What Type of Humidifier Is Best for Sinus Issues?
If you or one of your family members has been experiencing sinus issues, you will want to invest in the best humidifier for sinus problems.
A humidifier increases the moisture content in the air. This appliance increases the humidity in your indoor air. It turns the water in the tank into small droplets, or mists, and releases them into the room through the nozzle.
In another article, we asked: Do humidifiers help with sinus problems? And we agreed that indeed, they do.
However, we did not look at the best humidifiers for sinus issues. Relax. Here, we are going to look at everything that is related to this and then give you three units that can help alleviate sinus issues.
Disclaimer: This post is only intended to inform you and not to take the place of medical advice. Please see a doctor for a proper diagnosis and treatment.
Dry air is bad; get a humidifier for nasal congestion
Among the things that worsen the already irritated sinuses is breathing dry air. Dry air makes the mucus thicker.
This leads to more congestion in the nasal passage. One of the best ways to make sure you inhale well-moisturized air is by using a humidifier such as the one below.
Get the best humidifier for sinus problems and do away with dry air from your rooms. This appliance adds essential humidity or moisture to your air. It relieves you of the discomfort and irritation that dry air causes in the sinuses.
Best humidifiers for sinus problems: What to get
During the winter season, we turn on the humidifier. In the summer season, we turn on the dehumidifier to lower the humidity level.
For sinuses, you need to get a high-quality humidifier. There are so many in the market, and it can be hard to choose the best one.
Here is a sneak peek at a few units you might consider getting:
What are sinus problems?
How will you know you have sinus problems? You will experience some symptoms together, singly or in clusters of two, three, or more.
These symptoms include headaches, stuffy or running noses, and hurting pressure in the forehead and in the cheekbones.
You can also experience thick discharge from the nose. It can be yellowish or greenish; ear pain; a sore throat; and you will lose your sense of taste and smell.
Some people also feel pain in the jaws, while others experience mucus going down their throat.
Sinuses are small pockets of air located behind the forehead and the cheekbones. These pockets drip mucus into the nose for clearing.
Because there is too much dry air in the house, these air pockets become swollen, and they fail to pass the mucus into the nose.
This leads to congestion, and it prevents you from inhaling smoothly. This condition is called sinusitis.
Dry air irritates the sinuses
When you are inhaling dry air, it is going to irritate your sinuses. The most important thing is for the nasal passages and related parts to stay wet, which is the work of the mucus.
When you are exposed to dry air for too long, the mucus dries up, leaving your sinuses and nasal linings vulnerable to irritation, swelling, and infection.
If your mucus glands do not produce enough mucus, you will experience dryness in the mouth, nose, and throat.
This makes the tissue very sensitive, so it becomes easily inflamed. This is where the painful pressure you feel in the forehead and the cheeks comes from.
What type of humidifier is best for sinus problems?
There are so many humidifiers on the market today. The best ones are ultrasonic cool mist humidifiers. However, please remember that ultrasonic humidifiers leave humidifier white dust if you use tap water.
Second in line are the warm mist humidifiers. They help with sinuses since they pump out warm mist.
When you inhale this mist, it dislodges any dry mucus in your airways. It also prevents inflammation of the airways, reducing the congestion or removing it completely.
Mostly, all types of humidifiers, including evaporative ones can help with sinus problems. Overall, just buy a humidifier that is easy to clean, works well without issues, and has some nice functions such as an on/off feature, an essential oil tray, white noise, and a night light.
Is a warm mist humidifier good for sinus congestion?
A warm mist humidifier has heating elements. They heat the water in the tank so that the warm mist humidifier releases warm mist into the room.
A warm mister can help with congestion because it will lower the inflammation and swelling of the nasal tissue that were caused by dry air.
A warm mister might not be good for use in a children’s room because of the hot water. That can be a serious hazard.
If your baby is not yet crawling or walking, you can keep the humidifier at a good distance, and it will do a fine job of increasing the humidity level.
Do not be tempted to make the indoor humidity level too high. If you exceed 55%, you will encourage the development of mold colonies.
If you have congestion, get a warm mist humidifier with a humidistat so that when the humidity is too low, it will switch itself on automatically.
You can also read my past article on what is better for sinuses between cool mist or warm mist humidifiers.
Is a humidifier good for sinus drainage?
First, you need to understand sinus drainage. This problem comes when the tissue around the air pockets (sinuses) becomes inflamed and swollen.
What follows is a buildup of mucus, since it will not be able to drain into the nose so that you can evacuate it.
Since the mucus must find a way out, it starts to drain down the throat, and you swallow it. It can also cause serious coughs so you can try to cough it out.
