This is our buying guide on the 3 best humidifiers for Sleep Apnea in 2023. Below is a quick summary of our top recommendations. Scroll further down to read our in depth, hands on reviews, for each humidifier.
Pure Enrichment MistAire Humidifier
- Easy to fill
- Easy to clean
- Powerful misting
- Can run up to 25 hours
- Easily handles small and large spaces
- Can run on low and high speeds
- Great for the bedroom
- Makes a noticeable difference in less than 10 minutes
- Nozzle – 260 degrees
- Nightlight
- 1.5-liter capacity
AIRCARE MA1201 Whole-House
- Fantastic coverage – 3200 square feet plus
- Automatic shut-off
- Traps hard water deposits
- Simple operation
- Acceptable noise levels
- Easy controls
- Easy to clean
- Enormous water capacity
- Digital humidistat
- Evaporative technology
- Double water capacity
Levoit LV600HH Hybrid Ultrasonic Humidifier
- Exceptional humidistat
- Prevents mold and residue
- Excellent for dry climates
- Long runtime
- 6-Liter water reservoir reduces refill requirements
- Easy refill with top-fill design
- Remote control
- As much as four times faster than other units in the range
- Warm and cold mist
- Easy to clean
- Almost noiseless
- Auto on and off
- Listens to Alexa and Google Assistant
In this article, we will be reviewing the 3 best humidifiers for Sleep Apnea in 2022.
If you struggle with sleep apnea, you should have a humidifier by your side pretty much every night. Studies show that proper moisture content in the air, while you sleep, can drastically reduce the effects of stuffy sinuses, dry throat, and even congestive issues deep in the lungs.
But there are things to consider before buying. Most importantly, not all units are made equal!
We brought several units into our testing center and eventually reduced them to the three that make up our list of “The 3 best humidifiers for sleep apnea in 2022.”
From our test results, it was clear that the AIRCARE MA1201 Whole-House Console-Style Evaporative Humidifier was the best humidifier for those struggling with sleep apnea in 2022.
This unit from AIRCARE copes brilliantly with dry atmospheres, works its magic on even small spaces, and is tailor-made for the bedroom.
It’s a feature-rich humidifier, and it is well-priced.
But keep reading. We’re about to share the lowdown on all three of our top units.
AIRCARE MA1201 Whole-House Console-Style Evaporative Humidifier
BEST OVERALL
At a glance
According to the manufacturer, this AIRCARE humidifier is optimal for spaces up to 3200 square feet.
When the unit arrived it was already fully assembled. The filter also came preinstalled, so there was nothing to do except unbox it, fill it up with water, and flick the switch.
Design
The AIRCARE MA1201 is big. Even bulky. It feels as if, with a little industrial design forethought, the technology could have been fitted into a more compact package.
However, bear in mind that it does have the capability to humidify large spaces, so from that perspective, a bulky unit is justified.
When referring to the aesthetics on their website, Aircare states “this humidifier does not have to be kept in a closet.,” implying that it is easy to look at. Well, it’s not. It’s not ugly, but it isn’t exactly pretty either – about as exciting as looking at vanilla ice cream on a white plate.
The design is highly functional, though.
Humidifiers are mostly used in high-traffic areas of the home. Although functionality will always be the most important factor, the fact that they are placed where people can see them does make the appearance important.
But – and there is a HUGE but. While the AIRCARE MA1201 Whole-House-Console-Style Evaporative Humidifier lacks in the looks department, it shines oh-so-brightly when it performs.
It is simply a joy to experience!
Water Tank Capacity
The water tank holds 3.6 gallons. However, during the test period, we had the opportunity to play around some.
We discovered we could get almost twice the capacity if we empty the water into the base and then refill the tank. Remember, twice the capacity means twice the runtime!
It’s easy to fill the reservoir. It fits comfortably in a kitchen sink.
When you refit a full reservoir, however, it is easy to spill. This happened time and again, so, during the test period, we placed the unit on an absorbent mat.
Runtime
This Aircare runs for 36 hours on the standard 3.6-gallon water tank. However, if you employ the double-fill technique you can expect runtimes of up to 70 hours.
Coverage
The humidifier is specified for 3200 square feet but our tests showed it can handle more. We ran it in test areas of up to 4000 square feet, and, although it did take a little longer to reach optimal humidity levels, it maintained those without issue.
