5 Best Humidifiers For Cough

Last updated on Mar 7, 2022 Humidifiers
Note: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we only earn from qualifying purchases!

You can use a humidifier as part of your treatment to alleviate cough problems. Cough can become so irritating to an extent of causing sleepless nights. During the day, you may even fail to do your daily tasks. Although cough is not life-threatening, it can be scary, especially among children. 

Despite being tuff, you can effectively alleviate the symptoms of cough. Increasing the indoor humidity level is one of the best ways of relieving cough. This is where a humidifier becomes so important. Humidifiers add moisture into the dry air, which helps moisturize the nasal passage, lungs, and throat. This calms down cough symptoms as it improves breathing. It does not matter whether it is a common cold, asthma, or bronchitis.

If you are wondering how you can get a good humidifier, we have you covered. In this article, we discuss the best 5 humidifiers for cough and their features. The information provided intends to guide you make a better choice.

Summary of The Selected Humidifiers for Cough

HumidifierElechomes SH8820 HumidifierVicks Ultrasonic Humidifier Cool Mist HumidifierLevoit Classic 200S HumidifierHoneywell HWM-705B Filter Free Warm Moisture HumidifierPure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
Mist typeCool and WarmCool mistCool mistWarm-mistCool mist
Area coverage755 ft2600 ft2376 ft2250 ft2250 ft2
Max. Run time55 hours24 hours40 hours24 hours25 hours
Tank capacity5.5 liters4.5 liters4 liters3.8 liters1.5 liters

What Causes Cough

Although there are various causes of cough, doctors commonly point out dry air. Continuous exposure to dry-cold air can easily irritate air passages and lungs. As the body reacts to the irritation, you start coughing. Other causes of cough may include allergens, respiratory infections caused by viruses and bacteria. 

Do Humidifiers Help with Coughs

Yes, humidifiers can help with coughs. NCBI Journal states that low humidity may make respiratory viruses thrive and affect the nasal defense mechanisms.  When the nasal defense mechanism is affected, it fails to trap allergens, which can trigger a cough. This scenario can be avoided with the use of a humidifier. 

Humidifiers work by adding moisture into the air making it difficult for these viruses to spread. Moreover, the nasal defense mechanisms remain strong to combat viruses., and other irritants. If the lungs are irritated by dry air, the soothing moisture may cool down the situation. Therefore, humidifiers can play a huge role to alleviate or prevent cough.

What Type of Humidifier Is Best for A Cough?

There are basically two humidifiers that are good for cough. These include a cool-mist humidifier and warm mist humidifier. Any you choose should surely work for you. 

Scholars and physicians admit that humidifiers can help you alleviate cough. But there is no evidence between cool and warm-mist humidifiers, which one is better for cough. So, you need to choose a humidifier depending on how you fair with its pros and cons.

Cool-mist humidifiers are safe and energy-efficient. But they can easily release mineral chemicals into the air. On the other hand, warm-mist humidifiers are quieter and can reduce bacteria and germs emitted in the air. Conversely, they pose a risk of burn in case of a flip. 

When Should You Not Use a Humidifier?

When your indoor relative humidity is above 50%, you should not use a humidifier. According to the National Asthma Council, the ideal indoor relative humidity is between 30-50%. Anything above or less may worsen or cause cough. 

Additionally, if you have indoor allergies, it is advisable not to use a humidifier. This is because allergens such as molds, dust mites, mildew thrive under high humidity. On that account, you need to always watch out for humidity levels before using a humidifier.

Why Does My Humidifier Make Me Cough?

As discussed above, your humidifier makes you cough because it may be releasing a lot of moisture. A humidifier should maintain an indoor humidity level in the range of 30-50%. Excessive moisture may trigger bronchitis, which is symptomized by cough. So, when using a humidifier, ensure the humidity levels do not exceed 50%. This will help you not to cough when using a humidifier.

Can A Humidifier Worsen Cough?

