Humidifiers use cold water to create a fine mist or spray that is released into the air. The vaporizers first boil the water and then release the steam. While both are effective in adding moisture to the air, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends the use of a cool mist humidifier. Both humidifiers and vaporizers add moisture to the air.
The difference is that humidifiers use hot or cold mist and vaporizers boil water and release steam. These machines can make you feel more comfortable and relieve irritation from your nose, throat, chapped lips, and dry skin. It is important not to get too wet and keep the machine clean. In general, humidifiers do this by creating mist from cold water.
Vaporizers, on the other hand, heat water to create a vaporization process. First, a humidifier produces steam or cool moisture, while a vaporizer spreads warm moisture. The type of moisture these machines produce is their biggest difference. A steam vaporizer is technically a humidifier, although it works very differently than ultrasonic and evaporative humidifiers.
A steam vaporizer, also known as a hot mist humidifier, works by boiling water to create water vapor, which is then fanned into the room. Humidifiers release vapors, while vaporizers let out hot steam. Therefore, humidifiers can have a cooling effect in your room. On the other hand, vaporizers can also make your space feel a little damp and swampy.
When someone has a cold or congestion, they may need to look at humidifiers and vaporizers to determine which is best. Increasing humidity in the air can help relieve some of the congestion and keep your nostrils from drying out. Extra moisture (or moisture in the air) can also be effective for children suffering from croup attacks. Each of the two devices has advantages, and each also suffers from disadvantages.
Although both add moisture to the air, most vaporizers boil water and deliver hot steam to the room, while humidifiers use other methods. Because steam vaporizers boil water in steam to increase RH, they kill bacteria, mold, or any other contaminants that form in the water tank. When people talk about vaporizers, they usually refer to steam vaporizers that have a water tank that heats up until the water boils. While steam from a vaporizer cools to a comfortable level when it touches the room, steam vaporizers are not recommended in homes with babies, young children, or pets.
That said, the steam produced by steam vaporizers can be more hygienic, since the water is boiled before leaving the machine. If you are looking for relief from dry skin and nose, chest congestion, and coughing through a natural solution that is relatively inexpensive, both cold steam vaporizers and steam vaporizers are a good choice during the dry months of the coming winter.
