Each room in your house will call for a different placement for your humidifier.
The type of humidifier you have will also have to be taken into account.
Cool mist humidifiers and warm mist humidifiers work differently, so it’s imperative you know which one you own.
Before you go and place your humidifier willy nilly, find the right place to find it below.
Let’s get started.
Where to Place a Humidifier in a Bedroom?
Warm mist humidifier
Warm mist humidifiers work by bringing water to a boil that turns the water into a mist.
For this reason, they can be a bit more dangerous than their cool mist humidifier counterparts.
If you have a warm mist humidifier, it’s not safe to keep it near you while you sleep.
Consider putting it in a corner or at least 5 feet away from you while you sleep.
It’s ok to leave it on a table or a nightstand if you’re awake during the day and able to monitor its activity.
Cool mist humidifier
Cold mist humidifiers are safer than warm mist humidifiers because they don’t work with boiling water.
Considering this, it’s ok to keep it near you while you sleep.
The best place to place cold mist dehumidifiers in a bedroom is near your bed on a table or nightstand.
You want it to be 3 feet away from whoever is going to be nearest to the humidifier. You should avoid placing the humidifier on the floor or in a corner.
Ultrasonic humidifier
Ultrasonic humidifiers work differently than evaporative humidifiers.
If you have an ultrasonic humidifier, then you’ll want to keep it up high for it to work properly.
Otherwise, you may find that water drops accumulate on your bedroom floor.
Also consider checking out our guide for how close a humidifier should be from your face.
Where to Place a Humidifier in an Office?
When placing a portable humidifier in your office, you’ll want it to be near where you are but not too near where the mist droplets are getting in the way.
You must keep it away from electronics and outlets to avoid any water buildup creating a dangerous scenario.
Placing it on your desk is fine, but do keep an eye on any excess moisture building up in sensitive areas.
Where to Place a Humidifier in a Nursery?
Similar to a bedroom, you want your humidifier placement to be approximately 3 feet away from your baby’s crib.
It’s important that you allow the humidifier’s mist to disperse through the air in your baby’s room and prevent any accumulation like on the crib or ceiling.
It’s also important that you place it in an area where your baby can’t accidentally knock over the humidifier.
The cord should also be out of reach of your baby, so place your humidifier on an elevated area.
Where to Place a Humidifier for Plants?
A few feet away from your plants is preferable as well as in the center of your room.
You don’t want to place your humidifier so close to your plants that the water condenses on the leaves and soil.
By giving your humidifier some space from your plants, you’ll prevent any mold and fungus growth.
Avoid placing your humidifier on the floor or carpet and away from corners.
This way, the mist will have a chance to disperse evenly throughout the room.
It’s also important you buy the right sized humidifier otherwise you may over or underhydrate your plants.
Where to Place a Humidifier in a Living Room?
The best place to put a humidifier in a living room is near where people will be but not so close that it’s going to get in the way.
Keep it elevated on a shelf, table or stand and keep the humidifier out of the way (as well as the cord) to avoid any accidents or leaks.
Check the carpets and rugs for any moisture build-up as it may happen from too much mist in your living room.
It’s also a good idea to keep it away from direct sunlight to avoid any long-term damage.
You can also keep a tray underneath your humidifier just in case. I
t’s important to check the humidity levels of your space every now again, and that’s why you should look into getting a hygrometer.
Place the hygrometer near where you’ll be sitting once your humidifier has been running and check the humidity readings.
If they’re nearing the optimal humidity level of 30-50%, then you don’t have to leave your humidifier running.
Where to Put a Humidifier When Sick?
When you’re sick, it’s important to keep the humidifier several feet away from your bed.
If it’s a warm mist humidifier, then you want to be careful and keep an eye on it as the boiling water can be dangerous.
If you have a cold mist dehumidifier, then it’s ok to keep it near you. If you feel that the mist is helping your congestion, it’s OK to keep it near the bed for a few hours but don’t overdo it.
It’s also important that you give your humidifier adequate airflow so that it can work properly.
Is it OK to Sleep Next to a Humidifier?
Sleeping next to a humidifier can be a good idea if you feel that your air conditioner is dehumidifying the air too much.
What you want to watch out for is the humidity levels when you wake up.
If the humidity levels are higher than 50 percent, you may be at risk for mold, mildew, and bacterial growth as well as damage to your furniture, flooring, and wallpaper.
If you must sleep next to a humidifier, make sure that your humidifier has ample airflow and is not going to be knocked over.
Make sure you place it on a nightstand and not the floor.
Where is a Humidifier Most Effective?
The most effective place for a humidifier is near where the people in the room will congregate but not so close that it gets in the way.
As the fine mist can condensate if not given ample room, you want it to have enough space to disperse into the air in the room.
Consider that it’s important the humidifier is not in any danger of being knocked over, so don’t place it directly in the middle of a room where it can get in harm’s way.
Is it OK to Put a Humidifier on the Floor?
If you have a large humidifier it may be ok to work on the floor.
If it has wheels, then it was made for floor usage.
If it’s a portable humidifier, then do NOT place it on the floor. The mist needs a chance to disperse into the air rather than get stuck on your floor.
Can you put a humidifier anywhere?
No, you can not put your humidifier anywhere.
You want your humidifier to be at least 2 feet off the ground and a maximum of 4.
Keep it away from anywhere it can be easily knocked over and 3 feet away from your bed.
Following these guidelines should bring your humidifier to optimal levels and take care of any dry air.
Where should you not put a humidifier?
- Avoid placing your humidifier near electric outlets. It can become a fire hazard over time as the water can lead to rust and potentially short circuit your electric system.
- Place your humidifier away from any technology, like TVs, radios, speakers, and computers. The water can potentially condensate on these items and lead to damage.
- If you have children or pets, you do not want to place your humidifier in an easy-to-access area. If they can easily knock over the humidifier, the water can spill causing slip hazards as well as making for a dangerous situation with electric outlets.
- Avoid placing your humidifier near a window or air vents as it can not only mess up humidity readings, but the direct sunlight can promote bacterial growth inside the water tank.
Final Thoughts
Whether you have an evaporative humidifier, cold or warm mist humidifier, you’ll want to ensure you give them all space to do their jobs.
Without adequate airflow, humidifiers will fail to operate correctly.
It’s also important that you not only place your humidifier properly but also put the right type of water in it as well.
If you’re finding mold in your humidifier, you can use some common household items to take care of that.