Yes, a humidifier can worsen the cough. As highlighted above, humidifiers may generate excessive moisture. This in return can aggravate the cough. Certainly, this is because too much moisture can trigger bronchitis and also cause difficulty in breasting. Therefore, when misused, a humidifier may intensify cough. 

How To Get Rid Of Persistent Cough

  • Take Honey

You may consider taking honey to get rid of persistent cough. A study by Cam Fam Physician of Canada indicates that taking a teaspoon of honey before bedtime can lessen cough. Indeed, honey might also be good for you. However, children below 1 year should not be given honey. This is because honey usually contains bacteria that may be harmful to babies.

  • Drink More Fluids

Fluids such as juice, and warm water can help thin the mucus in the throat. This can help improve breathing and reduce cough.

  • Increase Indoor Humidity

In case you suspect dry air in your house, find a way of humidifying it. This can help moisturize the throat and nasal passages. You will eventually start to feel better. You can use a humidifier to maintain humidity within the required range.

  • Consult Your Doctor

In case the cough persists, you need to seek medical attention. At times cough may be a symptom of another complication. So, your doctor may conduct a diagnosis, and advise you accordingly. 

The 5 Best Humidifiers For Cough

1. Elechomes SH8820 Humidifier

Image showing Elechomes SH8820 humidifier
Elechomes SH8820 Humidifier

We have selected Elechomes SH8820 as our best humidifier for cough. This is an ultrasonic cool and warm-mist humidifier.

The humidifier is equipped with a 5.5-liter water tank. This allows the humidifier to run for up to 55 hours on a low setting.

More so, the SH8820 humidifier is designed for large rooms of up to 755 square feet. You can use the humidifier in bedrooms, living rooms, open floor apartments, and offices.

The humidifier is also quiet. Even on a high mist output setting, it produces less than 32 dB noise. This means you can use the humidifier while sleeping.

Elechomes SH8820 humidifier also comes with a built-in humidity sensor. This measures the current indoor humidity. Depending on the humidity levels detected, the unit automatically adjusts the mist output.  

Why Elechomes SH8820 Humidifier Is Good For Cough

  • Automatic Humidification

Do you want constant humidity levels, to relieve your dry cough? Elechomes SH8820 might be good for you. The humidifier is designed with a humidity sensor. This allows you to control your indoor humidity levels. With this ability, you can maintain humidity levels within 30-50%. Therefore, this prevents the risk of low or excessive humidity, both of which trigger or worsen the cough.

  • Large Water Tank

Elechomes SH8820 humidifier can give you soothing moisture for a long time. This makes your mucus stay moist. This helps the nasal defense mechanism stay strong. The humidifier holds a 5.5-liter water tank. This large capacity water tank ensures the humidifier runs for up to 55 hours on a low setting.

  • Good Area Coverage

If you are living in a large room, Elechome can help you and your family deal with cough. The humidifier has the capacity to cover large rooms of up to 755 square feet. This could be an open floor apartment or office, gyms, bedrooms, and living rooms.

Pros

  • Remote control
  • Timer
  • Child lock
  • Humidity monitor
  • Sleep mode
  • Essential oil diffuser
  • Ultra-quiet

Cons

  • Loud on high setting when using warm-mist

 2. Vicks Ultrasonic Humidifier Cool Mist Humidifier

Image showing Vicks-ultrasonic humidifer
Vicks ultrasonic humidifier

Vicks ultrasonic humidifier can help you deal with cough and breathe better. The humidifier produces fine visible mist to prevent you from inhaling dry air that causes cough.

Vicks comes with a large water tank. It has a capacity of 4.5 liters. With full water capacity, the humidifier can produce fine mist for up to 24 hours.

Similarly, this humidifier is designed for large rooms. It can effectively maintains the required indoor humidity in rooms of up to 600 square feet.

The humidifier is easy to maintain. It is designed without filters. This means it does not require filter replacements.

