This is our buying guide on the best humidifiers for dry climates 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.
Honeywell HCM-350 Germ-Free humidifier
- Three-speed settings for both speed and sound
- Wicking filter is excellent for hard water
- Easy to fill
- Easy to clean
- Low noise levels make it ideal for bedrooms
- Filters are cost-effective to replace
- Kills water-borne bacteria
- Excellent for dry climates
- Provides ultra-stable humidity levels
- Easy to move and store
- Great for allergy sufferers
- Runs for up to 24 hours on a single refill
- Humidifies 250 square feet in 18 hours
Pure Enrichment MistAire Humidifier
- Humidifies the atmosphere in ten minutes or less
- Up to 25 hours of continuous operation
- Powerful mist output
- Can handle spaces up to 150 square feet
- High and low speeds
- 260-degree mist nozzle
- Quiet enough to use in the bedroom
- Nightlight
- Easy-to-fill water tank
- 1.5-liter capacity
Levoit LV600HH Hybrid Ultrasonic Humidifier
- Remote control
- Exceptional humidistat
- Up to four times faster than other humidifiers in the price range
- Warm and cold mist
- Exceptionally long run time
- Prevents mold and residue
- Perfect for dry climates
- 6-liter tank reduces necessary refills
- Top-fill design makes refills easy
- Works with Alexa and Google Assistant
- Super easy to clean
- Ultra-low noise levels
- Auto-off function
In this piece, I’m going to share my insights on the top humidifiers ideal for dry climates. These days, it seems like every retailer is chock-full of humidifiers. It’s no wonder, considering a good humidifier should be a constant companion in particularly dry conditions. However, there are some pitfalls you should be aware of before making a purchase.
I rolled up my sleeves, ready to put some of the best dry-climate humidifiers under scrutiny, and bring you the top three contenders.
Among the three products I put to the test, the Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier emerged as the champion for combatting dry climates and parched air.
This humidifier is a pro at dispersing cool mist and moisture into small rooms, and it comes with a medley of extra features.
The Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier might not be the flashiest tech on the market, but it is a winner for smaller rooms with some nifty features up its sleeve. It’s not just effective but also offers excellent value for money.
So, buckle up and continue reading as I delve into the good, the bad, and the downright ugly.
Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
OVERALL BEST
Most of us gravitate towards a humidifier when the air gets dry, hoping for relief from allergy flare-ups, dry skin, and congestion. I decided to put the Pure Enrichment humidifier through its paces, using it every night for almost a month, to see how effective it was and to get a feel for its features. My conclusion? It’s one of the best humidifiers for dry climates.
And let me tell you, the results were quite a revelation!
Setting up the Pure Enrichment unit was a breeze, even for someone like me who isn’t particularly tech-savvy. The manufacturer’s instructions were clear – position it at least six inches away from any wall. After selecting the perfect spot, I separated the tank from the base, filled it with tap water, placed the tank back on the base, plugged it in, and voila – we were up and running.
Though the 1.5-liter water tank might seem small, it churned out humidity blissfully for up to 16 hours. This impressed me, considering most of its rivals conk out around the ten-hour mark.
The Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier is quite an eye-catcher. My wife was thrilled as it blended seamlessly with our decor. After all, humidifiers often end up in busy areas of the home where you don’t want them sticking out.
It’s also impressively quiet, leaving your TV time undisturbed or your sleep unbroken. Just tuck it away in a corner and it’s easy to forget it’s even there.
This humidifier also comes with a feature that bathes the water tank in a blue glow. Although it doesn’t serve a practical purpose, it does give the Pure Enrichment unit a cool, futuristic vibe – it’s like something you’d see aboard the Starship Enterprise!
The Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier operates with just one button. Click it once to turn it on. Click it again to crank up the speed. A third click turns it off. My only gripe is the lack of visual cues for the settings. I personally prefer a dial, but that’s just my preference.
