All About Humidifiers – Frequently Asked Questions Part One

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There are many great reasons to install a humidifier in your home. However, without understanding exactly what a humidifier is and why it can be beneficial to you and your family, you may skip over this opportunity. To help you gain a better understanding of this topic, we have created the following set of frequently asked questions. If there is anything you have ever wanted to know about humidifiers, there is a good chance you will find the answer below, or in Part Two of this piece.

How Do Humidifiers Work?

There isn’t much secret to what a humidifier is supposed to do – it’s right there in the name. A quality home humidifier is going to add moisture to the air, which may make your more comfortable depending on the weather conditions in your area. While the idea is simple, the behind-the-scenes workings of these machines is a little more complex. There are a number of different types of humidifiers on the market today, including the following –

• Steam humidifiers. This is a relatively simple machine, where water is boiled and then the steam which is produced is released out into the air. Using this type of machine is an effective way to humidify the air, but it is also rather inefficient.
• Evaporative humidifiers. A more advanced solution to humidifying the air, this is a machine which sends air across a wet filter, causing the moisture to be distributed throughout the room. This mechanism tends to be more efficient, and it does not spray hot steam out into your living space.
• Ultrasonic humidifiers. Another efficient solution, this type of humidifier will vibrate a disk at an ultrasonic frequency, allowing for the creation of water droplets. As those droplets are sent out into the air, the humidity in the space will be raised.

What are the Benefits of Humidification?

Most people decide to turn to a humidifier when they need help with a particular condition. People who are dealing with things like asthma and allergies can benefit from humid air, as can people with stuffy noses or itchy skin. If the region where you live frequently has dry air during certain times of the year – common in winter in many places – using a humidifier can make your home a more comfortable place to be. You also may enjoy cleaner air when you use a humidifier, and your furniture could even benefit from avoiding dry conditions.

Where Should I Place My Humidifier?

If you decide to purchase a humidifier, you will want to put it in the right place in your room for maximum effectiveness. The first key is to purchase a unit which is an appropriate size for the room you have in mind. If the humidifier is too small for your large space, you won’t notice any meaningful benefit. While it is most common to use a humidifier in a bedroom, you also may choose to put one to use in a living space as well. Anywhere you are going to spend a significant amount of time is a candidate for this helpful device.

Thank you for checking out part one of or “All About Humidifiers” series. Check back next month for the second and final part!