Warm mist or cool mist humidifier?

[hilltowner]

Hi, We are still having trouble keeping humidity up. We have 3 live plants, and I'm getting a fourth (a pothos), I have plastic up on 2 sides, and the mister goes 3 minutes every 2 hours from 6 am to 8pm.

I've decided that maybe getting a humidifier would help. Anybody have any recommendations? Warm mist or cool mist? Any tips?

Thanks!

Marla

 

[coldbloodedAL]

Use a cool mist, you can fit pvc to run it to the cage. You dont want it running constantly though, just a few minutes every so often. If the cage is in a small room you could just run it in the room to keep the RH steady

 

[RPCV]

Both types would work fine but neither is perfect. Understand the concerns with both then decide which risk is easiest for you to control.

If you're in a relatively small room and there is no forced air ventilation that recirculates air throughout the home then a "warm mist" humidifier might be best. The main concern with this type is the discharge temp of the moisture vapor. If placed away from the enclosure it should be sufficient to raise relative humidity in the entire room without risk of scalding.

With "cool mist" the primary concern is bacteria can grow on internal components and then become aerosolized. If you go this route then be sure to be very diligent with cleaning the unit (weekly). This type is probably best when the room size is too large to increase humidity throughout the entire space so discharge is directed into or near the enclosure.

 

[c2c]

cool mist for sure if its being "pumped" into the enclosure
if its a room, a warm mist would be ok IMO as long as the animals cannot get access to it. as far as im concerned warm mist=steam

 

[chameleonfan101]

i recommend you getting a humidifier that has both. i found mine in a pharmacy here in LA called wall greens im sure they have them at other pharmacies. it is made by vics i think.. it allows you to change from cold to warm.

 

[c2c]

i recommend you getting a humidifier that has both. i found mine in a pharmacy here in LA called wall greens im sure they have them at other pharmacies. it is made by vics i think.. it allows you to change from cold to warm.

thats cool i didnt know that. this is what i made from a cool mist humidifier from amazon

im using this for my Tokays

just a few hose clamps, tubing, and a few pvc parts. no glue or silicone needed

 

[Canny Chams]

warm mist humidifiers are essentially steam, i know that the very large room humidifiers are cool mist and have to be. im not sure why but i think its less healthy for humans if a majority of the humidity in the room is made my warm mist, i also know its really bad for cresties, use cool mist, its what foggers use too

 

[hilltowner]

Thanks for all the information. Including the photos. As per chameleonfan101, I found a decent dual warm/cool mist humidifier on Amazon that had good reviews.

Thanks again for everyone's time and expertise!

Marla

 

[RPCV]

warm mist humidifiers are essentially steam, i know that the very large room humidifiers are cool mist and have to be. im not sure why but i think its less healthy for humans if a majority of the humidity in the room is made my warm mist, i also know its really bad for cresties, use cool mist, its what foggers use too

Cool mist is more of a hazard for humans; humidifier fever, pontiac fever, legionaires disease, hypersensitivity pneumonitis are just a few of the potential outcomes caused from microbial growth in evaporative humidifying/cooling systems.

The statement that warm mist is essentially steam is correct; they operate at high enough temps to kill most bacteria. Problem is the hot temps present a scalding risk.