Humidification is a very important process that positively affects human health. First of all, it is worth noting that water particles, getting into the air, contribute to the deposition of harmful substances on the floor. In addition, humidified air makes it much easier to breathe, moisturizing all the mucous membranes.
Sometimes the natural humidity in the room is not enough, so specialized devices were invented - air humidifiers. Today they are presented in a huge assortment. Therefore, before choosing a humidifier for the home, it is necessary to study some characteristics of the device.
Why use a humidifier
If the room has an air conditioner and there is no special humidification function in it, it will be much more difficult to breathe, because the air will constantly be overdried. This phenomenon occurs if the ventilation of the apartment is extremely rare. Correct the situation will help the humidifier.
In winter, when the street humidity decreases due to the low temperature in the apartment, the situation worsens even more. Instead of the required 45-60% in the room, the humidity level remains only 15-20%.
The negative effects of dry air:
- the airways are overdried, which leads to a decrease in protective function. This can provoke frequent occurrence of colds and acute respiratory infections;
- has a negative effect on the condition of the skin and hair;
- dryness leads to cracking of wooden furniture.
The main types of humidifiers
The very first humidifier can be called a wet rag, hung on the battery. During heating, water evaporates, thereby moisturizing the air in the room. Among modern devices that are used for this purpose, three types can be distinguished:
- traditional;
- steam;
- ultrasonic.
Each species has its own characteristics, which are worth knowing about. This will allow you to choose the most suitable option for the room humidifier.
Traditional humidifiers
The principle of operation of such a device is the cold evaporation of a liquid. In this case, the water molecules evaporate naturally, thereby saturating the air in the room. The design of such a humidifier assumes the presence of a special tank where water is poured. Further, the liquid through special channels enters the evaporation devices. When choosing, it is worth paying attention to this element, it can be in the form:
- cartridge;
- a filter;
- drive.
The simplest option is a device that has a paper cartridge as an evaporator. More expensive options are equipped with a plastic disc, which constantly rotates and at the same time is moistened. It is better to choose models that are equipped with additional air purification systems. These are special filters that are located near the fan, passing through which the air is cleaned of dust and small particles of debris.
For such humidifiers, distilled water must be selected. This will prevent rapid contamination of the cartridge system. An alternative is to install an additional system that softens ordinary water. Before choosing a cold type humidifier, you should find out its performance. On average, they can process 4-8 liters of water, while their capacity is 20-50 watts.
Steam type humidifier
Unlike the cold type, steam humidifiers work on the principle of heating water and its evaporation. To some extent, the evaporation system resembles the operation of a kettle.Voltage is applied to the electrodes, thereby heating the water, which evaporates as a result. If the water boils completely, the circuit opens, and the device turns off completely. This makes the use of such a device completely safe.
It is recommended to choose a device with a built-in hygrostat.
This element will control the humidity level in the room and, if necessary, turn on or off. Without a hygrostat, the humidifier will work without interruption, which in turn can lead to excessive humidification of the air. It is worth noting that steam humidifiers consume significantly more water. On average, from 7 to 1 liters of water per day can be consumed per day, depending on the size of the room and dry air. The power of such devices is also higher and amounts to 300-600 watts. To extend its life, it is worth using purified water and timely replacing all filtration systems.
You should be careful with such devices, since the escaping steam can have a very high temperature, resulting in a burn. If the apartment has small children, it should be located in a safe place. Also, do not put it next to the flowers, otherwise they can be damaged.
Ultrasonic Humidifier Type
Today you can choose a more modern type of humidifier for the apartment. The main structural element is a special vibrating plate. Water falling on it breaks up into tiny particles, a peculiar fog is created. A built-in fan conducts such humidity into the room, where it naturally turns into steam.
This type of humidifier can be chosen even for a children's room.
The low noise level also allows you to put it next to the bed. The temperature of the escaping steam does not exceed 40 degrees Celsius, which will prevent the occurrence of burns and damage to plants. These models are more expensive and can be equipped with an additional display and remote control. The productivity of the device is on average 7.5-12 liters of water per day, while the power consumption, in contrast to steam models, is very low and amounts to only 40-50 watts.
Humidifiers with ionizers
This device can be of any type - traditional, steam or ultrasonic. The only difference is that it is equipped with an additional function - ionization. The air passing through the device will not only be humidified, but also have the effect as after rain. The presence of such a function in the device makes its cost slightly higher, but as a result, the state of health will significantly improve.
What to look for when choosing a device
Among the huge range of products offered, it is important to choose the most suitable type. Having studied the basic principles of various humidifiers, it is also worth considering some points before choosing the most suitable option. In addition to financial opportunities, it is also worth considering the individual characteristics of each person who lives in the room.
- The choice of device is significantly affected by the size of the room in which it will be installed. The packaging indicates the performance of the model. Knowing the total area of the room, it is not difficult to choose a device.
- Capacity for water and its volume. The duration of operation of the device without refueling will depend on this. In order for the device to work throughout the night, it is worth choosing models with a capacity of at least 4-5 liters.
- Water consumption for most models is from 8 to 12 liters.
- Additional features. It is very convenient if the device is fully automatic and it has a built-in device for measuring air humidity. When the indicators decrease, the device turns on and work continues until the required indicator is reached.
- Before choosing a humidifier, you should also pay attention to the noise level. If it is installed in a bedroom or a nursery, it should be almost silent. It is very convenient if the humidifier has a sleep mode. It is especially convenient at night and during rest.
- An equally important point is the filter system. When buying, you need to clarify how the filters are replaced and how often this procedure is necessary. It is also worthwhile to clarify in advance where you can purchase replacement parts.
Knowing all the intricacies of the operation of the device and the features of its use, you can choose the most suitable option. A properly selected humidifier will have a positive effect on human health, plants that are in the apartment and wooden furniture. With a sufficient level of humidity in the room, wooden products will not crack, and plants will delight residents with their luxurious appearance. In terms of health, the likelihood of ODS and colds is reduced. The condition of the skin and hair improves.
