Is your area set to welcome the winter season this year? In that case, you might be worried about the effects of dry winter air on your skin, as experienced by all members of your family every year. But not any more! A humidifier in your home can do wonders for maintaining a desirable level of air humidity. The following tips will certainly help you while you select and buy an appropriate home humidifier.
Space Considerations for Humidifier
The room humidifier must be selected on the basis of space it will occupy in your room. Your room must have the sufficient space left after the installation of this electronic device so that you don't feel your room to be overcrowded.
Area for Humidification
If you want to humidify a large area or every room of your house, there is no use having 3 or 4 individual humidifiers. A whole house humidifier is a better option for you in that case. But, if you want humidification of only one room, perhaps the most frequently visited rooms in the house, a small humidifier can solve the purpose.
Insulation Provisions Decide Size of Humidifier
A well insulated area can manage with a small-sized humidifier. However, the area with no insulation has to be served with large humidifier. Considering these things will enable you to install the right humidifier.
Technical Issues Influencing the Decision
There are various technical issues which must be evaluated when choosing the right humidifier for your home.
* You must make sure that the humidifier doesn't release any kind of dust, which is a common problem associated with some types of humidifiers.
* Make sure that the humidifier possesses automatic functions, like the capability of turning itself off after humidifying the atmosphere to the desired level.
* The humidifier must be fitted with a humidistat to enable you to check on the level of humidity in the environment.
* The humidifier must be resistant to the growth of bacteria, moulds and other microorganisms.
Deciding on Your Comfort Level
A humidifier can be chosen on the basis of your own comfort level with respect to various issues. First of all you must opt for a home humidifier that is easy to install, clean and doesn't demand much maintenance. The noise level of the device must not disturb the ambience of your home.
Most importantly, you must choose the humidifier that fits not only your requirements but also your budget. For this you might employ comparison shopping tools and select the most economical humidifier that is equipped with the best features. You can choose between ultrasonic humidifier, cool mist humidifier or warm mist humidifier, according to your requirements and budget. Whatever is your final decision, make sure you get right product from the right resource.
When we talk about the right resource, http://www.humidifierinformation.com/ is amongst most visited online sites for good quality products. One can benefit from the guaranteed products and free information that is made available at this website.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Angela_Dolson
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
The Need for Humidifiers
Dry winter air can wreak havoc on the body, causing a variety of cold and allergy symptoms. Dry air can also harm paint and wood furniture. While we cannot control the humidity level outdoors, we can use humidifiers to adjust the indoor humidity. Humidifiers are designed to increase the moisture, or humidity, in the air. Humidifiers also reduce the static electricity in the home, reducing the possibility of being "shocked." For best comfort and health, humidity levels should be between 30 and 50 percent.
Though there are different types of humidifiers, they all work by the same basic concept: water is placed in a holding tank and electronically sent into the air. Cool mist humidifiers, also called evaporative humidifiers, use a fan to blow water through a wick filter. The cool mist of water then evaporates into the air. Warm mist humidifiers, on the other hand, heat the water before sending it into the air. Cool mist versus warm mist is largely a matter of preference, although warm mist units generally make less noise. Warm mist humidifiers can also be used to dispense inhaled medications. In addition, warm mist units do not require a filter as the heating mechanism kills bacteria. On the other hand, it does require more energy to heat the water. Care should be taken when using warm mist humidifiers as they can prevent a risk of burns. Additionally, those in warmer climates may prefer the cool mist humidifiers as they cool the air.
Humidifiers also vary in size, water capacity, and area served. For instance, tabletop humidifiers, or room humidifiers, are small in size and are designed to be used in one room only. Tabletop models are available in cool mist or warm mist. Console models are larger units and are designed to control the humidity of multiple rooms. When buying a console humidifier, check the prescribed coverage area to determine its appropriateness for your space. All console humidifiers use cool mist, or evaporative, technology. Furnace humidifiers, as the name suggests, are professionally installed in the furnace ducts and are used to treat the entire house. Though more expensive initially, furnace humidifiers require less maintenance and are less expensive to operate annually.
It is important to clean and disinfect a humidifier regularly. Filters must be changed or cleaned as the manufacturer instructs. Failure to follow the care instructions for your humidifier could result in mold, mildew, and bacteria. The problems associated with those are much worse than the problems caused by dry air.
Another important consideration when choosing a humidifier is the humidistat. While low humidity can cause dry nasal passages, high humidity can cause the growth of bacteria and mold. A humidistat controls the humidity level and keeps it within an acceptable range. If you are unsure of your home's humidity level, a device called a hygrometer can measure it. Low-cost hygrometers are available at most local hardware stores.