Vicks humidifier offers customizable mist control. It comes with a dial knob. This gives you the opportunity to control the mist out depending on your preference.

Why Vicks Ultrasonic Humidifier Cool Mist Humidifier Is Good For Cough

  • Good Area Coverage

If you need a humidifier that can help you moisturize large rooms, Vicks can be good for you. This is a large capacity humidifier that is capable of moisturizing rooms of up to 600 square feet. This means you can use the humidifier in your living room, and basement. Ultimately, your family members will inhale soothing air to relieve them of cough.

  • Large Tank

If you want a humidifier to help relieve cough from your children, you may consider having Vicks. The humidifier can generate moisture without frequent supervision. The humidifier has a 4.5-liter tank. With only one fill, the humidifier can run for 24 hours.

This means you can leave it in your children’s room for a full night or day. Certainly, this can help moisturize their nasal passage and lungs to prevent cough.

Pros

  • Easy to clean and refill the tank
  • Filter-free, meaning no filter replacement costs
  • Energy efficient
  • Operates quietly
  • Demineralized cartridge
  • Auto shut-off

Cons

  •  Release white dust

3. Levoit Classic 200S Humidifier

Image showing Levoit Classic 200S humidifier
Levoit Classic 200S humidifier

Another good humidifier for cough is the classic 200S. This is an ultrasonic cool-mist humidifier.

The humidifier can ensure constant humidity in rooms of up to 376 square feet. This means those suffering from cough can use the humidifier in their offices, living room, and bedroom.

Classic 200S humidifier is designed with a 4-liter water tank. This enables the humidifier to operate for up to 40 hours on a low setting.

You can prevent yourself from inhaling dry air. Classic 200S comes with a 3600 nozzle. You can direct it to where you want for effective humidity.

You can enjoy a hands-free adjustment with classic 200S. When cough becomes too much at night, you do not need to wake up to adjust the humidifier. Levoit classic 200S is compatible with third-party voice assistants such as Alexa and VeSync.

Levoit classic 200S gives you the required humidity based on your preferences. You can set the humidifier to auto mode, and it will adjust the humidifier to meet the preset values. You can also schedule your humidifier whenever you like.

 Why Classic 200S Humidifier Is Good for Cough

  • Maintains Stable Humidity

If you want to alleviate or prevent cough resulting from dry air, classic 200S might be good for you. The auto mode feature allows the unit to detect the current humidity and adjust the mist output accordingly. You only need to preset your preferred relative humidity levels. The humidifier will maintain those levels to help you with cough. 

  • Long-Lasting Humidification

You can get relieved of cough without frequently maintaining your humidifier. Classic 200S can run for up to 24 hours. This means you can enjoy soothing moisture for a full day plus a night. This will moisturize your lungs, throat, and air passages, thus getting relieved from cough.

  • Hands-Free Adjustment

At times dry cough can make some people weak, especially at night. If you are among such people, you can install a classic 200S humidifier. The humidifier is compatible with Alexa. This means you can adjust your humidifier without moving out of bed. So, you can get yourself relieved of cough without moving out of your bed or sofa.

  • Area Coverage

Levoit classic humidifier can help you ease cough in most average-sized rooms. This humidifier can provide moisture in rooms of up to 376 square feet. Certainly, you can be relieved of cough from your living room, small apartments, and offices.

Pros

  • Operates quietly
  • Automatic shut-off
  • Essential oil diffuser
  • Voice control
  • Timer
  • Auto mode

Cons

  • Prone to water leakages

4. Honeywell HWM-705B Filter Free Warm Moisture Humidifier

Image showing Honeywell HWM 705B filter free warm mist humidifier
Honeywell HWM 705B filter free warm mist humidifier

You can get relief from a cough by using the Honeywell HWM-7050 humidifier. This is a warm-mist humidifier that ensures your indoor humidity remains in a range of 40-60%. 

