirdly, proper humidity levels help you to retain heat, reduce heat loss, and decrease reliance on heating systems.

1. They Can Cause Mold and Bacteria

Too much humidity (above 50 percent) can cause mold and bacterial growth, says James. To prevent this from happening, it’s important to measure your home’s relative humidity with a hygrometer, a tool that measures humidity, and keep it below 50 percent, he says. Some humidifiers include these measuring devices; they are also available at hardware stores and at Amazon and other online stores.

In addition, many heating and ventilation systems have controllers to set the humidity at the proper level in the winter months when the furnace is turned on.

It’s also important to regularly clean your humidifier based on the manufacturer’s instructions and to change the filters regularly to prevent bacteria and mold.

2. Humidifiers Can Cause Excess Moisture

Air that is especially humid (above 50 percent) can feel heavy and make it more difficult to breathe, says James. You can avoid this problem by keeping your home’s relative humidity below 50 percent.

3. They Can Cause Dust Mites and White Dust

Dust mites thrive in warm, humid environments (humidity levels of about 50 percent), notes James. If using a humidifier causes the humidity in your home to increase too much, you could create an environment that allows dust mites to flourish. Once again, use a hygrometer to make sure the humidity level in your home does not exceed 50 percent.

Tap water has minerals that can collect in the humidifier and be released into the air as "white dust," which can cause breathing problems. To prevent white dust, use distilled water in your humidifier instead of purified or filtered tap water.

Steam vaporizers have the advantage of reduced bacterial and mold contamination due to heat, says James. They operate quietly and have a dispenser for medicine that diffuses into the room with vapor. These units can be more difficult to clean due to mineral deposits. There could be a risk of burns from hot water, and they are not suitable to use around children.
Warm mist humidifiers rarely become contaminated with bacteria and molds because water is heated to create steam, says James. As with steam vaporizers, there can be risks of burns, and they are not suitable to use with children. They are generally easy to clean because there is little mineral dust accumulation.
Cool mist humidifiers emit cool vapor and tend to be safer for children, says James. They are easy to clean, require little maintenance, filter out waterborne impurities, and are cost effective. These humidifiers are helpful for people with asthma and allergies. On the downside, bacterial contamination can occur in these machines, and they can be noisy. Ultrasonic humidifiers are one type of cool mist humidifier that use sound waves to release cool mist. Impeller humidifiers give off a cool mist with a rotating disk. Evaporators use a fan to blow air through a filter.
Console humidifiers are designed to humidify the entire house, and some need to be installed with the furnace and ventilation system, explains James. Make sure these units can be easily cleaned and maintained. This may be more difficult than with portable units.
Combined units with air purifiers are another option, though it’s possible that combining a humidifier and air purifier can distract from the functioning of each component, says James, who recommends looking for air purifiers that carry the “Asthma and Allergy Friendly” mark. It’s also important to look for purifiers that use a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter.

You’ll also want to consider the size of your room so the air purifier you select is powerful enough. Finally, choose an air purifier that does not release high levels of ozone, which can damage your lungs, says James.

To help prevent mold, use distilled water in your humidifier and clean it regularly (while purified or filtered tap water can also be used, distilled is best). You should follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning the water reservoir and other parts of the humidifier, advises James. In addition, make sure to check the humidifier filter every 30 to 60 days and change it as needed.

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