10 Best Whole House Central Humidifiers (Nov. 2022) Reviews & Buyers Guide

Why Should You Trust Us to Get the Best Whole House Humidifier?

With so many choices available, it can be hard to identify the important information from the fluff. We’re here to help you sort through the haystack and find those needles of truth so that you may choose the best whole house humidifier for you.

Having years of experience in the industry and after studying the information on the market, with the tools and techniques available to us we are able to give you the best, unbiased information regarding whole house humidifiers.

We didn’t just study the information though. We put these systems to the test in real-world environments. Performing these tests on more than 40 different products is a time-consuming process, but we feel our readers deserve the best from us.

We are not here to promote any one particular product or another but are instead devoted to ensuring you have the highest quality information in your hands. This way, when the time comes to buying the best whole house humidifier, you will be ready to make the right choice considering a few things.

Our many hours of experience and research has given us the ability to bring you the definitive guide on the top-rated whole house humidifiers on the market today.

What Is A Whole House Humidifier?

As the name suggests, a humidifying machine that can humidify the entire home is called a whole house humidifier. Usually, they are installed directly in your ductwork near the furnace. The air enters the furnace, gets heated by the furnace, then humidified by the whole house humidifier and finally, this hot and moist air leaves the furnace.

The best whole house humidifier gets this water directly from your pipes rather than a reservoir you have to manually fill, then injects the vapor into your home heat and A/C duct-work. This leads to improved moisture levels for your entire home rather than simply in one room when using a console-style humidifier.

What are the Benefits of Whole House Humidifiers over other Humidifiers?

A whole house humidifier is convenient to use, since the only thing necessary is to install it, periodic maintenance if required, and be alert for any sign of breakdown. Being that these units are usually out of sight, they’re also often out of mind; so make it a habit to check now and then.

Unlike a console humidifier, you do not have to fill a tank constantly or clean any type of filtration system. You simply set it and forget it. Some models do require filter changes or cleanings every 3 6 or 12 months.

Some portable humidifiers require you to add special chemicals to the water, and, to avoid mold or bacteria from growing, they need to have the filters cleaned often. These filters may not cost much initially, but over time, the cost to keep them functioning correctly can add up.

In comparison, a central humidifier uses only fresh water and is never still long enough to become stagnant. As a bonus, they also use little or no electricity leading to cash saved via efficiency, but they can also pay for themselves over time, due to lower heating bills.

Portable humidifiers are bulky and take up a lot of room, even if they are the tower tank style. The larger your room, the larger the humidifier you will need to compensate and add the proper amount of moisture. You probably would also need one for each room to be effective.

A whole house humidifier is much more effective and energy-efficient than many smaller ones scattered around the house, and your furnace’s heating ducts provide a convenient route to every room for the freshly humidified air.

How Do Whole House Humidifiers Work?

Whole house humidifiers, unlike portable units, do not have a tank to fill. Instead, they connect directly to your water supply and to your heating system. This allows you to have your home’s moisture increased, without ever having to keep a reservoir full or trip over individual units in every room.

Some units even come with a humidistat, which is like a thermostat but for humidity. This unit detects the levels of humidity in your house and automatically adjusts the humidifier’s output to hit your target. Many humidistats even have digital controls.

This larger single unit, usually installed in a basement or wherever your furnace and/or hot water heater is, is much more effective and energy efficient than many smaller ones scattered around the house, and your heating ducts provide a convenient route to every room for the freshly humidified air.

All of this utility and convenience operates out of a single appliance, usually installed in a basement or wherever your furnace and/or hot water heater is.

Types Of Whole House Humidifiers

There are several general types of humidifiers. Which one you decide to get will depend on your specific needs and budget.

