What are the benefits of having a humidifier in my home?
A humidifier can help you if you suffer from dry skin, allergies, or respiratory conditions. Even if you don’t have a serious medical condition, you’ve probably noticed how dry, dull air can make your skin and hair feel brittle and zapped of energy. Especially in the winter, when heat from your radiators can really affect your sinuses, having a humidifier can help prevent sore throats and congestion. If you live at a high elevation, a humidifier will help moisturize the air in your home to a more comfortable level.
What types of humidifiers are there?
There are many different types of humidifiers. There are small, cheap, table-top humidifiers and free-standing, large console humidifiers, as well as in-duct humidifiers that can held humidify your whole house. Beyond this, there are evaporative humidifiers, ultrasonic humidifiers, and warm-mist humidifiers.
What are the benefits of table top-humidifiers and console humidifiers?
Tabletop humidifiers are the cheapest models available and should be used to humidify a single room in your home, though you can move it from room to room. They have small water tanks that need to be refilled often. Console humidifiers are larger and can be used in multiple rooms. It has a larger water tank, so it won’t need to be refilled as often as table-top humidifiers. They are generally more expensive.
What are evaporative, ultrasonic, and warm-mist humidifiers?
Evaporative humidifiers (also known as cool mist humidifiers) pull in air from the room using a fan; the air passes over a wet wick and is then released back into the room. They tend to be louder than other types of humidifiers. Ultrasonic humidifiers consist of a nebulizer that vibrates to push water out into the air. Warm-mist humidifiers have internal heaters that will heat the water in the tank until it evaporates; the steam is then cooled and released back into the room.
Which type of humidifier is best?
The means by which a humidifier produces water vapor is less important than its quality; any of the different types of humidifiers can under-perform or out-perform another type depending on the quality of its manufacturing.
What if I want to humidify my entire home?
If you want a humidifier that will take care of your entire home at one time, consider an in-duct humidifier, especially if you have forced-air heating. They require installation by a professional and can be more expensive up-front, but will overall save you money on your energy bill than either table-top or console humidifiers.
What is mineralization, and will I need to worry about it?
If your tap water is hard water, that means it has natural minerals in it. When this is the same water you will be using in your humidifier, it means that those minerals can be released into the air in your home. This is also known as “white dust”. White dust is most prevalent with ultrasonic humidifiers than any other type, and many ultrasonic humidifiers will come with a demineralization cartridge that will remove the minerals and need to be replaced. Besides this, the only think you will want to worry about in terms of mineralization is making sure to clean out your humidifier so that calcium and other mineral deposits don’t build up in the water tank over time.
What sort of control do I have over how much humid air my humidifier produces?
Many humidifiers offer either humidity controls or fan settings, or both. Humidity controls will allow you to set the humidifier to anywhere from 0 to 100 percent humidity, while fan controls usually range from low to high.
What are some features I should look for in a humidifier?
Some great features on a humidifier include a medicine cup, a humidistat, a timer, and a removable water tank.
What is a medicine cup?
A medicine cup, popular on many Vick’s humidifiers, will include aromatic, mentholated vapors along with moisture to help sooth any cold or flu symptoms you might be experiencing.
What is a humidistat and why is it beneficial?
A humidistat measures the relative humidity in the air. A humidifier that includes a humidistat can help you gauge the humidity in the room and also judge how well the humidifier is work. Indoor humidity should stay between 30 and 50 percent for optimal health, so a humidistat can help you stay in the proper humidity zone.
Why is a timer a good feature on a humidifier?
A timer can be very helpful on a humidifier. You can set the timer in the morning and the humidifier will turn on before you get home from work so you can walk into a humidified house without having to worry about the humidifier running all day long. A timer can also automatically turn the humidifier off after a certain period so you don’t have to worry about remembering to shut it off.
Why is a removable water tank beneficial?
Without a removable water tank, you will need to manually transport water from your faucet to the unit, which can be annoying. A removable water tank can be refilled right at the sink for easier usage.
How loud is a humidifier?
Just like an air purifier or dehumidifier, a humidifier can make quite a bit of noise. Console units tend to make more noise than tabletop humidifiers, though that’s not always true. The noise level will depend on the individual model, the settings you choose, and how sensitive you are to noise. The higher the fan setting you choose, the louder the humidifier will be. Vornado offers a “whisper quiet” humidifier that promises minimal background noise during use.
Will I need to replace any of the parts on my humidifier?
Depending on what sort of humidifier you get, you may want to factor in the cost of replacing things on the unit throughout its lifetime. For example, if your humidifier has antibacterial or antimicrobial cartridges, those will probably need to be replaced, as will any demineralization cartridges. Some humidifiers utilize a filter that will need to be replaced, as well. It’s fair to say that most of these parts should be replaced yearly and will cost roughly $50. Any humidifier that uses wet wicks will also need you to replace the wicks from time to time to avoid mold growth or bacteria build-up.
Will I need to clean my humidifier?
It is recommended that you change the water in your humidifier every day to reduce bacteria, germ, and viruses. Standing water can be a real breeding ground for unwanted microbes, so be diligent about keeping your humidifier clean and healthy. Some humidifiers, such as some in the Vicks line, have antibacterial technology that resists bacterial growth.
Are there any stylish humidifier options?
There are lots of fun, stylish humidifiers available in all different shapes and sizes. For example, Roolen offers a stylish, minimalistic humidifier that would blend into a modern home, while Crane makes a tear drop-shaped humidifier that comes in multiple vibrant colors. You can even buy humidifiers that look like penguins or other animals for your child’s room. Some humidifiers even have a warm-glowing night light feature, such as many Vick models, that emit a nice glow in a dark row.
