Owning a condominium (or popularly known as condos) is amongst long term goal of most individuals out there, because it affords you your own space and privacy, without the hassle of landlords telling you what to do. During planning, it is also essential you take into consideration several devices needed for comfortable living, like the best humidifier for condominiums.

Humidifiers are most useful in winter periods where the humidity is very low, and therefore the air dry. Dry airs support bacterial and disease-causing organisms that could act as a trigger for asthmatic patients or cause issues like respiratory tract irritation, itchy eyes and dry skin for everyone.

Having the best humidifiers for condos around helps alleviate the symptoms of people suffering from asthmas or sensitive and dry skin, especially when you live in areas with an averagely low level of moisture in the atmosphere. This keeps you and your family healthy at all times.

If you have finally made up your mind on going for a humidifier, before diving into the market, be sure to read through this article, as we would be discussing about various types out there, giving our recommendation, and highlighting the factors to consider in making the decision to purchase the best humidifier for condos.

TechnologyNoise LevelCoverageTank CapacityMisting Duration
AIRCARE MA1201EvaporativeWhite Noise3600sqft3.6 gallons36 Hours
AIRCARE EP9 800EvaporativeWhite Noise2400sqft4 gallons36 Hours
Levoit HumidifierUltrasonicWhisper Quiet2000sqft1.5 gallons36 Hours
Honeywell HUL570UltrasonicWhisper Quiet1200sqft1.25 gallon12 Hours
TaoTronics TT-AH002UltrasonicWhisper Quiet500sqft0.92 gallon10 Hours

How big is a condo: compared to some other apartments?

As regarding the size of a condominium, when compared to an average apartment, there is always little or no difference. Condo generally has the same size as an equivalent apartment or large room, with the only significant difference between the two coming in how they are managed.

Condos are managed mostly by corporations that would handle repairs, keeping the gardens, pools and other common areas clean. While for apartments, you are in charge of the whole building and are responsible for up keeps, because you probably wouldn’t share common areas with neighbors.

Low humidity in condos: why is condo air so dry?

Condos are built in such a way that the whole building shares some common areas like a gym (with bathrooms), pools, and gardens. Cafeterias also never cease to exist in areas with a fair amount of condo buildings around.

Living in a condo and the tendency to live off fast foods due to cafeteria proximity, probably means you would spend the majority of moisture generating activities (like cooking, exercising, and even bathing) outside your home. This could become much of a problem during the winter season, especially if you stay in a wooden-floored condo that contains a whole lot of furniture.

The reason for this is that in winter seasons, the humidity level could drop as far as 30% – 45%, making the air very dry and therefore leaving the wooden surfaces in your home with much cracks and eventual damages. Once moisture releasing activities that were always going to compensate for the dryness stops, then it’s a spiral decline that follows.

This is why the air in condos are mostly arid, and needs to be compensated for by using a humidifier which helps in proper maintenance of wooden surfaces in the home. Remember that most warranties don’t cover damages due to lack of adequate maintenance.

Also Read: Best humidifiers for bronchitis

Central humidifier: The best type of humidifier for condo

As earlier established, condos are mostly very dry and need a humidifier that releases a high level of moisture that can serve the whole home. In regular apartments, portable humidifiers can merely be used for rooms they are needed in because it’s not all areas in the house that suffers from low humidity; places like the bathroom and kitchen probably have enough moisture already.

But in condos, you would need a general humidifier that can make up for the dryness in all rooms due to the low level of moisture activities present, which is why we recommend you make use of a central humidifier.

Central humidifiers also known as the whole house humidifiers are installed permanently and work with extreme efficiency in terms of performance, financial savings and automation. It moisturizes air as it leaves your HAVC system, and requires much less maintenance process than portable humidifiers. It is connected directly to the water supply in the condo, eliminating the need for a water tank that you would have to feel every now and then when using a portable humidifier and reducing the chances of bacterial infection from mold developing in standing water.

Sometimes, central humidifiers are not readily available due to some factors. Best humidifiers for large room can go a long way to cater for the moisture needed of your dry condo.  Although, they are not central humidifier, but they make use of large water tank capacity that can replicate the function of the central humidifier.

Therefore, we have picked a mixture of central humidifier and the best humidifiers for the large rooms.

Also Read: Best humidifier for single room

Ultrasonic or evaporative humidifier: the best for a condominium

You might have been wondering the type of humidifier to purchase for your condo, with a decision to be made mostly between the ultrasonic and the evaporative type. We would discuss the two models and give a recommendation based on their attributes.

