Dry air can cause many health problems. The mucus membranes inside of the nose can become dried out to the point that it causes bleeding. Humidifiers were invented to help ease this problem.
A humidifier, either warm or cold, will increase humidity levels in the home. Both types of these humidifiers do require electricity for them to work. They both work well for dry homes and they help to ease symptoms of colds and flu viruses.
Warm mist humidifiers work by heating the water to create the mist. This mist, or steam, is expelled through the air to help humidify the room. Many of the warm mist machines have a small tray that can be filled with a mentholated medication. The heat from the machine melts the medicine. When the vapor rises through the humidifier, it will take along the medicine with it, to be distributed through the air.
There are advantages of choosing a warm mist humidifier over a cool mist one. The warm mist does not tend to grow bacteria and mold as the cool mist often does.
A huge drawback of the warm mist humidifier is the heat. The water inside of the humidifier tends to get very hot and should not be placed near children or pets. Another disadvantage of the warm mist humidifier is that it requires more electricity to heat the water than that of the cool mist.
Cool mist humidifiers work with the help of a turning disc inside of the humidifier. Water is turned into vapor as it passes through these discs.
The cool mist humidifiers work well for people that seem to have a harder time breathing in steaming showers, saunas or even in Jacuzzis.
One drawback to the cool mist humidifier is that it does tend to cause bacteria growth. These humidifiers will require a cleaning quite often. As long as the reservoir is cleaned often, the cool mist humidifier is a safer alternative for children.