Humidifiers Info provides detailed information on house, furnace, cigar, and ultrasonic humidifiers, as well as humidifier filters and product reviews. Humidifiers Info is the sister site of Dehumidifiers Web.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Josh_Riverside
Though there are different types of humidifiers, they all work by the same basic concept: water is placed in a holding tank and electronically sent into the air. Cool mist humidifiers, also called evaporative humidifiers, use a fan to blow water through a wick filter. The cool mist of water then evaporates into the air. Warm mist humidifiers, on the other hand, heat the water before sending it into the air. Cool mist versus warm mist is largely a matter of preference, although warm mist units generally make less noise. Warm mist humidifiers can also be used to dispense inhaled medications. In addition, warm mist units do not require a filter as the heating mechanism kills bacteria. On the other hand, it does require more energy to heat the water. Care should be taken when using warm mist humidifiers as they can prevent a risk of burns. Additionally, those in warmer climates may prefer the cool mist humidifiers as they cool the air.
Humidifiers also vary in size, water capacity, and area served. For instance, tabletop humidifiers, or room humidifiers, are small in size and are designed to be used in one room only. Tabletop models are available in cool mist or warm mist. Console models are larger units and are designed to control the humidity of multiple rooms. When buying a console humidifier, check the prescribed coverage area to determine its appropriateness for your space. All console humidifiers use cool mist, or evaporative, technology. Furnace humidifiers, as the name suggests, are professionally installed in the furnace ducts and are used to treat the entire house. Though more expensive initially, furnace humidifiers require less maintenance and are less expensive to operate annually.
It is important to clean and disinfect a humidifier regularly. Filters must be changed or cleaned as the manufacturer instructs. Failure to follow the care instructions for your humidifier could result in mold, mildew, and bacteria. The problems associated with those are much worse than the problems caused by dry air.
Another important consideration when choosing a humidifier is the humidistat. While low humidity can cause dry nasal passages, high humidity can cause the growth of bacteria and mold. A humidistat controls the humidity level and keeps it within an acceptable range. If you are unsure of your home's humidity level, a device called a hygrometer can measure it. Low-cost hygrometers are available at most local hardware stores.
Humidifiers Info provides detailed information on house, furnace, cigar, and ultrasonic humidifiers, as well as humidifier filters and product reviews. Humidifiers Info is the sister site of Dehumidifiers Web.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Josh_Riverside
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
What You Should Know About Filterless Humidifiers
Humidity is the amount of moisture in the atmosphere. It is an important factor while determining the quality of air. High as well as low humidity levels have adverse effect on the health of an individual. Low humidity level is when the air is very dry. Dry air can cause many problems, which may range from common cold and cough to serious respiratory problems such as sinus and asthma. A humidifier is the solution to this problem of a low humidity level. A humidifier is a simple appliance which disperses water in the environment using various techniques to increase the humidity levels. There are various types of humidifiers available such as the evaporative humidifiers, cool mist humidifier, warm mist humidifier and ultrasonic humidifier. However, one of the most basic classifications of humidifier is the filtered humidifier and the filterless humidifier.
These type of humidifiers are becoming popular by day as people find it convenient not having to change the filters every now and then. Filterless humidifiers have a grid which serves the same purpose as the filter, but it does not need replacing and is much easier to clean than the filters of the humidifiers. The filterless humidifiers are a bit more costly but the increased cost is compensated in the long run.
These humidifiers are the choicefor you if you are a bit of a lazy person who does not want to change the filters every now and then. The main purpose of the filter in the filtered type humidifiers is to clean the air by trapping the sediments and the dirt particles, and hence, the filtered humidifiers require cleaning at regular intervals which is quite a task for some people having shortage of time to do such chores. If the filters are not changed and the humidifier is still being used it can potentially pose risk to your health. It is not at all advisable to use unclean filters. While cleaning the filter and reusing it is the practice, the experts' advice to use new filters altogether so that there is not even a single trace of a dirt particle in the air.
Filterless humidifiers are as effective as any filtered humidifier since these humidifiers use a grid which is used to clean the air. The main working principle behind the working of grid in these appliances is to use electrostatic charge to stop the dust particles. The grid is electrostatically charged opposite to the dust particles. The grid in these devices attracts oppositely charged dirt particles just like a magnet attracts metallic objects. The grid in the filterless humidifier can be simply cleaned by wiping it with a clean piece of cloth. The grid can be put back into the humidifier as soon as it is dry and can be used at once.
This type certainly have an advantage when it comes to the noise levels of the appliance. They are on the quieter side which is an advantage for people who like it quiet. Filterless humidifiers may cost more at the beginning but the reduced maintenance cost along with zero operational costs make it cheaper in the long run. They come with various settings that can be adjusted according to the users' needs of humidity levels.
These humidifiers use the latest technology and are as safe as filtered humidifier. The various settings allow the user to adjust the humidity levels according to one's needs.
Shane Opp is an expert on filterless humidifiers and offers a website that has humidifier reviews on all types and models of humidifiers.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shane_Opp
These type of humidifiers are becoming popular by day as people find it convenient not having to change the filters every now and then. Filterless humidifiers have a grid which serves the same purpose as the filter, but it does not need replacing and is much easier to clean than the filters of the humidifiers. The filterless humidifiers are a bit more costly but the increased cost is compensated in the long run.
