Air humidifiers: what are they for and how to choose?

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

It may seem that a humidifier is a completely useless device for the home. And few people think about the effect of air humidity on our comfort and well-being. After all, a too dry climate complicates the penetration of oxygen into the body, causes dry mucous membranes, brittle hair and nails, general fatigue and lethargy of the body, accelerates skin aging. At first glance, the work of a humidifier, which is hardly noticeable, has a positive effect on our health.

Why dry air is dangerous

In order for a person to feel comfortable in the house, the air humidity should be in the range of 40-60%. However, in the winter season, its level, as a rule, does not exceed 25-30%. This is due to the fact that heating devices and radiators dry the air. A working TV, gas stove, air conditioner and other household appliances also reduce the moisture content in the air.

When the humidity of the air inhaled by a person drops below normal, the body begins to lose moisture. Even a healthy adult with insufficient moisture can experience a headache, dryness in the nasopharynx, decreased concentration and performance. In too dry air, dust circulates more actively, often causing allergy attacks in households.

A climate with low humidity is especially harmful for young children: it dries out the skin and mucous membranes, reducing their protective properties, making it difficult to breathe and creating discomfort for the baby. In addition, kidney function may deteriorate, and dysbiosis may occur.

Unfortunately, neither aquariums, nor fountains, nor an open vent can provide the necessary supply of humid air, which will raise the water content in the home environment to the required level.

Only a special device - an air humidifier - can save the situation and create optimal climatic conditions for a person.

The benefits of a humidifier

The operation of a humidifier has a beneficial effect on the health of households: children and adults stop getting sick often and for a long time, the skin becomes soft, silky and elastic, and is less susceptible to aging. In humidified circulating air, viral activity decreases, therefore, the likelihood of catching acute respiratory infections and ARVI decreases.

Normal air humidity has a beneficial effect on indoor plants. Most often they are native to the tropics and therefore very poorly tolerate an arid climate. With a comfortable amount of moisture in the air, plants develop more intensively, do not turn yellow and bloom more abundantly.

The optimum humidity level is favorable for wood and paper items in our home. Then furniture, parquet, books, documents, photographs, paintings and frames, musical instruments do not dry out, do not crack or collapse ahead of time.

How to choose a humidifier

To make sure you need to buy a humidifier, it is worth measuring the humidity level in the room. For this there is a special device - a hygrometer. It can be purchased separately and is often included with a humidifier. If the humidity level in the room is much lower than ideal, then a humidifier will become simply a necessary device in the house.

Air humidifiers, depending on the principle of operation, are divided into three types: traditional, steam and ultrasonic. In addition, they are distinguished by the presence of additional functions, for example, an ionizer, a remote control, a display and a variety of sensors.

Types of humidifiers

Traditional (or cold) humidifier - the cheapest option, perfect for children's rooms. Water is poured into a special container of the device, which is supplied to the evaporating elements. With the help of a built-in fan, air from the room is drawn into the device, driven through the evaporator and returned already humidified. Passing through the device, the air is not only saturated with moisture, but also cleared of dust, dirt and microparticles. Therefore, it is better to place the device in places with the greatest air circulation and near heat sources.

In traditional humidifiers, it is recommended to fill in filtered or distilled water so that the filter does not clog from impurities.

In traditional humidifiers, it is recommended to fill in filtered or distilled water so that the filter does not clog from impurities. This device can also be used for aromatherapy by adding a few drops of essential oil to the water.

Humidifiers of this type operate almost silently, have low power and performance, consume energy economically and are relatively inexpensive. Achieving and maintaining the required humidity level in the room does not occur under the control of a hygrostat, but automatically: the drier the air passes through the device, the more intense humidification is obtained, and when the 60% mark is reached, the process practically stops.

In a steam humidifier two electrodes heat the water and bring it to a boil. Moisture is supplied to the room in the form of hot steam. The device works as long as there is water in it: the liquid closes the electrical circuit through which the current flows, heats up and evaporates. When the water is completely boiled off, the circuit is opened and the device stops working automatically.

Humidifiers of this type can be used both as flavorings and as inhalers - you just need to add aroma oils or a decoction of herbs to the water.

Steam humidifiers have greater productivity and power and, as a result, higher energy consumption. It is important that the device has a built-in hygrostat so that it can turn itself off when the set humidity is reached. Since hot steam comes out of the appliance, it should not be placed near furniture and places where people are located.

Ultrasonic humidifiers - the most popular, modern and effective today. A piezoelectric element immersed in water converts electrical vibrations into mechanical vibration and produces fine mist. With the help of a built-in fan, dry air from the room passes through the water cloud, is saturated with moisture and returns back in the form of fog. Its temperature does not exceed 35 ° C, so the device is safe for use in children's rooms. Such a humidifier works silently, has low power and energy consumption, but at the same time has high performance.

The device requires a built-in hygrostat for precise control of the humidity level in the room and automatic shutdown. It is recommended to use purified or distilled water in it. As the pre-filters become clogged and worn, furniture may form white deposits from impurities in the evaporated moisture. Therefore, the filter must be changed every two months.

Manufacturers recommend completely draining the water from the switched off device and wiping it dry so as not to provoke the growth of bacteria and the appearance of an unpleasant odor. The humidifier must be located at least one meter away from electrical appliances.

Features of models and additional functions

The cost of each type of humidifier ranges on average from 2,000 to 14,000 rubles and very much depends on the characteristics and additional functions of a particular model.

Different humidifiers are designed for different serviced areas, so it is worth choosing a model based on the size of the rooms in the house. In any case, it will not be possible to process the entire apartment at once - you will have to move the device from room to room.

Power consumption affects device performance and power consumption. We'll have to find a middle ground between efficiency and economy.

The noise level ranges from 5 to 70 dB and depends on the design of the device and the fan speed. For the bedroom and children's room, it is better to choose the device with the lowest noise level.

The volume of the water tank indicates how long the device can work until the water is completely empty. Typically, a 5 liter capacity is sufficient to run continuously overnight. The operating time from a full tank is determined by the value of the water consumption per day and is 8 to 12 liters.

The maximum air exchange value means how much air the humidifier can pass through in an hour. When choosing a model, it is necessary to calculate that the entire volume of air in the room passes through the filter at least twice per hour.

When choosing a model, it is necessary to calculate that the entire volume of air in the room passes through the filter at least twice per hour.

The presence of a hygrostat and the function of maintaining humidity at a given level allows you not to overmoisten the air in the room and avoid dampness. The operation of the device can also be regulated by a timer, setting the required operating time.

The humidifier can be equipped with filters of varying degrees of purification. The pre-filter carries out mechanical coarse cleaning from large impurities. HEPA fine filters are made of a porous glass fiber-based material and are capable of trapping particles with a size of 0.3 microns and larger. Electrostatic filters remove fine dust particles from the air down to 0.01 microns, trapping them using an electrostatic field. Photocatalytic filters are considered to be the best, latest and most durable filters today. Under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, they expose toxic impurities to decomposition and oxidation.

Ionization is another option for air purification. The sprayed water is pre-saturated with negatively charged ions, the smallest dust particles contained in it stick to each other and settle.

It is worth paying attention to the instructions regarding the filling water. Many humidifiers require the use of purified or distilled water, but there are some that work great with regular tap water as well.