Generally, ultrasonic humidifiers create the humidification process by making use of high-frequency vibrations that break water droplets into tiny micro-particles before releasing them into the atmosphere. It is very quiet (quieter than the evaporative type), although it has a problem of releasing white dust which is a result of mineral residues present in the water used. They should be used with distilled water, not hard water to avoid this.

Evaporative humidifiers make use of a wick filter that absorbs water and then it blows air into the filter, breaking down the water consumed into smaller droplets and dispersing them into the atmosphere as mist. The filter ensures impurities are removed, therefore eliminating the white dust kind of material produced by the ultrasonic type, although it would need to be changed frequently.

Depending on your choice of preference, you can select any of the two humidifiers, as they both have a high level of humidification, efficiently adding moisture to your condo. We recommend the evaporative type though, due to the presence of filters that prevents white mineral dust in a case when hard water is used.

Read Here : Best humidifier for dry eyes

Considerations for choosing the best humidifier for condominiums

Noise level:

This is the biggest issue with most humidifiers. They might work efficiently, putting out a right amount of moisture, but at the expense of loud irritating noises. If you are highly noised sensitive, especially at nights, needing pin drop silence for sound sleep, you then should probably go for a unit with a little noise production.

Timer:

If you are looking to choose when the humidifier works and when it doesn’t in a stylish automated fashion, which is where the timer function comes in. This function affords you the ability to select the period you want the device working, and when you don’t, it also saves money on electrical bills.

Humidistat:

This very important when using a humidifier, as it helps you check the current humidity level, and therefore knowing how to work your humidifier depending on the moisture level. It also allows the unit to be aware of the humidity level at all times, enabling it to keep the desired humidity level you have set.

  • Auto shut off:

In a case when there is a fault with the water supply, purchase a humidifier that would turn off to avoid fire hazards.

Also Read: Best Humidifier for plants

Top 5 best humidifier for condos

1) Aircare MA 1201 whole house console style humidifier

AIRCARE MA Humidifier

Special Features: white noise, big water tank, auto mode settings, console style, and evaporative

This is a tower type humidifier that is quite large, having a digital humidistat that displays the humidity level in the atmosphere. The unit is also designed to double as a table, meaning although it occupies space, the flat and broad surface still allows you to place the object on it (like flower vase) making it space efficient. There is also an option to install caster rollers that makes it easy to move the unit around the home.

The unit is built in such a way that makes cleaning more comfortable; you wouldn’t have to wash and scrub with vinegar every few weeks. The humidistat helps it take the atmospheric reading, and it shuts off when the desired humidity level is reached, or the water in the tank runs out, and it has a 9-speed fan level that allows for different quantities of moisture to be released depending on your need. The higher levels are loud.

In a 1800sqft single level house with a vaulted ceiling, it takes about two days to get the humidity level from 25% to a range of 45%- 51%, with a refill rate of about 2- times per day depending on the usage and level of fan sped set (lowest setting could run for 24 hours). It would serve your large room efficiently, adding beauty alongside other uses.

Pros

  • Auto shutoff,
  • humidistat,
  • huge water tank (about 3 gallons),
  • suitable for large rooms (up to 2000sqft).

Cons

  • it is expensive.

2) Aircare EP9 – 800 Digital Humidifier

AIRCARE Digital Whole-House Pedestal-Style Evaporative Humidifier

Special Features: Pedestal style, digital humidistat, 9 fan speed and auto shut off

This device is shaped like a mini size vacuum cleaner, built with caster rollers beneath that allows you to push it to where you want in the home quickly. The water tank is relatively large and can hold about 3.6 gallons of water at max. It has a minimal sized digital interface at the top side for displaying the humidity level and a control knob at the front side for selecting your desired fan speed.

The unit is designed in such a way that makes it easy to clean, and it does not release any white dust into the atmosphere like some cool mist humidifier. You would also have to add a bacteriostat to the water each time you fill the tank, to keep it from getting dirty. It is very loud while operating, although there is no significant difference in the electric bill in the home. The auto shut off increases safety by turning off the device at low water levels.

When this humidifier placed in a 2500sqft home with a humidity level as low as 32%, within a day, it puts out enough moisture to raise the level to about 50%. The unit should be taken apart and thoroughly cleaned at the end of every season it is used, and the filter changed also.

Pros

  • auto mode,
  • auto shutoff,
  • humidistat,
  • suitable for large rooms (up to 3200sqft)

Cons

  • it is expensive.