These humidifiers are the choicefor you if you are a bit of a lazy person who does not want to change the filters every now and then. The main purpose of the filter in the filtered type humidifiers is to clean the air by trapping the sediments and the dirt particles, and hence, the filtered humidifiers require cleaning at regular intervals which is quite a task for some people having shortage of time to do such chores. If the filters are not changed and the humidifier is still being used it can potentially pose risk to your health. It is not at all advisable to use unclean filters. While cleaning the filter and reusing it is the practice, the experts' advice to use new filters altogether so that there is not even a single trace of a dirt particle in the air.
Filterless humidifiers are as effective as any filtered humidifier since these humidifiers use a grid which is used to clean the air. The main working principle behind the working of grid in these appliances is to use electrostatic charge to stop the dust particles. The grid is electrostatically charged opposite to the dust particles. The grid in these devices attracts oppositely charged dirt particles just like a magnet attracts metallic objects. The grid in the filterless humidifier can be simply cleaned by wiping it with a clean piece of cloth. The grid can be put back into the humidifier as soon as it is dry and can be used at once.
This type certainly have an advantage when it comes to the noise levels of the appliance. They are on the quieter side which is an advantage for people who like it quiet. Filterless humidifiers may cost more at the beginning but the reduced maintenance cost along with zero operational costs make it cheaper in the long run. They come with various settings that can be adjusted according to the users' needs of humidity levels.
These humidifiers use the latest technology and are as safe as filtered humidifier. The various settings allow the user to adjust the humidity levels according to one's needs.
Shane Opp is an expert on filterless humidifiers and offers a website that has humidifier reviews on all types and models of humidifiers.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shane_Opp
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Select the Best Humidifier For Your Home
Are you looking for room humidifier? If yes, first you need to understand your requirements. There is a wide assortment of humidifiers available on the market shelves but you cannot just go and buy one out of the collection randomly. You need to look into various factors before that lest you may end up making the wrong choice that doesn't serve your purpose completely.
Which type of humidifier?
The foremost thing is to know which type of humidifier will suit your home in the best possible manner. You need to find out humidity level of your house with hygrometer which will be helpful to know the humidity level of different rooms in your home and thereby aid in deciding the type of humidifier that will best suit the requirements of your home. Some of the most common and popular humidifiers in market include furnace humidifier, warm mist humidifier, ultrasonic humidifier, and cool mist humidifier. Once you know which type of humidifier is appropriate for your home, you can decide for the next factor of humidifiers, i.e, if they should be a portable one or a whole house humidifier.
Portable or whole house humidifiers?
Now, both types of humidifiers whole house and the portable ones have their advantages and disadvantages. So, this makes it essential for you to understand their pros and cons and then invest your money into buying the best humidifier for you. Since, this is one home appliance that needs one time investment. So, you need acute discretion while buying.
Whole house humidifiers are a one unit that is installed once into the furnace of your home. They keep working on its mechanism with no hurdles and complaints whatsoever. It draws required amount of water from water supply system of your house from time to time. The best feature of whole house humidifying unit is that it requires one time set up and needs minimal maintenance. You need not worry about refilling it from time to time and this is cost efficient too. It sets the humidity of your whole house to one fixed point whole time sparing you from the hassles of adjusting it time and again.
As the name suggests, portable humidifiers can be relocated from one room to another. So, this is the main point of comfort for you. Also, if you are a tenant and keep shifting from one place to other owing to your job work then portable humidifiers are the best option for you. It is plugged into an electronic socket and water needs to be changed from time to time. It is a power pack machine with capacity to keep two rooms humidity to an optimal range.
Maintenance of humidifiers - No escape
However, regular maintenance is one necessary requirement that is common in both the humidifiers. Some people may call it a disadvantage, but this is one thing that all humidifiers demand for a better performance and smooth working for a long term. Now, that you know both the pros and cons of the humidifiers so you can make wise decision regarding the type of humidifier you need for your home.
Humidifiers helps you to maintain the humidity level of your house on optimal range and keep the air in home fresh. If you are looking for some valuable information on how humidifier works, check out http://www.humidifierinformation.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Terro_White
Which type of humidifier?
The foremost thing is to know which type of humidifier will suit your home in the best possible manner. You need to find out humidity level of your house with hygrometer which will be helpful to know the humidity level of different rooms in your home and thereby aid in deciding the type of humidifier that will best suit the requirements of your home. Some of the most common and popular humidifiers in market include furnace humidifier, warm mist humidifier, ultrasonic humidifier, and cool mist humidifier. Once you know which type of humidifier is appropriate for your home, you can decide for the next factor of humidifiers, i.e, if they should be a portable one or a whole house humidifier.
Portable or whole house humidifiers?
Now, both types of humidifiers whole house and the portable ones have their advantages and disadvantages. So, this makes it essential for you to understand their pros and cons and then invest your money into buying the best humidifier for you. Since, this is one home appliance that needs one time investment. So, you need acute discretion while buying.
