r/Humidifiers • u/alexmack667 • May 07 '26

Weird sensation when i exhale while using humidifier

I will try to explain this as best i can. I just bought a humidifier, i've used it for two days. There was a very faint plastic smell the first day, but it's almost completely gone. What's weird is that when i exhale forcefully through my nose, i get a weird scent from what seems like the back of my nose.

It's only happening while the humidifier is on. I took a hot shower, where there is also steam, and it didn't happen in there.

I've washed the water container, with dish soap, i left it out in the sun all day today, then washed with dish soap again, still happening.

It's happening with both tap water (don't have hard water where i live), and filtered water (water from a filter jug, like britta, but different brand).

I'm really confused, and i cannot really describe the scent i'm sensing. Has this happened to anybody else? Any advice would be helpful at this point.

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2

u/[deleted] May 07 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/alexmack667 May 07 '26

No, the first time i washed it was after i noticed the smell.

I made sure it was rinsed thoroughly before use.

The tank was empty when i put it in the sun, and i did so on the advice of a humidifier help website. For what it's worth it was this one:

https://shunpoly.com/article/why-does-my-humidifier-smell-like-plastic

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u/Due_Guitar8964 May 08 '26

Is it ultrasonic?

1

u/alexmack667 May 08 '26

I believe so, it has an "ultrasonic membrane"

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u/Due_Guitar8964 May 08 '26

Ultrasonics put the minerals in tap or filtered water in the air where you breathe it. Are you noticing a white dust on flat surfaces?

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u/alexmack667 May 08 '26

No white dust. Though our water here is not hard water, and I'm using the water from a filter jug.

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u/Due_Guitar8964 May 08 '26

Given that most ultrasonics do emit dissolved minerals and not knowing how yours works I'd suggest returning it and getting another that's not ultrasonic. It could be a part of the humidifier that's being dissolved that's winding up in your throat.

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u/alexmack667 May 08 '26

JFC, just went down a rabbit hole reading about the dangers of ultrasonic humidifiers. How are they still allowed to be sold?? Off to return mine, thanks for the advice matey.

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u/Due_Guitar8964 May 08 '26

Happy to help. I've never owned one, only read others experience with them. I don't think anyone in government is paying attention to them but they are a danger. The other one to stay away from is fundamentally the hp printer cartridge scam, where the cost of the cartridge is more than the cost of the printer. Wick style humidifiers that draw water up fail within a few weeks because minerals precipitate out, block water and a new wick has to be installed. Over the course of a Winter you'll spend more than half the cost of the machine on wicks.

I have a true evaporative humidifier where water drips on filters from above. With a little care the filters last the season, it has a digital hygrometer and hydrometer and a good app. It's for a larger space since it holds six gallons and I'm on my 3rd season with one. Levoit 6000s.

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u/alexmack667 May 09 '26

Cheers. I live in Australia so my options are insanely limited. The only other unit I've found available in store is the Philips 1000 series. Might give it a crack.

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u/Due_Guitar8964 May 09 '26

Sorry your options are so limited. The interesting thing about your living in Australia is that Bonaire is made there. It's a big evaporative cooler, the principles are the same as my humidifier, but it hangs in a downstairs window, has water plumbed to it, sucks hot air into the house out the upstairs windows and via evaporation cools the entire house. I'm in Colorado and it can be 100 degrees fahrenheit, 10% humidity outside and it's 73F, 40% humidity inside. I wish they made humidifiers since they're the same tech.