Thursday, December 30, 2010

Do I Need a Steam, Ultrasonic Or Evaporative Humidifier?

All humidifiers will add water to an atmosphere by either boiling water to create steam, releasing very fine sprays of moisture that evaporate or by evaporating water from a moistened surface through which air is blown.






The choice of humidifier will depend on your specific application, your available budget and your acceptable level of maintenance. Here is a brief overview of the three main types of humidifier used in domestic situations:

Spray / Ultrasonic
The cheapest type of domestic humidifier is often the ultrasonic, mist type humidifier. These units contain a reservoir of water and an oscillating plate. The intense vibrations caused by the rapidly oscillating plate cause the water to atomise into an airborne mist. A fan then blows this mist out of a vent and into the room.

These units are cheap to buy and also consume little energy when operating. However, the major disadvantage of using an ultrasonic humidifier is the dust that it introduces to a room. Any particulate matter that is present in the water will become airborne along with the water. When the water evaporates, the particulate matter will settle as dust in the room. This can aggravate symptoms in people with respiratory problems and therefore mitigate the beneficial effects of using the humidifier in the first place.

However, some modern ultrasonic humidifiers now incorporate technology that prevents this dust from being released. Some high quality ultrasonic humidifiers use demineralisation cartridges that absorb the minerals from the water prior to it being turned into a mist. This is very effective as long as the cartridges are occasionally replaced inline with the manufacturer's instructions. These types of modern ultrasonic humidifiers do cost more but the performance is head and shoulders above the cheaper ultrasonic humidifier.

Steam
Steam humidifiers provide very close control of humidity as the heat creating the steam can be rapidly increased or decreased in response to the room's current humidity. However, to provide this control they need to be used in conjunction with a humidistat. This does the same job as a thermostat but instead of controlling a heating or cooling system to maintain a set temperature, it controls a humidifier or dehumidifier to maintain a room's humidity.

Steam humidifiers provide very hygienic humidity control as the heating of the water kills all germs and the moisture released is sterile. A steam humidifier is the ideal choice for anyone with a respiratory illness, for raising the humidity in a nursery or for combating the symptoms of croup. They do need to be positioned out of reach when used in a nursery as the steam being release is obviously hot at the point of release.

This type of steam humidifier can be economical to buy in comparison with other types. Units that incorporate a humidistat can cost a bit more but have the advantage of not over-humidifying a room.

A disadvantage of using a steam humidifier is that they consume more energy than a spray or evaporative humidifier. A steam humidifier releasing up to 350g of water per hour may consume up to 325W per hour whereas an evaporative type of unit would only use between 10-20W.

The maintenance of a steam humidifier will involve occasionally removing the limescale that builds up inside the unit, similar to the scale that builds up in a kettle. This can be done relatively easily with a limescale removing powder. When not in use steam humidifiers should be emptied of water, cleaned and dried to prevent water stagnating inside the humidifier.

Evaporative
An evaporative humidifier introduces water into the air by allowing moisture to be simply evaporated. This consumes very little energy and is a hygienic way of humidifying as there are no aerosol sprays being released. Any particulate matter present in the water will remain in the humidifier after the water evaporates so there is no dust released into a room.

This type of system is also very quiet so can be used in a bedroom or similar quiet area.

There are two main types of evaporative humidifier. The more traditional type uses porous filters that are continually moisten and through which allow air is forced with a fan. As the air flows through the wet filter it picks up water and becomes optimally humidified.

The main disadvantage with this type of unit is that the filters need to be replaced regularly. The air in a home can be quite polluted with dust, skin, hair and other matter. These particles will be collected by the humidifier and remain on the filter as the air passes through. This has the advantage of cleaning the air but does mean the filters need replacing occasionally or they may begin to smell.

The other type of evaporative humidifier is an air washer. Instead of evaporative filters, an air washer incorporates many rotating discs that spin in a reservoir of water. A fan sucks air into the unit and forces it between the moist rotating discs, where it picks up water and becomes optimally humidified before being reintroduced into the room.

As the discs are made from toughened plastic, an air washer requires no replacement filters. The discs can simply be removed from the unit and cleaned. Some can even be placed in a dishwasher.

Cleaning will need to be carried out regularly to maintain hygienic operation but the frequency will depend on the quality of the room air.

