Ask Wirecutter: How Do I Shut Up My Humidifier So My Partner Can Sleep?
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Dear Wirecutter,
My partner hates the buzzing sound from my ultrasonic humidifier at night. Can you recommend a humidifier he won’t resent me for?
J.O.
Hi J.O.,
Sleep deprivation is no joke, and both you and your partner have needs that should be addressed. Humidifiers can help prevent nosebleeds from ultra-dry winter air, reduce snoring, and help soothe your skin. Meanwhile, your partner has a right to not be groggy, grumpy, and unfocused all day from a lack of shut-eye. I really appreciate that you’re trying to find a solution that works for everyone. We don’t want the resentment to breed like mold in a dirty humidifier now, do we? (We are serious about the need to clean humidifiers regularly.)
Know your humidifier
There are two common types of humidifiers: ultrasonic and evaporative. We recommend three ultrasonic humidifiers, including our top-pick Levoit LV600S Smart Hybrid Ultrasonic Humidifier, as well as two evaporative also-greats in our guide to the best humidifier.
Each humidifier type has its pros and cons, which we outline in the how we picked section of the guide. Both types are simple, effective, and energy-efficient machines that use different methods of humidifying a room. Evaporative humidifiers tend to have a more mechanically simple design, and they are better at self-regulating, often shutting themselves off as soon as they enter the ideal humidity range. Ultrasonic models tend to be quieter than their evaporative counterparts, and they don’t need any wicks or filters that require regular maintenance.
Someone who gets annoyed by the humming of the fan on an evaporative model as it cycles on and off might want to try an ultrasonic instead. But you already have an ultrasonic, and though we said ultrasonics are quieter, that doesn’t mean they’re completely silent. They give off a slight mechanical rattle that some people find infuriating and others may not notice at all.
Create some distance
Your partner is not alone in feeling beleaguered by your “silent” humidifier. “I have really sensitive hearing, and even ultrasonics drive me to distraction,” said senior staff writer Tim Heffernan, who co-authored our humidifier guide. “The good news is you can put it in the farthest corner of the room and still get humidified air at the bedside. The humidity evens out across the room very, very quickly.” This free, easy solution may take care of the problem right away.
Mask the noise
For the distracted sleeper, it’s often the pitch or the off-on nature of a humidifier that’s the problem. A white noise machine or app, a fan, sleep headphones, or an air purifier will mask it. (Purifiers produce a soft, fan-like noise on all but their highest settings.) “I actually have a hot-water heater that emits a 16 kHz tone that, to me, is maddening, so I use a combination of air purifier and white noise to mask it,” said Lauren Dragan, senior staff writer and headphones expert.
MyNoise offers better customization than any other white noise app we’ve found. It doesn’t simply make nuisance noises more bearable—it can make them almost disappear.
With its electronically generated sounds, the LectroFan EVO masks a wider variety of noises than the other machines we tested in its price range.
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The key to masking a given sound is to find something with a wash of noise that surrounds the frequency ranges that annoy you. A low-frequency buzz might be masked by the low rumble of a waterfall. On the other hand, a mechanical rattle would be better masked by the higher-pitched sound of, say, rain on a tin roof. Our white noise app pick, MyNoise, allows you to choose a sound you like and adjust the frequencies to match your nuisance noise.
Block the noise
Or if quiet is his preference, have him try a pair of earplugs. The disposable foam versions cost just pennies each, and they do an admirable job of blocking out the kind of predictable noise created by a humidifier. Compared with reusable earplugs, they also fit a wider variety of ears and are less uncomfortable when you’re sleeping, though they do need to be replaced weekly.
These earplugs blocked the most noise in our controlled testing. They also got the most votes from our subjective sleep panel and fit most people (we have another pick for people with larger ear canals).
These wireless earbuds physically block out noises and can play preloaded sounds or stream audio from your phone. People with sensitive ears may find that side-sleeping with them is uncomfortable.
For this winter and beyond, I wish you both glowing skin and pleasant dreams.
This article was edited by Jason Chen.
Mentioned above
- Here’s a plan for daily care, weekly cleanouts, and long-term humidifier maintenance.Humidifiers Get Gross Fast. Here’s How to Clean Them.
- A good humidifier can make indoor air more comfortable without constant maintenance.The Best Humidifier
- A white noise machine can mask irritating noises that make it hard to sleep or difficult to focus. The LectroFan EVO is the most effective option for the price.The Best White Noise Machine
- Efficiently circulate air and rely less on your HVAC system with a powerful, compact room fan.The Best Fan
- All of the sleep headphones we tested fell short in some way, but we still have two recommendations for different uses and budgets.The Best Sleep Headphones (But We Hoped for Better)
- Get cleaner air in a range of room sizes with air purifiers we’ve tested and measured firsthand.The Best Air Purifier
Further reading
The Hug Sleep Adult Swaddle Bundled Me Up Like a Burrito. It Didn’t Improve My Sleep.
by Annie Chou
Hug Sleep’s Sleep Pods are stretchy, adult-size swaddles that promise to calm restless sleepers with deep touch pressure. Is it worth the squeeze?
Sleep (Better) With Us: Join the Wirecutter Sleep Challenge
by Joanne Chen
Sign up to receive text messages from Wirecutter sleep expert Joanne Chen. She’ll walk you through her best tips and tricks for getting better sleep.
Trouble Sleeping? Try a Foot Soak.
by Marilyn Ong
Soaking my feet in hot water before bed (using a tall, Japanese foot soak bucket) has made me a better sleeper.
You Asked, We Answered: How Can You Get a Better Night’s Sleep?
by Joanne Chen
Wirecutter sleep expert Joanne Chen answers readers’ questions about the things that keep them up at night.