It did an excellent job at refreshing and moisturizing the air in every room I tested it in – from the bedroom and my office to the living room. It’s recommended for spaces no larger than 250 square feet, particularly in dry climates.
Within such a space, it only took around 10 minutes to start noticing the difference. Figuring out how to switch the mist from high to low took some trial and error, but once mastered, it was a non-issue. Plus, you can easily adjust the direction of the mist output.
The MistAire also has an automatic shut-off feature to prevent overheating when water levels run low.
Cleaning the humidifier was a cinch thanks to its compact size and straightforward two-part design: the base and the water tank. Without any filters or other removable parts, it’s less complicated to maintain than many other humidifiers. And a handy disk-cleaning brush is included in the package.
Storing the MistAir was just as simple due to its size. I managed to slot it easily into the bottom of a closet, but it would fit just as well under a bed or even a bedside table.
Pros
- Humidifies the atmosphere in ten minutes or less
- Up to 25 hours of continuous operation
- Powerful mist output
- Can handle spaces up to 150 square feet
- High and low speeds
- 260-degree mist nozzle
- Quiet enough to use in the bedroom
- Nightlight
- Easy-to-fill water tank
- 1.5-liter capacity
Cons
- Settings are uncomfortable to manage
Honeywell HCM-350 Germ-Free humidifier
BEST BUDGET
For nearly a month, I shared my living space with the Honeywell humidifier, meticulously testing its performance. To establish a base line for comparison, I began by measuring the humidity levels in every room of my house. Given that my primary interest was finding a humidifier adept at combating dry climates, these readings were critical.
The average reading across rooms hovered around 25%, though certain areas, such as near the stove or on particularly cold days, dipped as low as 20%.
And what a bang for your buck Honeywell gives! It’s unquestionably one of the best humidifiers for dry climates, especially at its price point.
I initiated the test of the Honeywell HCM-350 Germ-Free Humidifier in my living room, a space encompassing around 250 square feet. With the fan set on medium, I allowed it to run for 18 hours before taking another humidity measurement. Remarkably, the level had surged from 25% to a whopping 40%!
This humidifier employs evaporative technology, meaning it blows air over a saturated wick filter to disseminate moisture. Instead of visible mist produced by ultrasonic humidifiers, it creates invisible water vapor. The bonus of this feature is that it prevents the air from oversaturating, eliminating issues of mold or water puddling common with other humidifiers.
Operating the humidifier was a piece of cake. It features a three-speed fan controlled by a manual dial. On low setting, the noise level was hardly noticeable. While the fan does become audible on higher settings, the noise from the Honeywell never escalated beyond a soft hum. And, a pleasant surprise, there were no annoying beeps or lights like you might encounter with some of its competitors.
Throughout my testing, the one-gallon water reservoir demonstrated its capacity to power the unit for 18 continuous hours on medium setting. On low, the water lasted long enough to humidify the space for up to 24 hours.
Admittedly, the high setting could nudge up humidity levels a bit more, but I found the medium setting quite satisfactory. Plus, on most days, I opted for the low setting.
With this usage pattern, I only needed to refill the tank once a day, and the Honeywell had no trouble maintaining a steady and comfortable humidity level of 35 – 40%.
The water reservoir boasts a comfy handle, which made pulling it from the base and refilling it at the kitchen sink a breeze. Cleverly designed, the handle also allows the tank to stand independently, whether it’s empty or full.
Cleaning a humidifier can often be a dreaded task, but Honeywell simplified this process with the HCM-350 Germ-Free humidifier. Both the basin and the reservoir are dishwasher-safe. Despite washing it several times during the test period – admittedly excessive for just three weeks – there was no sign of the plastic warping. And for those preferring a manual wash, I found the tank’s opening generous enough to accommodate my large hands, allowing me to reach and clean the trickiest corners.
Worth mentioning is that the ‘germ-free’ claim doesn’t render the unit immune to mold. Rather, it eliminates waterborne bacteria.
