Features to consider when choosing a humidifier for plants
Humidifiers can vary on the types of features they offer, so choosing the right one is a tricky task. If you’re unsure of which features you need and what to look for in a new humidifier, check out the sections below for more information.
Type
There are a couple of different types of humidifiers to choose from. These include warm mist humidifiers and cool mist humidifiers. The warm mist models are quite common, heating the water in the tank to a high temperature to create water vapor. This vapor is then released into the air through the humidifier’s nozzle. Though these work quite well, they do use more electricity for the internal heating process.
There are also cool mist humidifiers, which come in 2 categories. The first is the ultrasonic humidifiers, like the Pure Enrichment MistAire Silver. These models use vibrations that increase the rate at which the water in the tank evaporates. The mist created using this technology is thin and wispy, which some people prefer.
There are also evaporative cool mist humidifiers. These have wicking material inside that draws the water in. Then a fan blows over the saturated material, evaporating it and sending the mist out into the air.
Some models also include both cool and warm mist options, like the Elechomes SH8820. This gives you both options for your home in one handy machine.
Coverage area
The coverage area is one of the most important features to look into when choosing a new humidifier for house plants. The coverage area tells you the maximum size the room needs to be for the unit to perform efficiently.
If you’re buying a humidifier for a small plant room, bedroom, nursery, or office, a little model will work just fine. For instance, the Raydrop KC-RD03 has a coverage area of about 300 square feet, so it is perfect for the smaller areas of your home.
Larger rooms need a more powerful unit that can maintain the humidity level. The Levoit LV600HH has a coverage area of up to 753 square feet, so it can handle large living areas or plant rooms, keeping the humidity level where you want it.
When choosing a new humidifier for your home, measure the room you’ll be using it in. Then find a unit that has a coverage area that is the same or more than the area you’ve measured to ensure it can do the job you need it for.
Capacity
The capacity of a humidifier refers to how much water the tank holds without overflowing. This varies, depending on the size of the unit and the coverage area it is recommended for. The larger the room, the larger the tank you’ll need to maintain the humidity levels without having to refill the humidifier repeatedly throughout the day.
Of course, small models don’t necessarily need constant refilling. It depends on how long you’re running them for and how high the mist level is. A unit that runs on low won’t use as much water as one on high, no matter how big the tank is.
When deciding on which tank size you should purchase, consider the level of humidity you’re dealing with and how often you’ll have to run the unit, as well as the coverage area of the room you’re placing the unit in. If you plan on using the humidifier every day for several hours at a time, a large tank may be needed. Those who only need to run their unit intermittently to maintain humidity levels may get by with a smaller tank that they can fill once every day or two.
Runtime
The runtime of the humidifier for house plants that you purchase depends on the capacity of the water tank and the mist setting you choose. The higher the mist level is, the more water the unit will go through, and the quicker the tank will empty, decreasing your runtime.
Most units give you minimum and maximum runtimes, which factor in these features. Smaller units usually have shorter runtimes since they have smaller tanks. The Raydrop KC-RD03 is a good example of this, with a 0.45-gallon tank and a maximum runtime of 10 hours. This means that at the lowest setting, when the least amount of vapor is produced, the unit can run for up to 10 hours. If you turn up the mist, the runtime decreases.
If you’re planning on purchasing a unit that you’ll use consistently each day, you may want one with a longer runtime to prevent constant refilling throughout the day.
Dimensions
Though it may not seem like an important feature, the dimensions of the unit are definitely something to consider when looking into these units. The larger the humidifier is, the more space it’s going to take up on your table, counter, or nightstand. This may not be an issue for everyone, especially if you have a lot of room on your home surfaces, but for those with limited space, you may want to consider where you’re going to put it before buying one, just in case it won’t fit where you want it.
Many models with high coverage areas do tend to be larger to accommodate the bigger tank and longer runtimes, while the small room models tend to have smaller tanks and dimensions. In some cases, it may even be a better option to buy 2 small units to maintain the humidity level in a large room, depending on the surfaces you have available.
Mist settings
The mist settings can vary from unit to unit. Most of the humidifiers in our reviews have 2 or 3 mist settings available, which you can adjust to reach and maintain the humidity level you and your plants need. These models have mist level buttons that you press to go from level to level. The Raydrop KC-RD03 is the exception, with no set mist levels. Instead, it includes a dial that you can adjust to raise or lower the mist level, giving you a wide range of mist options to choose from.
Other features
Though the features above are the most important ones, some extras make these units safer and more convenient. The controls are one feature to look into. These should be easy to use, no matter how many functions the unit has. An included remote control is also handy, letting you adjust the settings from across the room.
An auto-shutoff is also a good feature to have. This will turn off the unit when the tank level is low or empty instead of trying to run without water. Many models also shut off when the tank is removed for filling.
A built-in humidistat is another handy extra. These monitor the humidity level in the room at all times and may include an Auto Mode that will turn on or off the unit or alter the mist levels to maintain the humidity level that you’ve chosen.
Other features you may want included with your humidifier are a Sleep Mode or a nightlight. The sleep mode dims the lights and lowers the mist level for less noise while you’re sleeping. The nightlight is perfect for nurseries and kid’s bedrooms. A timer is also handy, allowing you to set the unit to run for a specific amount of time and then shut off when the timer is up.
You may also want to check out the tank filling design. Top-filling models are best for quick and simple filling, but the bottom-filling ones are also handy if they include built-in handles and flat tops.
