Comparison of a Vaporizer Vs. a Humidifier

Humidifier Design

• Humidifiers are designed to introduce moisture into the air, which is helpful when you have a dry throat, a dry nose or dry lips. Other uses for a humidifier are to prevent damage to wallpaper and paint cracks due to winter heating, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The actual design of a humidifier varies according to the manufacturer and model; however, a typical design features a water reservoir, fan and wick. Air moisture is increased through five different methods. These include: evaporation, steam, warm mist, cool mist and ultrasonic techniques.

Vaporizer Design

• Vaporizers are similar to humidifiers as they introduce moisture into the air; however, the function and purpose of a vaporizer is slightly different from its counterpart. When a vaporizer is activated, it delivers warm water vapor, or steam, into the air, which is different from a humidifier as the vapor is dry. Vaporizers work by heating up water to the point of steam, then releasing the vapor into the air.

Considerations

• Unlike humidifiers, vaporizers do not release the minerals found in water into the air. When a humidifier is activated, the water minerals are dispersed with the water, thus creating a visible stream of white dust. This dusting is sometimes visible on furniture and other surfaces within the room. With an excess of mineral deposits, deposits known as scale may occur, which, according to the EPA, may increase the likelihood of microorganism growth and development.

Price

• As of 2011, humidifiers tend to cost more than vaporizers. For example, the Honeywell HWM330 Vaporizer retails at $45, while the Honeywell HCM6009 Humidifier retails for an average of $80.