Are steam humidifiers the cat's meow because they put out sterile water, vs bug-laden (potentially)? I read a bit about one recommended here, and it apparently collects scale/crud-causing deposits before the water is sent to the room and dumps them in a disposable bottle. Sounds like a good system. Do the "normal" ones just become a major PITA all the way around? I am paying more attention to humidity lately, and 3 meters in the house consistently read in the lower 20% zone, so I am thinking of increasing that a tad. Thanks.

There are basically two ways to increase moisture in the air inside your home. The first is by using cool, fog-like mist and the other is by means of steam. Humidifier choice impacts on your health and that of your love ones, so it requires careful thought and reflection. I hope so but Honeywell's breakthrough TrueSTEAM Humidification System can ensure that your home and family are getting the right amount of moisture.
Your home is a lot like your body. It needs to stay properly hydrated in order to maintain the health and comfort of those living in it.
Air that is too dry can act like a giant sponge, soaking moisture up from everything that it touches in your home - your woodwork, wood floors and furnishings - not to mention symptoms of dry skin, chapped lips, dry nasal passages and static electricity.