Where to put the humidifier in the room: choosing the best place for the device + expert advice

Alexey Dedyulin
Checked by a specialist: Alexey Dedyulin
Author: Tatyana Zakharova
Last update: January 2024

Home air humidifiers have long been an excellent way to improve the microclimate in the living room. It is proved that they effectively increase the level of humidity in dry periods - for example, in winter.

But the owners of devices often encounter all kinds of problems: either a puddle will form, then the tables will be covered with a whitish bloom, or together with a new useful “tenant” a loud noise that interferes with sleep will settle in the house.

Many of the troubles can be quickly eliminated by choosing the right place to install the device. In this article we will give recommendations on where to put the humidifier in the room so that it copes better with its functions.

Installation Criteria

The choice of location depends a lot on type of humidifier, technical characteristics and features of the model itself. For example, a bulky floor unit cannot be placed on shelves or tables, and a compact decorative device is unlikely to cope with humidification in the hall or living room, wherever it is placed.

To begin with, consider what qualities of a humidifier you need to pay attention to when buying it, so that later you suddenly do not encounter unpleasant “surprises”. Each of these properties in one way or another affects the choice of installation location, temporary or permanent.

Taking into account the characteristics, they decide where it is better to put a home air humidifier: in a spacious living room or in a small office, on the floor or table, in the corner or in the center of the room, on the bedside table or away from places of rest.

It’s easier if you don’t purchase the device for installation in one permanent place, then you can precisely select the device according to its parameters. Often the “moving” device from place to place should be universal, with adjustable parameters and the ability to install on any surface.

We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the best moisturizers for homes and apartments that have received recognition and positive reviews from the owners.

Where is it better to put a humidifier?

And now we’ll “walk through” the whole apartment and find out where the humidifying device is needed and where not. It refers to home appliances, which are acquired not for beauty and not for “to be”, so we will determine the degree of its usefulness.

Option # 1 - kitchen windowsill

The device, flaunting on the windowsill in the kitchen, is indeed surprising. They explain its appearance in a room where the humidity level is already sufficient, for various reasons - for example, caring for seedlings planted in the spring.

Despite the fact that the kitchen often serves as a dining room and the whole family gathers in it, a humidifier is not installed there. Excessive humidity causes a risk of respiratory disease, swelling of parquet and kitchen facades,the appearance of mold in the corners, along the baseboards and under the wallpaper.

Sink - a source of moisture in the kitchen
The kitchen belongs to rooms with a normal level of humidity, which is maintained by the constant use of water. Too humid there also does not happen due to well-established ventilation

The only exception is spacious kitchens with an area of ​​at least 20 m². In them, a humidifier is placed against a wall located at a distance from the "working zone" - sinks and stoves.

In studio apartments, the kitchen is often part of a common room, therefore it is served, along with the rest of the area, by one powerful unit.

Option # 2 - bedroom or children's room

Separate bedrooms, as well as a children's room, belong to rest rooms - rooms in which family members spend night hours. Young children often sleep during the day, so special conditions are met for them.

If in the kitchen a humidifier is installed in rare cases, then it is simply necessary for a bedroom or a children's room. Resting body benefits air with normal humidity: only in comfortable conditions can a person sleep well and be energized for the coming day.

Silent humidifier for the bedroom
Silence contributes to good and healthy sleep, along with darkness, so one of the conditions for acquiring a humidifier especially for a bedroom is a low noise level

Dryness, on the contrary, greatly harms a person, especially when he is in a defenseless state - he is sleeping. Therefore, buying a humidifier for the bedroom is the right decision.

But at the same time, you need to consider the rules for installing the device:

  • Do not put it too close to the bed, especially the nursery;
  • to choose the most silent device with the "night" mode;
  • Do not install the device in the middle of a room or in another place where you can accidentally stumble upon it in the dark.

If the humidifier is designed for the room of a preschool child, it is better to choose an option designed in a funny design, but you need to install the device out of reach - so that the child does not accidentally drop the device or burn itself.

Traditional humidifier for a nursery
Safer are traditional devices or ultrasound devices from special children's series made of harmless plastic, with rounded contours and controls accessible to the child

Pay attention to special humidifiers for newborns - low-power and quiet devices with additional filtering and the function of air purification from microbes and allergens.

But do not forget that ultrasonic devices spray into the air and all impurities in the water. Before putting the device in the nursery, be sure to consult an experienced pediatrician. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the pros and cons use a humidifier in a nursery.

Option # 3 - study or teenager room

A study room or study is different in that it is designed for work or study.

If in an office one of the adults usually works with literature or equipment, holds business or friendly meetings, then the pupil or student also sleeps in the nursery, so the requirements for installing a humidifier are increased.

Home library with bookcase
Often in the office they arrange a library, placing editions in cabinets and on shelves. High humidity is known to be much more dangerous for paper than dryness.

In addition to books, expensive computer equipment can also be located in the office, which also should be protected from high humidity. If you want to keep rare editions or a brand new laptop safe, put the humidifier away from cabinets and a desk.

A small appliance is sometimes placed directly on a desk. This is possible if the sprayed moisture does not harm paper products and does not cause permanent cleaning. It is better to use a corner or the center of the room, remote from the workplace.

Option # 4 - living room or hall

A living room or a spacious lounge are usually used for gathering and relaxing together for all family members. As a rule, this is one of the most voluminous rooms, well heated and therefore requires additional moisture.

