Consumer Guide to Humidifiers

How humidifiers work, how to choose the right one

by Mercia Tapping and Bob Cobe, AllergyBuyersClub.com

How Humidifiers Work

Humidifiers are used both in homes and offices to increase the moisture level (i.e. the humidity level). The rule of thumb is to keep humidity levels at or below 50% to discourage the growth of dust mites and mold, which is especially important in the summer time. However, conversely there can be a number of problems, which occur in winter if the humidity falls too low. These problems include:

• Sinus headaches and other sinus related problems
• Warping of wood floors and cracking of furniture
• Wooden instruments such as pianos and guitars being ruined
• Nose bleeds
• Dry, itchy skin
• Bacterial and Viral infections that thrive in extra dry air

INFO LINKS Humidifiers Overview - view all humidifiers sold by AllergyBuyersClub.com Humidifiers Comparison Chart - a comparison with pluses and minuses of all the best humidifiers Warm mist vs. cool mist humidifiers - Learn the differences between cool mist humidifiers and warm mist types Best Humidifier Articles - Editor's top picks on humidifier info

Different Kinds Of Humidifiers
Central humidifiers: These are built into the home heating and air-conditioning systems. They are the most effective since they humidify the entire house and are less likely to be the source of humidifier-associated problems if they are properly maintained. We have been trying out a new central humidifier this season and reports so far have been positive.

Portable Humidifiers: There are two kinds of these. One kind is a console humidifier that is encased in a cabinet with wheels and is capable of doing more than one room up to about 1200 square feet. The second is a smaller unit that holds between 2 to 4 gallons and is designed to be used in a single room up to 600 square feet.

Ultrasonic: These create a cool mist by means of ultrasonic sound vibrations. These use little electricity and are very quiet. The AIR-O-SWISS humidifier (priced at $135) is an interesting example of ultrasonic technology at its best because it both produces cool or warm mist- your choice. It also has conquered the drawbacks of other ultrasonic machines through an ionic stick which prevents the dispersion of fine mineral dust into the air. The AIR-O-SWISS also produces the most visible amount of mist.

Air washers: These produce a cool mist by means of a high speed rotating disc. These are usually the ones that disperse the most microorganisms and minerals, and most often cannot control level of humidity achieved.

Evaporative: These units blow air through moistened materials such as a filter or a wick to put moisture into the air. Preferably choose one with a tank housing and wick that is antibacterial. The Hamilton Beach humidifier (priced at $69.95) is an example of a cool mist humidifier using evaporative technology. The Hunter humidifier (starting at $74.95) )has a patented anti bacterial wick which reduces the amount and frequency of cleaning which is required.

Vaporizer: These create steam by boiling water, which kills most microorganisms, but they can also be a hazard if put in a place where children or pets may knock them over and possibly burn themselves or others. For that reason, we do not sell them.

Warm mist: This is a steam vaporizer that produces a warm mist for safety and feels the most comfortable, but they can use the most electricity. The SlantFin humidifiers (starting at $99.99) are the best of breed in the warm mist category.

Humidifier Maintenance
Clean your humidifier according to the manufacturer's instructions to prevent the growth of bacteria, mold, and scale. We suggest that you unplug any humidifier from the electrical socket before cleaning or emptying and refilling it.

The best water to use is distilled because it has had the minerals removed, but this could cost a small fortune. Be prepared if you are in an area with hard water to replace the mineral pads on your warm mist humidifier on a frequent basis. If your water has a high mineral content and the replacement of the demineralization pads becomes prohibitive, then using distilled water may be your only solution in which case you might consider producing your own distilled water. When using regular water in your humidifier, replace the filters with the frequency recommended by the manufacturer. You will need to do this if you want to prevent the dispersion of the white mineral dust that could penetrate your lungs and cause respiratory problems.

It is imperative that you clean your portable room humidifier religiously during the time that you are using it. Manufacturers differ as to the recommended frequency of their machines varying from daily cleaning to once per month. The most natural way to clean your humidifier is with a 50/50 solution of white vinegar and water. If you use household bleach to kill any mold that might have formed, you will need to rinse out the machine several times in order to avoid the toxins produced by the bleach.

End Of Season
It is very important to thoroughly clean your humidifier at the end of the season by draining all of the water and cleaning the body and the filter with a 50/50 white vinegar and water solution. Put some water in the water tanks, add a few drops of bleach, swish the solution around, pour out the water, and rinse thoroughly with clean water. Allow all parts to dry and leave the caps off the water tanks so that they can dry inside.

Suggestions
If you have a central humidifier be sure to follow manufacturer's instructions for your unit and do not allow water to stand unused for long periods of time. Also drain and dry the tank at the end of the humidifier season.

Keep all humidifiers out of the reach of children and pets so that they can't pull them down on themselves or possibly burn themselves with the heated models.
If you place it on a table or bureau, make sure to run the electrical cord up the backside, so if the cord is pulled, the humidifier will be pulled into the wall and not off the fixture.

We recommend that you use a hygrometer to measure the humidity in the rooms. If you see any condensation on a window or dampness on fabrics like upholstery or drapes, this is a sign that you need to reduce the water vapor output from your humidifier. As we have mentioned before, some units do come with built in hygrometers.

We recommend keeping the humidity between 30% to 40%.

Remember that the manufacturers usually overstate their square foot coverage; so cut their suggested square footage in half or you won't be able to put enough humidity in the room to be of much benefit.

First Published: January, 2005
Updated: February 2007

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