Whole house humidifiers are a one unit that is installed once into the furnace of your home. They keep working on its mechanism with no hurdles and complaints whatsoever. It draws required amount of water from water supply system of your house from time to time. The best feature of whole house humidifying unit is that it requires one time set up and needs minimal maintenance. You need not worry about refilling it from time to time and this is cost efficient too. It sets the humidity of your whole house to one fixed point whole time sparing you from the hassles of adjusting it time and again.
As the name suggests, portable humidifiers can be relocated from one room to another. So, this is the main point of comfort for you. Also, if you are a tenant and keep shifting from one place to other owing to your job work then portable humidifiers are the best option for you. It is plugged into an electronic socket and water needs to be changed from time to time. It is a power pack machine with capacity to keep two rooms humidity to an optimal range.
Maintenance of humidifiers - No escape
However, regular maintenance is one necessary requirement that is common in both the humidifiers. Some people may call it a disadvantage, but this is one thing that all humidifiers demand for a better performance and smooth working for a long term. Now, that you know both the pros and cons of the humidifiers so you can make wise decision regarding the type of humidifier you need for your home.
Humidifiers helps you to maintain the humidity level of your house on optimal range and keep the air in home fresh. If you are looking for some valuable information on how humidifier works, check out http://www.humidifierinformation.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Terro_White
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Whole House Humidifier Types and Humidifier Maintenance
A whole house humidifier or furnace mounted whole house humidifier is just another example of an extremely neglected component of our house - on top of a brick chimney, an attic, and a crawlspace, which fall into the same basket.
If you're not going to maintain it, it's probably a bad idea to get a whole house humidifier. Since it is attached to a forced air heating system that constantly circulates air throughout the house, poor maintenance can create environment attracting mold growth and help reproduce of dust mites.
Properly operating and maintaining a whole house humidifier helps us relieve many physical discomforts associated with cold / dry weather, including respiratory problems and dry skin and lips. It also lowers or completely eliminates static electricity, cosmetic wall trim separations, cracks in finishes, separating hardwood floor boards, etc. The trick is to balance the amount of moisture in your home at such a level which will benefit your health, living environment, and save energy instead of creating conditions which sometimes cause mold or other biological organism growth (excessive moisture could do that). And for proper humidity balancing, you either have to observe and monitor your environment, or purchase an electronic device which will do it for you. In general, the humidity in your house should not exceed 50% (35% - 50% is the most comfortable). Higher levels will usually create condensation on windows, sometimes on walls and ceiling surfaces, or possible mold and mildew growth.
No matter how advanced the whole house humidifier system installed on your property is - it will require regular maintenance because it won't work properly or at all without it. The truth is - I rarely see one properly maintained or even operating at all.
There are basically 5 types of whole house humidifiers:
Flow-Through (bypass) Whole House Humidifiers (passive and fan assisted) - they use a so-called water pad made out of foam, expanded aluminum, and some other materials. The water drips on top of the square pad and the air from the heating system flowing through the pad picks up the water particles and carries them through the air ducts and around the house. The remaining water (whatever wasn't picked up by the air) drains through the base of the whole house humidifier.
A whole house humidifier's water pad has to be replaced once a year before every cold season to perform efficiently and to prevent mold growth. For the homes utilizing private well or other sources with high levels of minerals, cleaning might be required more often.
For every gallon of water evaporated into humidity, Whole House Flow-Through Humidifiers waste between 5-8 gallons down the drain.
Drum Whole House Humidifiers - they have a drum shaped rotating frame (powered by a small, low voltage motor) and a foam or fabric sleeve pulled over it. The bottom section of the drum is always submerged in water which keeps the rotating foam / fabric moist and allows air flowing through the drum to pick up that moisture. The foam / fabric and the water in a small reservoir under the drum require regular maintenance! If you leave that water standing in an unused humidifier (for example during the summer), and then just start the whole house humidifier unit without cleaning it first, I guarantee that you'll be spreading mold spores through the entire house.
Wick Type Whole House Humidifiers - assembled out of a small reservoir and a filter (wick) that absorbs water from it. The entire humidifier is mounted inside the air duct, and in order to inspect it, you have to unscrew the cover plate and remove the entire unit - I don't recommended it, is cheap and easy to install, but that's all.
Spray Mist Whole House Humidifiers - as the name suggests, they spray water mist into the air duct and the mist is picked up by the flow through the air duct. Don't even consider this type if your house's water supply is a private or community well - it will contaminate the spray head immediately. Those are one of the cheapest and easiest to install types out of all the whole house humidifiers.
Steam Whole House Humidifiers - being the most expensive to purchase / install and not that cheap to operate, it consists of advanced technology and complicated designs. Steam whole house humidifier might operate with or independently from your system heat cycle. Whenever the humidity drops below the setting, they will activate your furnace blower and get the humidity to the right level independently from the thermostat settings. One of the known problems associated with this type of the whole house humidifier is that the water distributed with cold air (with operating furnace blower only / no heat) does not completely evaporate. Condensing on the air duct cold walls might sometimes cause bacteria and mold growth. If you like new gadgets and don't mind spending some serious money for it - go ahead - but it sill does require maintenance.
