Why Use A Humidifier
Whether it’s due to winter cold or summer air conditioners, dry air and low humidity levels in your home can have many negative impacts on your health. Most often, dry air affects our skin, causing it to dry out, flake, crack and itch. Dry air can even exacerbate existing skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis as well. In addition, our hair becomes more brittle and breaks more easily, static electricity is increased, and we tend to suffer more from nose bleeds, colds, sinus infections, and the flu. Moreover, individuals suffering from asthma and allergies can also experience more frequent and or severe attacks. Thankfully, humidifiers are the ultimate solution to dry air problems and the health issues that may arise from them. They work by releasing water vapor into the air. This helps keep you breathing and living more comfortably no matter what time of year it is.
How Humidification Benefits Your Home
Humidity isn’t just beneficial for your body and your health, it’s also highly beneficial for your home too! For instance, many house plants require adequate humidity levels because they constantly lose moisture through the pores in their leaves. This moisture loss tends to happen more rapidly when the air around them is overly dry. Furthermore, water absorbed through the plant’s root system doesn’t always replenish the moisture loss in the leaves as quickly as properly humidified air can. Additionally, dry air can also cause wood to dry out, which can, in turn, cause it to crack and shrink. Over time, this can lead to more significant problems ranging from loose chair/table legs to large gaps between floorboards and broken furniture. All of these issues can lead to humidifier repair or replacement costs. However, investing in a humidifier and maintaining proper humidity levels can help to lessen these issues.
The Five Different Types of Humidifiers
With multiple types of humidifiers to choose from, it can become a daunting task trying to figure out which kind is right for you and your home. The five most common types of humidifiers we’ll be discussing today include cool mist humidifiers, warm mist humidifiers, ultrasonic humidifiers, steam/vapor humidifiers, and whole-house/console humidifiers. Your specific needs will greatly influence which type of humidifier is right for you. Some things to consider when buying include the type of climate you live in, if the air is somewhat humid already, or more often dry. In addition, you should think about placement and the areas in your home which need humidification the most. For instance, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency recommends keeping your home’s humidity levels between 30% and 50%. It’s also essential to consider pets and young children when purchasing a humidifier. Some models may not be as well suited for these situations as others.
Cool Mist Humidifiers
Cool mist humidifiers work by emitting a cool vapor into the air, effectively humidifying it. Water is added to the humidifier’s reservoir. Before making its way out of the humidifier, the water travels through a wick filter to help eliminate impurities. A fan then blows air over the saturated wick causing water droplets to be evenly dispersed throughout the area. These droplets evaporate and humidify the surrounding air. Ultimately, cool mist humidifiers work by evaporating water droplets into the air. As a result, they are well suited for warmer climates in need of a refreshing cool mist, thanks to the fact that they won’t further raise the temperature of the air. Cool mist humidifiers are also among the easiest to maintain and clean because their parts can usually be put right into the dishwasher!
Warm Mist Humidifiers
Warm mist humidifiers emit a soothing warm mist that can be seen and felt. They are often a popular choice during cold winter months to help relieve cold and flu symptoms. Additionally, warm mist humidifiers tend to be quieter and cleaner than cool mist humidifiers. Warm mist humidifiers work by heating water to create a warm, soothing mist and, because of this, achieve a higher level of moisture saturation than cool mist humidifiers. It’s also important to consider young children and pets before purchasing a warm mist humidifier due to the mechanism used to heat the water. Overall, warm mist humidifiers are an effective and useful tool, especially in cold and dry climates where soothing warm mist would be highly beneficial.
Ultrasonic Humidifiers
Ultrasonic humidifiers are straightforward devices. They use a reservoir of water and a diaphragm or other type of vibrating component to propel microscopic water droplets into the air. To explain, the diaphragm vibrates at extremely high frequencies, so high it’s above the range of human hearing. Once in the air, the microscopic droplets evaporate at a faster rate due to their smaller size, effectively humidifying the air. In addition, because there is no heating of water at any point, these humidifiers can sometimes be known as cool mist humidifiers. These humidifiers are so effective at what they do that they often have a built-in humidistat to help keep humidity ranges balanced. Ultrasonic humidifiers are often used in smaller spaces due to their compact size and are praised for their quiet operation.
Steam Humidifiers
Unlike cool mist humidifiers, steam humidifiers heat water to create a gaseous state a lot like a pot boiling on a stove. The unit then cools the steam before it’s released back into the air. Specifically, steam humidifiers or “vaporizers” help alleviate problems associated with the cold or flu. Using a steam humidifier can help relieve congestion by thinning mucus that builds in the respiratory tract. In addition, some steam humidifiers offer compartments for the addition of medicinal inhalants, like camphor or menthol, to be used with the steam. These inhalants can help to further soothe irritated airways and inflamed sinuses. Moreover, most vaporizers or steam humidifiers can also be used with essential oils for an added boost of aromatherapy. However, like warm mist humidifiers, steam humidifiers aren’t usually recommended for use around children or pets.
Whole House Humidifiers
Whole-house humidifiers or console humidifiers work to cover a much larger area of a home, such as an entire floor or level. Most get these units confused with humidifiers that attach directly to your HVAC or furnace system. These are more like a large console that can be moved if necessary but isn’t easily portable from room to room like smaller humidifiers. Because these units don’t need to be fixed or installed, they’re usually a cost-saving solution for many people. In addition, their large water tank/reservoir size means you don’t have to fill them every day like smaller units. Console or whole-home humidifiers work the best when placed on an upper level or floor, allowing the heavier humid air to evenly disperse and flow downwards. All in all, these larger whole-house humidifiers are a great choice as long as you remember to use distilled or filtered water to help avoid “white-dust” build-up and reduce periodic maintenance.
Humidifier Brands We Offer
Here at Achoo, we carry many brands and various types of humidifiers. There are even some that boast the added bonus of being both an air washer and humidifier all in one. Some such models include our Boneco W200 Humidifier Air Washer and the Boneco H300 Hybrid Humidifier and Air Purifier. Additionally, we carry the Boneco U300 Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier, Top Fill which makes refilling much easier thanks to its top fill reservoir design. Comparatively, we also offer PureGuardian Humidifiers, including their 90-Hour Ultrasonic Warm or Cool Mist Humidifier and their 70-Hour Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier. And last but not least, we also have AIRCARE ultrasonic, steam, and console humidifiers, as well as Vornado steam and ultrasonic humidifiers.