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Humidifier Buying Guide |
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Dry climates, winter air, and artificial heat can lead to dry skin and irritated nasal and sinus
membranes. Humidifiers restore moisture to dry
sinus and nasal membranes by adding
moisture to the air. By restoring humidity to healthy levels you not only can alleviate symptoms from dry air like
eczema and irritation but also promote a healthier environment for the wood and other things in your home that can be
damaged by air that is too dry. Among all humidifiers there is a basic division. You can choose between any number of
warm mist humidifiers and
cool mist humidifiers. Some units, dual mist humidifiers, are capable of producing both
temperature mists. If you are concerned with how the
water is released into the air, our line-up also includes ultrasonic humidifiers,
and evaporative humidifiers. We have recently added several new brands and models to our humidifier offering including
Air-O-Swiss,
Germ Guardian,
Enviracaire,
Vornado, and
Swizz Fred.
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How Humidifiers Work |
As far as the method of getting moisture back into the air, there are four basic technologies.
The most simple of these is found in evaporative humidifiers which add moisture to the air using a fan that blows air over a wet wick.
The air collects the moisture and disperses it with a fan. Traditional evaporative
humidifiers are louder because of the fan, and if not cleaned properly,
could become breeding grounds for
bacteria and mold. The Air-O-Swiss E2441 corrects both of these
issues. With an Ionic Silver Stick (ISS), the AOS E2441 neutralizes
bacteria and microbes. This model has top fill capability and operates at a near silent
level.
The second type of humidifier, Warm mist humidifiers, boils the
water to kill germs before misting the
vapor into the air. Our humidifiers that operate in this way include the
Enviracaire EWM-211D,
Enviracaire EWM-300W, the
EWM-350 warm mist humidifier,
the
Germ Guardian Ultrasonic Humidifiers, and the Swizz Fred Humidifiers.
Enviracaire germicidal humidifiers also use a UV light to kill germs. This creates a mist
that is 99.99% free of mold and bacteria. Regardless of the model you choose, each heats the water to the point of boiling
before dispersing it into the air.
Impeller humidifiers use
constantly rotating discs to break the water into fine drops that enter the air. The rotating discs in the
Air-O-Swiss Air Washer also capture dust and other impurities in the air, essentially "washing the air."
Particles are charged as they enter the unit, so they will adhere to the rotating discs. Additionally, the Air Washer uses an ionic silver stick
to kill bacteria and viruses. An Ionic Silver Stick uses the natural anti-microbial properties of silver to destroy germs. The rotating
discs are dishwasher safe, making clean-up easy.
The last type of humidifiers, Ultrasonic humidifiers, use
high-frequency vibrations to break water into micro-fine droplets then spray this cool fog of mist into the air.
The ultrasonic vibrations kill most microbes by disrupting and destroying their cell walls. The
Air-O-Swiss 7135 ultrasonic humidifier also kills germs with an ionic silver stick,
and comes with a
demineralization cartridge that prevents white mineral dust buildup. Some humidifiers create a white dust when minerals are present in the
water. If you encounter this problem, try using distilled water to help prevent build-up of minerals. You can choose warm or cool mist with
the Air-O-Swiss 7135 Ultrasonic Humidifier or the
Germ Guardian Ultrasonic Humidifiers. The
Vornado Ultrasonic Humidifier
is also an excellent choice, because of its large water tank and its fan that distributes moisture throughout the room.
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Cool Mist vs. Warm Mist |
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This
humidifier choice is largely a matter of personal preference. As
Dr. Henry Bernstein, confirms, "I do not have a preference between a warm or cool mist
humidifier since
both accomplish the same thing - getting moisture into the air." Warm mist can be more soothing for stuffy noses and sinuses.
If young children are around, the hot water and steam can be dangerous. Warm mist makes the air feel warmer and holds onto heat better, and
warm mist humidifiers can actually lower your utility
bill during the winter by changing the heat index.