1. Steam Humidifier: This type of humidifier heats water to the boiling point, then injects the hot steam through your ventilation ducts working very efficiently. The downside is that it takes energy to heat water and cold air conditioning may be compromised by this hot vapor.
2. Bypass Humidifier: A bypass humidifier works by taking heat from the furnace system, which warms up the water into a mist. This mist then goes through the ventilation system. Many consider this as the best type of humidifier you can buy, but opinions do vary.
3. Fan Powered Humidifier: Similar to a bypass humidifier in some ways, the fan powered humidifier has its advantages. It blows a fan directly across a water panel, which then sends the cool vapor/mist through a filter and into the duct-work. The fact it doesn’t need hot water means it can use less electricity and won’t interfere with your ice cold A/C.

Each type has its pros and cons, but all will work to make your home much more comfortable. You should take into account what is most important to you in your search for the best whole house humidifier, and weigh your options accordingly. You can view all the relevant facts in our research table.
Depending on your requirements, you can also check our reviews of the other types of humidifiers as well. We classified them based on their types and uses:

• • Single/Baby Room Humidifier Reviews
  • Warm Mist Humidifier Reviews
  • Ultrasonic Humidifier Reviews
  • Impeller Humidifier Reviews
  • Evaporative Humidifier Reviews

Considerations to Make When You Choose A Whole House Humidifier

Since the number of humidifiers on the market is so large, you will need to consider a few things before you decide on the best whole house humidifier for you. Consider things like if you live in a warm or cool climate and what your budget is so as to get all health benefits from your humidifier.

The first step to choosing the best whole house humidifier should be deciding what type of unit you want. If you have a furnace and central air conditioning in your home already, a bypass or fan-powered system might be your best choice.

To decide this you should measure or make an estimate of how many square feet your home is. Different systems are better for different amounts of space.

The unit you choose may have free installation, telephone or online assistance, or it may require you to do it all yourself using just the manual. This can make a big difference in which humidifier is best for your home as it will factor into the cost. Be confident in your skill before installing yourself.

Some whole house humidifiers will need cleaning and periodic maintenance, so you should read all the literature the manufacturer provides. You might need to change filters, replace parts or other things, sometimes frequently. You should also see if the unit has replacement parts readily available and what sort of warranty the unit comes with and its duration. We recommend at least a one-year protection plan from the manufacturer.

How We Picked and Tested

We have spent more than four years dedicated to researching these devices and identifying the best whole house humidifiers available.

In that time, more than 40 units have been tested and investigated by our team, in order to bring you the best knowledge you can have.

We spent close to two months using the products, in a community-based usage style, to see how well they performed in real-world environments. We considered the indoor environment before beginning.

Then, we measured the performance of the whole house humidifier. An analysis was made of their capacity, maintenance, installation, output, overflow protection, automatic settings, cost, and even more important factors.

Each of these factors makes a difference in the overall performance and even in the lifetime of the units. If, for instance, a humidifier has a large tank capacity but lacks automatic adjustments and power, it might be considered a detriment, since it will need to be frequently refilled due to being constantly on.

Our deep analysis of these factors is unlike any other market research available, and we are proud of the discoveries we have been able to make. Through these tests, we have been able to determine the best whole house humidifier on the market today. It has been a meticulous task, but we feel it is worth it if it helps make your choice of the best whole house humidifier any easier.

Our Top Ten Best Whole House Humidifiers List with Reviews

In order to determine which whole house humidifier edges out its competition, we have analyzed the 46 most important features for each product selected.

To help you choose the best whole house humidifier, we have made our research report available for you. Join us by Liking any of our social media pages and you will get instant access to all the information we couldn’t put here for you.

Best Whole House Humidifier Overall: AIRCARE MA1201 Console Style Humidifier

Why is it Our Best Overall Choice?

1. We have analyzed 46 features for each of the products we have selected. This humidifier has the highest number of positive features, leading us to declare it the best available. You can see the results for yourself in our handy research report.
2. It is efficient for as much as 3500 square feet of space, has a 3.6-gallon tank capacity and a digital display. This model can be cleaned easily following some steps and has evaporative wick traps for mineral deposits. It is also smooth in operation, with no belts, pulleys or wheels.
3. This product is very affordable. Even if your budget is around $100.00, you can still afford this amazing humidifier.
4. When comparing the rating frequency of each of the products, we found this one is receiving ratings at a good pace. In its first 2 months, it gained 10 ratings and reviews, 10 more in 21 days, and another 10 in the next 15 days.
5. This is the only humidifier in our list to feature a single button control capability. This helped bring it to our #1 pick.