Humidifier in the living room
According to statistics, most humidifiers are purchased specifically for the common room. There is a lot of free space and there are several options for a successful installation

The place is chosen by studying the manufacturer's recommendations in advance. Floor units are installed exclusively on the floor, preparing a solid and even base. Decorative compact appliances can be placed on a coffee table in the middle of the hall, on the windowsill, pointing the spray to the center, or on the shelf of the cabinet, making sure that the “fog” will not damage the furniture.

If the unit is too productive, then at maximum operation a puddle may form around it. Excessive moisture is dangerous for carpeting, laminate or parquet, but is absolutely harmless to linoleum or tile.

Large family humidifier
If you decide to put the device on the sofa, make sure that it does not interfere with the vacationers and does not spray water towards upholstered furniture

Remember that both natural wood and particle boards swell from high humidity, and then dry out if you stop abruptly constantly moisturizing.

If the room has expensive parquet or furniture made of precious wood, we recommend that you consult a specialist before purchasing the unit.

Option # 5 - conservatory or conservatory

When buying a humidifier specifically for indoor plants, start by selecting an appliance by type.This is one of the rare cases when traditional and ultrasonic devices are less suitable, and the steam unit is preferred.

Humidifier in a home greenhouse
A steam humidifier more quickly than others creates a humid microclimate due to the rapid evaporation of water, while the high temperature of the heated device does not interfere with plants, but acts to their advantage

If you decide to install the device on the loggia, converted into a winter garden, or just in a room with a lot of home flowers, think about the arrangement of both the device and the plants.

Try to keep moisture-loving plants closer to the humidifier, and place the rest around the perimeter. Some species do not tolerate constant moisture on the leaves, so an adjustable device is needed.

Wherever the humidifier is located, good ventilation is also required. Stagnation of heavy humid air can lead to decay of parts of some crops, especially in tight spaces.

The most unsuitable installation areas

And now we will analyze where you do not need to install a humidifier.

The rooms that do not require either constant or interval wetting include the following:

  • bathroom;
  • restroom;
  • combined bathroom;
  • the corridor;
  • hallway;
  • wardrobe.

In the bathroom and toilet, the humidity is always at a high level, so for these rooms it is more important to think over ventilation system, the same applies to the combined bathroom.

Ultrasonic humidifier for spa treatments
An exception is a small decorative ultrasound device with an aromatherapy function, which is turned on only during bathing or spa treatments. It can replace scented candles or bath oil

In the dressing room, excess moisture will only do harm, especially items of clothing made from natural fabrics and fur.

And in the corridor or hallway, a humidifier will be superfluous, since they already communicate with adjacent rooms. In addition, in cramped spaces, every centimeter of free space is important, so an additional device will do more harm than good.

General rules for choosing a place

The installation location is important to choose the right, so as not to harm either people or surrounding objects. The functionality of the device itself also depends on this - during careless operation, it may suffer, lose its quality, or simply stop working.

Good installation location for humidifier
A properly installed humidifier maximally fulfills its task: it preserves the optimum level of humidity in the room, does not pester residents with loud noise and serves for the duration set by the manufacturer

There are several requirements that can be applied to the choice of location for all types of humidifiers:

  • Place must be firm and level. Do not place the device on a sofa or bed, or on an inclined surface - it must be strictly horizontal.
  • You cannot move the unit turned on. First you need to press the power key, remove the plug from the outlet, and only then move the humidifier to another place.
  • Do not direct the jet from the spray towards furniture or other appliances. They will regularly get wet, and as a result they will lose their attractiveness or fail.
  • Try to install even quiet appliances away from beds or sofas - the noise increases nervousness and fatigue, interferes with a good rest.
  • Floor models are placed on the floor, the rest - at a height of 0.5 to 1.5 m. More precise coordinates can be found in the manufacturer's instructions.
  • Conventionally hazardous appliances should be placed in areas inaccessible to young children. Steam humidifiers can become very hot. It is not recommended to inhale the mist of ultrasonic devices at close range.
  • Humidifiers lose their effectiveness if they are placed next to heating elements or open flames - radiators, heaters, fireplaces or stoves - as moisture dries instantly.

Do not install the device in places convenient for movement: you may accidentally touch and break the device standing on the road.

Humidifier on the table in the living room
If you decide to install a household air humidifier in a corner or next to furniture, make sure that the surrounding surfaces are not affected by spray moisture

And if there are active animals in the house, try to protect the equipment from these energetic and curious pets.

In addition to choosing the optimal place to place the device, it is equally important to operate it correctly and to service it in a timely manner, descaling and mildew.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Short recommendations from Ballu dealers:

Features of the selection and installation of humidifiers for children:

As you can see, the choice of zone for installing the humidifier is as important as the choice of the device itself. When determining the location, it is necessary to take into account the requirements of the manufacturer, the characteristics of the device, environmental conditions.

Do not forget that all models need constant maintenance - provide easy access to the device, the ability to quickly adjust and turn off. The result of efforts will be a healthy, comfortable microclimate - a truly homely atmosphere and coziness!

And in what room is your air humidifier installed? Share your experience with other users with the placement and operation of the appliance, tell us about the problems you encountered when choosing the wrong place to install the humidifier.

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