Pure Enrichment MistAire Review: A Small, Simple Ultrasonic Humidifier

What you get

The MistAire is a tabletop unit with the tank on top; Pure Enrichment says you lift the tank to fill or clean it, and that the 1.7-liter tank fits under most sinks. In the box are an AC adapter and a disk cleaning brush for the ultrasonic plate. The night light is optional, which matters in a bedroom or nursery.

From Pure Enrichment's product page.

Spec	Figure
Tank	1.7 L
Run time	Up to 25 hours
Coverage	Up to 250 sq ft
Mist settings	High and low
Auto shut-off	When water runs low or the tank is removed
Warranty	5 years

The 25-hour figure is a maximum on low. On high, a 1.7-liter tank runs for much less, so in a dry winter bedroom you may be refilling it every day.

White dust and water

EPA says ultrasonic and impeller humidifiers are very efficient at dispersing minerals in tap water into the air, where some people notice a white dust on surfaces, and that scale can be a breeding ground for microorganisms. EPA recommends water labeled distilled, and notes that spring, artesian and mineral water have not been treated to remove minerals. At 1.7 liters per fill, a gallon jug of distilled water lasts about two fills, so the water cost is real over a winter. See distilled vs tap water.

Getting the humidity right

With no humidistat, the MistAire relies on you. EPA advises not humidifying above 50% and recommends 30 to 50% indoors; humidity much above that encourages dust mites and mold, EPA says. Run it on low in a small room, check a hygrometer in the morning, and switch it off if windows fog. If you want it to manage itself, a model with a sensor and auto mode, such as the Levoit Classic 300S, is the better buy. See the ideal indoor humidity level.

Cleaning

EPA's routine for portable humidifiers is to empty, wipe dry and refill daily, and clean every third day following the maker's instructions; without them, EPA suggests a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution, rinsed with several changes of tap water. CHOP suggests cleaning every 2 to 3 days of use and before storage, emptying and drying the tank whenever you turn it off, and using filtered or distilled water. Use the included brush on the ultrasonic disk, gently, to remove scale. See humidifier mold prevention.

For a nursery

CHOP cites the American Academy of Pediatrics in recommending a cool mist humidifier for children, because vaporizers can burn a child who gets too close or knocks one over, and suggests keeping the unit about 3 feet from the child and the bed or crib. The MistAire is a cool mist unit with no heating element. Place it on a stable surface out of reach, keep the cord away from the crib, and clean it on schedule. See baby humidifier safety.

Pure Enrichment MistAire vs the alternatives

From each maker's page or manual; Classic 300S per its Amazon listing.

Humidifier	Type	Tank	Run time or coverage	Humidity sensor
Pure Enrichment MistAire	Ultrasonic	1.7 L	Up to 25 h; 250 sq ft	No
Levoit Classic 200	Ultrasonic	4 L	Up to 40 h; 285 to 376 sq ft	No
Levoit Classic 300S	Ultrasonic, smart	6 L	Up to 60 h; 505 sq ft	Yes
Honeywell HCM-350	Evaporative	1.1 gal	Up to 24 h; medium rooms	No

Who should buy the Pure Enrichment MistAire

• Buy it for a small bedroom, nursery or office up to about 250 square feet, on a budget.
• Buy it if you want quiet operation and a 5-year warranty, and will use distilled water.
• Skip it for larger rooms or if you want automatic humidity control.
• Skip it if you have hard water and will not buy distilled; an evaporative unit such as the Honeywell HCM-350 keeps minerals in its wick.