Pureguardian's Best Ultrasonic Humidifiers: Top Picks, Reviews, and Guide (2023)

FAQs

What is bad about ultrasonic humidifiers? ›

Ultrasonic humidifier safety

These humidifiers turn water into a fine mist via high-frequency vibration. Advantages: They're cheap, quiet and energy efficient, and they won't burn. Disadvantages: They aerosolize not just water, but everything in it, such as bacteria and minerals.

In conclusion, ultrasonic humidifiers are a great addition to your home. Not only do they help purify and humidify the air, but they do so using very little power. They also look great! In this article we have looked at what ultrasonic humidifiers are, how they work, and how you clean them.

There are two main types of room humidifiers: Warm mist humidifiers require hot water to produce water vapor. Cool mist humidifiers is considered a safer alternative since it does not require the use of boiling water.

Most importantly, minerals in tap water may increase the development of crusty deposits, or scale, in humidifiers. Scale can be a breeding ground for microorganisms. Retarding the growth of scale is the most compelling reason to find alternatives to tap water.

Without regular cleaning and maintenance, your humidifier can turn into a vicious, festering cesspool of bacteria and mold.

Both the CPSC and the EPA recommend filling your humidifier with distilled water—not tap—to keep potentially harmful microorganisms out of the air you breathe.

Lifespan. Both ultrasonic and evaporative portable humidifiers will last two to five years if they are properly maintained. Even the best-maintained humidifiers are prone to the build-up of mineral deposits over time that can be hard to remove, and that will indicate the need for a new appliance.

Ultrasonic humidifiers create humidity in a small space, concentrating the moisture where you need it the most. Ultrasonic humidifiers, like the AURORA and AURORAmini, are perfect in any bedroom. Locate them near the bed, but at least two feet from the floor and each wall, and at least five feet from the ceiling.

The benefits of ultrasonic humidifiers

Ultrasonic humidifiers offer a few advantages over evaporative humidifiers. They are very good at humidifying the air. In fact, they can add so much moisture to the air that this advantage becomes a drawback, resulting in over-humidified air that causes dampness and mold.

Do you need essential oils for ultrasonic humidifier? ›

Essential oils should NEVER be put into the water tank on the ultrasonic humidifiers. For the same reasons we discussed in the evaporative humidifiers, essential oils are corrosive and possibly damaging to the working parts of the humidifier, as well as the water reservoir and caps.

Many Americans are unaware that tap water is not intended for use in many home medical devices, including nasal rinsing devices, CPAP machines, and humidifiers, new research shows.

Bottled water is truly the best water to use in a humidifier. Not all bottled water is ideal, though. While bottled water is filtered, some minerals inevitably remain. This can present many of the same issues caused by tap water.

Specifically, we recommend that you keep your humidifier at a distance of around 3 feet from your bed – although there's no inherent harm in placing it closer, if you're restricted on room. This distance is recommended for a variety of reasons.

Only water should be put in the tank of the humidifier. With most humidifiers, adding essential oils to the tank can breakdown the tank plastic and ruin the internal parts of the humidifiers. As an alternative, use Vicks VapoPads and Vicks VapoSteam with select humidifiers to get soothing Vicks vapors.

Can you run vinegar through a humidifier? It's best not to. While vinegar is used to clean a humidifier, you should not run the humidifier with vinegar in it, as it can irritate your eyes, nose, throat, and lungs.

Add one cup of white vinegar to the water in your humidifier to prevent mold growth. It's a naturally antibacterial and antimicrobial substance that is safe for the air and for your humidifier.

Wash spray cap, spray spout and water tank lid with mild dish soap. In the base, soak the ultrasonic disk using 1 tsp white vinegar and 1 tsp water for 5 minutes. Then, clean gently with the brush provided or a wash cloth.

No, they aren't the same. Boiled water is simply water that has had the temperature increased until it reaches its boiling point. This kills a host of bacteria that can make a person sick. Distilled water is water that has been stripped of all impurities, including minerals and microorganisms.

Using tap water is sufficient. Purified water or distilled water has the same cleaning effect as regular tap water for ultrasonic cleaning. When cleaning silver or copper items where oxidation has darkened the items, special solutions such as SeaClean2, needs to be added to the water to remove the oxidation.

What happens if ultrasonic humidifier runs dry? ›

Here's what could happen if you attempt to run a humidifier without water in the reservoir: The humidifier should shut down. Newer models have an auto-shutoff feature that prevents them from running once the water is gone. The humidifier might expel dry air.

While using a humidifier can help with dry sinuses, it can also cause harm. Dust mite and mold growth is promoted more in humid environments, so if people are allergic to dust and mold, or if they have asthma, using a humidifier could aggravate these conditions.

Warm-mist and cool-mist humidifiers are equally effective in humidifying the air. By the time the water vapor reaches your child's lower airways, it's the same temperature regardless of whether it started out warm or cool.

The mechanism in an ultrasonic humidifier has a frequency much too high for dogs to hear. Ultrasonic humidifiers use frequencies ranging from approximately 1,600,000 Hz to 3,000,000 Hz. Dogs can hear up to 45,000 Hz.

The short answer is yes: it is healthy to sleep with a humidifier in your room. Sleeping with a humidifier can have several health benefits, even if you don't have asthma.