3) Levoit Humidifier For Large Rooms

LEVOIT Bedroom Humidifier

Special Features: Ultrasonic Warm & Cool Mist, Displays Actual Humidity, Touch Control & Remote Control, Whisper-quiet, Smart Auto Mode & Aromatherapy

This device has an excellent looking box-shaped design, with a completely transparent water container, that helps you easily monitor the water level. The mist outlet allows a 360-degree nozzle that can be turned in any direction it is needed, releasing a warm or cool mist, and the device has a soft touch digital display at the front side that helps for natural interaction with the machine. There is also a remote control function built into the device for distance control, and it has a separate compartment for aromatherapy; essential oils.

The unit works well, although it releases much white dust when used with hard water and a little less with distilled water. It is pretty difficult to clean too, while the essential oil pads last for a couple of weeks before needing replacement. This humidifier is quiet, and a timer feature that helps you set the period of usage and shut down. The water tank lasts about 12-16hrs when used continuously, depending on the fan speed is set.

The cool and warm mist it releases would more than suit your need. In a 10 x 10 room, and humidity level of about 42%, it increases the humidity level by a considerable amount; enough to make you more comfortable in your condo.

Pros

  • humidistat,
  • remote control,
  • warm and cool mist features,
  • timer,
  • auto shutoff,
  • aromatherapy.

Cons

  • low tank capacity (1.5 gallons),
  • suitable for small sized condos only.

4) Honeywell Top Fill Cool Mist Humidifier

Best humidifier with low maintenance

Special features: Demineralization cartridge, cool mist, highly durable, 1.25 gallon tank and auto shut off

This honeywell cool mist humidifier is small-sized and portable enough, allowing you to lift for movement and refilling easily. At the front side, there is a portion of the transparent water tank displayed that acts as an indicator, showing the current water level in the tank. The top side also comes with a design that allows you to fill the container quickly, without having to detach it from the unit and the nozzle supports 360-degree rotation, enabling you to choose the mist directions.

It is built with an option to purchase a demineralization cartridge in case you are surrounded with strictly hard water in your area (you just purchase the model with NF). The cartridge removes mineral residues in the water and prevents the issue of white dust invasion in the home, and the last for 20-30 days (costs about 8$+). The unit is also quiet while operating and very easy to clean and refill.

Overall it is designed to serve small sized condos which should not be a surprise due to its size, although it does put out a good amount of moisture for that size. It is capable of maintaining a set humidity level.

Pros

  • auto shutoff,
  • a demineralization cartridge,
  • it is affordable.

Cons

  • small water capacity (1.25 gallons),
  • suitable for small sized condos only.

5) Pure Enrichment Ultrasonic Humidifier


The Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier is an excellent choice for those seeking a compact and efficient humidifier, especially ideal for pregnant women, babies, and in general, for use in bedrooms, nurseries, and offices.

The Pure Enrichment Ultrasonic Humidifier features a sleek blue and white design, enhancing the aesthetic appeal of your home while being compact enough not to occupy much space.

This humidifier stands out for its whisper-quiet operation, making it perfect for use in environments where noise disturbance is a concern. The ultrasonic cool mist technology ensures up to 25 hours of continuous operation, suitable for medium to large rooms up to 250 square feet. It’s especially effective for bedrooms, baby nurseries, and for keeping indoor plants healthy.

The MistAire Humidifier is designed for year-round comfort, featuring high and low-speed settings along with a 360° mist nozzle that helps in balancing and regulating home humidity levels. This aids in alleviating congestion, coughs, cold-like symptoms, allergies, dry skin, and sinus issues.

Another notable feature is the humidifier’s ease of use and maintenance. The sleek, transparent 1.7-liter water tank is easy to fill and clean. Additionally, the compact design doesn’t take up too much tabletop space. The automatic shut-off feature is particularly convenient, turning the humidifier off when the water level is low or the tank is removed.

This humidifier comes with a 5-year warranty, ensuring long-term reliability and customer satisfaction. Included in the package are an AC power adapter, a disk cleaning brush, and a user manual, making it an all-inclusive solution for your humidification needs.

Pros of the Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier include its quiet operation, auto shut-off for safety, ease of cleaning, and it being affordable. However, it is more suitable for small to medium-sized rooms due to its capacity and output.

Overall, the MistAire Humidifier is a top choice for those seeking a reliable, quiet, and effective solution to improve indoor air quality and comfort.

Our Top Pick

We recommend the Aircare MA 1201 whole house console style humidifier due to its ability to serve huge condos efficiently, and double as a table top furniture, therefore, maximizing space.

While the Aircare EP9 – 800 Digital whole house evaporative humidifier is next for its safety attributes and ability to match the airfare in the size of room coverage.

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