When most people think of humidifiers, they automatically think of the portable kind. However, free-standing humidifiers aren’t necessarily the best option when it comes to providing your entire home with proper humidity. If you’ve never considered a whole home humidifier, here are a few things to consider when weighing the pros and cons:

Advantages

Aesthetics

If you’ve ever had to use a portable humidifier, you know that it’s not so easy to hide! Because a free-standing humidifier is a separate piece of equipment, that – unlike a whole house humidifier – is not integrated into your air furnace system, it is a free-standing device that may not be so easy to integrate into your home décor.

The aesthetic benefit of a whole home humidifier means that your home humidifying device is hidden away from the eyes of guests and family members, all while improving the air quality in your home.

Ease of Control

Another advantage to the whole home humidifier is its ease of control. If you can use a remote control, you can set and control your whole house humidifier – no fiddling or fuss. Experts recommend you set your humidity levels anywhere between 45 to 50% – with a whole home humidifier, there’s no need to continuously watch humidity levels. With the portable variety, you must always take note of dampness levels of the surrounding area to make sure that your humidifier is not set at a level that’s simply too high.

Ease of Use

Unlike a portable humidifier – which needs to be refilled with water every few days – a whole home humidifier has no need for continuous refilling. This is because it draws water automatically from your home’s plumbing system, eliminating the need for water refilling.

A whole house humidifier is all about ease of us – you can truly “set it and forget it!”

Eco-friendliness

Besides aesthetics and ease of use, another advantage of opting for a whole home humidifier rather than a portable one is eco-friendliness.

With a whole house humidifier, you will feel warmer even at a lower temperature – and this temperature difference may very well help you save on your heating bill. Since turning down the thermostat just one degree can help you save 4% off of your yearly heating bill, this could result in some significant savings down the road.

Disadvantages

Professional Installation

If you’re more inclined to do-it-yourself rather than calling a professional for repairs and upgrades around your home, then a whole house humidifier does carry one disadvantage: it must be installed by a professional. Those that prefer to take the DIY route may want to opt for a portable humidifier instead of the whole house variety.

Maintenance

Whether you have a whole house humidifier or a portable one, the fact that your humidifying unit is in contact with water means that you will inevitably need to maintain it. What’s more, if you have hard water, then issues such as mineral deposits may become a problem – be sure to clean your unit thoroughly after each winter with a vinegar solution.

The Final Word

Although both have their pros and cons, the choice between a portable humidifier and a whole house humidifier comes down to personal preferences, personal (and family) needs, as well as budgetary considerations.

While a portable humidifier may appeal to those who are looking to stay within a stricter budget, and avoid the complications that arise with maintenance and installation, a whole house humidifier may be the better option for homeowners that prefer an option that’s easier to control and use.