Maintenance of this Honeywell humidifier is minimal, requiring only the filter’s attention. Your initial filter, included with the unit, should last about a month before needing replacement. At roughly $10, a new filter won’t dent your budget.
One note of caution if you plan to move the humidifier between rooms as I did during testing: don’t lift the unit without first emptying the tank. The lack of a clip securing the tank to the basin makes spillage likely.
Despite this minor inconvenience, the Honeywell’s practical design, easy maintenance, manual dial, and affordable price make it a worthy purchase.
Pros
- Three-speed settings for both speed and sound
- Wicking filter is excellent for hard water
- Easy to fill
- Easy to clean
- Low noise levels make it ideal for bedrooms
- Filters are cost-effective to replace
- Kills water-borne bacteria
- Excellent for dry climates
- Provides ultra-stable humidity levels
- Easy to move and store
- Great for allergy sufferers
- Runs for up to 24 hours on a single refill
- Humidifies 250 square feet in 18 hours
Cons
- Easy spillage when moving with a full water tank
Levoit LV600HH Hybrid Ultrasonic Humidifier
PREMIUM CHOICE
Living with the Levoit LV600HH Hybrid Ultrasonic Humidifier was an enlightening experience. Its incredibly accurate humidistat didn’t even break a sweat when it was tasked with humidifying spaces far larger than the advertised 150 square feet. Given its price, it easily earns the spot as one of the top humidifiers for dry climates.
Boasting a 1.6-gallon water tank, the Levoit can run up to an impressive 36 hours on a low mist setting without needing a refill. The mist output is a whopping 500mL per hour, and the manufacturer claims it can comfortably humidify spaces up to 750 square feet.
Unboxing the Levoit, I found the humidifier itself, a remote control, a cleaning brush, the owner’s manual, and three aroma and absorption pads – one of which was already installed.
Switching it on, I was surprised by how quiet it was. The LED display, which can be turned off independently, makes it an ideal choice for bedrooms or children’s rooms.
What really stood out for me about the Levoit Humidifier was its adjustability – a feature I found lacking in many other units. You have the option to manually choose the exact humidity level, with a surprisingly accurate humidistat, or set the unit to fully automatic mode, where the humidifier switches itself off when the water tank runs dry.
Further enhancing its adaptability, the Levoit offers a choice between warm and cold mist, a feature that makes it perfect for both summer and winter months. The warm mist setting not only humidifies the atmosphere 25% faster than the cool mist setting, but it also disinfects the water and air.
One feature I found myself using often during the testing period was the diffuser function. It allowed me to infuse the room with my favorite essential oils, lending a clean, fresh aroma to the space.
Cleaning the Levoit LV600HH Hybrid Ultrasonic Humidifier was a breeze. The reservoir’s wide opening and the unit’s built-in agitator made it easy to deal with mold and other residues. Additionally, the tank size is just right to fit into any kitchen sink, which makes refilling a spill-free task.
A thorough cleaning once a week and the occasional vinegar rinse were enough to keep the unit hygienic and fully functional.
One thing to bear in mind: the Levoit is not ideally suited for hard water conditions, so the manufacturer recommends distilled water. If you opt to use mineral-rich tap water, be prepared for a more frequent cleaning regimen to prevent damaging buildup.
In my final assessment, the Levoit LV600HH Hybrid Ultrasonic Humidifier emerges as a strong contender in its price range. Its warm and cool misting feature, intuitive controls, and capability to provide stable humidity to large spaces make it an excellent choice for managing dry climates.
Pros
- Remote control
- Exceptional humidistat
- Up to four times faster than other humidifiers in the price range
- Warm and cold mist
- Exceptionally long run time
- Prevents mold and residue
- Perfect for dry climates
- 6-liter tank reduces necessary refills
- Top-fill design makes refills easy
- Works with Alexa and Google Assistant
- Super easy to clean
- Ultra-low noise levels
- Auto-off function
Cons
- Pricey