Noise levels
This is a big unit, so it is louder than the average. That said, in the living room, where it had every opportunity to interfere with the television or sound system, it didn’t cause any kind of disturbance.
It emits a low hum at worst, and it didn’t cause any annoyance in the bedroom either.
Special Features
As a rule of thumb, manufacturers of humidifiers recommend refilling their units with distilled water to prevent white dust and the buildup of scale. During the test we used good old tap water without any issue whatsoever – no white dust, and no scale.
This is due to the evaporative technology in the unit.
Once the reservoir has been filled, operating the humidifier is super-easy. A simple button sets your humidity levels in a flash. From there, the humidifier will switch itself off and on to make sure moisture levels in the air are kept constant.
Cleaning is easy. It’s nothing more than a wipe down, a rinse, and a wick change. It’ll take you 15 minutes at most.
Also, the wick only needs to be replaced at intervals of thirty to sixty days, depending on use. A warning light will notify you when a change is due. By the way, the cost of a new wick is around $20. It ain’t going to break the bank!
This is a great humidifier for sleep apnea and comfortably makes it to the top spot on our list of best humidifiers for sleep apnea.
Pros
- Fantastic coverage – 3200 square feet plus
- Automatic shut-off
- Traps hard water deposits
- Simple operation
- Acceptable noise levels
- Easy controls
- Easy to clean
- Enormous water capacity
- Digital humidistat
- Evaporative technology
- Double water capacity
Cons
- Aesthetic design is sorely lacking
Pure Enrichment MistAire Humidifier
BEST BUDGET
At a glance
A humidifier is often associated with the drier months of the year, and people turn to them to relieve dry skin, congestion, and allergy symptoms. But a proper humidifier is a potent tool to bring relief from sleep apnea in summer too.
This unit from MistAIre is the best budget unit on our list of the 3 best humidifiers for sleep apnea in 2022.
We tested the Pure Enrichment humidifier nightly for almost a month to see if it fits our list of best humidifiers for sleep apnea.
It does! And then some!
First off, this humidifier is a pleasure to set up – even if you’re a technophobe with ten thumbs.
The manufacturer suggests a placement at least six inches from the wall or a similar barrier.
Once you’ve identified the spot the Pure Enrichment humidifier will live in, simply fill the water reservoir (you’re absolutely fine using unfiltered tap water,) slide the water tank back into the base of the unit, plug it in, and … well … breathe easy!
Design
A humidifier inevitably lives in the high-traffic zones of a home, so it’s great if it blends in, rather than stick out like a wart on your interior design. This unit is a pleasure to look at! An added design feature is the water tank that lights up with a blue glow. It doesn’t serve any operational, or practical purpose, but it does help to make the unit look good – even futuristic.
There is only one button on the Pure Enrichment MistAire Cool Mist Humidifier, and it is situated close to the base of the unit.
A first click turns the unit on.
Click it a second time to increase the speed.
And, when you touch it a third time, it will switch the unit off.
You won’t be able to tell the setting at a glance, and this can be annoying. We found a dial, like on some other units, works best.
Easy-to-clean is often a dealbreaker. And this unit makes the grade. There are only two essential parts on this MistAire that need cleaning – the water tank, and the base.
The unit has no removable parts that need your attention. An added tick on the plus side is that you get a designated cleaning brush as part of the package.
Water Tank Capacity
The 1,5-liter water tank sounds small, but once you start running the unit, you’ll find it more than ample.
Runtime
The MistAire will hum away for up to 16 hours on a low setting and up to 7 hours on High. These figures are dependent on the amount of humidity already present in the atmosphere.
Note: Many of this unit’s competitors will give up the ghost at around the ten-hour marker.
Coverage
The manufacturer suggests a space of no larger than 250 square feet, especially if the general atmosphere is excessively dry.
But the unit also does well, according to our test results, in spaces up to 400 square feet. It will take a little longer to reach optimal humidity levels, though.
Mist Volume
We ran tests on this unit in spaces equivalent to a bedroom, a living room, and a home office. It delivered fantastic mist results every time.
Even in the larger spaces, it took as little as 10 minutes to start experiencing a difference in the quality of breathable air.
Noise levels
The MistAire humidifier was surprisingly quiet in all testing areas throughout our testing center. We simply tucked it in a corner – especially in the office area where our team needs to write up their reports – and it was easy to forget it was even there.
This factor proved even more important when team members took the unit home at night to test in their bedrooms.
