Humidifier therapy has gained a lot of popularity for all the right reasons. Are you looking for the best humidifier for hard water? Humidifiers help increase indoor moisture levels. Thus, they’ve become essential for people who suffer from certain health conditions.
However, choosing the best humidifier for hard water can be tricky. Hard water tends to leave whitish dust inside the tank after a while of use, which can be problematic.
Don’t worry, though! I’ve come up with this guide to help you with your search. I’ll also discuss uses, precautions, and answer any questions you might have about humidifiers for hard water.
Get Our Top Pick: Honeywell Warm Mist Humidifier
Table of Contents
What Is a Humidifier?
A humidifier is a device that helps reduce indoor air dryness by adding moisture to the air. As a result, it can relieve skin dryness as well as other issues.
Humidifiers come in types and sizes that you can choose from depending on your needs.
Impeller Humidifiers
Impeller humidifiers are an affordable option. They depend on rotating disks to spread moisture into the air.
They come in small units that you can use only in certain rooms.
Steam Vaporizers
These electrically-powered humidifiers might be the most popular of all types. Not only are they portable and easy to use, but they’re also the most affordable.
Steam vaporizers use water to do their job. They heat it first, then cool it before releasing it into the air as water vapor.
However, you might want to be careful with those if you have children since they can cause burns.
Ultrasonic Humidifiers
These devices rely on ultrasonic vibrations to expel cool mist into the room. They come in various sizes and vary in their prices accordingly.
Benefits of Using a Humidifier
As well as its effort to prevent dryness, there are other reasons why a humidifier might be beneficial to you.
Moisture Can Help With Several Respiratory Issues
By eliminating indoor air dryness, humidifiers can help people with the following conditions.
- Dry skin
- Allergies
- Asthma
- Throat dryness
- Irritated eyes
- Sinus headaches
- Coughs
This is the reason why I love having a portable humidifier in my house. A suitable humidifier can be comforting and soothing to have around.
Might Help Prevent the Flu
One study has found that certain humidity levels can reduce the risk of catching the flu.
In this case, researchers noticed that the influenza virus was weakened to the point that it became less infectious.
Helps With Dry Coughs
Dry coughs might be an issue since they get in the way of getting rid of phlegm.
By increasing moisture in the indoor environment, it can find its way into a person’s airways. As a result, this added moisture can make their coughs productive.
Precautions
Yes, using humidifiers might be your best bet if you want a moisturizing element in your room. Yet, there are several downsides you should know.
Too Much Humidity Can Be Harmful
Releasing more moisture than required can encourage the growth of mold, harmful bacteria, and dust mites.
For a person with allergies or asthma, these mean trouble. This is why you need to make sure that the humidity level is between 30% and 50%.
You can reach these levels by keeping a humidifier in your room. Most humidifiers come with humidity meters to help you get the right amount of moisture in the air.
Burns
Humidifiers that work with electricity are more prone to cause burns. Make sure to keep them away from your child’s reach to reduce the risks.
Unclean Units
Using humidifiers for extended periods without cleaning them can help bacteria and mold grow. Also, since you’ll be using hard water, you can find white dust stuck inside a humidifier’s tank.
It’s best to clean your humidifier with distilled water after each use. You should also check the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions.
Is Hard Water Bad for Humidifiers?
As you know, hard water is safe to drink, but it might not work well with certain humidifiers.
What Makes Water Hard?
Hard water has a higher concentration of minerals than soft water. Of these minerals, magnesium and calcium make the bigger percentage.
This is why, when you use hard water in a humidifier, you’re prone to find some whitish residue in the tank.
How This Affects Your Decision
Before you buy a humidifier, make sure that it works with hard water.
Many humidifiers come with features that help reduce the forming of calcium residue. Also, you can find humidifiers that work with any water type.
However, some only use demineralized water and could break down if you fill them with hard water.
Warm Mist vs. Cool Mist Humidifier
Humidifiers can produce either cool or warm mist or both. Knowing your preference is key to picking a suitable device.
For instance, the warm mist is better for cough treatment and reduces the growth of bacteria. But it’s not a convenient option if you have children.
The cool mist works better to get rid of dry air, and it’s more child-friendly.
FAQs
How can I humidify my room without a humidifier?
