A warm mist humidifier helps you lessen the dryness of certain climates or seasons in your home, alleviating irritations like dry skin and chapped lips. Increasing the humidity in a bedroom can also ease overnight congestion and a sore throat when you’re sick. For that reason, it may be one of the essential supplies to have during cold and flu season.

Unlike cool mist humidifiers and ultrasonic humidifiers, a warm or hot mist humidifier heats the water inside to create humidity through the creation of steam. Because of this, warm mist humidifiers are often very similar to steam humidifiers or vaporizers.

To find the best warm mist humidifier for you, consider capacity, energy use and cost. You might also want optional features, like a personal steam inhaler if you are using the humidifier to address respiratory dryness. Having an auto shut-off, a low water indicator or an adjustable thermostat can also make it easier to use your machine.

Because the air coming out of a warm humidifier is heated, you want to be cautious about where you place it—make sure it is not accessible to children or pets. A small warm mist humidifier might fit on a high windowsill or shelf. Additionally, do not set your humidifier in tight spaces or close to surfaces – like another shelf or a ceiling—that could warp or stain from repeated exposure to moisture.

To get the most out of your warm mist humidifier, it's important to clean it regularly. While there are anti-microbial warm mist humidifiers, you should always take steps to clean and sanitize your machine. Follow the manufacturer’s directions to ensure your warm humidifier does not accumulate water-loving bacteria or fungi.

If you want healthier air in your home, you should also consider investing in an air purifier that can remove pollution and allergens. Choosing an air purifier for your home is all about deciding what you want to eliminate from the air and how much you want to invest.