Tips for buying the right kind of humidifier

Over the last decade, people have started spending more and more time indoors. This makes indoor air quality a big problem. Humidifiers are used to put moisture back into the air. Adequate humidity provides many health benefits to people with asthma or severe allergies.

There are three types of humidifiers available on the market, portable, compact and complete units. If you're not sure if you really need a humidifier, you can measure the humidity level of your home with a hygrometer. This inexpensive device can help you monitor indoor air quality and keep it at an optimal level with a humidifier.

Determine the type of humidifier you need. The first decision to make is whether you want a hot or cold steam humidifier. In general, hot mist humidifiers use a heating element to heat the water. Cold mist humidifiers incorporate some form of mechanical device to create steam and expel fog.

There are two types of hot steam / vaporizer and hot mist humidifiers. Steam / spray humidifiers use boiling water to create a warm misty mist.

Hot mist humidifiers are similar to steam / vapor units in that the water is heated to produce a hot mist. The difference is that the warm mist humidifiers cool the air slightly before releasing it into the air.

There are three types of mist humidifiers with evaporative wick, turbine and ultrasound. Cold mist humidifiers do not heat the water and are a safe alternative for families with young children.

Determine the capacity. The size of the humidifier depends on the size of the room to be humidified. If the humidifier is too big for the room, condensation will appear inside the windows. This type of environment favors the growth of molds. It is therefore important to follow the recommendations in square feet indicated on the box.

Ease of use. Some humidifiers can be tedious to maintain. Look for humidifiers with lightweight, easy-to-clean water tanks. Take the time to inspect the unit to see how easy it is to assemble and disassemble. Room humidifiers must be maintained regularly. So invest in an easy-to-use device.

Also look for room humidifiers with convenient charging capabilities. Depending on the size of the water tank, you may need to fill the unit every 8 hours or so.

Sound level and automatic settings. Cold mist humidifiers tend to make more noise than warm mist humidifiers. When using a humidifier in the bedroom, look for a device with a low or quiet option. Look for models with built-in safety features, such as automatic shutdown when the water tank is empty.