You can use the following steps if you can’t afford a humidifier right now.
- Place heat-resistant bowls of water near the room’s heating units
- Position houseplants in your room
- After a shower, open your bathroom door to let the steam out into nearby rooms
- Use indoor fountains to add moisture
Can I use well water in my humidifier?
You can use well water, but it’s not the best type to use. It has a high concentration of minerals. Therefore, it can cause the humidifier to release these minerals into the air.
This might not be a problem if you don’t have allergies or asthma. But if you do, it’s better to use purified water instead.
Our Top Picks for the Best Humidifier for Hard Water
After some research, I found the following humidifiers to be the best for hard water.
1. Honeywell Cool Mist Humidifier
Also, I like that it uses Evaporative Technology to ensure that there isn’t too much moisture in the room. Therefore, you don’t have to keep checking humidity levels.
Lastly, it’s a great child-friendly product. It’s break-resistant and works in silence.
One of the things that people love about this humidifier is how easy it is to clean. They complimented the tank’s large size, which you can clean comfortably.
However, some had comments on the place where the hand is located. It might be challenging to scrub.
Pros
- Easy to use and clean
- Durable body
- Comes with a 1-gallon tank
- Treats tap water
- Can work up to 24 hours on low
- Humidity and temperature monitor available
- Moderately-priced
Cons
- The fan might be hard to clean
- You might need to change the filters often
2. Honeywell Warm Mist Humidifier
This is another humidifier by Honeywell, but this time, it produces warm mist.
Warm mist is perfect for winter and it can reduce air dryness. This can be great since most of us suffer from dry skin in the cold weather.
Another plus is that this humidifier comes with no filter. This way, it’s easier to clean and wouldn’t need to worry about having to change filters.
There are many other features worth noting. For instance, each filling can last up to 24 hours and the tank is capable of holding 1 gallon of water.
Also, I liked how this humidifier comes with an illuminated power switch. Besides that, it uses auto shut-off and flashes a light when the tank needs a refill.
Many people admired this humidifier for its high-quality performance. Other users were delighted by the combination of value and price.
Pros
- 1-gallon capacity
- Filter-free
- Can run for 24 hours
- Comes with high and low settings
- Easy to clean
- Affordable price
Cons
- Some users have faced leaks after a while of use
3. OLizee Water Distiller
If you’d rather not use hard water directly with your humidifier, you might like this distiller. It should purify up to 1.5 gallons of your tap water.
The body is made of high-quality, food-safe materials. The stainless steel tank and other parts connect in a way that helps prevent leaks.
Also, I like its speed and the quality of the resulting water. This distiller should remove any toxins and contaminants in the water. This way, you can feel safe when you use this water with your humidifier.
Last but not least, it’s filter-free and easy to clean.
Most users went on and on about this distiller’s efficiency and ease-of-use. Others admired how water tasted after coming out of it.
Pros
- Fast speed and easy to use
- Comes with a built-in thermostat to prevent overheating
- Quick assembly and clean up
Cons
- On the expensive end
4. HoMedics Ultrasonic Replacement Cartridges
The last product is an attachment that you can insert inside your humidifier’s tank. This way, you can use hard water without worrying about white dust build-up.
These cartridges reduce mineral build-up in the tank as a result of using hard water.
Each cartridge works great through 40 tank uses before it needs replacement. Of course, this depends on how hard your water is. If your water hardness is high, the cartridge might last for fewer tank uses.
What made people pick these cartridges for their humidifiers is that they can provide unmatched filtration. They commented on their value for money, marking them as outstanding products.
As for the price, you’d probably be glad to know that you can buy these cartridges without breaking the bank.
Pros
- Easy to insert
- Works with 1-gallon or larger ultrasonic humidifiers
- Keeps your mist clean and purified
- Great for a small budget
Cons
- Only compatible with HoMedics humidifiers
- Works with low humidifier settings
Wrapping Up
There’s no denying that humidifiers can calm your senses while at home. By providing a moisturizing mist, they can help you with many health issues.
Picking the best humidifier for hard water requires deep thought. After reviewing my favorites, the Honeywell Warm Mist Humidifier made it to the top of the list.
This humidifier uses a calming, warm mist to help you in the face of winter. Also, it comes with low and high settings, is filter-free, and it’s moderately-priced.
