How to choose a humidifier for an apartment and a house
Miscellaneous / / April 03, 2023
Main characteristics and features that you should pay attention to.
1. Decide on the type of device
Humidifiers according to the principle of operation can be divided into four types: traditional, steam, ultrasonic and hybrid with enhanced filtration. They differ in the way they maintain indoor humidity and additional features.
Traditional Humidifier
Such devices do not create steam, but saturate air flows with moisture. This type of construction consists of a fan, a water tank and a filter. The air drawn in from the room is discharged outside through a cartridge moistened with water, which also retains dust. Thanks to this natural process, a comfortable microclimate is maintained in the room.
Conventional type humidifiers do not consume a lot of electricity and are not demanding on water quality. The disadvantages include a rather slow speed, low productivity and the need to constantly change the filter.
Steam humidifier
It saturates the air with moisture using hot steam. Water is heated in a container inside and then evaporates. In the design of these devices, filters are optional - the liquid is purified during the boiling process. Models of this type consume more electricity than traditional ones.
The steam humidifier must be monitored so as not to overdo it with the amount of moisture. Compared to other types, this one makes more noise when boiling water. Of course, at the exit, the steam turns out to be warm - it will not work to give freshness. On the other hand, it can be a positive moment when you want to warm up. However, you should not expect a noticeable increase in temperature in the room.
Scale builds up on the heating element of the steam humidifier if unfiltered water is poured inside. In addition, condensation forms on the surfaces around the appliance.
ultrasonic humidifier
Devices of this type create cold vapor or mist. The water from the tank is converted by a membrane that oscillates very quickly at high frequencies. Ultrasonic humidifiers combine the advantages of previous models: they save energy, do not make much noise and are safe for others.
Such devices give out average performance and humidify the air quite evenly. Additionally, some models can install a water heating system, which allows you to maintain a more comfortable temperature in the room.
Disc Humidifier
Disc humidifiers, or air washers, are a hybrid version of a traditional or ultrasonic humidifier and air purifier. The main structural element is a rotating drum with rollers moistened with water or a membrane. The fan draws air dust and other harmful particles are retained inside, and purified and moistened streams or steam are supplied outside.
Which humidifier to buy
- Air washer Kitfort KT‑2820, from 6,890 rubles →
- Ultrasonic humidifier Electrolux EHU‑5015D, from 5,635 rubles →
- Traditional humidifier Smartmi Zhimi Air Humidifier 2, from 6,100 rubles →
- Steam humidifier Boneco S200, from 5,591 rubles →
2. Evaluate the performance and volume of the tank
These characteristics affect the duration of operation and the effectiveness of humidification. Performance indicators indicate how much water per hour the device uses. The larger and more powerful the device, the larger the area it can cover. And the volume of the tank depends on how often you have to replenish it.
The average productivity is considered to be about 300 ml / h. It is better to choose a humidifier that is capable of delivering 350–400 ml/h. For each device, manufacturers also indicate the area on which the model will work optimally. It should be borne in mind that this indicator is estimated according to ideal conditions, which are quite difficult to achieve in a room.
By the area of the room, you can roughly estimate what volume of the tank to choose. For example, for a small room of 15 m², a volume of 4 liters is suitable, and for 25–30 m², models with a tank of 6–7 liters of liquid are suitable.
For traditional type devices, the air performance characteristic is also important. The higher the indicator, the more air the device can pass through itself in an hour. For small rooms, it is advisable to choose a humidifier with an indicator of 100 m³ / h, for more spacious rooms - from 400 m³ / h.
Which humidifier to buy
- Humidifier Boneco S450 with a tank for 7 liters of water, 16,990 rubles →
- Humidifier Philips HU3916 with a tank of 3 liters of water, from 9,974 rubles →
- Humidifier Smartmi Zhimi Air Humidifier 2 with a tank of 4 liters of water, from 6,100 rubles →
3. Learn about humidity management and control options
The control system can be mechanical or electronic. The mechanical type is more often used in budget humidifiers, but there are also premium models with this type of control for lovers of minimalism.
Basically, modern humidifiers are configured using the built-in electronic panel. A more advanced option is a remote control system with a remote control included. There are also devices that can be controlled from a smartphone via Wi‑Fi or Bluetooth. Such devices are suitable for working in a smart home system. They transmit data to the mobile application and are able to activate themselves to maintain the humidity level set by the user.
It is desirable that a hygrometer and a hygrostat be installed in the humidifier. The hygrometer measures the humidity level. True, the accuracy of the measurement is not very high, since it takes measurements close to the source of steam. The hygrostat allows you to automatically adjust the intensity of work. If not, you will need to do it manually.
Manufacturers also produce devices with built-in thermometers and other additional sensors. The automatic shutdown function in case of tipping over and low water level in the tank will be useful. This is especially critical for steam models. Budget humidifiers may not have such a mechanism - they only warn of danger with a signal.
Which humidifier to buy
- Air washer Boneco W200 with mechanical control, from 15,690 rubles →
- Humidifier Electrolux EHU‑3710D with hygrostat and electronic control, from 5,781 rubles →
- Humidifier Bear JSQ‑F50D2 with mechanical control, 2,200 rubles →
4. Consider the noise level and design features
Noise - an important characteristic for a humidifier. The quiet device will not distract from household chores or work during the day and will not wake you up at night. Manufacturers indicate this indicator in the documentation. It is better to choose a device with a noise level of about 30 dB.
Humidifiers periodically make sounds during the intake of water and its heating. The volume of gurgling, murmuring and other characteristic noises differs depending on the design features of the device.
The design of the humidifier also significantly affects the usability. Water must be added to the tank regularly. This process becomes tedious and frustrating if the fluid cannot be topped up without turning off the power and removing the reservoir.
Cleaning the inside of the device from plaque or scale will be problematic if the design has hard-to-reach places and non-separable parts. The filters must also be suitable for regular cleaning from contamination. Otherwise, you will often have to buy new consumables, which are not always easy to find on sale.
It is good if the direction of steam supply is regulated in the humidifier. This will help you choose the most suitable location for the appliance without damaging furniture and walls that can be damaged by condensation that accumulates on them.
Before buying, you need to carefully study the humidifier if you choose it in a store, or check it from video reviews if you order online. Think about how convenient it will be for you to do all the above mentioned manipulations.
5. Explore additional features
A humidifier with an ionizer saturates the air with negatively charged ions and slightly affects its composition. This can have a positive effect on breathing. But in reality, ionization does not bring a significant effect, so you can safely do without this option.
In models from the premium segment, there is a function of protecting water from bacteria. The device can sterilize steam, heat water or use filters along with an antiseptic tank lining.
Aromatic oils can be added to many humidifiers to create a special atmosphere in the room. Most often they need to be dripped directly into the main water tank, but some devices have a separate tank for this.
At night, a special operating mode of the humidifier will be useful, in which the illumination of indicators and controls is dimmed or completely extinguished. In addition to this, a timer is useful, with which you can set the time to automatically turn off and turn on the device. In some models with a transparent tank, a backlight is additionally built in. This feature turns the humidifier into a night light.
In any device, an indicator will not interfere, which shows that it is time to clean the filter or change the cartridge.
Which humidifier to buy
- Humidifier Polaris PUH 9105 with ionizer, from 8,030 rubles →
- Air humidifier Kitfort KT‑2811 with aromatization function, 6,069 rubles →
- Air humidifier Xiaomi Smart Antibacterial Humidifier with UV lamp, 4 149 rubles →
Please note: prices are valid at the time of publication of the article. Stores can update the cost of goods during the day.
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