One more type of a Flow - Through type humidifier but this time almost 100% efficient (as claimed by the manufacturer).
Rotary Disc Furnace Mount Whole House Humidifier by Desert Spring: To be honest with you, I can't say much about it except for relaying information from the manufacturer's website, forums, and discussion boards. It sounds great because it is (as claimed by the manufacturer)
* the most effective furnace-mount humidifier on the market
* 100% efficient - 1:1 conversion of water to humidity
* uses only 4 Watts/hr of energy
* drain-less system - there's no need for a drain in your utility room / furnace location area
* very little maintenance with Auto-Flush accessory (you can do it manually every few days, depending on usage, minerals would only need to be removed every month or two in most regions of North America)
* never needs filters or pads replacement - uses self cleaning polycarbonate discs (non-absorbent plastic)
As with every product, there are those who love it and hate it.
Whole House Humidifier Maintenance:
1. Check your humidifier unit visually on a regular basis (it's hard to remember it especially if your whole house humidifier has been mounted in the crawlspace or attic area)
2. Make sure that there's no water dripping from the whole house humidifier itself and any of its components (water supply line, drain line, shutoff valve, enclosure, area underneath the unit, or furnace itself)
3. Replace the whole house humidifier water pad / evaporator pad / filter / foam on seasonal basis (or more often if required). Make sure that you re-assemble everything correctly to prevent water leaks
4. Clean the whole house humidifier components contaminated with mineral deposits after the heating season ends - it will be much easier to do it when everything is still wet and soft. You can use 50/50 vinegar-water solution for heavier contaminated components. Just soak them for 15-30 minutes (or longer if necessary) and that should help with cleaning.
For more valuable information from Dariusz Rudnicki, on how to maintain your real estate property, correct most common problems and learn extremely important house selling tips (including step by step self-performed home inspection), please visit http://www.checkthishouse.com
Dariusz is a licensed Illinois home inspector who has been in this business for over ten years, crawling through the areas you'd newer expect that even exist in your house ... just to let you now that everything is working properly... or not. If you need a home maintenance advice, you can always ask him for help.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dariusz_Rudnicki
If you're not going to maintain it, it's probably a bad idea to get a whole house humidifier. Since it is attached to a forced air heating system that constantly circulates air throughout the house, poor maintenance can create environment attracting mold growth and help reproduce of dust mites.
Properly operating and maintaining a whole house humidifier helps us relieve many physical discomforts associated with cold / dry weather, including respiratory problems and dry skin and lips. It also lowers or completely eliminates static electricity, cosmetic wall trim separations, cracks in finishes, separating hardwood floor boards, etc. The trick is to balance the amount of moisture in your home at such a level which will benefit your health, living environment, and save energy instead of creating conditions which sometimes cause mold or other biological organism growth (excessive moisture could do that). And for proper humidity balancing, you either have to observe and monitor your environment, or purchase an electronic device which will do it for you. In general, the humidity in your house should not exceed 50% (35% - 50% is the most comfortable). Higher levels will usually create condensation on windows, sometimes on walls and ceiling surfaces, or possible mold and mildew growth.
No matter how advanced the whole house humidifier system installed on your property is - it will require regular maintenance because it won't work properly or at all without it. The truth is - I rarely see one properly maintained or even operating at all.
There are basically 5 types of whole house humidifiers:
Flow-Through (bypass) Whole House Humidifiers (passive and fan assisted) - they use a so-called water pad made out of foam, expanded aluminum, and some other materials. The water drips on top of the square pad and the air from the heating system flowing through the pad picks up the water particles and carries them through the air ducts and around the house. The remaining water (whatever wasn't picked up by the air) drains through the base of the whole house humidifier.
A whole house humidifier's water pad has to be replaced once a year before every cold season to perform efficiently and to prevent mold growth. For the homes utilizing private well or other sources with high levels of minerals, cleaning might be required more often.
For every gallon of water evaporated into humidity, Whole House Flow-Through Humidifiers waste between 5-8 gallons down the drain.
Drum Whole House Humidifiers - they have a drum shaped rotating frame (powered by a small, low voltage motor) and a foam or fabric sleeve pulled over it. The bottom section of the drum is always submerged in water which keeps the rotating foam / fabric moist and allows air flowing through the drum to pick up that moisture. The foam / fabric and the water in a small reservoir under the drum require regular maintenance! If you leave that water standing in an unused humidifier (for example during the summer), and then just start the whole house humidifier unit without cleaning it first, I guarantee that you'll be spreading mold spores through the entire house.
Wick Type Whole House Humidifiers - assembled out of a small reservoir and a filter (wick) that absorbs water from it. The entire humidifier is mounted inside the air duct, and in order to inspect it, you have to unscrew the cover plate and remove the entire unit - I don't recommended it, is cheap and easy to install, but that's all.
