AIRCARE - Mini-Console Evaporative Humidifier 5D6 700

[AirCare Mini Console](https://www.menards.com/main/heating-cooling/indoor-air-quality/humidifiers-accessories/aircare-reg-mini-console-evaporative-humidifier-3-gallon/5d6700/p-1444430072490-c-9507.htm?exp=false) evaporative humidifier. Ultrasonic humidifiers produce mineral buildup (which results in white dust EVERYWHERE) if you don't exclusively use distilled water and they are often extremely difficult to properly clean (can grow mold inside places you can't access). Evaporative humidifiers can work with tap water just fine with no white dust and are very easy to clean (they are literally just a box with a fan and a wick for the water). You need to buy a new wick (<$20 for this model) every season or if the current wick gets moldy (which you can prevent by using the bacteriostat recommended by AirCare or regularly soaking/cleaning with vinegar).

AirCare evaporative humidifiers like [this one from Menards](https://www.menards.com/main/heating-cooling/indoor-air-quality/humidifiers-accessories/aircare-reg-mini-console-evaporative-humidifier-3-gallon/5d6700/p-1444430072490-c-9507.htm?exp=false) are very easy to clean (they're essentially just a bucket and a fan with wicks you change out every season) and don't require distilled water. Menards carries a range of sizes depending on how big of a space you need to humidify. The one I linked handles my 500sqft studio just fine. One way to help prevent condensation on the inside of your windows is to modify the humidity level depending on the temperature outside. The colder it is outside, the more likely you will get condensation. When its below 15° I keep my humidifier at 25% RH. Between 15° and 30° I keep it at 30% and above 30° I keep it at 35%.

Look into an evaporative humidifier. The Aircare Mini Console works great for me in the winter.

Evaporative is the solution. Once you try one you will never go back willingly. I had one for several years that used a single wick replacement each season. The only maintenance I had to do was add the anti microbial solution to the tap water i dumped into the container every other day, it was spotless inside after months of continuous use. I had a fairly large aircare console that had a humidistat as a controller, it ran through 5 gallons in about two days all winter long.m Before I got an evaporative I went through several cool mist, ultrasonic, style humidifiers. Without fail they all became a petri dish of slime and mold within a week on average. I cleaned these things with vinegar, dish soap, antibacterial solutions, and finally bleach which only extended the average by a couple of days. These require DI water since any dissolved salts will get misted as well, precipitating as dust and being an irritant for many people. I've also read some comments about the slime and bacteria getting turned into mist and either spreading spores or endotoxin to cause problems. Tldr: evaporative is cheaper and easier to use