Are you fed up with the dry, unwelcoming air in your home? Don’t worry–you’re not alone. It’s a common issue many people grow frustrated with, as we often have little control over how the climate affects us. Fortunately, there are ways to raise the humidity level in our homes, and one of the best ways is by using a home humidifier. We searched long and hard to find the best whole house humidifier options, and in this article, we have outlined the top ten you should know about. If you’re trying to find the best humidifier for your housing situation, you’re in for a treat. Keep reading to see what we found!
Product FAQ
1. What Is the Best Whole House Humidifier?
The best whole house humidifier will help you maintain a proper humidity level in your home and will be easier to operate than other similar humidifiers.
2. Do I Need a Humidifier?
If you feel that the air in your home is too dry, the simple answer is yes! Humidifiers can help reduce the growth of mold and mildew in your house. They can also help you breathe, feel, and sleep much better.
How We Reviewed
We performed extensive research to find the best humidifiers on the market right now. This required us to learn the specifics of many popular humidifiers and read reviews to find what customers have to say about them. We eventually decided that the best parameters to judge them by are quality, functionality, and ease of use.
Overall Price Range
The humidifiers we reviewed for this article range in price from about $75 to $225. Cheaper humidifiers usually require more maintenance than those marked at a higher price.
What We Reviewed
- Honeywell HCM350B Germ Free Cool Mist Humidifier Black
- AIRCARE MA1201 Whole-House Console
- Honeywell Cool Moisture Console Humidifier
- AIRCARE MA0800 Digital Whole-House Console
- AIRCARE EP9 800 Digital Whole-House
- Honeywell HE360A1075 HE360A Whole House Humidifier
- AIRCARE H12600 Digital Whole-House Console
- Aprilaire 600M Whole House Humidifier
- Aprilaire 500 Whole House Humidifier
- Aprilaire 700 Automatic Humidifier
Honeywell HCM350B Germ-Free Cool Mist Humidifier Black
Features
The first humidifier that made the cut for our list is the Honeywell HCM 350B. It’s a small, black home humidifier that will keep your house at the right humidity level for an entire day before needing a water refill. There are also a range of accessories made for it so you can tailor how it operates to your particular needs.
Pros
- Up to 30% quieter than other similar units
- Only uses 60 watts
- Runs up to 24 hours on the lowest setting
Cons
- Filter becomes dirty quickly
- Grows mold quickly
Price $
Where to Buy
Warranty
Honeywell backs this humidifier with a 5-year limited warranty.
AIRCARE MA1201 Whole-House Console
Features
Our search for the best whole house humidifier led us to the AIRCARE MA1201, which is made for homes of up to 3,600 square feet. It has a digital humidistat that will automatically maintain the level of humidity you set for your home. With hardly any movable parts located inside the unit, there is little room for malfunctioning. It’s built to last a long time.
Pros
- Customizable humidity settings
- Up to 36 hours of runtime
- Casters make it easy to reposition
Cons
- Too loud for some people’s tastes
- Plastic casing can crack if not cared for
Price $$
Where to Buy
Warranty
This AIRCARE humidifier is backed by a 2-year limited warranty.
Honeywell Cool Moisture Console Humidifier
Features
This 3-gallon Honeywell humidifier works great for large rooms or your entire house. With this one, you’ll get up to 24 hours of runtime that will help keep your air clean and your family free of sickness.
Pros
- Promotes plant growth
- Helps you breathe better
- Improves sleep quality
Cons
- Water tanks can crack if mishandled
- A bit noisy
Price $
Where to Buy
Warranty
This Honeywell humidifier is backed by a 5-year warranty.
AIRCARE MA0800 Digital Whole-House Console
Features
AIRCARE’s MA0800 humidifier is another model that will help keep your air clean. As compared to the previous 3-gallon AIRCARE unit we looked at, this one holds 2 gallons of water. It’s perfect for smaller homes and a solid option if you’re looking for the best whole house humidifier.
Pros
- Has a quiet nighttime setting
- Has a filter and water refill indicators
Cons
- Plastic casing can crack if not taken care of
- Wicks need to be replaced often
- A little noisy
Price $
Where to Buy
Warranty
AIRCARE backs this humidifier with a 2-year warranty.
AIRCARE EP9 800 Digital Whole-House
Features
We love the AIRCARE EP9 800, because it is both functional and decorative. It is pedestal-shaped and serves as both a humidifier and a decorative element at the same time. The best thing about it is that it is easy to fill, with a drop-down opening that allows you to pour water directly into it.