Spray Mist Whole House Humidifiers - as the name suggests, they spray water mist into the air duct and the mist is picked up by the flow through the air duct. Don't even consider this type if your house's water supply is a private or community well - it will contaminate the spray head immediately. Those are one of the cheapest and easiest to install types out of all the whole house humidifiers.
Steam Whole House Humidifiers - being the most expensive to purchase / install and not that cheap to operate, it consists of advanced technology and complicated designs. Steam whole house humidifier might operate with or independently from your system heat cycle. Whenever the humidity drops below the setting, they will activate your furnace blower and get the humidity to the right level independently from the thermostat settings. One of the known problems associated with this type of the whole house humidifier is that the water distributed with cold air (with operating furnace blower only / no heat) does not completely evaporate. Condensing on the air duct cold walls might sometimes cause bacteria and mold growth. If you like new gadgets and don't mind spending some serious money for it - go ahead - but it sill does require maintenance.
One more type of a Flow - Through type humidifier but this time almost 100% efficient (as claimed by the manufacturer).
Rotary Disc Furnace Mount Whole House Humidifier by Desert Spring: To be honest with you, I can't say much about it except for relaying information from the manufacturer's website, forums, and discussion boards. It sounds great because it is (as claimed by the manufacturer)
* the most effective furnace-mount humidifier on the market
* 100% efficient - 1:1 conversion of water to humidity
* uses only 4 Watts/hr of energy
* drain-less system - there's no need for a drain in your utility room / furnace location area
* very little maintenance with Auto-Flush accessory (you can do it manually every few days, depending on usage, minerals would only need to be removed every month or two in most regions of North America)
* never needs filters or pads replacement - uses self cleaning polycarbonate discs (non-absorbent plastic)
As with every product, there are those who love it and hate it.
Whole House Humidifier Maintenance:
1. Check your humidifier unit visually on a regular basis (it's hard to remember it especially if your whole house humidifier has been mounted in the crawlspace or attic area)
2. Make sure that there's no water dripping from the whole house humidifier itself and any of its components (water supply line, drain line, shutoff valve, enclosure, area underneath the unit, or furnace itself)
3. Replace the whole house humidifier water pad / evaporator pad / filter / foam on seasonal basis (or more often if required). Make sure that you re-assemble everything correctly to prevent water leaks
4. Clean the whole house humidifier components contaminated with mineral deposits after the heating season ends - it will be much easier to do it when everything is still wet and soft. You can use 50/50 vinegar-water solution for heavier contaminated components. Just soak them for 15-30 minutes (or longer if necessary) and that should help with cleaning.
For more valuable information from Dariusz Rudnicki, on how to maintain your real estate property, correct most common problems and learn extremely important house selling tips (including step by step self-performed home inspection), please visit http://www.checkthishouse.com
Dariusz is a licensed Illinois home inspector who has been in this business for over ten years, crawling through the areas you'd newer expect that even exist in your house ... just to let you now that everything is working properly... or not. If you need a home maintenance advice, you can always ask him for help.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dariusz_Rudnicki
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Get Rid of Allergies and Other Respiratory Illnesses With Humidifiers
What are Humidifiers?
A Humidifier is a kind of household appliance which increases moisture in the air of a room or the whole house. When the air that is circulating in your home is too dry, it makes it very uncomfortable to breathe, thus, irritating our lungs which can lead to respiratory illness, itchy skin, chapped lips, sore throat, nosebleed, etc. Dry air can also damage some of our furniture such as wood products and flooring.
During the winter season, it is very important that we add moisture in the air we breathe. It is because the dry winter air can bring down the humidity level of the air to as low as fifteen percent, which is undeniably drier than desert air. Fortunately, by increasing the humidity in the house, we can avoid these problems. Installing or adding up humidifiers in the house will be a very good option. It is also a good way to resolve the irritated lungs as well as the dry, itching skin. It can also help you save money by protecting your furniture.
How do Humidifiers Work?
The humidifiers work by adding up some moisture in the air, thus, raising the level of humidity in your home. Generally, humidifiers all work with one standard; it heats the air so that it can absorb moisture. When the relative humidity of the air reaches 100%, a person feels a lot hotter and that is because sweat does not evaporate. In contrast, if the relative humidity of the air is low, a person also feels very dry. The air's relative humidity really affects how a person feels. It also plays a large role in determining a person's comfort level. When the air is warmer, it can hold more water and produce more moisture. Air with low relative humidity is dry. Humidifiers play a part by controlling the varying levels of the air's relative humidity, therefore, affecting a persons level of comfort in their homes.
Home Evaporative Humidifier
The Evaporative humidifiers are the most common type of humidifiers. It only consists of few parts; the reservoir, the wick and the fan. It usually systemizes a foam or cloth wick or sheet to retract water out of the reservoir, a fan that blows over the wick would let the air take up moisture. This kind of humidifier is self-regulating. It is because when the relative humidity of the air is higher, it harder for the water to evaporate from its filter. While the humidity increases, its water vapor output decreases. Due to these kinds of abilities, these make it a very functional humidifier.
