Humidifiers vs. Vaporizers: Which Is Best For Your Family?

(BlackDoctor.org) — It’s getting colder outside, and you’ve been weighing your options for the safest ways to keep your home warm and comfortable.

But before you plug anything in, it may help to have some basic information about some differences in home heating appliances, so that you can select the best choices for both you and your family.

Humidifiers vs. Vaporizers: Is There A Difference?

From our partner

Do you still have gout symptoms even though you're taking medication? You’re not alone. The Kadence study is a clinical research study for adults with uncontrolled gout. Learn More

A humidifier is a device that blows cool to lukewarm mist (vapor) into the air to increase humidity (moisture) in a room. A vaporizer is a device that releases a cool to hot mist into the air to help increase humidity or to help with breathing.

These devices tend to be used when a person is sick or when air in the house is dry (low indoor humidity). When a person’s skin and mucous membranes are dry, the dryness can aggravate an illness of the head, neck, or chest. Or it can lead to chapped lips, a dry throat, or dry and itchy skin. Mist therapy with one of the devices can help provide relief.

These devices differ in a few key ways:

• A steam vaporizer boils water and releases steam into the air. The steam is germ-free, but the hot water can burn anyone who overturns or gets too close to the device.

From our partner

People 16+ years old struggling with lupus: Find out if the PHOENYCS FLY Study may be for you. Study-related care provided at no cost.

• Evaporative (wick) humidifiers use a filtered wick to absorb water. A fan blows air through the moist wick, releasing a cool-to-lukewarm mist. Some models can sense when the air in the room is dry and turn themselves on and off to control humidity.

Additional safety facts:

Because the water in a humidifier isn’t boiled, bacteria, mold, and minerals (dust) can be in the mist. Using distilled water and carefully following the safety instructions can help keep the mist clean and safe. Depending on the model of the humidifier, a person may need to empty the water on a regular basis. Some humidifier models are also quieter than others. If you have questions, be sure to do online research, talk to store representatives, and, of course, ask your doctor for key tips on making the best choices.