Humidifier vs Vaporizer – Which One Do You Need?
One of the most frequently asked questions that we encounter about the topic of humidifiers is the difference between a humidifier and the closely-related and similar looking Vaporizer. Tricky indeed! But be confused no more; we shall give you the answers today on the similarities and differences between the two, plus pointers on which one is most suitable for your home or office humidifying needs.
Do I Need A Humidifier Or A Vaporizer?
There is an eminent need for a humidifier or a vaporizer in times of low humidity, usually happening during the winter season or cold months. This time of the season can tend to contribute to dry air conditions and in time can even be a health risk.
Low humidity levels and dry air affect our breathing and the moisture into our skin, oftentimes leading to sinus problems and dry skin concerns. If you are having colds and coughs, headaches and asthma, dry skin and cracked lips, often, dry air and moisture loss are your suspects. So, you need to remedy this situation and seek the help of a simple home appliance such as a humidifier or a vaporizer.
Similarity In Purpose
Humidifiers and vaporizers can both be your go-to appliance for a quick but lasting fix for your dry air problem. When the outside air temperature is low, usually during the winter season and cold months, air moisture often follows downward and causes low humidity levels. Check out our article on how temperature affects humidity if you want to know more on this.
Remember that we need to maintain an optimum humidity level indoor of about 30% to 50%. Anything below the 30% mark is dry, while above 50% is damp.
On such cases that the humidity level is below the ideal, we turn to use humidifiers or vaporizers to add moisture into the air and bring about the right balance of humidity. But if there is over moisture or dampness around, we in turn can use dehumidifiers to lower the humidity.
Difference In Operation
The major difference between humidifiers and vaporizers lies in how they operate and bring about moisture into the air.
Humidifiers release cool moisture. This happens with the use of a rapidly turning disk submerged in water that breaks up cool water particles to disperse cool mist into the air.
Vaporizers on the other hand disperse steam into the room by boiling the water with the unit’s heating element.
Though having the same output to moisten the air, humidifiers tend to cool the surroundings, while vaporizers bring about a warmer feel. Terminology can confuse people trying to understand these differences as there is such a thing as a warm-mist humidifier, which functions in the same way as a vaporizer!
Advantages and Disadvantages
To begin this part, let me conclude that both humidifiers and vaporizers are advantageous to us because they aid our homes with sufficient humidity, thus making our surroundings more liveable and healthy.
By assessing the advantages and disadvantages of humidifiers vs vaporizers you can determine which one is best suited to your situation and preferences.
Water Issues
Vaporizers are said to provide cleaner moisture as they boil the water before emitting steam into the air.
So, water straight from the tap can be used with vaporizers, which makes them easy and cost efficient to fill. Because the water has been boiled, mold and mildew growth are instantly prevented, which makes it cleaner.
Of course, tap water can also work with humidifiers, however, there might be issues with the water’s cleanliness, especially when the water sits for some time, where bacteria grows from molds.
There is an option for humidifiers to use distilled or filtered water, however this will be more expensive and just the same will become dirty in time. On some types of humidifiers, there is an option to add filters to clean the water and prevent bacteria from spreading.
Maintenance
To avoid the danger caused by unclean water emitted into the air, regular cleaning is recommended for both the humidifiers and vaporizers. You don’t have to wait to see molds and mildew around, when the water looks murky or has been sitting for a couple of days, it already calls for cleaning. Don’t worry, both are low maintenance but do require constant cleaning for health reasons.
Safety
Safety-wise, vaporizers can be a hazard because of the boiling water that can spill out when accidentally bumped, especially with children at home. Humidifiers are more home and child-friendly.
Additional Considerations
An added factor to consider with vaporizers is that you can add inhalants such as plant extracts and medicinal vapors that can be more soothing, relieving, and relaxing. While with humidifiers, some types use filters or wicks, and so you have the option to use anti-bacterial filters.
Humidifiers vs Vaporizers Quick Compare
| Humidifier | Vaporizer | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Humidify by producing cool mist. | Humidify by emitting steam or warm mist. |
| Operation | Uses a turning disk that breaks the water particles that causes cool mist. Other similar methods are also common. | Uses a heating element that boils the water to release warm water vapor. |
| Cleanliness | Option to use distilled or filtered water. Also, some types have the option to use anti-bacteria filters. When water sits for longer period, molds and mildews might grow, which can be a health hazard. | Tap water is okay to use since water will be boiled. However, because it is hot water, there is a small possibility for molds and mildews to grow. |
| Maintenance | Requires regular cleaning. The unit and the appearance of the water is a good indicator when cleaning is needed. Regular filter change for some types. | Requires regular cleaning. The unit and the appearance of the water is a good indicator when cleaning is needed. No filters or wicks. |
| Safety | Home- and child-friendly. | Can be a safety hazard due to the hot water it contains, especially with children around. |
| Add-on | Can use anti-bacteria filters or wicks. | Can add inhalants, such as plant extracts and medicinal vapors. |
Recommendations
Humidifiers tend to be more home, child, and pet friendly, especially during the flu and cold season as they keep room humidity higher. Plus, the issue of safety is not a concern compared to a vaporizer that may be risky due to the hot water it produces. But equally, vaporizers can resolve dry air induced health concerns as they also keep moisture balanced in the room, with the option to add medicinal and herbal inhalants for increased benefit.
Looking at the costs of purchasing and maintaining, humidifiers are more expensive than vaporizers. Prices of humidifiers range from $20 to $200, while vaporizers only cost $10 to $100. Some humidifiers also require regular changing of filters or wicks, which is an added cost to be considered. However, the best humidifiers tend to be more energy efficient than vaporizers, as the latter involves heating, which requires a lot of energy.