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Moisture minus the annoying white dust.
Hard water does a number on everything from your kitchen appliances to your hair, and it makes simple purchases like a humidifier especially complicated. If you’re in the market for something that’s supposed to add moisture to the air, you must take into account hard water’s high mineral content. But to get more context, Bustle reached out to an expert.
According to Brian Campbell, founder and Chief Water Treatment Expert at waterfilterguru.com, “The mineral deposits [from hard water] can build up inside the humidifier, affecting its efficiency and potentially causing damage.” The best humidifier for hard water will be an evaporative cool mist model with a wick filter. But what else do you need to know?
The Expert
Brian Campbell is the founder and chief water treatment expert at waterfilterguru.com, a blog dedicated to helping readers identify and address their water quality needs at home.
Evaporative vs. Ultrasonic
To take a step back, there are two main types of humidifiers: ultrasonic and evaporative. It’s important to understand the key differences when deciding which is best for hard water.
Ultrasonic models are popular for being extra quiet. However, since they are generally filterless, it is possible for unwanted minerals to get into the air. Ultrasonic humidifiers work by using vibrations to create a microfine mist (along with the minerals in it), which creates that infamous “white dust” associated with humidifiers. Therefore if you’re going to go with an ultrasonic humidifier for hard water, it’s important to invest in one that is compatible with demineralization cartridges.
An evaporative humidifier, on the other hand, draws water into a wick filter, which helps trap those minerals, and then a fan blows the water vapor through to disperse. Campbell says these filters can also accumulate mineral deposits over time, so it’s important to regularly change out the wick filters. Generally, you will find more evaporative options that are marketed toward hard water compared to ultrasonic humidifiers.
Warm Mist vs. Cool Mist
Warm mist or cool mist are other humidifier terms you've probably encountered in your search for the perfect model. For hard water, cool mist humidifiers are the way to go for one simple reason: they’re easier to clean. “Cool mist humidifiers emit room-temperature mist and do not produce heat that can cause minerals to settle and create limescale,” explains Campbell.
A warm mist humidifier (sometimes called a vaporizer) has an additional heating component to deal with and leaves behind more mineral deposits in the tank. A cool mist humidifier has the additional benefit of requiring less energy to operate since it doesn’t heat up and is approved for safe use around kids and pets, too.
Shop The Best Humidifiers For Hard Water
In a hurry? These are the best humidifiers for hard water on Amazon:
- The Overall Best Humidifier For Hard Water: Honeywell Cool Moisture Humidifier
- An Easy-Fill Humidifier That Can Cover Larger Rooms: Vornado EV200 Evaporative Whole Room Humidifier
- The Best Humidifier For Kids: Vicks Starry Night Cool Moisture Humidifier
- A Large Humidifier For Your Whole House: Vornado Evap40 4-Gallon Evaporative Humidifier
These are the four best evaporative cool moisture humidifiers on Amazon. They're sized for every type of room, and one of them can even tackle a whole house.
FAQs
How do I know if I have water hard?
Hard water has a high mineral content and includes minerals such as calcium and magnesium. Campbell tells Bustle, “You can determine if you have hard water through signs like limescale buildup on faucets and appliances, reduced water flow, and difficulty lathering soap.” When hard water is vaporized by the humidifier, you may also notice white mineral dust. “This dust can settle on surfaces and cause respiratory irritation when inhaled,” says Campbell.
How do I stop hard water buildup in my humidifier?
The best way to prevent hard water buildup in your humidifier is to invest in one like the humidifiers mentioned above, that minimize buildup in the first place. According to Campbell, “Regular cleaning and maintenance using distilled water instead of tap water, can help prevent mineral buildup in the future.”
What is the best way to clean a humidifier with hard water?
To clean mineral buildup in a humidifier, create your own cleaning solution from home by mixing equal parts of water and vinegar. Then empty out the humidifier and fill its base with the vinegar-water solution. Campbell recommends letting the solution sit for 30 minerals to loosen the mineral deposits. Next, scrub the remaining mineral buildup using a soft brush or cloth and rinse the humidifier thoroughly with clean distilled water.
How We Selected The Best Humidifiers For Hard Water
In choosing the humidifiers for this article, we spoke with an expert on hard water, conducted independent research, and factored in capacity, budget, and filter design in order to narrow down these choices. In choosing these models, we combed through product reviews, considered budget, and ease of use, and narrowed down the humidifiers based on all of these criteria.
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Expert:
Brian Campbell is the founder and chief water treatment expert at waterfilterguru.com, a blog dedicated to helping readers identify and address their water quality needs at home.
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