Health, performance and mood depend on a number of factors, but the microclimate plays an important role in this and, above all, relative humidity in the room... Usually in standard apartments with central heating, especially in winter, the air is too dry. Everything suffers from a lack of moisture: furniture, which dries up, and indoor flowers, which get sick, and then completely die. But dry air has an extremely negative effect on children: the mucous membranes dry out, and this leads to the fact that the body becomes more susceptible to various infectious and respiratory diseases. What to do? There is a way out, you need to purchase a humidifier and all problems will disappear. A number of other questions now arise: how to choose a humidifier, and which models can be called the best today?
Benefits of using
Humidity is the concentration of water vapor in the air. It can be seen on foggy days. Air humidity varies depending on the season and place of residence. It is higher in summer and lower in cold winter. The humidity in the house should be between 30-60%. When it gets too high or too low, problems can arise.
Low humidity irritates the nasal passages, causing dry skin, itchy eyelids and dry coughs.
High leads to the appearance of condensation on the windows, makes the atmosphere stuffy, makes breathing difficult and gives the feeling of being in a bath. High humidity activates unsafe bacteria, mold, mildew and dust mites. Allergies, asthma outbreaks and other respiratory illnesses can also be a consequence.
In addition, when humidity is too low, static electricity can become a problem, causing irritating tissue adhesion and small electric shocks when touching doorknobs or metal. Furniture can dry out and paper can dry out and crumble.
Humidity should provide comfort without causing health problems by being too high.
Humidity is close to normal
If the air in the room is dry, but not very different from the norm, then it is enough to slightly increase the humidity using simple home methods:
- Start an aquarium. Even a small vessel with a simple compressor is able to keep the humidity normal. Minus - the aquarium needs to be looked after.
- Increase the number of indoor plants with large leaves. They not only humidify the air, but also emit phytoncides, which have a beneficial effect on health. Plants require regular watering and spraying.
- Do a wet cleaning often, which is especially useful for a child's room.
- Place vessels with water in the apartment, best of all near heating appliances.
- Hang a wet towel on the battery. The large evaporation area of a wet cloth is good for saturating the air with water vapor.
- Ventilate the room regularly. An effective way in damp and warm weather.
All of these methods require attention and regular action. The drier the air, the faster the evaporation process goes, when the humidity rises, the evaporation in the room slows down.
Principle of operation
In cold climates, this device will provide the necessary level of humidity in the room. Ultrasonic humidifiers (photo below in the article) use a metal diaphragm that vibrates at a high frequency, creating a cool or warm mist. Sound vibrations, acting on water, saturate the air with moisture.The liquid particles thus formed are so small that they are absorbed by the air almost instantly. The ultrasonic humidifier does not require a fan, so it is quiet.
Method 2. Asman table
In general, this table was developed for measuring with a psychrometer (a device with two thermometers - ed.), But an alcohol - not an electronic - thermometer is also suitable. This one is sold in a hardware store and costs an average of 200 rubles.
First, we measure the temperature in the room - we leave the device in a neutral place in the room and wait for the value to be fixed. We write down the indicator. Now let's do it again, just first wrap the end of the thermometer with a damp cloth at room temperature. We wait again - about five minutes - and write down the second value. And now we look at the table.
What is the best ultrasonic humidifier?
The first step is to decide whether to install a humidity control system for the whole house or just one room, usually a bedroom. As a rule, a small device in the nursery is enough for most users. However, those who live in dry, arid climates or have severe sinusitis, dry coughs, dry flaky skin and hair should consider a centralized hydration system.
You need to purchase a device that has the capacity and performance to match the size of your room.
Portable and benchtop ultrasonic humidifiers are great for one room. For rooms of different sizes, tanks of different tank volumes are available.
Whole-home systems lead the way in ultrasonic humidifiers because they provide adequate humidity levels through ductwork and hydrostatic control. Retrofitting existing ventilation is expensive. Such a system is permanently connected to a water source and does not require replenishment of tanks. Installed by a heating and ventilation specialist who must calculate the required performance.
