Proper Humidity Levels
Proper humidity levels in your home are crucial because low humidity, less than 30 percent, can be damaging to wooden furniture, floors, electronics and paint. In addition to low humidity levels causing moisture to get sucked out of surfaces in your home, it can also cause discomfort and may pose health risks such as skin problems, allergies and asthma to people.
A humidifier is an electric appliance that helps increase and maintain humidity levels in a room or entire home and are most ideal in places where the air is dry. Humidifiers can be categorized based on whether they release warm moist air or cool moist air.
- Cool Mist Humidifiers – Release cool moist air using various devices and materials. There are three different types of cool mist humidifiers: evaporative or wick humidifiers, impeller humidifiers, and ultrasonic humidifiers. The most common type is the evaporative humidifier that filters the water and then evaporates it with a fan. An impeller humidifier uses a spinning disk and an ultrasonic humidifier uses vibrations to create a mist. Cool mist humidifiers need regular cleaning and maintenance for better functioning, however they are great for big rooms, are safe for children and more energy efficient than warm mist humidifiers.
- Warm Mist Humidifiers – Release warm moist air generated by heating water. Also known as vaporizers or steam humidifiers, this type of humidifier is great for use in small rooms but should be kept away from children because of risk of burns. They are less popular than cool mist humidifiers and use more electricity, but can be soothing during the flu or cold season and present less bacteria growth because of steam. Filter needs to be changed less frequently than cool mist humidifiers and medications may be added for inhalation.
While buying a humidifier, it is important to take a few things into consideration such as:
- You need to determine the type of humidifier that would be suitable for your home. Cool mist or warm mist humidifier?
- The capacity of the appliance to be bought should be based on the size of the room you want to humidify.
- The appliance should also be easy to handle and maintain. How often do you need to refill the water? How often does it need to be cleaned?
- Does the appliance have enough safety and other automatic features? Does it automatically switch off when humidity level increases?
Keep these tips in mind and buy the humidifier that will bring the best comfort to you and your home.
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Humidifiers will keep the relative humidity in your home at proper levels. Recommended humidity levels are between 30-50%, but will vary according to your personal comfort and type of humidifier you own.
