What is a humidifier?
Some people who are not familiar with the role of furnace humidifiers in the home may ask the question “why should I use a furnace humidifier in winter?”. Humidifiers are devices that allow for maintaining a comfortable level of humidity in the room without significant energy consumption. Most of them are based on the use of evaporators operating on the principle of “cold” or “hot” evaporation of moisture. In addition to humidifying the air, some are able to flavor it according to your taste. In addition, all of them are easy to operate and reliable in operation.
Below are some data on optimal air humidity:
- The human body needs – 40-70% of humidity in indoor air.
- For office equipment and telecommunications equipment – 45-60%
- Plants in winter gardens, greenhouses, and greenhouses – 55-75%
- Furniture, and musical instruments – 40-60%
- For books in libraries, art museums, and galleries – 40-60%
Why do you need humidifiers?
Insufficient humidity in the house can cause many diseases, in addition, human bronchi are distinguished by their ability to cleanse themselves. But dry air reduces this ability. As a result, the susceptibility to infection and various respiratory diseases increases. This is especially true in winter when the indoor humidity is much lower than normal. But not only a person suffers from insufficient moisture. Some moisture-loving plants have to be sprayed daily, covered with wet gauze, and placed near them vessels with water. All this is quite troublesome and not always effective. To solve these and many other problems, “humidifiers” were created.
We Spend More Time Indoors
Many people today are spending the majority of their time indoors, working from home, studying from home whatever the case might be, so the right level of humidity is crucial to well-being. The rhythm of modern life forces us to spend most of our time indoors, be it in an office, an apartment, or even a country house. Creating comfortable conditions in our habitats is the guarantee of our health. Unfortunately, the problem of maintaining the required humidity level in residential and work premises has never been taken seriously. Meanwhile, in winter and summer, when central heating or air conditioners are operating, the air contains too little moisture, both for the normal well-being of a person and for most indoor plants, and even for the preservation of wooden furniture.
The Human Body Needs Water
Our body is 90% water. Therefore, it is not surprising that the optimal relative humidity for humans is in the range of 40-70%. This is not just comfort, it is a vital need and a guarantee of health. In conditions of dryness, people become drowsy and distracted, fatigue increases, general health worsens, and performance and immunity decrease. Indoors with dry air increases the likelihood of catching a respiratory infection. Children and people with respiratory diseases, asthmatics, and allergy sufferers primarily suffer from a lack of moisture. In addition, it is known that dry air contains an excess of positively charged ions, which in turn contributes to the development of such a common disease as stress.
Humidity is especially important for small children and babies. In the first days and months of life, babies have a very delicate and sensitive mucous membrane of the mouth and nose. Therefore, the humidity in the room where the newborn sleeps should be at least 50%.
Human skin is 70% water, and as a result of metabolic processes, it loses about half a liter of moisture during the day, and in winter – up to a liter. But it is enough to increase the air humidity in the apartment, and moisture loss will be significantly reduced.
Not only do Humans Need a Proper Level Of Humidity In The House
Most of the ornamental indoor plants come from the tropics and subtropics, where the climate is warm and the air humidity reaches 90-95%. The longevity of wooden furniture and parquet floors, as well as musical instruments and works of art, depends on the observance of the humidity regime in the room. Depending on microclimatic conditions, the tree absorbs or gives off moisture: it swells or dries up; as a result, the product changes shape and size. The optimum relative air humidity at room temperature from the point of view of wood deformation is 40 to 60%.
What kind of humidifiers are there?
Furnace humidifiers- or whole-house, a humidifier is designed to connect to a forced-air heating/cooling system to deliver moistened air throughout the house. There are several different types of furnace humidifiers. A flow-through humidifier uses freshwater that flows through the system and drains away. A reservoir type has a reservoir of water that moistens a rotating drum. A steam humidifier heats water to create steam that is injected into the furnace airflow.
Traditional humidifiers
work on the principle of “cold” evaporation. The special mesh of the evaporator is completely saturated with moisture. The built-in fan draws in dry air from the room and drives it through a damp mesh, which ensures optimal air humidification and does not require additional control devices.
Steam humidifiers
use the principle of “hot” evaporation in their work. Using two electrodes, water is heated and converted into steam. They are distinguished by their high performance, and for their most economical operation, it is recommended to regulate the humidification rate using controllers.
Ultrasonic humidifiers use more efficient humidification technology
What to Consider Before Buying
If you live in an area where humidity is low during the winter, you will definitely want to invest in a furnace humidifier. In a cold, dry climate the humidity is already low in your home. When the heated air is forced into the home, the warm dry air dries the rest of the moisture out of the air, causing discomfort. Locations that are humid often do not need furnace humidifiers. For instance, homes in Alberta have low humidity during winter times. Furnace humidifiers are often installed in residences in Alberta for this reason.
Make Sure Your Humidifier Has A Controller
Look for furnace humidifiers with an easy-to-read humidistat built into the unit for maximum convenience. A humidistat works just like a thermostat in your oven, but it measures level, not temperature. These devices can automatically send a signal to turn on the humidifier based on specific air readings. Separate thermo-hygrometers can also be used to measure the humidifier level if you find a device without a built-in hygrostat, but you have to manually adjust the humidifier to achieve the desired humidity level.
5 Best Furnace Humidifiers
- Best Overall: Aprilaire 500M Whole House Furnace Humidifier
- Best Budget: Honeywell HE360A1075 HE360A Furnace Humidifier
- Most Energy Efficient: Honeywell Home HE280A2001 HE280A
- Easy Installation: GeneralAire 1000A, 120V Humidifier
- Best Large Capacity: Aprilaire 600 Automatic Whole House Humidifier
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