Evaporative humidifiers, which are very common nowadays, capture virtually almost all of the minerals and pollutants from water. They also get rid of the white dust that some ultrasonic humidifiers produce. This kind of technique works very effectively on both tabletop and console models and on the central evaporative humidifiers that is attached to the home heating system. They function by passing some air stream into a wet medium, for example dampened grill or a sponge. Some have honeycomb-type fiber panels which push water upwards from a reservoir, while others uses cloth or foam drum that rotates through a water-filled trough while air passes by. Still some humidifiers blow air into a woven aluminum pad which is drenched by a continuous stream of water.
Built-in Home Humidifier
The built-in home humidifiers help in the relief of cold symptoms by allowing you breathe a moistened air that keeps lungs more elastic. Accordingly, they reduce a person's susceptibility to infection by keeping the mucus membranes of throat and nasal passages moist. It also helps in the relief and prevention of dry lips as well as scratchy skin and also keeps nosebleeds in check. Built-in humidifiers can help prevent wooden floors from separating and buckling. They also reduce the static electricity, therefore reducing the little shocks that are received from touching certain objects and other people.
Furnace Humidifier
A furnace humidifier is attached in the furnace system. It is installed in the pipes and works along with the home's cooling and heating system in order to humidify the whole house. While these kinds of humidifiers are quite more costly than the other models, they are more efficient in energy and charge less in operating for long terms. Aside from yearly maintenance expenses, one would have to get the filters changed. When acquiring a furnace humidifier, a person should search for a model that has a humidistat. This will permit you to regulate the preferred humidity level. When the certain level is achieved, the humidifier will shut off, thus, avoiding the problem of over-humidifying.
For more information on Humidifiers For The Whole House and Buying Dehumidifier please visit our website.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Urmann
A Humidifier is a kind of household appliance which increases moisture in the air of a room or the whole house. When the air that is circulating in your home is too dry, it makes it very uncomfortable to breathe, thus, irritating our lungs which can lead to respiratory illness, itchy skin, chapped lips, sore throat, nosebleed, etc. Dry air can also damage some of our furniture such as wood products and flooring.
During the winter season, it is very important that we add moisture in the air we breathe. It is because the dry winter air can bring down the humidity level of the air to as low as fifteen percent, which is undeniably drier than desert air. Fortunately, by increasing the humidity in the house, we can avoid these problems. Installing or adding up humidifiers in the house will be a very good option. It is also a good way to resolve the irritated lungs as well as the dry, itching skin. It can also help you save money by protecting your furniture.
How do Humidifiers Work?
The humidifiers work by adding up some moisture in the air, thus, raising the level of humidity in your home. Generally, humidifiers all work with one standard; it heats the air so that it can absorb moisture. When the relative humidity of the air reaches 100%, a person feels a lot hotter and that is because sweat does not evaporate. In contrast, if the relative humidity of the air is low, a person also feels very dry. The air's relative humidity really affects how a person feels. It also plays a large role in determining a person's comfort level. When the air is warmer, it can hold more water and produce more moisture. Air with low relative humidity is dry. Humidifiers play a part by controlling the varying levels of the air's relative humidity, therefore, affecting a persons level of comfort in their homes.
Home Evaporative Humidifier
The Evaporative humidifiers are the most common type of humidifiers. It only consists of few parts; the reservoir, the wick and the fan. It usually systemizes a foam or cloth wick or sheet to retract water out of the reservoir, a fan that blows over the wick would let the air take up moisture. This kind of humidifier is self-regulating. It is because when the relative humidity of the air is higher, it harder for the water to evaporate from its filter. While the humidity increases, its water vapor output decreases. Due to these kinds of abilities, these make it a very functional humidifier.
Evaporative humidifiers, which are very common nowadays, capture virtually almost all of the minerals and pollutants from water. They also get rid of the white dust that some ultrasonic humidifiers produce. This kind of technique works very effectively on both tabletop and console models and on the central evaporative humidifiers that is attached to the home heating system. They function by passing some air stream into a wet medium, for example dampened grill or a sponge. Some have honeycomb-type fiber panels which push water upwards from a reservoir, while others uses cloth or foam drum that rotates through a water-filled trough while air passes by. Still some humidifiers blow air into a woven aluminum pad which is drenched by a continuous stream of water.
Built-in Home Humidifier
The built-in home humidifiers help in the relief of cold symptoms by allowing you breathe a moistened air that keeps lungs more elastic. Accordingly, they reduce a person's susceptibility to infection by keeping the mucus membranes of throat and nasal passages moist. It also helps in the relief and prevention of dry lips as well as scratchy skin and also keeps nosebleeds in check. Built-in humidifiers can help prevent wooden floors from separating and buckling. They also reduce the static electricity, therefore reducing the little shocks that are received from touching certain objects and other people.
Furnace Humidifier
A furnace humidifier is attached in the furnace system. It is installed in the pipes and works along with the home's cooling and heating system in order to humidify the whole house. While these kinds of humidifiers are quite more costly than the other models, they are more efficient in energy and charge less in operating for long terms. Aside from yearly maintenance expenses, one would have to get the filters changed. When acquiring a furnace humidifier, a person should search for a model that has a humidistat. This will permit you to regulate the preferred humidity level. When the certain level is achieved, the humidifier will shut off, thus, avoiding the problem of over-humidifying.