Germ Guardian and Air-O-Swiss offer humidifiers that have both warm and cool
mist options. Warm or cool mist, both will do the job. Below are a list of criteria and options to consider before purchasing a humidifier.
Each person will have different needs, and by recognizing what you need most from a humidifier you can more easily select the unit
that is right for you.
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Germ Protection: Is the water boiled to kill germs? Does it have another antimicrobial measure like a UV light or the Ionic
Silver Stick? If not, your air will not only be humidified, but it may also be contaminated with bacteria and mold.
Enviracaire humidifiers feature a dual germicidal process that uses
UV light and heat to kill microorganisms. |
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Ease of Use: We recommend that you clean all humidifiers regularly to prevent mold growth. Some are easier to
clean than others. The Air-O-Swiss 2055 Air Washer gets first place
in this category thanks to its dishwasher-safe
discs. The Air-O-Swiss 7144 is easy to clean and fits well into any room decor. |
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Operating Range: It's important to make sure that the humidifier can cover the area of the room where it will be placed.
Enviracaire humidifiers cover
up to 400 square feet, while the Air-O-Swiss units, except the
Air-O-Swiss E2441, cover up to 600 square feet. The
Air-O-Swiss 7142 will humidify a room up to
860 square feet.
Water Capacity: How often will you have to refill the
tank? The
Enviracaire EWM-350 Warm Mist Humidifier has the
largest capacity holding 3.5 gallons. The
Enviracaire EWM-300 Humidifier holds 2.75. The
Enviracaire EWM-211D Warm Mist Humidifier holds 2
gallons of water.
The
Air-O-Swiss 7135 holds 2 gallons, and
the Air-O-Swiss 1355N Air Washer holds 1.9 gallons.
Both the digital and manual
Germ Guardian Ultrasonic Humidifiers have a 1.4 gallon tank. The
conveniently sized
Germ Guardian Table Top Humidifier has a portable .23 gallon
capacity.
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Operating Costs: How much will it cost to run the humidifier? Generally, impeller humidifiers and ultrasonic humidifiers use less energy. You should also
consider costs of replacement parts, such as UV light bulbs, demineralization cartridges, and Ionic Silver Sticks. If you're going to purchase a new humidifier, you
can save money on shipping costs by purchasing several replacement parts with the initial order.
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Noise Level: How loud will the humidifier be? Traditional evaporative humidifiers can be loud because of the fan, but
the Air-O-Swiss E2441 is
an extremely quiet evaporative humidifier. However, all of the warm mist, impeller, and ultrasonic humidifiers we carry are generally very quiet.
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Humidistat Options: The Air-O-Swiss 7135 Ultrasonic Humidifier comes with
a built-in hygrometer (humidity gauge), so that you can monitor the relative humidity level along with a humidistat so that you can control the humidity
level. You can also purchase a humidity gauge separately.
The
Germ Guardian Ultrasonic Digital Humidifier features a digital clock,
timer settings, and a night light as well as Silver Clean technology
to fight the growth of mold and bacteria in the water tank.
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Manufacturer's Reputation: A manufacturer's reputation and the experiences of past customers deserve consideration in your decision. Certain
manufacturers and products are highly respected in the industry for a reason - and the same goes for products which have garnered less respect.
Air-O-Swiss humidifiers are made by Plaston, Europe's leading supplier of plastic packaging systems
and air treatment systems.
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Warranty: The Enviracaire EWM-350, the Enviracaire
EWM-300W, the Enviracaire
EWM-211D
humidifiers come with a 3-year warranty. The
Air-O-Swiss7135 Ultrasonic Humidifier and
Air-O-Swiss E2441 come with a 3-year warranty.
The Air-O-Swiss Air Washers come with a 10-year
warranty. The
Germ Guardian Ultrasonic Digital and
Table Top Humidifiers
have a 3-year warranty. Vornado Humidifiers each come
with a 5-year limited warranty. |
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Compare
Humidifiers or shop all of our Humidifiers
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