Air washers have all the advantages of low running costs and air purification but with no ongoing commitment to buying spares. The disadvantage is that a quality air washer will cost more to buy than a filter-based evaporative humidifier but taking into account the savings on spares, the cost difference can soon be made up.

Duncan Buxton is Marketing Manager for AirAndWaterCentre.com - a leading online supplier of Humidifiers.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Duncan_Buxton

Monday, December 27, 2010

Humidifier Ratings - Reviewing the Best Humidifiers For Your Health and Happiness

Humidifiers are good for you. It is perfect for any home because it decontaminates the air circulating inside your home, and makes breathing easier for you. This is also basically the reason why you should opt to choose the best humidifier for your home. There are many leading brands of humidifiers such as Honeywell, Holmes, Bemis and Bionaire but with humidifier ratings, you will get to choose which brand will give you best results.






Best Whole-House Humidifier:
If you want your whole home to experience optimum humidity, choose Aprilaire whole house humidifier. Aprilaire whole house humidifier was first introduced back in 1954 and is considered as the first evaporative, flow-through design humidifier. It is directly installed to your heating or cooling system and works by sending out water vapor to increase humidity. The distribution tray is filled with water and vapor is evenly spread across the water panel. Humidified air is dispensed through the heating and cooling system canal in your home. Only Aprilaire humidifiers have Automatic Digital Humidifier Control that monitors outdoor temperature and indoor humidity level and also provide you reminders in maintenance and safe use.
Whole-house humidifiers have an advantage over portable ones because whole-house humidifiers are able to control humidity levels all throughout the house and gives out the just right amount of humidity you need.
Best Warm-Mist Humidifier:
According to reviews of users, the best warm mist humidifier is Honeywell Warm Mist Humidifier. Warm mist humidifiers do best in reducing sinus-related problems, headaches and infections. Honeywell assures you of a healthier feeling. This humidifier has adjustable humidistat that maintains the selected moisture level. It automatically shuts down once the desired humidity level is reached and provides you with power, refill and desired humidity lights. Unlike other humidifiers, the tank is clear so you can easily see whether it needs filling.
Cheapest Humidifier:
If you are looking for a cheap but working and brand new humidifier, you should go for Holmes Humidifier. It can be bought online with the starting price of $25. Aside from its low price, it is also a good humidifier and you are still assured of its quality. Holmes also has a variety of models and you can choose for either cold-mist or warm-mist humidifier. Holmes cold-mist humidifiers have FilterCheck monitors that check the filter condition. It also has Microban Antimicrobial Product Protection that stops the growth of odor causing bacteria and mold that can affect the performance of the humidifier.
Sleek-Looking Humidifier:
Do you want a humidifier that won't clash your décor? Well, Bionaire humidifier is for you. The Bionaire tower humidifier does not disagree with your interior design because of its black and silver color combination. It definitely does not take space and you can just put it in the corner of your room An excellent feature of Bionaire humidifier is its Bionaire Filters with CarbonX. With this, contaminants and bad odor are filtered with the odor-absorbing carbon. This brand also has a Microban Antimicrobial Product protection that stops the growth of bacteria, molds and other pollutants that can harm the parts.
Like other humidifiers, Bionaire humidifiers can either be warm-mist or cool-mist and choosing which is better is a matter of taste. It also has a humidistat that helps you monitor and change the humidity level. It also contains a filter change reminder that tells you whether the filter needs changing or cleaning.
Pro-Healthier Air Humidifier:
Bemis Humidifier, instead of using heat or ultrasound, uses the natural process of evaporation in humidifying the environment. By using this natural process, white dust or residues from mineral fall out are avoided. Therefore, it allows healthier air to circulate around your home. Bemis humidifiers can either be cold-mist or warm-mist and they go in different sizes that match your needs. It also has a built-in humidistat that monitors the humidity level automatically.
Humidifiers help provide high quality air for you and your family. Choose the brand that is suitable for your needs and your budget. It doesn't have to be expensive, you just need to know which brand will satisfy your needs and will give you optimum results.
Mary has been writing articles for over 4 years. Please visit her latest website about home products, such as our latest Humidifier Ratings, with information on the Honeywell Humidifier products, as well as other fine devices that anyone who loves to breathe quality air would be interested in.