Combat Dry Winter Air with the Best Whole-House Humidifiers (2024)

What We Researched

To find best whole-house humidifiers, we surveyed homeowners to learn about the effectiveness of their unit, as well as their experiences with installation and maintenance tasks. We relied on our research and expert advice to find additional units, considering factors like capacity, coverage area, and type of humidifier.

If you’re after a whole-house humidifier, this pick from AprilAire is an excellent option. It’s an evaporative humidifier with a respectable 17-gallon capacity, meaning it can handle up to 17 gallons of water flowing through it per day. We didn’t hear it running while using it at home, so it’s a quiet choice as well.

This is a duct-mounted option, so it circulates moisture throughout your entire home. It includes a digital humidistat which lets you easily see and adjust the humidity level. Plus, this model monitors the outdoor temperature and adjusts accordingly to prevent condensation in windows, which could lead to problems like mold or mildew growth.

The maximum area it will humidify is a generously sized 5,000 square feet. However, keep in mind that the coverage area for older homes with less insulation or that are less tightly constructed is likely to be closer to 2,500 square feet.

Overall, we noticed improvements in some skin challenges after using the humidifier. We also experienced less static (a big win in winter!) and even had healthier plants thanks to the properly humidified air.

We found that the humidifier only requires seasonal maintenance, requiring a filter change once per year. If you have hard water, you may need to replace the water panel evaporator about once a year and remove mineral buildup. It’s a good idea to check the drain hose in case of any buildup or scale that creates a blockage.

Product Details: Type: Evaporative | Dimensions: 15.38 x 15.75 x 10.25 inches | Capacity: 17 gallons | Coverage: Up to 5,000 square feet

The AprilAire 600M 24V Bypass Humidifier offers respectable coverage area and won’t bust your budget. Depending on the age of your home, this humidifier’s coverage area can be as large as 4,000 square feet. This will generally be the case with homes less than 20 years old. If your home was built more than 20 years ago, it likely isn’t quite as tightly constructed, so the humidifier’s coverage area may be reduced to about 2,500 square feet.

The humidifier is designed to easily install on your furnace’s warm air supply or its return air duct, relying on the power of your furnace fan to disperse moisture throughout your home. It can be installed on the left or right side, which is a nice option when your furnace is in a tight space. You’ll want to replace the water panels up to twice per year, or you can leave that to your preferred HVAC technician when you have them come in to do furnace checkups.

It includes a manual control rather than an automatic one, so you’ll need to keep an eye on humidity levels and adjust them accordingly. It also only has one knob for adjusting humidity, so this is a no-frills pick. However, the bypass damper has summer and winter settings so you can set it according to the appropriate season.

We felt this humidifier was quite effective at humidifying approximately 2,000 square feet, with noticeably less static and less dry nasal passages within just one day. Even our dog’s skin was less itchy.

Note this humidifier needs copper tubing for the water line, plastic tubing for draining, ducting and elbow pieces, and 18- to 22-gauge wire which may not be included depending on which retailer you choose.

Product Details: Type: Bypass | Dimensions: 15.38 x 15.75 x 10.25 inches | Capacity: 17 gallons | Coverage: Up to 4,000 square feet

Hard water can cause mineral buildup and limescale, and this unit is up to the challenge of humidifying homes with hard water. We found success using model from Honeywell in our home with hard water. To prevent excess buildup, we replace the filter every six months and clean it about once per year. The water pad is easy to access and a light indicates when it’s time to change it.

The humidifier is so quiet that we didn’t even hear it running. It allows you to control humidity levels through its digital humidistat, your thermostat, or a smartphone app, which makes for a highly convenient solution when you’re away from home. It reads outdoor temperatures to adjust levels automatically, too. It’s also designed to reduce your energy bill and cut back on water waste by as much as 50%.

Though this is an excellent option for homes with hard water, the maximum coverage area is 20,000 cubic feet, which is approximately 2,500 square feet if you have eight foot ceilings at home. Due to the smaller coverage area, this may not work as well for larger or less tightly constructed homes.

Product Details: Type: Bypass | Dimensions: 15 x 17.15 x 10.10 inches | Capacity: 17 gallons | Coverage: Up to 20,000 cubic feet

For larger, tightly constructed homes, we recommend this fan-powered model from AprilAire. It has a coverage area of up to 5,300 square feet on homes with tight construction, and it can handle up to 18 gallons of water per day, which is larger than many other options.

The humidifier will maintain your preset moisture level, so you don’t need to worry about turning it on or off. However, we weren’t able to adjust humidity levels using our thermostat. Instead, we adjusted the controls on the unit itself, which could add extra steps if your furnace is tucked into a far corner of the basem*nt.