Generally, sinus drainage is a nasty experience, so you do not want that to happen to you.
Now to the question of whether a humidifier is good for sinus drainage, well, it is. The reason is that dry air is the most likely culprit for the swollen sinuses.
Thus, if you can bring the sinus inflammation down, the mucus will stop building up and start dripping into the nose.
If you are wondering how a humidifier helps with sinuses, it just does its job: raising humidity within the nose environment. It will help you breathe easier and better.
The best humidity level for sinuses
Now that we have established that a humidifier can help with sinus drainage and other sinus problems, we need to know the best humidity level.
First, we suggest you use a hygrometer to measure the humidity level in the air. If it falls below 40%, turn on the humidifier. When there are no sinus issues, a humidity level of 30 to 50% will be just fine.
If there is someone with sinus inflammation, you are going to need to raise the humidity level a bit. The recommended level is between 40 and 55%. A Vicks humidifier can help with this.
When you increase the humidity inside the nose, it will dislodge the dry and stuck mucus. It will also help to lower the inflammation of the nasal and air pocket tissue.
In winter, when you turn on the heat, it will dry the air further. Dry heat is going to increase the inflammation of the sinuses. Any kind of forced air will cause more dryness.
Choosing a humidifier for sinus issues
After you know the answer to: Does a humidifier help with a stuffy nose? You will want to order one. But first, here are a few things to guide you in getting the best humidifier for congestion.
Diffusion properties
When you have sinus problems, it is advisable that you use certain medications or essential oils to relieve the agony.
When shopping for the best small humidifier for sinus problems, it is advisable that you consider settling for one with a diffusion system.
Such a system allows the unit to diffuse essential oils and medicinal vapors that ease sinus discomfort and pain.
Some units come with special compartments where you put the medicine or oils, and the humidifier will pull them from there.
However, a majority of the best humidifiers for sinuses allow you to just add the medicine directly in the water.
You just need to ensure that what you add to the water is soluble, unless you want to clog your unit.
The filtering system
The best mister unit for nasal congestion must have a high-quality filter.
If you suffer from sinus problems, dust, fur, pet dander, and other indoor allergens are some of your biggest enemies.
This is why you should consider a humidifier with amazing filtering properties. Humidifiers with low-quality filters allow dust and dander back into your air. This will make your sinus problems even worse.
The best humidifier to help with sinus problems should be fitted with a good filtering system. This way, allergens and other airborne irritants will not be released back into the air, thus affecting your sinuses.
Humidifier durability
People with sinus problems should avoid breathing in dry air at all times. This means that they may be required to use a humidifier most of the time.
It also means that durability is a very important feature to look into when buying your humidifier. The longer your humidifier will serve you, the better.
I always say it is better to pay more money to get a very durable humidifier than to pay less money to get one that will barely last a year.
Thankfully, there are so many humidifiers for sinuses on Amazon.com. You will be spoilt for choice, literary.
When determining how durable your unit can be, consider looking into two main things. First, consider its quality.
Good quality is a good indicator that the unit will be durable. In this case, opt for a brand that is well-known for manufacturing good-quality humidifiers.
Secondly, consider the period covered by the warranty. A humidifier that is backed by a decent warranty suggests that it is of good quality and is durable. The longer the period covered by the warranty, the better the product.
Other units may also come with incentives such as money-back guarantees or part replacements within a given time period.
This can also be an indicator of great quality. It shows that the manufacturers are confident about their products.
Ease of use and maintenance
The last thing you want to deal with when you have sinusitis is a humidifier that is difficult to operate and maintain.
Therefore, when looking for the best humidifier for congestion, look for a unit that is easy to use and maintain.
The last thing that you want in the best mister for sinus issues is a unit with complicated settings. Such a unit will not end up confusing or frustrating you to the point of opting not to use it.
For easier maintenance, look for a unit that is simple to clean. I am sure you do not want to be stuck with an appliance that takes forever to clean.
The parts should be easy to disassemble and put back together. The opening to the water reservoir should also be big enough to allow for easier cleaning of the tank.
Always clean your humidifier regularly because a dirty unit can harbor bacteria and other organisms that can aggravate your sinusitis.
You know bacteria and germs love moist environments because that is where they thrive best.
The space it can humidify
One important feature to keep in mind when shopping for the best humidifier for sinus problems is the coverage area.
This is because different units come with different coverage areas. Some are made for smaller areas, and others are for larger spaces.
If you buy a humidifier with a small coverage area, it won’t deliver well if you use it in larger spaces.