It is actually advisable to close the door to better maintain the humidity inside the room. If you leave the door open, the humidifier may end up trying to humidify the whole house, in which case will be bringing the humidity down inside the room instead of increasing it!

The higher up off the floor the humidifier is placed the better. It produces a mist that has to get mixed with the air. When the humidifier is placed on the floor, the mist has no chance to get mixed with the air and it causes wet floors. Try to put it on a nightstand or a table.

Film or scum appearing on the water surface, on the sides or bottom of the tank, or on exposed motor parts may indicate that the humidifier tank contains bacteria or fungi. A crusty deposit or scale may also form within the tank or on parts in the water.

PureGuardian® Ultrasonic Humidifiers can NOT have scents, medications, etc. added to the tank. These substances will clog up and prevent the humidifier from functioning properly.

Why Does My Humidifier Have Pink Mold? If you notice pink mold growing in your humidifier, it means that it isn't being properly maintained. It is therefore vital to your health and well-being that you regularly clean your humidifier. Pink mold loves the environment in your humidifier, especially your water reservoir.

Do ultrasonic humidifiers leave dust? ›

If you're noticing a white dust around your home, your ultrasonic humidifier may be the culprit.

Humidifier Lifetime

The average lifetime of portable humidifiers is generally estimated in the range of 3-535 years. Regular maintenance and cleaning these devices can have a large impact on their performance and lifespan.

In the humidifier

Putting a few drops(or as much as you prefer) of lemon juice into the humidifier will not only aid in relieving congestion and other ailments, it will also make the room smell fresh and help to keep moisture in the air when needed.

Aromatherapy. If you suffer from a dry or sore throat accompanied by a relentless cough, you want to choose a humidifier that is compatible with essential oils. Adding oils like camphor, eucalyptus, or lavender to your humidifier can provide additional therapeutic value.

Ultrasonic Humidifiers:

They produce a warm or cool mist by using a metal diaphragm vibrating at high frequency. The sound vibrations propel moisture into the air. The water molecules that are produced are extremely small, about one micron in diameter. The mist is almost immediately absorbed into the air.

There are 4 major types of air humidifiers that you can choose from – Cool Mist Humidifiers, Warm Mist Humidifiers, Ultrasonic Humidifiers & Air Washers.

To ensure a healthy environment and promote good indoor air quality, it is best to use distilled, demineralised or purified water in your humidifier. However, distilled water is the absolute best to use to extend the life of your humidifier because it doesn't contain any minerals or impurities.

Placing your humidifier in the right place will make all the difference in making your home environment comfortable. Put your humidifier in the center of your room on an elevated surface, away from electronic gadgets and direct sunlight. Use a warm mist system with caution and avoid using it near kids and pets.

Ideally, humidity in your home should be between 30% and 50%. Humidity that's too low or too high can cause problems. Low humidity can cause dry skin, irritate your nasal passages and throat, and make your eyes itchy.

What happens if you use non distilled water in humidifier? ›

Tap water contains mineral deposits, microbes, and germs that you don't want to risk breathing in. Overtime, these contaminants can also build up on your supplies and damage your CPAP tubing and motor. Distilled water should be the only water placed in the water chamber for use.

Nasty things like mold and bacteria could grow and spread throughout the room, causing long-term health problems. The EPA even admits that purified or distilled water is the safest and most effective resource for humidifiers, offering cleaner air and less buildup in the machine itself.

Typically, your household tap water is going to be perfectly fine for your humidifier.

However, there are also many cons to ultrasonic diffusers. Ultrasonic diffusers release a lot of moisture into the air which can dilute the essential oils, so you are not receiving the full benefits of aromatherapy. In addition, a tank full of water can quickly grow mold and fungus.

Dirty humidifiers can especially cause problems for people with asthma and allergies. But even in healthy people, dirty humidifiers have the potential to trigger flu-like symptoms or even lung infections when the contaminated mist or steam is released into the air.

Breathing in the tiny particles released by the diffuser can actually trigger airway inflammation and asthma symptoms. Essential oils like eucalyptus and lavender are known to release terpene, toluene, and benzene, which can cause difficulty breathing.

Watch out for adverse reactions.

When using an oil diffuser, keep an eye out for signs of allergic or respiratory reactions, including watering or itchy eyes, sneezing, clogged sinuses, and trouble breathing.

A nebulizer diffuser comes with a tube, which is the place to add essential oils. While ultrasonic diffusers rely on water to evaporate essential oils, nebulizing diffusers rely on an air-jet pump to blow the air across the top of the tube.

Unplugged, fill the base of the humidifier with 1 cup of water and 1 cup of white vinegar and leave it to sit for an hour. The vinegar is a natural cleanser and it'll help loosen any residue and disinfect the small unit.

How do you clean a Pureguardian humidifier? ›

While using a humidifier can help with dry sinuses, it can also cause harm. Dust mite and mold growth is promoted more in humid environments, so if people are allergic to dust and mold, or if they have asthma, using a humidifier could aggravate these conditions.

The short answer is yes: it is healthy to sleep with a humidifier in your room. Sleeping with a humidifier can have several health benefits, even if you don't have asthma.

Some common humidifier sickness symptoms include: Respiratory issues: Over-humidified air can exacerbate existing respiratory conditions, such as asthma or allergies. Symptoms may include increased coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, or nasal congestion.