There are three types of cool mist humidifiers.
They are the evaporation wick, the impeller and the ultrasonic.
Parents generally like to use the cool mist type in their children's room or nursery because the water in the humidifier is not heated, so there is no burn risk.
The first type uses a wick to absorb the water in the humidifier.
Then a fan evaporates the water which produces a mist in the air.
Because of this mist, there is a higher chance of molds growing in your home.
Once again, proper care and maintenance of the humidifier will lower the chance of mold growth.
The fan noise can also be a problem for some people.
The impeller uses a spinning disc to create the mist.
It is a much quieter machine than the evaporation wick.
You can also move it from room to room easily because they are smaller in size.
They don't use much electricity either since you're not heating the water.
Ultrasonic cool mist humidifiers use sound waves to vibrate the water which then turns into mist.
Most will use a filter that will trap minerals from the water before it's released into the air.
The ultrasonic is also quiet when in operation.
They are more expensive but they are energy efficient, healthier and easy to move from room to room.
There have been some concerns about dangerous microorganisms and bacteria being dispersed into the air during operation.
Just like with the warm mist humidifiers, cool mist ones need to be cleaned on a regular basis in order to prevent bacteria buildup in the air.
Using distilled water or filtered water instead of tap water will help cut down on the risk of microorganisms and bacteria being dispersed in the air.
If you have sinuses, then a warm mist humidifier might be better for you.
Other than that, either type of humidifier will do the same job of raising the humidity in your room.
Just make sure that it has a built in humidistat so you can control how much humidity is in your room.
40 to 45 percent humidity is the relative level you want for your home.