Additional functions
The choice of the device may be due to additional functions:
- A display showing the air temperature in the apartment, room and humidity level. This feature is useful and very handy.
- Remote control. You can turn the humidifier on and off using a remote control. This is the so-called option for the lazy. But at the same time, many believe that this function is an overkill and you can easily take several steps to turn on the device. Here the choice depends solely on the preferences of the buyer. Keep in mind that the more functions in the model you decide to choose, the more expensive it will cost.
What to keep in mind when choosing a humidifier?
The parameters of the humidifier depend on the intended place of use and the desired purpose. Consideration should be given to characteristics such as performance, functionality, design, service and warranty.
- Performance. In most humidifiers, moisture yield is expressed in cubic meters over 24 hours. They are also estimated by the area of the premises that they can serve. The performance of the purchased humidifier should correspond to the volume of the room or house. If the air is too humid (more than 60%), then favorable conditions for the growth of mold, fungus and bacteria will arise.
- Features. Ultrasonic humidifiers generate both warm and cold mist. In devices of the first type, cold water is passed through a heating element. The fog leaves the ultrasonic machine at a safe temperature of 40 ° C. However, the water inside the device may burn the baby if it is tipped over. Therefore, it is safer to use cold fog machines near young children and the elderly.
- The best ultrasonic humidifiers use hygrostats. They measure moisture and provide it at a given level without requiring additional calculations.
- Design.If the intended installation location of the device is known, it should be measured to ensure that it will fit. The humidifier must be easily carried to the water source to replenish it. It should have handles so you can move it when wet.
- Service and warranty. Most humidifiers usually come with a 1-year warranty. But it is better to buy devices from manufacturers who support their products for a longer time. You need to make sure that the company provides a toll-free phone number or live chat to help users. It is better to choose a reputable company that advises its clients.
Part 2. Air cleaning: advanced system
In fact, an air washer is a hybrid of two devices, a humidifier and an air purifier. Or you could say: a humidifier with a built-in filtration system. Its principle of operation differs from the described options. The sink does not spray water or steam into the air. It sucks in air, passes it through the filter, moistens it and releases it outside in a "ready-made" form, that is, purified and with a given level of humidity. It would seem an ideal scheme. But during testing, the sink found several pitfalls that must be taken into account when buying. But first things first.
Before us is an advanced model Philips HU 5930/10, which at first glance seems quite expensive (on average 25,000 rubles). But if you study the market, the price will turn out to be absolutely average - there are much more expensive models with the same technical indicators. Simply washing the air is more expensive than a conventional humidifier due to the cost of the filtration system. If you buy a separate humidifier and a separate air purifier, approximately the same amount will be obtained.
The water tank has been removed.
The main filter used by Philips is called Nano Protect (in fact, this is a HEPA filter, similar to those used in modern vacuum cleaners) and effectively retains fine dust up to 0.02 microns in size; the total filter surface is 1.17 m2. These are not advertising slogans: when a ray of sun hits through the window, after using HU 5930/10, dust flies several times less, this is noticeable even with the naked eye. Of course, it will not work to make the air perfectly clean and transparent, since there are always sources of dust - areas under beds and sofas, on cabinets, and so on. But in general, the dust concentration decreases very noticeably. I do not have pets, but I am sure that if you have a dog or a cat at home, this is generally an irreplaceable gadget. Unfortunately, it is difficult to compare the efficiency of washing with other air cleaners, for example, electrostatic ones - here you need not a consumer, but a laboratory test with measuring the concentration of air impurities and the time dynamics of this change.
The tank has a small drawback: when pouring water, it cannot be placed on the bottom of the sink or bathtub, you have to keep it suspended, since the bottom is not flat.
Also, power consumption can be attributed to bonuses - only 11W, this is less than any light bulb, even an energy-saving one. Compared to a hundred watts of steam humidifiers, this is a space economy.
Now let's move on to moisturizing and its specific features.
