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" We checked 21 of the newest room-size models for how quickly they moistened the air in our humidity-controlled room, as well as for ease of use, appearance, and energy cost. Our engineers compared units of three humidifier types: cool mist, warm mist, and ultrasonic. No matter the type, it&amp;#039;s essential to follow the cleaning instructions to prevent bacteria and mold growth. Cool Mist Most cool-mist machines use a fan to evaporate water into the air, which can cause a chilling effect in the room. They are, in general, the safest for use around young children.  The test&amp;#039;s top performer was the Honeywell HCM-300T ($80). It raised room humidity to 50 percent in under a half hour, and is rated to run for 25 hours before needing a refill. The UV light disinfects the water (but as with all humidifiers, you should still clean the unit regularly). Maximum electricity cost to run: $1.32 per month. In second place overall is the Honeywell HCM-631 ($40), a budget buy. It lacks a UV light, but had excellent moisture output with the lowest electricity usage of our winners \u2014 up to $1.01 a month. Warm Mist This type uses a heating element to make steam, and can warm the room&amp;#039;s air in the process. However, because of the heat, it&amp;#039;s best to keep these out of the reach of children. The Enviracare Germ-Free EWM-211D ($90), which, like the top cool-mist Honeywell, uses a UV light to kill nearly all tap-water-bred contaminants, scored highest here. It has easy-to-use digital controls and got our room to 50 percent humidity in just over 30 minutes. Caveat: It can add up to $7 per month in energy costs. A close second, the Holmes HM5305-UC ($40) was the fastest to raise the humidity (26 minutes) but used the most electricity \u2014 a max of $9.51 a month. You&amp;#039;re also trading digital for dial controls. Ultrasonic This technology uses a high-speed vibrating plate to turn water into a fine mist. With smaller fans and no gurgling water, these are often the quietest option.  Our splurge-worthy pick, the Air-O-Swiss AOS 7144 ($200), is an ultrasonic humidifier with an option to warm the mist as it is emitted. It has an elegant digital display and special technology that uses silver ions, which have been shown to prevent and control microbial growth. Its electricity use tops out at $3.20 per month. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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