Cool mist humidifiers dispense room temperature moisture into the air, which is different from a warm mist humidifier that dispenses warm mist that has been pre-heated by a heating component inside the humidifier.
Regardless of the differences between the cool mist and warm mist humidifier, it is common for people to wonder whether a cool-mist humidifier makes the room cold, especially when used during cold seasons.
To answer the question, a cool-mist humidifier does not make the room cold. This is mainly because the mist released from the humidifier is at room temperature. While the mist released from the cool mist humidifier will be cooler compared to that released from warm mist humidifiers, it will not change the temperature in your home.
Cool mist humidifiers are perfect for adding humidity into the air within your surroundings, which makes them a good investment for both warm and cold weather.
You might only notice the slight coolness of the mist released from the humidifier if you hold the humidifier close to your face or skin during hot seasons.
So if you are worried about a drop in your indoor temperatures, you should not, because cool mist humidifiers will not make your house or room cold.
This post will address the following:
- Does a cool mist humidifier make the room cold
- How do cool-mist humidifiers work
- Benefits of cool-mist humidifiers
- FAQs about humidifiers
Does A Cool Mist Humidifier Make The Room Cold
Short Answer: Not necessarily.
As already stated, a cool-mist humidifier will not make your room cold, especially if you are using a small or medium-sized humidifier. To understand the connection between using a cool-mist humidifier and room temperature, we first need to understand the mechanism of cool mist humidifiers and their role.
How Do Cool Mist Humidifiers Work
Cool mist humidifiers dispense room temperature water, in the form of mist, in your surroundings. This process adds moisture to the air around you and increases the humidity in the air. There are generally two types of cool mist humidifiers that you can use to add moisture to your home.
Impeller Humidifiers
Impeller humidifiers use fan-like propellers to draw air into the humidifier. The air is drawn from the surrounding area and then infused with water before being released back into the air.
The disc-like propellers rotate at a breakneck speed to promote continuous movement of air inside the humidifier and release humidity-infused air back to the surrounding air.
Most impeller humidifiers will have different settings to help you control the rate of humidity dispensation into the air. You can use these settings to control how much humidity is released into the air.
Like other humidifiers, you should only use distilled water in your cool mist humidifier to avoid dispensing microbes into the air.
Ultrasonic Humidifiers
Ultrasonic humidifiers use high-frequency sound vibrations to expel humidity into the air in the form of mist.
Generally, ultrasonic humidifiers work by releasing frequency vibrations in water at a very high speed, which in turn breaks down the components of the water into vapor or mist form. The humidifier then releases the small mist droplets into the air.
When compared to impeller humidifiers, ultrasonic humidifiers are quieter and consume less energy when compared to impeller humidifiers.
If you are using a cool mist humidifier during extremely hot weather, you might notice a slight reduction in temperature in your home. The release of mist in the air promotes humidification of the air.
Scientifically, humidity and temperature have an inverse proportional relationship. This means that an increase in temperature leads to a drop in the relative humidity level. This makes the air dryer.
On the other hand, a decrease in temperature leads to an increase in humidity levels. This means that when the temperature around you decreases, the air will be wet because of the increased humidity levels.
With regard to the question addressed in this article, ‘does a cool-mist humidifier make the room cold,’ the link between temperature and humidity can help you understand why a humidifier might not significantly affect your room temperature.
If you are using a small humidifier, you will not notice a drop in your room temperature. You will only notice a decrease in your room temperature if you are using a whole-house humidifier or a large humidifier in a small room.
Benefits of Cool-Mist Humidifiers
Low energy consumption |
Reduced risks of mineral deposit build-up in the humidifier |
Safe for children and pets |
Better respiratory health |
Easy to clean |
Can be used throughout the year |
Great for indoor plants |
Reduces symptoms of eczema and other skin conditions |
Low energy consumption
Cool mist humidifiers consume low energy when compared to warm mist humidifiers because they do not rely on a heating element to heat the water in the humidifier.
The warm mist dispensed by warm mist humidifiers is heated by a heating element in the humidifier.
Reduced Risks of Mineral Deposit Build-Up
When using a cool mist humidifier, you will experience reduced risks of mineral deposit build-up in your humidifier.
During the water heating process associated with warm mist humidifiers, minerals present in hard water usually build up in the humidifier and form unpleasant-looking scales on the inner sides of the humidifier.
If you have a warm mist humidifier, you should ensure that you stick to using distilled water to prevent the build-up of mineral deposits on the inner side of your humidifier.
On the other hand, if you are using a cool mist humidifier, you will not have to worry about the mineral deposits, because it takes longer for minerals to build up in the humidifier when you are not using a heating element.
This does not mean that you should use any type of water in your cool mist humidifier. While the risk of hard water mineral build-up is reduced, using unclean water still places you at risk of releasing microbes into the air.
Safe for children and pets
Cool mist humidifiers are safe to use around children and pets because they emit room temperature moisture. Warm mist humidifiers can be considered a safety hazard for children and pets because of direct contact with the warm mist.