AIRCARE MA1201 Whole House Humidifer Review

Our top pick came in with the most positive features of it. In our research, it far exceeds expectations, bringing the moisture to the air efficiently with less frequent refills than much of its competition.

The large 3.6-gallon size tank this humidifier has will keep things going, but if you are in an especially dry climate, you might have to refill it on a daily basis. It is, however, big enough that if you live in an area which does not experience excessive dryness the tank capacity won’t be a bid deal.

This unit has variable fan speeds, letting you control the flow of moisture into your environment as needed. It has a refill indicator, making a simple task to see when it is time to add water to the tank, and it can run for more than 36 hours of constant use.

Some users were able to get even more time out of the machine with the fans set on low, letting the unit work more slowly, while still keeping the comfort levels high, and rated it favorably.

It also lets you adjust the humidity levels to a specific amount if you desire. The digital display allows this to be a simple process, giving you vital statistics at a glance. These include temperature, humidity levels existing in the area already, and the target humidity you would like to have.

With the humidistat integrated into its operation, it will turn itself off when the levels reach what you desire, saving you from paying a higher electric bill and using less water than models that do not feature this technology.

Since it does not have belts or pulleys, the maintenance on the device is on the lower end. You will not have to worry about those kinds of parts breaking down. Another nice feature is the evaporative wick commonly found in evaporative humidifiers. This catches mineral deposits so they don’t interfere with the operation and life of the product.

It has wheels to make it easy to move from place to place, while the white finish matches the décor of most homes. It looks stylish and its smaller size means it will not be in the way of foot traffic.

The overall features, price, and usability of this humidifier make this an easy choice for our #1 pick. When you also consider the low maintenance, including only needing to change the filter when it is dirty, it becomes clear why we love this one and feel it is one you will be satisfied with for a long time.

Runner Up: AIRCARE EP9 800 Digital Whole House Pedestal Style Evaporative Humidifier

Why is it Our 2nd best choice?
As you can see in our research report, this humidifier was edged out of the number one spot only because it features a smaller reservoir tank and a shorter run time. It otherwise has the same number of positive features as our Top Pick. This model also lets you fully customize the humidity settings.

The price range is comparable, coming in slightly cheaper than our top pick. When we evaluated the rating frequency for this product, we found it was rated by consumers at a very rapid pace. The first 10 came in 15 days, the second 10 in 30, and the last ten were in 18 days.

AIRCARE EP9 800 Digital Whole House Evaporative Humidifier Review

While the capacity of this unit is smaller than our number one choice, it is only slightly less so. With the pedestal style, the large capacity is still there, but less space overall is taken up by the unit. It also means a need for less frequent refills to keep it in operation.

It does not have the single button control operation featured in our top pick, but boasts every other feature as its better brother. Unlike some machines, it will also turn itself off when empty. This can save you from having to maintain it in the end.

This includes digital operation, with stats displayed for the current environment. The current temperature, the humidity of the house and more are easy to see at a glance, and the humidity you would like the house set to is right there, as well.

It has a wide range of fan speeds, nine in total, which automatically adjusts to match the need the device detects. This is actually one of the highest fan speed ranges we have seen. When there is little need for the device to be in operation, it either turns itself off completely or runs at a low fan speed setting, saving water and power.

While some users have complained the humidistat is inaccurate, others have found it to have no issues. Since this only impacts the automation features, the accuracy of it may or may not be important to you, especially if you have it in constant operation.

Its performance is also high, bringing the humidity in the air up rapidly, without a lot of noise.

Budget Pick : AIRCARE MA0800 Digital Whole House Console Style Evaporative Humidifier

Why we consdier this to be our Budget Pick?
Because you may not have a high budget, we found our top pick that gives you the “Best bang for your buck.” If you look at our research report, you will find this unit has the highest amount of positive features, while still being at a low price.

