Best Humidifiers in Canada
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What do dry skin, troubled breathing, and zaps of static electricity have in common?
Yes, you guessed it right. They can all be caused by dry air in your home during winter months, when heating works to full capacity.
The good news is, a compact humidifier placed in the corner of your bedroom can drastically improve your sleep — and life!
So, be sure to check our list of the best humidifiers in Canada below and see a quick buying guide to understand how to choose the perfect fit for your needs!
A Quick Preview
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Editor’s Choice
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Editor’s Choice |
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Best Cheap Humidifier
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Best Cheap Humidifier |
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Best for Large Rooms
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Best for Large Rooms |
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Most Quiet Option
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Most Quiet Option |
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Our List of Best Humidifiers in Canada
Best Humidifier for Bedroom — Editor’s Choice — TaoTronics
Highlights
- up to 30 hours of work time — 2 times more than average;
- shuts off automatically, safe to use at night;
- built-in LED light, can be used as a nightlight for the bedroom or kid’s room.
The TaoTronics is the top pick in this list of the best humidifiers in Canada because it’s a universal device for literally anyone. This humidifier features a 4L water tank and can keep the optimal level of moisture in your bedroom for up to 30 hours.
The TaoTronics is a cool-mist humidifier that uses ultrasound to disperse the water particles into the air. The advantage of cool-mist humidifiers is their safety: cool vapor won’t burn you if you get too close to the stream.
The device also features an integrated LED screen that can work as a nightlight. Alternatively, you can turn it off and enjoy a sound sleep without any interactions. Another good thing is, that the TaoTronics works pretty quietly — the manufacturer states that the noise level is less than 38 dB — so it is suitable even for sensitive sleepers.
Finally, this model features the Humidistat option that allows you to set the desired humidity level. Once the air in your room reaches this level, the TaoTronics stops, which makes it a good energy-saving option.
All things considered, this humidifier by TaoTronics is an effective and safe solution to improve the air in your home. Plus, it has great value for money.
Pros:
- very quiet, great for kids or sensitive sleepers;
- works for areas up to 320 sq.ft (30 sq.m);
- has a humidity monitor that helps you adjust optimal levels;
- high quality and great functionality for a good price;
- the LED display can be turned off to prevent disruptions during sleep.
Cons:
- the nozzle that directs the mist can only be adjusted manually;
- some users report issues with the humidistat’s accuracy.
Best Cheap Humidifier - Honeywell
Highlights
- 24 hours of constant work;
- comes with a cleaning cartridge that prevents bacterial contamination;
- auto shut-off when empty;
- 0.5 and 1-gallon size options available.
The second option among the best humidifiers in Canada in this review is the Honeywell. Simply designed and affordable, this device comes with a 1-gallon (3.8-liter) tank that can provide a stable mist flow for 24 hours straight. A 0.5-gallon (1.9-liter) option for smaller spaces is available too.
The device is easy to refill and clean thanks to its wide opening and simple barrel-shaped tank. The cleaning will hardly take longer than 20 minutes, and with a protective cartridge, you can do it even faster.
Speaking of cartridges, the Honeywell also works with demineralizing cartridges, which allows you to use it with tap water if it’s not too hard in your area. This can be a significant advantage for those who don’t always have purified water at home.
Overall, despite the simple design and reasonably low price, the Honeywell is a really great humidifier. It will ensure the optimal humidity in your home and will last long.
Pros:
- easy to clean and refill thanks to a wide tank opening;
- can work with tap water;
- compact, great for small nightstands or desktops;
- user-friendly: easily adjusts the flow with the turn of the knob;
- good pick for those who are on a strict budget;
Cons:
- some users report that the tank isn’t properly secured.
- might be a bit too loud.
Best for Large Rooms - Levoit
Highlights
- can cover up to 753 sq.ft (70 sq.m.);
- Auto Mode, various mist settings, easy humidity controls;
- up to 36 hours of continuous use.
Pros:
- can be used as an aroma diffuser;
- great functionality, easy to adjust and customize to your needs;
- comes with remote control;
- suits larger homes;
- high mist output saturates the air faster.
Cons:
- may not be easy to refill and clean;
- some users report issues with condensation.
Most Quiet Option — Everlasting Comfort Cool Mist Ultrasonic Humidifier
Highlights
- Very quiet, as little as 30 DB of noise, which is basically silent;
- Has an essential oil tray to provide you with them all through the day;
- The 6 liter water tank capacity is enough for around one week;
- The amount of mist that the device produces can be adjusted.