The humidifier does not use filters. This means you do not need to spend on filter replacements. 

Honeywell comes with a 3.8-liter water tank. This allows it to run for up to 24 hours per refill. 

The humidifier is also equipped with an auto shut-off feature. When the water in the tank drains, the humidifier will automatically shut off. 

Moreover, when the water is lowering, a refill light automatically illuminates. This alerts you of the need to refill the tank. 

Honeywell HWM-705B is designed for rooms of up to 250 square feet. It can be used in offices, bedrooms, kitchen, and living room. 

Why Honeywell HWM-705B Filter Free Warm Moisture Humidifier Is Good for Cough

  • Keeps Your Room Moist

Honeywell can be helpful when you are struggling with a cough. The warm-mist humidifier ensures your room’s relative humidity is in the range of 40-60%. This can give you a temporary relief of cough and congestion. You can always adjust the humidifier to ensure humidity is not above 50%. 

  • Large Water Tank

If you are looking for a humidifier that can mist your room without constant refills, you can consider this unit. Honeywell HWM-705B comes with a 3.8-liter water tank. This means with just one fill, the humidifier can run for up to 24 hours. The generated soothing mist will moisturize your lung, throat, and passage to calm down dry cough all through the night. 

  • Suits Average Rooms

In case you want a humidifier that can be used in the office, living room, or bedroom, you get Honeywell. The HWM-705B humidifier can provide soothing moisture in medium-sized rooms of up to 250 square feet. This means if you are suffering from a cough, you use this humidifier in the office, bedroom, or living room to lessen the symptoms. 

Pros

  • No filter required
  • Operates quietly
  • Auto shut-off
  • Essential oil diffuser
  • Easy to carry
  • Low water indicator

Cons

  • May cause burn in case of an accident
  • Hard to clean the water reservoir

5. Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier

Image showing pure Enrichment misaire ultrasonic cool mist humidifier
Pure Enrichment MistAire cool mist humidifier

Last on our list is the Pure Enrichment MistAir humidifier. This humidifier can relieve cough resulting from low humidity.

The humidifier is designed for small and medium-sized rooms of up to 250 square feet. This means you can use the humidifier in your office, living room, kitchen, or bedroom.

More so, the unit comes with ultrasound technology. This allows the humidifier to operate silently.

It is also equipped with an auto shut-off feature. When the water level is low, the humidifier will automatically shut down.

Pure enrichment comes with a 1.5-liter water tank. This allows the humidifier to run for up to 25 hours on a low setting.

The humidifier is adorned with a 3600 nozzle. This gives you the freedom to direct the mist to your preferred position.

Why Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier Is Good For Cough

  • Long Run Time

Are you are looking for an affordable humidifier to relieve you from coughing? Pure Enrichment might be good for you. The humidifier comes with a 1.5-liter water tank. With only one fill, the humidifier can run for up to 25 hours on a low setting. This means you will not inhale dry air that irritates the lungs causing cough.

  • Good for Average Small and Medium Rooms

You can get Pure Enrichment if you want a small capacity humidifier to help you deal with cough. The humidifier can produce sufficient mist in rooms of up to 250 square feet. Indeed, you can use the humidifier in your office, and homerooms to get relief from cough.

  • Customized Mist Output Control

Pure Enrichment can help you deal with a cough by maintaining favorable humidity. The low and high-speed settings and a 3600 nozzle can help you regulate humidity. This means you can maintain a balanced humidity to avoid low or excessive humidity. These conditions are known for causing or worsening cough.

Pros

  • Easy to refill and maintain
  • Whisper-quiet
  • Auto shut-off

Cons

  • Frequent refilling if being used on high setting 

In a nutshell, you should note that all the selected humidifiers do not heal cough. But, they can help you alleviate it. If you use a humidifier and fail to notice a change, you should consult a doctor. Otherwise, the selected humidifiers are good and can help you improve from both dry and wet cough. 

Featured Posts

Related Posts