Handling up to 2600 square feet, this was rated our Budget Pick.

It has the popular digital controls and automatic humidistat for easy operation, a three-speed fan and quiet setting, and automatic shut-off when moisture levels reach the desired point. Reviews of this product have been coming in at a good pace also at 10 per month for 2 months, and the third 10 in 13 days.

AIRCARE MA0800 Digital Whole House Console Style Humidifier Review

The operation time on this unit is as high as with our top pick, though it covers a much smaller area overall. The tank capacity is also smaller, at 2.5 gallons, which will increase the frequency it needs refilling, especially if you are in a dry area.

However, the unit also boasts automation features. The digital humidistat tracks the current levels of moisture in the air and adjusts the output of the device accordingly. The three-speed fan, in combination with a setting to make it quieter at night, adds to the ability of this unit to keep up, even with it having the lower amount of space it can cover.

This saves money in the end since it will not need to be constantly active. It will also turn itself off when there is no water left in the tank, so you do not have to worry about any internal mechanisms breaking or wearing out, as you do with some other devices.

As a console, it will take up a bit of space, though not nearly as much as some standing console style humidifiers, since it has the smaller tank. In addition, while it is portable, it is a bit heavy when full, which might make you decide to leave it in one spot.

The amount of space it humidifies is enough for some homes; but, if you have a larger house, you might want to buy two of the devices to ensure your whole house is covered. Since it is a budget model, this is actually doable, and you will still be able to come in under budget.

Even with this unit being “on a budget,” people have had a good response to it, because it helps them breathe easier and keeps the moisture in the air, even when compared to the “big boys.”

The many positive features combined with the low price makes this a good choice.

Best for Beginners: HONEYWELL HCM-6009 Cool Moisture Humidifier

Why is it Best for the Beginners?
If you glance at our research report, you will see the Honeywell HCM-6009 is, out of the products we have tested, the easiest to use. This Quiet Care humidifier has a large 9 gallon-per-day output with up to 24 hours of operation per filling.

This pick can handle up to 2300 square feet of space and has adjustable humidity controls with three moisture settings. Compared to tower models, this unit also operated 30% quieter. It is affordable for any budget and is simple to set up compared to other models.

The fact it doesn’t need warm water also saves you money and won’t compromise air conditioning. With all these features, it just had to be rated our beginner pick. It received reviews and was rated very rapidly, with the first 10 coming in 28 days, the second in 30 days, and the third 10 in 14 days.

HONEYWELL HCM-6009 Cool Moisture Humidifier Review

Our beginner pick has a huge capacity in comparison to other models, with 9 gallons-per-day of operation. It is also a multi-room unit, covering a large square footage area with little effort. The Cool Moisture aspect also keeps it working well when using central A/C.

It does not feature automated settings. Instead, you set it to the desired fan speed and let it run, which can be a hassle for some people, but, if you are using it constantly anyway, this is not a major issue. It is especially effective in drier climates to keep up with the lack of humidity.

The unit comes with a pre-filter that can capture any large dust particles, as well as dirt and pollen, which can be a vast improvement in your home. This filter is washable, so, when it does end up filled with gunk, it is an easy matter to wash the grime away and put it back in place.

It also has an antimicrobial filter to prevent the growth of molds, bacteria, viruses, and algae. These can sometimes be issues with console humidifiers, and Honeywell has thought ahead of time to help ease those issues.

Compared to tower model humidifiers, this one runs up to 30% quieter, which is important for those who do not like white noise in their home or workplace.

That aside, some users have experienced noise coming from the unit when they first power it on. The common complaint is it sounds like a rattle or vibration happening, which might be related to the motor inside. However, not all users have reported such problems, and it stops after it has been operating for a little while. Your experiences with this may vary, but it is a concern for those who do not like a lot of noise.

The Honeywell HCM-6009 is a good choice for the beginner because there is a “fix it and forget it” way of operation with it, while still maintaining many of the positive features of the bigger models.