Criteria for the right choice
Ultrasonic humidifiers increase the comfort of your home. The right choice will satisfy all your needs. These devices are inexpensive and easy to use. Here are some specific guidelines for choosing the perfect humidifier:
- Area. It would be redundant to integrate a humidifier into an existing ventilation system if all that is needed is to occasionally increase the humidity in one room. A small, portable device can easily provide the comfort you need and save money. To calculate the serviced area, you need to multiply the width of the room by its length.For example, a 4 x 5 m room is 20 m2.
- Operating costs. The initial installation of a humidification system for the whole house is more expensive, but is generally cheaper. Warm mist vaporizers are cheap but consume a lot of energy. The operation of the humidifiers can be controlled with a hygrostat. Replacing filters and cartridges is another expense. These costs can make the air humidifier too expensive.
- A hygrostat is an analog or digital instrument that uses a hygrometer to control the humidity in the air. Hygrostats are important because without them, fog generation will continue until the humidifier is manually turned off. Excess moisture leads to the formation of condensation on the windows and the appearance of mold and mildew in the room, therefore a portable hygrometer should be used to control its level.
- According to reviews, the ultrasonic air humidifier produces almost no noise, with the exception of a slight hiss.
- Water quality. When hard tap water is used, many humidifiers will have a lower fog output. This increases the cost of service. The use of distilled water can be economically viable, but it also requires additional costs.
- Safety. It is advisable to purchase a device that automatically turns off when there is no water. Top-rated ultrasonic humidifiers emit an audible alarm when liquid levels are low and need to be refilled. The transparent reservoir will allow you to determine the moment when you need to refill it. For example, the Polaris PUH 7140 ultrasonic humidifier switches off automatically when there is no water.
- Warm or cold? Some people prefer a cold mist to a warm steam, reminiscent of the atmosphere in a steam bath. Others prefer the soothing warmth, which they feel softens the air. These are personal choices and your doctor may recommend which one is best for your health problems. If medications are used, warm steam generators are better suited. Ballu UHB 1000 ultrasonic humidifier, for example, supports 2 modes - cold and warm fog.
In dry climates, humidifiers are needed during the cold winter months and often throughout the year. Humid air feels warmer and provides greater comfort. It becomes easier to breathe, and the habitat receives the moisture it needs.
Part 3. Operating experience: pitfalls
At first glance, the sink seems to be a very simple device. You insert the plug into the outlet, press the power button, pour water into the tank - and the work goes. The control is also simple: three fan speeds to choose from, three options for the set humidity (40-50-60%), as well as automatic mode (70%, and the device selects the fan speed depending on the current humidity).
But suddenly it turns out that everything is not so simple. In a small room, I consistently tested a simple Chinese humidifier and a Philips high-tech sink, and the first one "caught up" the humidity from 30 to 46% in 2 hours, and the sink in 6 hours barely reached 35%. I even thought that it was defective (or, say, the sensor was broken). This forced me to carry out a number of experiments - and I discovered many interesting properties of the sink, which are not described in the instructions, but which, as it turned out, are written about quite a lot on the online forums.
Principle of operation Passing through two filters (the second is "wet"), the air is ejected outside by means of a centrifugal fan.
Philips humidification technology is called NanoCloud... It is a rotating filter, continuously moistened by immersing the lower part in a container with water. Air is blown through the pores of the filter, receiving, in addition to humidification, an additional degree of filtration.This technology excludes the appearance of mold or pathogenic microorganisms that multiply in the aquatic environment, since the water in the air at the outlet is fragmented into - in the literal sense of the word - nanodrops. The probability that this moisture will settle somewhere in a concentration sufficient for the formation of mold is simply zero, and the air has a sufficient degree of humidity.
From all of the above, we can conclude that, thanks to the air purification system and, in general, the principle of humidification, which is fundamentally different from other types, the air washer is almost the only humidifier suitable for allergy sufferers.
It would seem - an ideal solution, in all respects outperforming other humidifiers (no sediment, the air does not seem oversaturated with water). But the flip side of the coin is a direct consequence of the benefits of NanoCloud.
