Picking the Right Humidifier for Your Home

If you've ever heard of humidifiers you know that they are used to produce soothing breathing environments in your home. Recently, humidifiers have become trendy because of their known benefits. Living in places where winters can bring severely dry air, the use of a humidifier can provide relief, not only for breathing, but for your skin additionally. Dry chilly air is known for causing hives and scratchy dry skin, so a humidifier can be used to wet the air and give your body the humidity it needs. It can also help with dry eyes, headaches and sinus attacks. It will even help by taking away some allergens, bacteria and other infectious agents.

The bedroom and living area are great places to have a humidifier. If you or your partner snores all through the night, a humidifier can work wonders on the sinus and mucus membranes, allowing air to pass through smoothly and silently. Then if someone in the home has a cold, the humidifier can help relieve his or her stuffy nose; many use them in the bedroom during the night. Some things you might not know about humidifiers is that they can lessen static electrical shocks and keep wooden furniture and floors from cracking.

There are two different kinds of humidifiers, one that discharges a cool mist and another that discharges a warm mist. Besides the different temperatures of their mists, there are some other differences between the two.

The cool mist humidifier was made to capture impurities and minerals in the air. There are three different humidifiers that release cool mist: ultrasonic humidifiers, evaporative humidifiers and impeller humidifiers. Cool mist humidifiers are known for being simple to clean and are most effective in big rooms. The mist is also easier to breathe. Those that live in hotter climates may find the cool mist more comfortable. Unlike the warm mist humidifiers, these can be a little noisier (this is because of the fan inside is working to keep the moisture cool). The only cool humidifier that doesn't make much noise is the ultrasonic humidifier. If the room temperature is a bit cooler, the cool mist can make the room feel moist and a hair cold. It is important to keep it clean to keep the wicks inside from getting sullied and developing mold; algae may also develop in the tank if the water inside is left standing for too long.

The warm mist humidifier was made to create warm mist which is visible, unlike the mist of the cool humidifier. Other kinds of these are steam humidifiers and vaporizers. Many people use these for treating symptoms of the flu and cold. Some of them come with a compartment that you can place medicines and inhalants to be circulated into the room. The warm mist humidifier generates a boiling noise, but is still quieter than the cool mist humidifier. It is best used for the winter months or in cooler climates and in smaller rooms. It is important to keep children away from the humidifier to avoid risks of burn. It also requires regular cleaning get rid of the mineral deposits left by the heat.

When putting water in the tank of the humidifier, it is best to use bottled distilled water instead of tap water, which can cause minerals to develop on the surface, best known as white dust. In little rooms, you can set your humidifier between 30% and 40%. It is best to stay below 50% in warmer climates to thwart the creation of dust mites and mold growth. Make sure to check the instructions to see a table for setting the humidity level, which will be determined by the indoor and outdoor temperatures.