Cool-Mist Humidifiers & Sinus Problems

Evaporative Cool-Mist Humidifier

• By sending a puff of air into water, evaporative humidifiers create a mist of cool water droplets that float in mid-air for long periods of time. Best for environments containing excessively dry air, cool-mist humidifiers add humidity by increasing the amount of liquid in the air while decreasing room temperature.

Ultrasonic Cool-Mist Humidifiers

• Ultrasonic cool mist humidifiers add moisture to dry air using sound vibrations. A metal diaphragm vibrates, sending sound vibrations through water at such high frequencies that they propel a fine mist into the air. Some users prefer the ultrasonic model rather than the evaporative model because they tend to be much smaller in size, allowing them to blend into a room with more subtlety.

Safety

• Health Canada cautions that water left inside a cool mist humidifier when it is not in use encourages bacteria growth that is launched into the air where it can be inhaled, making sinus problems worse. Clean your cool-mist humidifier and disinfect the water tank regularly. Avoid placing a cool-mist humidifier inside bedrooms, and avoid leaving water inside the water tank when the machine is not in use.