Humidifiers – A First Time Buyers Guide
The quality of outdoor air is a major concern for us all. Social groups do
all they can to protect the environment and air. However, at the same time,
people do not think about the polluted air they breathe and about the poor
quality of air in offices and our homes. In most of the cases, the quality of
indoor air is inferior to air outside.
Those living in a very dry climate find a humidifier a very convenient household
appliance to increase the moisture in the room. Humidifiers can be used to
humidify the whole house or a single room. Furnace humidifiers can be used to
humidify the entire house when connected to HVAC system.
A fan, wick and reservoir constitute the basic parts of wick or evaporative
humidifiers.
The reservoirs in the
humidifiers come in different sizes and shapes. The output of moisture from
the humidifier is made possible by the water stored in the containing tank of
the humidifiers.
Water stored in the reservoir is absorbed by the wick which acts as a filter.
Water gets evaporated through the wick depending upon the relative humidity.
Higher evaparation will take place in a room with low humidity while in a room
with high humidity, the evaporation will be low. This type of humidifier is self
regulating. The evaporated water is circulated through the entire room with the
help of the fan.
The wick in the humidifier needs regular cleaning and replacement. When it is
not done it stops humidifying the area and the water level will remain constant.
Humidifiers come in different varieties such as steam humidifiers or vaporizers,
impelling humidifiers and ultrasonic humidifiers.
Steam humidifiers boil water and release the moisture and steam into the air.
Medicated inhalant can be added to the stored water which will help reduce
coughs. The boiling process creates lot of noise. These types of humidifiers are
the least expensive.
Impeller humidifiers use a rotating disc which throws the water at the diffuser
and the water is broken into very fine droplets and then float in the air.
Ultrasonic humidifiers use a metal diaphram vibrating at an ultrasonic frequency
to produce water droplets which exit the humidifier in the form of a cool fog.
This process causes the humidity to come down. This humidifier operates very
silently. If not cleaned regularly it might cause contamination by bacteria in
the water and in the surrounding atmosphere.
Distilled water should be used in ultrasonic and impeller humidifiers. Otherwise
the minerals in the water precipitate as a fine dust which will cause health
disorders. In wick humidifiers the wick traps the mineral deposits.
"-
At the current time, we use the home warrantee company for all the
components in our home, with the exception of our air conditioner
and heating unit, where we continue to contact Betts Heating & Air
for all the essential repairs to our system."
-- Michael and Melinda Kennedy,
Acworth GA