The humidifier works with your furnace to move dry air over its water panel evaporator, which creates vapor that is then circulated throughout your home via your ductwork. However, some retailers sell the installation kit separately, so this may end up being an additional cost consideration.

The unit also includes an outdoor temperature sensor, which can help the unit maintain proper humidity levels indoors, and its digital screen lets you easily see what humidity levels are. Indicator lights will turn on if the unit needs service, when it's time to change the water panel (which is similar to an air filter and can accumulate mineral buildup), or when the humidifier is running.

Product Details: Type: Fan-powered | Dimensions: 15.91 x 18 x 11.35 inches | Capacity: 18 gallons | Coverage: Up to 5,300 square feet

This steam humidifier from Condair hooks right up to your water supply, so you won’t need to worry about refilling a tank to keep your home humidified. Plus, the water vapor temperature reaches 212°F or more, meaning it kills bacteria for cleaner air overall.

The unit comes with a humidity sensor to keep tabs on the moisture level in your home. The humidifier will then automatically cycle on and off to maintain the level of humidity you choose, so you don’t need to constantly monitor the system.

You’ll need to replace the humidifier’s cylinder, which helps create a water current in order to provide humidity, as an ongoing maintenance task. However, cylinder installation is designed to be easy and won’t require any tools.

The brand’s app can help you order cylinders as needed and lets you access instructions from anywhere. Though not everyone will love relying on an app for operating the humidifier, it does offer convenience. It lets you keep tabs on your home’s humidity levels remotely, so you can be relaxing on vacation while knowing your home is being properly humidified.

Product Details: Type: Steam | Dimensions: 10.4 x 18.4 x 6.9 inches | Capacity: Up to 22 gallons | Coverage: Up to 5,000 square feet

When you want a large-capacity humidifier but aren’t able to mount one on your furnace, consider going with this console option from Aircare. It’s an evaporative model that can humidify spaces of up to 4,000 square feet, which could potentially humidify your entire home if it was built in the last 20 years.

You’ll need to manually fill the two removable water tanks, and you’ll want to replace the air wicks regularly. Humidifier wicks absorb the water from the tank before a fan blows the vapor to the air, so without a fresh wick, the water won’t absorb properly.

The brand recommends replacing them between 30 and 90 days, and all four should be replaced simultaneously. Though neither of these maintenance tasks will be terribly time consuming, you will need to remember to add them to your regular household chore list. It has a refill indicator to remind you when to add water, making this maintenance task a little more convenient.

The humidifier has four fan speeds and a humidistat that lets you adjust the humidity level. It will turn off automatically once the proper level is reached. This unit is also portable thanks to the included caster wheels, so you can wheel it to various rooms when they’re in need of a little extra moisture. The device comes in two finishes: brushed nickel and honey oak.

Product Details: Type: Evaporative | Dimensions: 24.3 x 22.8 x 15 inches | Capacity: 5 gallons | Coverage: Up to 4,000 square feet

If you’re looking for a steam humidifier that’s also versatile, then this is the best whole-house humidifier to consider. You can choose whether to mount it to your ductwork or to the wall, allowing you to place it in the most convenient spot for your home. It’s also quite small, making it ideal for tight spaces.

According to Honeywell Home, the humidifier is ultra quiet, so you likely won’t even hear it operating. This is especially helpful if your home has a bedroom or other quiet area right next to your furnace space. The model has a digital humidity control that prevents condensation from forming on windows.

An added convenience is that it can hook right up to your water supply, removing the need for manual filling of a water tank. The canister will need to be replaced, but it’s easy to get to and easy to replace. Plus, the humidifier actually adapts as the weather changes, so humidity levels stay at the level you want, regardless of what outside temperatures are doing.

Product Details: Type: Steam | Dimensions: 10 x 18 x 7 inches | Capacity: 11 | Coverage: Up to 5,000 square feet

If you’d prefer a portable humidifier that can still offer a decent coverage area, this model from Aircare is a solid pick. It can humidify areas of up to 3,600 square feet using one wick filter, which will need to be regularly replaced.

You’ll also need to manually fill the water tank, but it’s removable so you can bring it to a sink for easy filling. The digital controls are intuitive to operate and let you control humidity levels, fan speed, and the unit’s power. If you’d prefer, you can have the humidifier run the fan automatically to maintain a certain level of humidity.

A demineralization cartridge is included, which keeps mineral buildup from forming that could potentially cause problems with the humidifier. Though its style may not be the most aesthetically appealing, it’s thebest option for when you want something portable that works well in smaller spaces.

Product Details: Type: Evaporative | Dimensions: 21.5 x 20.5 x 14.5 inches | Capacity: 3.6 gallons | Coverage: Up to 3,600 square feet