This humidifier will amaze you in many ways. The first way is that it is as quiet as it can get. This is to the point that you might forget that you have a humidifier while sleeping. So you can place it near your bed at night and sleep without hearing a thing.
The next best thing about the Everlasting Comfort cool mist humidifier is that it keeps your body in touch with essential oils all through the day, since you can pour essential oils into its tray.
We especially love the controls on this device, which are pretty user-friendly and straight-foward. There is basically a knob that you can turn around to adjust the mist output level, and turn it on or off.
Some people might complain about this device not lasting long enough, but considering your desired mist output level, it can go from 3 days to a week. I mean, that is why it is adjustable, right? So you can be in charge of how often you want to add water to the tank. We suggest using distilled water since tap water or anything like that might cause white dust to appear on furniture nearby. That cannot be an issue if you simply use demineralized water.
All-in-all, the Everlasting Comfort can give you the literal ever-lasting comfort that you’ve wanted: a quiet and efficient humidifier to help you relax.
Pros:
- Doesn’t require you to use a filter;
- Automatically shuts down after the water has finished;
- Adds essential oils to the mist to help your body;
- Lasts long enough and doesn’t require adding more water more than every 3 days.
Cons:
- Using undistilled water might cause white dust to appear on the furniture nearby.
Humidifier Types 101
Today, there are four main types of humidifiers on the market. Let’s take a look at each of them in more detail.
Cool Mist Humidifiers
Cool mist humidifiers are the most common option today, so those looking for a highly rated humidifier in Canada are very likely to end up with this option. These devices are easier to clean than other models because they have a detachable filter that traps water impurities.
Cool mist humidifiers are an ideal pick for a kid’s room because they won’t hurt your little one with a hot vapor or liquid (1). Also, they make a better option for those who live in warmer climates, as the cool mist might drop the air temperature a bit.
Now, the main drawback of cool mist humidifiers is the possibility of water contamination. Cold water doesn’t have disinfecting properties and can become impure when still. So, it’s advisable to let the humidifier dry out once a day before you refill it, to prevent bacteria growth.
Warm Mist Humidifier
Warm mist humidifiers have a heater that warms up the water and releases the warm mist into the air. These models may moisturize the air faster than others because warm vapor spreads more quickly.
Also, warm mist humidifiers have a lower risk of water contamination and mold growth because the water is heated. However, if you do not use purified water here, the minerals can calcify on the heating element pretty soon, thus making the device less effective.
Warm mist humidifiers can also have a section for the inhalants and essential oils, which makes them good for treating colds or nasal congestions.
As for the downsides, here are some you can expect:
- Increased risks of burns. Do not leave the device without supervision, especially if you use it in your kid’s room.
- Noisier operation. Heated water comes out under the higher pressure, causing the nozzle to make whistling sounds.
Ultrasonic Humidifiers
Ultrasonic humidifiers use a flexible metallic diaphragm that vibrates at high frequencies and produces tiny water droplets that are released into the air. This construction results in the following advantages:
- Little to no operational noise. The human ear isn’t susceptible to ultrasound, so you can use this device at night in your bedroom without worrying about your sleep.
- No hot surfaces. Ultrasonic humidifiers are safe to use in children’s rooms because they won’t cause burns.
- Energy-efficiency. Ultrasonic humidifiers use approximately 58% less energy compared to cool-mist humidifiers (2). In fact, energy is only needed for the diaphragm vibrations, unless your device carries some extra features.
Want to know the best part?
There are hybrid ultrasonic humidifiers that combine warm and cool settings, allowing you to adjust the device for round-year use.
Sounds about perfect, right?
Still, you need to know that ultrasonic devices share some of the downsides of cold mist models. Particularly, they’re prone to water contamination, so be sure to dry yours out regularly. Also, this type of humidifier is likely to be on the expensive side.
Evaporative Humidifiers
Evaporative humidifiers are pretty similar to cold mist ones, except that they use a fan to create water mist. This design is typically cheaper and safe for homes with children and pets.
Also, evaporative devices are relatively easy to clean and maintain. All you need to do is dry them out regularly and thoroughly clean the fan.
However, this type of humidifier isn’t a good choice if you or other family members are sensitive sleepers. The fan makes pretty annoying noise that takes quite a time to get used to. Also, since the device doesn’t heat the water, there’s still a risk of bacterial contamination.
