However, a vaporizer has the added benefit of allowing the user to add medications for inhalation to ease nasal and chest congestion. Adding moisture to the air may ease a congested nose, and can be especially helpful for babies and young children that cannot blow their nose. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC , human parainfluenza viruses are a common cause of respiratory infections, such as croup and bronchiolitis , in children.
Both illnesses cause nasal stuffiness and coughing, which humidification may reduce. When choosing between a humidifier and a vaporizer, it is essential to consider what is appropriate for specific age ranges. For instance, a vaporizer is not a good option to use around children. Since vaporizers boil the water, it could lead to a burn if knocked over.
A cool-mist humidifier that does not have the potential to cause a burn is a better choice for children. When it comes to choosing humidifiers or vaporizers, it is also important to also consider the following factors:. The cost of humidifiers and vaporizers varies depending on the manufacturer and the size of the unit. In general, humidifiers are more expensive. When choosing, measure the size of the room and determine the best size of humidifier or vaporizer to buy.
The cleaning processes for humidifiers and vaporizers are similar. Cleaning recommendations often include using white vinegar and rinsing and drying all parts. Vaporizers may leave mineral deposits behind due to the boiling process, which can make cleaning a little more difficult. Whether a person chooses a humidifier or vaporizer, it is vital to make sure they clean the device properly. When not cleaned well, it can cause a buildup of mold or bacteria, which may lead to illness.
People should clean both types of device daily. Also, they should empty any remaining water and refill with fresh water every day. When using a cool-mist humidifier, consider using purified water, as this may have fewer contaminants than tap water. Although adding moisture to the air may ease discomfort associated with dryness, too much humidity may also lead to problems.
Ideally, a person can use a hygrometer to measure the level of humidity in the room. Both humidifiers and vaporizers add humidity to the air. You do not want to have to get up in the middle of the night to refill your humidifier. If your room is very small, you can use a humidifier with a small reservoir.
One very useful feature is a humidistat, which will automatically shut off the humidifier if the humidity levels get too high. This is very important for preventing excessively humid air that can lead to dampness or mold growth. Automatic shut-off when the reservoir runs low is another useful feature. Some ultrasonic humidifiers can be used with aromatherapy oils, so look for that feature if it is something you will want. Maintaining proper humidity levels in a dry climate or during winter is an important element of good indoor air quality.
Excessively low humidity can lead to dry, scratchy throats, coughing and dry skin. Wood floors and furniture can be damaged by low humidity. And studies have found that low humidity actually increases the spread of bacteria Arundel et al. When using a humidifier, it is important to reduce the risk of introducing air pollutants like mold and bacteria in the air. This is to prevent excess mold growth and dust mites in your home.
An additional way to maintain air quality is to use an air purifier. The Molekule air purifier is different from traditional air purifiers that simply trap pollutants like mold onto a filter surface; the PECO technology can completely destroy airborne mold and prevent any potential re-release of microbes into the air.
Portable humidifiers are a good option for humidifying specific rooms in your house, and ultrasonic humidifiers do offer some advantages over evaporative humidifiers.
Regular cleaning is important no matter what type of humidifier you decide to use, especially to maintain good air quality in your home. Air Quality. Air Purifier Technology. Inside Molekule. Buy Now. By Ed Grabianowski Contributor. September 30, What is an ultrasonic humidifier? Ultrasonic vs. The benefits of ultrasonic humidifiers Ultrasonic humidifiers offer a few advantages over evaporative humidifiers.
They are very good at humidifying the air. Skip to main content. Home Caret Right Comfy Reads. The process in which they do so, however, differs slightly: Steam vaporizers also commonly known as warm-mist humidifiers use electricity to power a heating element.
This means that the water is boiling to create steam. The steam then cools down before its departure from the machine. After it enters the air, it reaches your body. With steam vaporizers, you can add inhalants and other soothing vapors—though you should not do this for babies and young children.
There are two primary types of cool-mist humidifiers. The first uses ultrasonic vibrations to disperse cool mist into the air. The second utilizes a submerged disk in the machine that turns rapidly.
As this moves, it separates water particles into tiny, breathable particles that are ideal for inhalation. How Does the Cleaning Process Differ? Healthline recommends the following cleaning schedule for cool-mist humidifiers: Daily Cleaning: Empty the tank and dry all surfaces of your cool-mist humidifier.
Refill with fresh, distilled water. Every 3 to 4 days: Empty the tank. Scrub all surfaces of the humidifier with mild dish soap and clean water to remove mineral buildup and other debris. Remove filters and discard permanently. When all parts of the humidifier are totally dry, store in a cool, dry place. For steam vaporizers, similar practices are recommended, though the timeline differs a little: Daily Cleaning: Empty the tank and dry all surfaces of your cool-mist humidifier.
Weekly Cleaning: Empty tank completely and fill with inches of white vinegar or a white vinegar and water solution, per manufacturer's recommendations and let drain into the base for minutes. Clean off any excess residue or buildup with a soft brush and mild detergent.
If the relative humidity is low, we feel cooler than the actual temperature because our sweat evaporates easily; we can also feel extremely dry.
Since it costs a lot less to humidify the air than to heat it, a humidifier can save you a lot of money! For best indoor comfort and health, a relative humidity of about 45 percent is ideal. At temperatures typically found indoors, this humidity level makes the air feels approximately what the temperature indicates, and your skin and lungs do not dry out and become irritated. Most buildings cannot maintain this level of humidity without help.
In the winter, relative humidity is often much lower than 45 percent, and in the summer it is sometimes higher. Let's see why this is. Here's what happens in winter to make it feel so dry in our houses. Let's say that the outdoor temperature is 0 degrees C, or 32 degrees F. The maximum amount of water that a cubic meter of air can hold at this temperature is 5 grams.
Now you bring this cubic meter of air inside and heat it to 25 degrees C or 77 degrees F. The relative humidity is only 23 percent:. It gets worse as the temperature outside falls lower. This is why the air inside any heated building in the winter feels so dry. Any time the temperature outside is below freezing, relative humidity inside will be below 20 percent unless you do something to increase the humidity.
During the dry months, a humidifier can help maintain a comfortable level of humidity. Let's take a look at a simple humidifier. The most common type of humidifier is called an evaporative humidifier. This type of humidifier is actually quite simple and, for the most part, self-regulating.
A reservoir holds cold water and dispenses it into a basin. A wicking filter absorbs the water from the basin. A fan then blows air through the moistened filter. As the air passes through the filter, it evaporates some of the water there.
The higher the relative humidity, the harder it is to evaporate water from the filter, which is why a humidifier is self-regulating -- as humidity increases, the humidifier's water-vapor output naturally decreases. Sometimes an evaporative humidifier will be hooked up to the heating and cooling system of a house or building.
There are many different ways to raise the humidity in your home. For example, you can put a pan of water on the stove or on the radiator, or you hang wet towels near a heater duct. But most people use a mechanical humidifier to do the job.
Here are the four most popular technologies:.
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