For more information on Humidifiers For The Whole House and Buying Dehumidifier please visit our website.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Urmann
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Humidifiers - A First Time Buyers Guide
The quality of outdoor air is a major concern for us all. Social groups do all they can to protect the environment and air. However, at the same time, people do not think about the polluted air they breathe and about the poor quality of air in offices and our homes. In most of the cases, the quality of indoor air is inferior to air outside.
Those living in a very dry climate find a humidifier a very convenient household appliance to increase the moisture in the room. Humidifiers can be used to humidify the whole house or a single room. Furnace humidifiers can be used to humidify the entire house when connected to HVAC system.
A fan, wick and reservoir constitute the basic parts of wick or evaporative humidifiers.
The reservoirs in the humidifiers come in different sizes and shapes. The output of moisture from the humidifier is made possible by the water stored in the containing tank of the humidifiers. Find more information at [http://www.humidifierheaven.info]
Water stored in the reservoir is absorbed by the wick which acts as a filter. Water gets evaporated through the wick depending upon the relative humidity. Higher evaparation will take place in a room with low humidity while in a room with high humidity, the evaporation will be low. This type of humidifier is self regulating. The evaporated water is circulated through the entire room with the help of the fan.
The wick in the humidifier needs regular cleaning and replacement. When it is not done it stops humidifying the area and the water level will remain constant. Humidifiers come in different varieties such as steam humidifiers or vaporizers, impelling humidifiers and ultrasonic humidifiers.
Steam humidifiers boil water and release the moisture and steam into the air. Medicated inhalant can be added to the stored water which will help reduce coughs. The boiling process creates lot of noise. These types of humidifiers are the least expensive.
Impeller humidifiers use a rotating disc which throws the water at the diffuser and the water is broken into very fine droplets and then float in the air.
Ultrasonic humidifiers use a metal diaphram vibrating at an ultrasonic frequency to produce water droplets which exit the humidifier in the form of a cool fog. This process causes the humidity to come down. This humidifier operates very silently. If not cleaned regularly it might cause contamination by bacteria in the water and in the surrounding atmosphere.
Distilled water should be used in ultrasonic and impeller humidifiers. Otherwise the minerals in the water precipitate as a fine dust which will cause health disorders. In wick humidifiers the wick traps the mineral desposits.
Lucy Bartlett is a proud contributing author. Find more articles here [http://financeandlegalportal.info/]. For more info visit Humidifiers [http://humidifierheaven.info/] or Ultrasonic Humidifiers [http://humidifierheaven.info/ultrasonic-humidifiers.html]
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lucy_Bartlett
Those living in a very dry climate find a humidifier a very convenient household appliance to increase the moisture in the room. Humidifiers can be used to humidify the whole house or a single room. Furnace humidifiers can be used to humidify the entire house when connected to HVAC system.
A fan, wick and reservoir constitute the basic parts of wick or evaporative humidifiers.
The reservoirs in the humidifiers come in different sizes and shapes. The output of moisture from the humidifier is made possible by the water stored in the containing tank of the humidifiers. Find more information at [http://www.humidifierheaven.info]
Water stored in the reservoir is absorbed by the wick which acts as a filter. Water gets evaporated through the wick depending upon the relative humidity. Higher evaparation will take place in a room with low humidity while in a room with high humidity, the evaporation will be low. This type of humidifier is self regulating. The evaporated water is circulated through the entire room with the help of the fan.
The wick in the humidifier needs regular cleaning and replacement. When it is not done it stops humidifying the area and the water level will remain constant. Humidifiers come in different varieties such as steam humidifiers or vaporizers, impelling humidifiers and ultrasonic humidifiers.
Steam humidifiers boil water and release the moisture and steam into the air. Medicated inhalant can be added to the stored water which will help reduce coughs. The boiling process creates lot of noise. These types of humidifiers are the least expensive.
Impeller humidifiers use a rotating disc which throws the water at the diffuser and the water is broken into very fine droplets and then float in the air.
Ultrasonic humidifiers use a metal diaphram vibrating at an ultrasonic frequency to produce water droplets which exit the humidifier in the form of a cool fog. This process causes the humidity to come down. This humidifier operates very silently. If not cleaned regularly it might cause contamination by bacteria in the water and in the surrounding atmosphere.
Distilled water should be used in ultrasonic and impeller humidifiers. Otherwise the minerals in the water precipitate as a fine dust which will cause health disorders. In wick humidifiers the wick traps the mineral desposits.
Lucy Bartlett is a proud contributing author. Find more articles here [http://financeandlegalportal.info/]. For more info visit Humidifiers [http://humidifierheaven.info/] or Ultrasonic Humidifiers [http://humidifierheaven.info/ultrasonic-humidifiers.html]
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lucy_Bartlett
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