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Types of Humidifiers

By Kaylei H.
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Types of Humidifiers

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AirFilters.com Customer Service Representative

                Humidifier season is fast approaching! Even though it’s great to have a humidifier any time of the year, the dry air in your home during the winter months can cause dry skin, throat, and nose. It also causes damage to musical instruments and shrinkage of wooden frames and floors.  Are you worried you don’t have the right one to fit your home and needs?  Not all humidifiers work in the same way.  Worry no more, I’m going to tell you about some different types of humidifiers, how they work, and their pricing!  

Central:

The most expensive, but most effective in covering a large area are central humidifiers. These come in "drum" style and "flow through" style. These are built in the home’s ac/heating unit.  If you are willing to pay for them (expensive), they will add humidity to an entire home easily. These also do not put off any steam, so there's no risk for anyone in the home being burned!  These are also the biggest humidifiers you can buy. When not in use, drain water and/or stop air flow to the humidifier. You also should replace the water panel once a year and clean drum and tray once a month if you have the drum style.

Evaporative:

The next is an evaporator humidifier. These are also known as wick humidifiers.  These take air in by an internal fan and run it through the wick filter that is saturated in water. It then gets pushed out into the room for a perfect balance of humidity.  This type is more cost efficient than the central humidifier, but only work in one room at a time. These need to be cleaned regularly and the wick filter changed out every three months or so. You don’t want bacteria or mold being expelled throughout your house!!

Steam Vaporizer:

                Steam vaporizers are also known as warm mist humidifiers. These are great for the winter because they put off a small amount of heat. In the body of the unit, the water is heated to boiling until it vaporizes, therefore moving moistened warm air around the room and keeping the temperature on the warm side. These are also great for sick adults because you can add a medicated liquid to them to be dispersed into the air. There is also no mineral build up with this type. The only downfall is that they are not recommended to have around children.

Impeller:

                Impellers are the most common type of humidifier, also known as a cool mist humidifier. They have a rotating disc that sends water through a diffuser which in return, breaks the water droplets into smaller ones and disperse them into the air as a cool mist. These should be cleaned after each use on the inside and replace filter whenever you see that it is becoming discolored. People choose these humidifiers because of their price, cleanliness, low power usage, coverage of large rooms and its ability to add mineral free moisture to the air. They are also kid friendly.

Ultrasonic:

            These are also classified as cool mist humidifiers, which means they will be kid friendly, but also come in a warm mist version. The way they produce humidified air is through ultrasonic vibrations. Prices will be different depending on what size you need for your home and the area you want it to cover. They are quiet and use little power, but the best part is that you don’t have to worry about replacement filters! Now that you have all the info on the different types of humidifiers, it’s up to you to decide which is best for you and your family’s needs. All humidifiers should be cleaned at some point. Each one will come with a guide on how and when to do so. You should always make sure there is enough water in it at all times and it is always better to use distilled or de-mineralized water for best results.
7 years ago
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