Humidifier for dry air

Here's Dr. Falkinhams recommendations: Reducing-Exposure-to-Nontuberculous-Mycobacteria-Joseph-O.-Falkinham-III-PhD-Updated-May-2021.pdf (11) Humidifiers: A Big Problem. Humidifiers, whether small room-size or whole
house HVAC systems, transfer water to air. They can also transfer microorganisms,
especially NTM, Legionella pneumophila, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Transferring NTM
from water to air is the problem. Humidity helps breathing, but it exposes one to
NTM-laden aerosols. As humidifiers come in two sizes, room and house-size with
different considerations, they will be dealt with separately.
Room-Size Humidifiers. Small, room-size humidifiers can generate aerosols
with high numbers of NTM; even from reservoir water containing relatively low
numbers of NTM (500 CFU/mL). In particular, the new ultrasonic humidifiers generate
a high density aerosol mist that are rich in NTM (Hamilton and Falkinham, 2018). If
you need to humidify your air (especially during winter), only use a room evaporative
humidifier. Evaporative humidifiers boil water and the mist is blown by a fan or
simply rises. Boiling will kill any NTM or bacterial cells and thereby be relatively free
of NTM. The ultrasonic humidifiers do not heat the water, but use ultrasonic vibration
to produce aerosol droplets. If a room-size humidifier blows water through a wetted
filter (called an evaporative humidifier), don’t use it as the water wetting the filter will
have NTM that can be aerosolized.
Remember that NTM will grow in biofilms in the humidifier’s water reservoir.
Therefore, scrub the surface of the reservoir before refilling to reduce the number of
NTM and other waterborne pathogens in the biofilm. I suggest you use a bathroom
scrubbing agent. You can even disinfect the reservoir by adding Clorox® (1 cup to 10
cups water) for 30 min. Then be sure to rinse repeatedly until you can’t smell the
chlorine before use.
Household-Size Humidifiers (HVAC). In an on-going study of NTM-patients in
Philadelphia (the same hospital and area where the elderly, slender women were first
identified at risk for NTM pulmonary disease), our colleagues at the Lankenau Medical
Research Institute (led by Dr. Leah Lande) discovered that all the NTM-infected
women have whole house humidifiers that are simple fabric or plastic woven filters
with a channel above with holes for tap water to drip down through the filter. Those
systems are like the “swamp coolers” used in the desert southwest to cool homes. The
wet filter cools the air during passage. However, NTM adhere to the filter material
where they grow and are transferred the household air that is drawn through the filter.
Such house-size humidifiers are difficult, if not impossible to disinfect. Theoretically, if
the incoming water to the filter was sterilized by 0.2 micrometer filtration or ultraviolet
(UV) irradiation, the filter was disinfected regularly like a showerhead, the duct work
leading in and out of the humidifier throughout the whole house was free of NTN, and
the incoming air was free from outside dust, the humidified air would be relatively
free from NTM.
Room- Versus House-Size Humidifiers. I prefer the room-size as they are
portable and easier to clean (biofilm-removal) and disinfect (Clorox®). Successful
employment of a whole house humidification system requires disinfection of the
existing ductwork, a daunting task.
(12) Avoid Dusts from Potting Soils. Commercial potting soil is rich in peat and
peat harbors very high numbers of NTM (1 million per gram). As peat or potting soil

I found Jack and Rose desk top humidifier. Stainless steel, no filters, boils the water. I turn it on when I'm not in the room and door shut. Then turn off when spending time in the room. It seems to add enough moisture so that I don't wake up in the night due to dry mouth.

would you mind posting a link to the exact model you are referring to? I see a number of options on Amazon. If it boils the water do you need to leave the room while using it?

@irenea8 I think it's this one but hopefully @northland will confirm.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C7KVXJ71/?coliid=I45DHUB4R66J3&colid=ZSIXIOT7PD94&ref_=list_c_wl_gv_ov_lig_pi_dp&th=1
The Jack & Rose one is pricey ($120) and doesn't hold very much water. My Vicks, purchased a few years ($20 now they are more) holds much more water and I run it 2 or more nights before changing water. Plus, with the Vicks you can access the anodes to remove accumulated minerals. There's some concern among Jack & Rose humidifier reviewers about power consumption, wattage appropriateness and tripping breakers. If you buy it please let us know how you like it!

Thank you that must be it. I like the idea of stainless but wonder about the circuit tripping! If easy post a link to your Vicks model. Thanks much.

Yes irnea8, that's the one. It may cost a bit more, but I'm hoping it lasts longer too with the stainless steel. It has no smaller tubes for the humidifier to go through.
I'm super cautious with it as I don't want to have a relapse. So I turn it on and leave the room, even shutting the door. There's hardly a visible steam coming from it, but the size of the drops make a difference too and I don't know if what comes out is a good size for those of us with NTM. It does actually humidify a couple of rooms even with the door closed. I suppose it goes under the door as it isn't tight to the floor?
I'm sensitive to lack of humidity and know when it gets below 40, my mouth starting to get dry. the inexpensive thermometer hygrometer I have in another room confirms the moisture in the rooms. I'll turn it on if it's under 40. I have it in my bedroom, so at bed time, it gets turned off and so far, I haven't woken up with dry mouth. I'd rather the moisture settle before I linger long where I have it as I know it is with caution that they should be used.
I've only had it for a couple of months, I just couldn't stand another winter being so dry in the house. I like it however and works well for me. Hope that helps!

P.S. the water will last 8 hours or more pending the setting.

P.S. I haven't noticed a increase in electric...it has gone up a bit, but that's typical for this time of year as it gets dark so soon. The electric usage is comparable to last year, FYI.

no problems with tripping our breakers.....

According to Dr Joe Falkinham, the expert on all things water-related and MAC, steam vaporizers are safe, and you don't need to leave the room while they are running. This is different from water droplets expelled by other humidifiers.
As an FYI, we have used the steam vaporizers for many years, and they should not be left unattended. When we use one, it is in or near whatever room we are using at the time. We turn it off when we leave the house.
Sue