Other Things to Consider when choosing a humidifier
Now, even though every humidifier type has its own strong and weak points that can help you make a choice, type is not the only thing that matters.
Here are a few factors that may be important for you as well.
Area
There’s no point in buying a humidifier that fails to deliver an optimal humidity level in your home, right?
Knowing the area in sq.m. that you want to humidify is essential for calculating the needed water output. For example, smaller houses up to 500 sq.ft. (46.4 sq.m.) need a device with an output of 1.5-2 gallons (5.7-7.6 liters) per day. If your house is larger than 1,000 sq.ft. (93 sq.m.), you may need a device that can deliver more than 5 gallons (19 liters) per day to ensure optimal humidity (3).
Runtime
This parameter defines how often you’ll have to refill the tank. Runtime depends mostly on the humidifier’s type and tank capacity.
Generally, a 2 or 3-gallon humidifier should run for 11-16 hours depending on the setting (4). You can do the refill every day before bedtime or right after waking up to ensure continuous operation.
Ease of Maintenance
Humidifiers not only moisturize your room air but also trap some dust and debris unnoticeable to the human eye in their filter. And when these particles end up in the tank with still water, they create a perfect environment for bacteria.
That’s why most manufacturers recommend emptying the humidifier’s tank once a day and letting it completely dry before refilling.
If you want to be able to do it easily, choose models with simple tank design, no hard-to-reach corners, and a construction that is easy to assemble and rinse.
Also, note that it’s preferable to use purified or distilled water in a humidifier to prevent mold or mineral buildup. You can also use tap water (if it isn’t too hard) by installing demineralizing cartridges directly in the water tank.
Extra Features
These aren’t essential, but they can make the use of a humidifier a bit more convenient:
- Humidistat. This feature helps you set the desired humidity level, and once the device reaches this level, it will go into the standby mode, thus decreasing the energy waste.
- Automatic shutdown. This is a good option if you plan to use your device during the night and are worried about safety. The auto-shutdown will detect when the tank is empty and turn the device off, so you can sleep peacefully.
- Aroma diffuser. This option is most common in the warm mist and ultrasonic devices. You can use aroma cartridges or just add a few drops of essential oils right into a special section and enjoy the scented air.
FAQ
How long does it take for a humidifier to work?
A humidifier may work up to 3 hours to get the humidity level to the optimal. The first-time run usually takes more time than the next.
What size humidifier do I need?
A 2 or 3-gallon (7.6 or 11.4-liter) humidifier is typically enough for an average apartment. There are also whole-house humidifiers with the tank capacity of up to 15 gallons (56.8 liters) — they can moisturize an area of 2,000-3,000 sq.ft (185-279 sq.m.).
What should I set my humidifier to in winter?
To avoid excess condensation, set the device to 20% humidity if the outside temperature is -18°C to -12°C. If the winter is mild and the outside temperature is between -12°C and -6°C, change the setting to 25%-30%.
Should I turn off my humidifier in summer?
It depends. If you live in arid climates or have allergies, you may want to keep your humidifier running throughout the summer season — just make sure to readjust it to a lower humidity level.
Conclusion
Getting a humidifier can help you sleep better and prevent health problems caused by dry indoor air.
One of the models I’ve suggested will definitely work for you. But if you doubt which one to choose, go with the TaoTronics. This humidifier is pretty quiet, which is great for sensitive sleepers. Also, it can maintain a consistent level of humidity thanks to the built-in humidistat. Offering great value for money, this model is relatively easy to use and maintain, so it can make a good fit for many users.
Why are you considering a humidifier? Have you used one before? Please, feel free to share your experience.
References
- Jay L. Hoecker, M.D. (2019, March 8). Warm-Mist Versus Cool-Mist Humidifier: Which is Better for a Cold? Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-cold/expert-answers/cool-mist-humidifiers/faq-20058199
- ENERGY STAR Market & Industry Scoping Report Residential Humidifiers October 2012. Retrieved from https://www.energystar.gov/sites/default/files/asset/document/ENERGY_STAR_Scoping_Report_Residential_Humidifiers.pdf
- Steward Unsdorfer (n.d.). Cool Mist Humidifier: Adding Humidity Where it Counts. Chapter 5. Retrieved from https://www.centralhtg.com/blog/why-cool-mist-humidifier-benefits-are-the-coolest
- Mariette Mifflin (2018, November 25). 7 Tips for Humidifier Care and Maintenance. Retrieved from https://www.thespruce.com/humidifier-care-frequently-asked-questions-1908159
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