Respiratory health
Cool mist humidifiers can improve your respiratory health, especially if you have allergies or asthma.
By adding humidity to your room, cool mist humidifiers ensure that the air you breathe in is not dry. Dry air can worsen coughs and other respiratory diseases.
According to the FDA and the consumer report, the cool mist released by cool mist humidifiers is effective in reducing the symptoms of a cold or flu. They improve your breathing by shrinking any swelling in the nasal passage and improving the intake of air.
On the other hand, while warm mist has its benefits, if you have a cold the warm air released by warm mist humidifiers can promote further swelling of the nasal passage, which will make breathing difficult.
If you intend to use your humidifier to improve your respiratory health, it is recommended to use distilled water in the humidifier to avoid releasing unpleasant microbes into the air.
Easy to clean
Cool mist humidifiers are easy to clean compared to other humidifier types. Most cool mist humidifiers do not have multiple conjoined parts or moving parts that need to be assembled or dissembled during cleaning.
Additionally, since cool mist humidifiers rarely accumulate mineral deposits like most warm mist humidifiers, you do not have to worry about scale or mineral deposit removal.
Can be used year-round
Cool-mist humidifiers can be used throughout the year regardless of the season to humidify your air. All you need to consider is the relative humidity in your home.
If the humidity levels are low or within the recommended levels, you can comfortably use a cool-mist humidifier in your home throughout the year.
Great for plants
If you have indoor plants, they can also benefit from the humidity produced by cool mist humidifiers. Ensure that you put the humidifier closer to the plants or direct the nozzle releasing the mist towards your plants to ensure that they get adequately moisturized.
If you plan to use a humidifier for your indoor plants, it is recommended to use it early to mid-morning to ensure that your plants get adequately moisturized.
Reduces symptoms of eczema and other skin conditions
Dryness of the skin is associated with numerous skin conditions. Cool mist humidifiers have been linked to reduced severity of eczema and other skin conditions.
The mist released by cool mist humidifiers humidifies the air. Humidifying dry air will also moisturize your skin and reduce skin dryness and itching.
If you have eczema or other skin conditions associated with skin dryness, consider buying a humidifier to improve your skin’s health.
If you are unsure about the benefits of humidifiers with regard to skin health, consult your dermatologist about the benefits of using humidifiers.
FAQs About Humidifiers
Does a humidifier make the room warmer?
Generally, a humidifier will not make your room warmer. Using a warm mist humidifier will release warm mist, which might feel slightly warm on your skin but will not make the room warm.
Once the warm mist is released into the air surrounding you, it will cool down to your room temperature. The rate of humidity released by most humidifiers is not fast enough and of a high enough volume to alter the change in your room temperature.
This also explains why using a cool mist humidifier will make your skin feel slightly cooler if you plan your hand near the humidifier, but will not necessarily make your room colder.
Does a humidifier make the room wet?
Humidifiers can make the room wet. While the mist released from humidifiers is generally low, if you use a humidifier for prolonged periods, or use a large humidifier in a small space for prolonged durations, the humidifier can make your room wet.
This is why it is recommended to buy a humidifier that has a humidistat or buy a hygrometer separately. An in-built humidistat will show you the level of humidity in your room and help you determine whether the humidity in your home Is too high, too low, or within the normal ranges.
Can cool mist humidifiers make you sick?
Both cool mist and warm mist humidifiers can make you sick if you do not clean the water tank in the humidifier. If you store water in a container for prolonged durations, you are likely to notice a change in the color of the water due to the accumulation of bacteria and mold.
Similarly, if you do not clean your humidifier, use dirty water in the humidifier, or leave water in the humidifier for several days before emptying, cleaning, and refilling it, you will be putting yourself at risk of inhaling allergens, mold, bacteria and other microbes.
Ensure that you do not leave water standing in your humidifier for over a week and try to clean your humidifier at least every 3-7 days to ensure that you are not creating a breeding spot for unpleasant microbes.
Can you use ultrasonic humidifiers near dogs?
The ultrasonic sound released by ultrasonic might be uncomfortable for your dogs. If you plan on using an ultrasonic humidifier, check your dogs’ behavior when the ultrasonic humidifier is turned on.
While the human ear cannot pick up high-frequency ultrasonic sound vibrations, the same does not apply to dogs.
If you have a dog, ensure that you assess your dog’s behavior when the ultrasonic humidifier is turned on. You could also opt to use the humidifier in a different room if you notice that your dog is uncomfortable.
Recommended Read: Can you use humidifiers near electronics
Conclusion
Cool mist humidifiers can be a great addition to your home. With regard to temperature changes, cool mist humidifiers will not significantly alter the temperature in your room, unless you are using a large cool mist humidifier in a very small space.
If you are interested in buying a cool mist humidifier, check out the two recommended cool mist humidifiers (1 and 2) on Amazon. The reviews there can also help you decide on the best option for your home.
I hope that this article has been helpful in helping you understand how cool mist humidifiers work, the difference between cool mist and warm mist humidifiers, and the benefits of cool mist humidifiers.