Special Features
The automatic on-off feature is wonderful. It cannot overheat when the water reservoir runs dry.
Also, because of its size, this Mist Aire is comfortable to store. Typically, it would simply slide into the bottom of a closet, or even under a nightstand in the bedroom.
The compact size makes it ideal for small-scale living. It fits easily on any nightstand, desktop, or end table. The MistAire is perfect to travel with too.
At under 32dB, this humidifier runs near silently in the background. It’s perfect for work environments, bedrooms, or living areas.
Who’s it for
This is an ideal humidifier for those struggling with restlessness at night, sleep apnea, or congestive problems when sleeping.
Pros
- Easy to fill
- Easy to clean
- Powerful misting
- Can run up to 25 hours
- Easily handles small and large spaces
- Can run on low and high speeds
- Great for the bedroom
- Makes a noticeable difference in less than 10 minutes
- Nozzle – 260 degrees
- Nightlight
- 1.5-liter capacity
Cons
- Single-button settings
Levoit LV600HH Hybrid Ultrasonic Humidifier
BEST PREMIUM
At a glance
The Levoit LV600HH Hybrid Ultrasonic Humidifier is the premium unit that made it onto our list of the 3 best humidifiers for sleep apnea in 2022.
Its most outstanding feature is the pinpoint accurate humidistat. And this premium unit doesn’t show any strain with spaces way larger than 750 square feet.
When you unpack the box, you’ll see a remote control, a cleaning brush, a comprehensive owner’s manual, three aroma and absorption pads (one is pre-installed,) and of course, the humidifier.
Of all the humidifiers we’ve tested, the Levoit LV600HH Hybrid Ultrasonic is one of the easiest to clean. The opening of the reservoir is wide enough that you can get a fairly large hand inside for a thorough scrub.
The unit also has an agitator as a design feature, which is the perfect mold and residue remedy.
Design
This is a fully adjustable humidifier. Proper, comprehensive controls are essential if you want to set your humidifier up for your specific conditions.
The humidistat is accurate up to a staggering two percent, which makes it an outright class leader.
Also, if you set the unit to fully automatic, it will switch itself off once the water tank is empty, which is an added self-protection design feature.
Water Tank Capacity
The Levoit has a 1.6-gallon water tank capacity. And it’s great that the tank is just small enough to fit into any kitchen sink – no more spillage during the refill exercise!
Runtime
In a low-mist setting, this Levoit will run for up to 36 hours without a refill. Note, however, that this runtime is dependent on the levels of moisture in the atmosphere, as well as your preferred settings.
Coverage
The manufacturer says the Levoit LV600HH Hybrid Ultrasonic Humidifier will comfortably sustain proper and comfortable levels of humidity (around 43%) in spaces up to 750 square feet. It is happiest when set up in living rooms, or large open-plan areas.
Mist Volume
The standard mist output on this Levoit is up to 500ml per hour.
You also have a choice between warm and cold mist, making it ideal for use in both summer and winter months.
Noise levels
Once switched on, it is whisper-quiet. The unit has an LED display that can be independently switched off – making it ideal for a bedroom or children’s room.
Special Features
All that is required to keep this Levoit hygienic, is a deep-clean once every seven days, and an occasional rinse with white vinegar.
This Levoit doesn’t deal well with hard water. The manufacturer recommends distilled water, but if you do decide to use mineral-rich tap water, remember to clean the humidifier more often.
Sure, the mineral deposits and white dust are a headache, but they can also do more permanent damage to the humidifier over the long term.
One of the great features of this Levoit Humidifier is the diffuser function. By simply adding your essential oils, as comprehensively described in the owner’s manual, you’ll be able to infuse the entire atmosphere of your home with the most wonderful aromas!
The Levoit LV600HH Hybrid Ultrasonic Humidifier is the top contender in its price bracket.
The warm and cool misting feature, along with the brilliantly intuitive controls and the accurate humidistat makes it hard to beat!
Who’s it for
Anybody who lives in dry climates and suffers from sleep apnea.
Pros
- Exceptional humidistat
- Prevents mold and residue
- Excellent for dry climates
- Long runtime
- 6-Liter water reservoir reduces refill requirements
- Easy refill with top-fill design
- Remote control
- As much as four times faster than other units in the range
- Warm and cold mist
- Easy to clean
- Almost noiseless
- Auto on and off
- Listens to Alexa and Google Assistant
Cons
- Pricey