An ordinary humidifier throws water dullly. In the form of steam, in the form of small drops - it doesn't matter. And therefore it moisturizes quickly, actively, and due to its larger size, the drops are not absorbed into furniture or curtains and do not scatter over a large area. Therefore, by placing an ultrasonic humidifier near the bed and setting it to 60%, you can be sure: in an hour and a half, the humidity within a radius of several meters will be 60%. Even if there are cracks. Even if you open the window. At the same time, an uncomfortable 30% may remain in the far corner of the room, but you need humidity in your local habitat, right?
And this is, in fact, a humidifying filter. It rotates slowly inside the device, and its lower part is constantly in a tub of water. Flavors can be added to the water.
The air wash gradually lets air through it from the entire room. Therefore, a mechanical hygrometer in any part of the room will show plus or minus the same humidity. The speed of humidification is not too high, since the water is fragmented into parts of an almost molecular level, which, together with gas molecules, penetrate into furniture and interior items, "taking" moisture directly from the air. But - evenly. This is a question of goal-setting: small crayfish, but three, or large, but five (remember this miniature Kartsev?)
The second point is to seal the space. If there is at least a small ventilation gap in the glass unit, the humidity will rise extremely slowly, because the flow of humidified air from the sink will be opposed by the flow of dry air from the street. This is not a problem for steam and ultrasonic humidifiers: what kind of air is, this is how they will directly humidify. But the sink essentially resists the flow of dry air. If you do not have double-glazed windows, but ordinary wooden frames, forget about the sink at all: it will lose in efficiency to any other system.
What is the difference between cold and warm fog?
There are not many differences. Cold fog makes breathing easier for allergies, asthma and respiratory problems. If it is easier for the user to breathe in a bathtub filled with steam or in high humidity, such as in the rain, then warm steam will be preferred. Otherwise, it is better to use a cool mist. A heating element is needed to create warm mist. This is the reason that it is not the best option in homes with small children and pets.
How do humidifiers deal with bacteria?
Models are available with functions to limit or prevent the growth of bacteria in the water tank. Some of the top-rated ultrasonic humidifiers use nanotechnology or silver for this, but are more expensive. But you still have to clean and disinfect the device, as well as distill the water to limit the growth of bacteria. While these humidifiers are more expensive, they are worth it because they last longer.
For example, the Polaris PUH 7140 ultrasonic humidifier has a special coating on the water tank that contains silver particles, the disinfecting properties of which are well known. In addition, this model is equipped with a water purification cartridge and two air filters that remove odors and dust.
How often should the humidifier be cleaned?
It is imperative to read the user manual. An ultrasonic air humidifier requires regular maintenance to stop the growth of mold, mildew and bacteria. Do not leave the device wet as this leads to the growth of pathogens. A good rule of thumb is to change the water daily. Maintaining this practice means that you can thoroughly clean and disinfect the device not every day, but only once a week. This must be done so that contaminated moisture does not get into the air. The cleaning procedure should be carried out in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.
Why does white dust appear on furniture, floors and around the humidifier?
These are minerals found in hard water. They are not harmful and are easy to clean, just like ordinary dust. Ultrasonic humidifiers, unlike evaporative humidifiers, can become a source of these salts if they are not equipped with a high-quality demineralization cartridge. Distilled water should be used to combat this phenomenon. Plus, it will help your filter last longer and won't have to be cleaned as often. However, you will still have to change the water every few days and disinfect the device according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Can hard water be used?
It is imperative to read the user manual as different brands and types of humidifiers have different requirements. If the purchase of a device is only planned, then it is better to purchase one that has a mineral cartridge. Hard water from a tap or well contains minerals that can build up inside the device. These can cause the fog to leave white spots and dust around the area of the humidifier. Inhaling minerals over time can worsen respiratory conditions or cause new problems. The cartridges filter minerals from hard water, eliminating the need to inhale them. If there is no cartridge, it is better to use distilled water, which does not contain salts. It should be noted that, for example, the ceramic cartridge of the Polaris PUH 7140 ultrasonic humidifier, according to the owners, does not help to get rid of the formation of white dust.