Pros
- Decorative
- Has 9 fan speeds
- Its tiled top is the perfect surface for other decorations
Cons
- Design issues reduce its area of coverage
- Somewhat loud
Price $$
Where to Buy
Warranty
This AIRCARE humidifier is backed by a 2-year warranty.
Honeywell HE360A1075 HE360A Whole House Humidifier
Features
Having to refill a humidifier tank can be inconvenient, especially when you have to do it every day. With the Honeywell HE360A, this isn’t an issue. It allows you to run a water line straight through it, negating the need for you to refill a tank routinely. Also, because it is capable of fulfilling the needs of homes up to 4,200 square feet in size, it just might be the best whole house humidifier on the market right now.
Pros
- Works for very large homes
- Requires little maintenance
Cons
- Installation can be difficult
- Installation kit not included
Price $$$
Where to Buy
Warranty
This Honeywell humidifier is backed by a 5-year warranty.
AIRCARE H12600 Digital Whole-House Console
Features
With a large tank and a decorative design, the AIRCARE H12600 is great for people who want an incognito humidifier that requires very little maintenance. This unit is huge, so it will take up quite a bit of space. However, you’ll have to refill it with water much less than other humidifiers. It’s a stylistic choice that works great for large homes.
Pros
- Has a large water tank
- Up to 3,700 square feet of coverage
Cons
- Takes up a lot of space
- Fairly noisy
- Not very sturdy
Price $$
Where to Buy
Warranty
This AIRCARE humidifier is backed by a 2-year limited warranty.
Aprilaire 600M Whole House Humidifier
Features
Another humidifier out that that can connect directly to your water line is the Aprilaire 600M. It covers homes up to 4,000 square feet and does not require constant manual water refills, making it an obvious choice for our list of the best whole house humidifier options. You can set it to run automatically or only when your home furnace is in operation.
Pros
- Has a built-in bypass damper
- Very sturdy
- Puts out up to 17 gallons per day
Cons
- Difficult to install
Price $$
Where to Buy
Warranty
This Aprilaire humidifier is backed by a 2-year limited warranty.
Aprilaire 500 Whole House Humidifier
Features
The Aprilaire humidifiers we picked out are very similar but are designed to fulfill the needs of different-sized houses. The best whole house humidifier does not necessarily need to provide the most coverage, and this one covers homes up to 3,000 square feet (as compared to the Aprilaire 600’s 4,000 square foot coverage). It will give you the same quality humidity you can expect from Aprilaire in a slightly smaller package.
Pros
- Great for homes up to 3,000 square feet
- Set and forget operation
- Does not require manual refills
Cons
- Difficult to install
Price $$
Where to Buy
Warranty
This Aprilaire humidifier is backed by a 2-year limited warranty.
Aprilaire 700 Automatic Humidifier
Features
As you can see, Aprilaire provides some of the best whole house humidifier solutions, and their 700 model is another great unit that is perfect for large homes. The previous 2 Aprilaire humidifiers we looked at can be set to run alongside your furnace, however, this one cannot. Like the others, it connects to your waterline, but it emits humidity with its built-in fan. If you don’t have a furnace, this is the best whole house humidifier from Aprilaire for you.
Pros
- Only needs maintenance once a year
- Gives 4,200 square feet of coverage
- Evaporates .75 gallons per hour
Cons
- Must be mounted to your wall
Price $$$
Where to Buy
Warranty
This Aprilaire humidifier is backed by a 2-year limited warranty.
The Verdict
After looking at all the data we gathered, we decided that the Aprilaire 700 is the best whole house humidifier available right now. The reason for our decision is that the Aprilaire 700 can provide coverage for very large houses and only requires yearly maintenance. This one surpasses all the other humidifiers we reviewed in just about every way. Once it’s set up, you really don’t have to do anything else with it. It’s hard to beat that.
We feel the Aprilaire 700 deserves a solid 4.5/5 score. The only reason we took off 1/2 a point is because of its installation requirements. Setting it up is not exactly easy, and some people may need to hire a technician to do it for them. In any case, the Aprilaire 700 is a humidifier you’ll want to look at if you’re serious about improving the quality of air in your home. It’s your ticket to a more welcoming home environment, and it’s well worth the price of admission.