Luckily, manufacturers of the best humidifiers for sinuses include this information in their units. Therefore, it is easier to know how efficient a certain model will be in your space.
It is also good to know that the larger the humidifier, the bigger the coverage area, and vice versa.
Humidifier Settings
When shopping for your humidifier, consider settling for a unit that has as many handy settings as possible.
There are several such features that you should look out for in a humidifier. First, look for a unit with a timer setting. This feature enables you to run your unit for a specific amount of time before it shuts down.
Auto-shutoff feature
Second, consider a humidifier that has a safety auto shutoff feature. This feature enables the unit to automatically shut down when its reservoir runs out of water.
This setting is very handy because it prevents the humidifier from short-circuiting or overheating, which can be very dangerous.
A humidistat
Look for a unit that is equipped with a humidistat that allows you to enjoy different humidity levels.
The humidistat allows you to preset your preferred humidity levels. Once the desired moisture content is achieved, the humidifier shuts itself off. This is important for preventing the humidity level from rising to ridiculous levels.
This setting is very important for a person looking for the best humidifier for sinus issues. People with sinusitis can be very sensitive. Thus, they would require a unit that allows them to set different levels of moisture.
The wide range of mist options enables them to set their humidifier to a level that they are most comfortable with.
Humidifier noise level
The level of noise that a humidifier produces is a vital consideration when selecting your unit.
A humidifier unit that hums too loudly can be annoying, especially if it placed inside a bedroom.
Therefore, pay closer attention to this feature and consider a model whose motor runs quietly. If you do not, then you risk staying awake or having to yell (not actually, but close) to converse with someone.
Simply put, it is not the best humidifier for sinuses if it is noisy. Usually, fan humidifiers are big noise culprits. Ultrasonic ones are quieter.
A humidifier like LeVoit Cool Mist that you can buy on Amazon has fairly accommodating noise levels.
Capacity of the reservoir
The maximum amount of water a humidifier’s reservoir can hold is an important consideration when buying your unit.
Smaller humidifiers have smaller water tanks, and vice versa. The lower the water capacity the tank can hold, the less mist the unit will produce.
A smaller tank also means that you will be refilling your unit every now and then. On the other hand, a humidifier with a bigger tank produces more mist.
You will not be required to refill it as frequently.
Cool mist vs. warm mist humidifiers for sinuses
There are two major types of humidifiers: cool mist humidifiers and warm mist humidifiers. Cool mist humidifiers produce cool vapor, hence moisturizing your air.
Warm mist humidifiers, on the other hand, boil water, hence releasing warm mist into the air. The temperature of the mist released by the latter is usually higher than that of the room.
Buying a warm mist or cool mist humidifier is one’s personal preference, depending on what makes you more comfortable.
However, taking into consideration your area’s climatic conditions is advisable. For example, if you live in regions with hot climates, a cool mist humidifier would be more ideal for you.
On the other hand, a warm mist unit is more ideal in regions that have colder climates.
Humidifier style
People with sinus problems will need a humidifier most of the time. This means that your unit will always claim a certain space in your room.
Therefore, style becomes an important consideration when choosing the best small humidifier for sinus problems.
First, you would want a unit that fits perfectly in your space. Second, you would want a model whose style blends well with your room’s aesthetics.
Therefore, take your time to look for a unit that matches your taste and the theme of your room.
Some of the best small humidifiers for sinus problems are tabletop types. Others are wall-mounted. There are small and big ones to suit your needs, and budget, too.
Rather than the traditional and boxy varieties made decades ago, today’s humidifiers are stylish and sleek.
Humidifier price
The most important thing that you would want to consider when buying your humidifier is cost. As you will notice, different humidifier models on the market come with different price tags.
A number of things contribute to the differences in price. One of these things is the size of the model.
A big humidifier designed for larger rooms will obviously cost more than a mini unit designed for smaller rooms.
In addition, a humidifier that is fitted with more features will be pricier than one with just a few of them.
The amount of cash you would want to spend on a humidifier will mostly be influenced by your budget. However, spending more on your unit can give you an appliance that will serve you for a long time with minimal issues.
Very cheap units can demand high maintenance, which will be more costly in the long run.
Wrapping Up
Your search for the best humidifiers for sinus problems is over. You have all the information about how a humidifier can help your family with sinus issues.
If you do not try to prevent sinuses by raising the humidity to the appropriate levels, you can get serious symptoms such as a sore throat, headaches, a running nose, stuffiness in the nose, and more.
Also, clean the unit appropriately so that it does not develop some of the common humidifier problems.
If it has filters, clean and replace them as often as you need to, as recommended. Try not to use tap water, especially if it has minerals.
