Ultrasonic Steam or Conventional humidifier: Which should to choose?

20/01/2025

Humidifiers are mainly categorised into auto ultrasonic steam and conventional ones, whereby both of them excel at portability and moisture generation.

However, there are key differences in the way of generating humidity, and you probably acquiesce with the drawbacks of each type based on personal preferences.

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In case of feeling noise levels and inconvenience for frequent cleaning and filter replacement, ultrasonic humidifiers can be a considerably optimal choice.

The 3 key differences between two type of humidifiers comprise:
- Price
- Noise levels
- Mineral residue handling (white or grey dust)

1. Cost:

Ultrasonic humidifiers and ordinary humidifiers are two completely different types of humidifying units, so they have some key differences in operation, which significantly affect the product's price.

Conventional humidifiers are generally cheaper to purchase than ultrasonic humidifiers. However, most of them use various filters, differing in type and quality. Filters in conventional evaporative humidifiers need regular cleaning or replacement. So, whilst the initial purchase cost is lower, the maintenance, part replacement, and cleaning time are higher. When choosing an evaporative humidifier, you also need to pay attention to the design to determine the best filter placement. An improperly installed air filter can lead to numerous health and household problems. The cost of replacement filters varies depending on size and brand, but it's generally low.

On the other hand, ultrasonic humidifiers don't use filters, so their initial purchase cost is higher than evaporative humidifiers. There are no filters to replace, but ultrasonic humidifiers still need to be maintained and used correctly to prevent mould and bacteria growth.

2. Noise Level

The most common places people put humidifiers are in bedrooms or living rooms. Therefore, it's no surprise that the majority of consumers want a humidifier that operates smoothly and quietly. If the noise of the humidifier is your primary concern, then an ultrasonic humidifier is your best choice. This type of humidifier operates very quietly, with much lower noise levels than other humidifiers. That's because they don't have a fan component like conventional humidifiers, which helps reduce noise levels.

If noise is not your concern, but the purchase cost of a humidifier is your main issue, then you should choose a conventional (more affordable) conventional humidifier.

3. Mineral Residue Handling
Ultrasonic humidifiers tend to discharge more white/grey dust than conventional humidifiers. This white/grey dust is actually minerals found in the water you put in the tank. Whether or not mineral dust appears depends on the type and source of water. The reason ultrasonic humidifiers produce more mineral dust is that they don't have a filter to trap or contain these minerals, so they are released back into the air (along with the moisture). They can settle on furniture and electronic devices like ordinary dust.

Measures to control mineral dust:
- Use distilled or purified water.
- Use a decalcification filter (if available), specifically designed for your ultrasonic humidifier model.
- Run the ultrasonic humidifier at a lower humidification intensity to reduce the amount of mineral dust released into the air.
That's a slight drawback when choosing an ultrasonic humidifier. It's also worth noting that some extremely compact ultrasonic humidifiers are designed without filters, but the amount of mineral dust released into the air is negligible due to their very low humidification rate.

4. Which type best suits your needs?
If noise levels bother you and you find it inconvenient to frequently clean or replace filters, then you should choose an ultrasonic humidifier. You'll have to pay a bit more upfront, but you won't have to worry about unsafe noise levels.
If you're more concerned about price, you should choose a conventional humidifier. Remember that the filters need to be cleaned or changed periodically to keep them working efficiently. Identify where to get replacement filters before purchasing the humidifier and always keep a spare filter at home.