Humidifier Size Recap: A single room humidifier is best used for the bedroom, office and other medium-sized living spaces, console humidifiers cover larger areas and sometimes multiple rooms at once and a portable humidifier is great for traveling or personal spaces such as in an office cubicle or nursery.
COOL VS. WARM MIST
The choice between cool or warm mist is basically a matter of personal preference. Ultrasonic cool mist humidifiers disperse a micro-fine mist into the air while evaporative cool mist humidifiers disperse invisible cool moisture. Some ultrasonic humidifiers have the ability to provide both a micro-fine cool or warm mist. Warm mists can be more soothing during those winter months or around young children with stuffy noses and sinuses. Both mists perform similarly and achieve a desirable amount of moisture into the air but once again it's a preference on what kind of personal environment you want to create. If you're undecided, you can get yourself one of the humidifiers that offer both a warm and cool mist in the same unit. We recommend humidifiers by the Air O Swiss and pureguardian.
Humidifier Insider's Secrets
This portion of 'How to Choose a Humidifier' gets into the details that we believe everyone should know when choosing a humidifier. It might be more information than you need, but give it a read. You might be surprised at what you find out. After this list, you'll find useful links that will bring you directly to the types of humidifiers you've chosen.
Many times, the coverage area stated by the manufacturer is overstated. It's best to choose a humidifier that exceeds the area you need to cover.
Small humidifiers will definitely add moisture to the air but if you attempt to use one for a larger area than it can handle, you will not achieve the 30-40% humidity level that you're looking for.
Dust mites and mold spores thrive on humidity levels over 50%. Keep your humidity level closer to 40%.
Outdoor humidity levels influence the level of humidity that you can achieve in your home. If it's very dry outside, the humidifier will need refilling more often.
Noises are natural in all humidifiers. They all have some level of "gurgling" sound when the water in the tanks is drawn into the base of the units.
If the gurgles are bothersome you can place the humidifier out of earshot.
Humidifiers with a digital readout that display the humidity levels (digital humidistat) could waiver from time to time. Humidifiers with auto-shutoff will still shutoff when they reach your desired setting but the display could make you think it's not reaching your target. Trust the humidifier, not the LCD screen!
The highly regarded brand Air O Swiss offers ultrasonic humidifiers and they state "None of our humidifiers produce any white mineral dust which can be a by-product of some other brands." The exception to this statement is that if softened water is used, they can create the same white mineral dust.
Using hard water causes more filter changes.
Softened water can be used in cool mist humidifiers but may not work well with ultrasonic humidifiers, as it would cause white dust to be dispersed. However, many of our ultrasonic humidifiers are equipped with some type of anti-calcium cartridge which can reduce the risk of white mineral dust.
Distilled water is the best water to use in a humidifier but it will cost you unless you have a free source. Also, filtered water that removes common impurities works well.
The running cost of a whole house humidifier is more energy efficient provided you have forced hot air heating and your furnace can accommodate this type of solution. This kind of humidification solution benefits the whole family and your furniture too.
Maintenance costs are normal. All humidifiers have some maintenance costs associated with them. You should expect to change filters, cartridges and other accessories annually and clean your machine. If you don't clean your humidifier or change its filters after a year, throw it away and start over because running a dirty humidifier is not a good idea.
Most humidifiers are filled at the faucet.
For more related information, check the links below:
<[http://www.flood.org.nz/flood-auckland.htm>]
<[http://www.floodauckland.co.nz/restoration-east-auckland.htm>]
<[http://www.flood.org.nz/flood-restoration-methods.htm>]
COOL VS. WARM MIST
The choice between cool or warm mist is basically a matter of personal preference. Ultrasonic cool mist humidifiers disperse a micro-fine mist into the air while evaporative cool mist humidifiers disperse invisible cool moisture. Some ultrasonic humidifiers have the ability to provide both a micro-fine cool or warm mist. Warm mists can be more soothing during those winter months or around young children with stuffy noses and sinuses. Both mists perform similarly and achieve a desirable amount of moisture into the air but once again it's a preference on what kind of personal environment you want to create. If you're undecided, you can get yourself one of the humidifiers that offer both a warm and cool mist in the same unit. We recommend humidifiers by the Air O Swiss and pureguardian.
Humidifier Insider's Secrets
This portion of 'How to Choose a Humidifier' gets into the details that we believe everyone should know when choosing a humidifier. It might be more information than you need, but give it a read. You might be surprised at what you find out. After this list, you'll find useful links that will bring you directly to the types of humidifiers you've chosen.
Many times, the coverage area stated by the manufacturer is overstated. It's best to choose a humidifier that exceeds the area you need to cover.
Small humidifiers will definitely add moisture to the air but if you attempt to use one for a larger area than it can handle, you will not achieve the 30-40% humidity level that you're looking for.
Dust mites and mold spores thrive on humidity levels over 50%. Keep your humidity level closer to 40%.
Outdoor humidity levels influence the level of humidity that you can achieve in your home. If it's very dry outside, the humidifier will need refilling more often.
Noises are natural in all humidifiers. They all have some level of "gurgling" sound when the water in the tanks is drawn into the base of the units.
If the gurgles are bothersome you can place the humidifier out of earshot.
Humidifiers with a digital readout that display the humidity levels (digital humidistat) could waiver from time to time. Humidifiers with auto-shutoff will still shutoff when they reach your desired setting but the display could make you think it's not reaching your target. Trust the humidifier, not the LCD screen!
The highly regarded brand Air O Swiss offers ultrasonic humidifiers and they state "None of our humidifiers produce any white mineral dust which can be a by-product of some other brands." The exception to this statement is that if softened water is used, they can create the same white mineral dust.
Using hard water causes more filter changes.
Softened water can be used in cool mist humidifiers but may not work well with ultrasonic humidifiers, as it would cause white dust to be dispersed. However, many of our ultrasonic humidifiers are equipped with some type of anti-calcium cartridge which can reduce the risk of white mineral dust.
Distilled water is the best water to use in a humidifier but it will cost you unless you have a free source. Also, filtered water that removes common impurities works well.
The running cost of a whole house humidifier is more energy efficient provided you have forced hot air heating and your furnace can accommodate this type of solution. This kind of humidification solution benefits the whole family and your furniture too.
Maintenance costs are normal. All humidifiers have some maintenance costs associated with them. You should expect to change filters, cartridges and other accessories annually and clean your machine. If you don't clean your humidifier or change its filters after a year, throw it away and start over because running a dirty humidifier is not a good idea.
Most humidifiers are filled at the faucet.
For more related information, check the links below:
<[http://www.flood.org.nz/flood-auckland.htm>]
<[http://www.floodauckland.co.nz/restoration-east-auckland.htm>]
<[http://www.flood.org.nz/flood-restoration-methods.htm>]