Weather patterns have changed a lot over time. The depletion of the ozone layer and other factors have led to global warming. The cold weather is nowadays colder than ever before and the hot weather is reaching very high degrees as well. In order to cope with this extreme weather, people continue to search for ways to adapt. The most common way to combat weather changes is to install a good AC system. Besides that, a good humidifier is helpful as well. A humidifier adds moisture in the air to prevent dry air. When it is too cold, or too hot, the dry air can cause irritation. Therefore a humidifier comes in handy.
A humidifier helps to reduce the harsh effects that dry weather has on people. Dry air, both hot and cold causes irritation on the skin. It also causes chapped and painful lips. Dry air also causes a dry cough. When there is no humidity in the air, you get sore throats, irritable sinuses, and sometimes nose bleeding. Dry air is bad for your floors, furniture, and even other fixtures. It caused cracking and peeling on wooden floors and oil-based paints. Therefore, it is important to balance moisture in the air.
What Are The Different Humidifiers?
Humidifiers come in five main types. Central humidifiers are built-in with the air conditioning system. They are the best choice for humidifying the whole house. Then there are evaporators that blow moist air through a filter. They use a single unit system to fan moist air in the room.
The third category is the impeller humidifiers. They use rotating disks running at high speed to create a cool mist. They work in small spaces. The fourth category is steam vaporizers. They use electric power to heat water and cool it before expelling it in the air like mist.
They can cause scalding if not used properly. The fifth category is the ultrasonic humidifiers. These use the latest technology that produces cool mist using ultrasonic vibration. They produce both cool ad warm mist. They are also used to humidify one room at a time.
What Are The Differences Between Cold Mist And Warm Mist Humidifiers?
Warm mist humidifiers use a heating element that boils water into steam. They then expel the warm mist into the air. They do not require a fan to expel humidity, hence they are quiet. They are best suited for single rooms. The hot water prevents mold and harmful bacteria from developing hence they are safe. They work best for single rooms during cold weather. However, they require more energy and they can potentially scald you so they need ultimate care.
Cool mist humidifiers use a fan system to dispense cool mist into the air. They can also use ultrasonic vibration to evaporate water in the air. Because they use a fan, they can be noisy. Cool mist humidifiers are good because they use less energy. They do not use hot water, hence they are less likely to cause accidental scalding. On the flip side, they can accumulate harmful mold and bacteria if not cleaned properly.
What Are The Possible Risks With Humidifiers?
The most common risk with humidifier usage is hot water scalding. You should be careful especially when using them around children. Improper use, storage, and cleaning of humidifiers can cause bacteria growth that causes respiratory conditions. Too much humidity in hot air can cause mold on walls. They can also cause wood rot, and peel paint on walls. Make sure that you read the user manual on your humidifier and use it properly.
Which Humidifier Is Good For Colds?
Most of the time, both humidifiers work well for people with colds. However, the decision still depends on the weather and the individual using it. If you have a cold in the middle of winter, then a warm mist humidifier may be the best for you. If the cold is triggered by the cold winter air, then a warm mist humidifier will do well for you. If your cold is brought by dusty desert weather, then a cool-mist humidifier will be better suited.
Warm mist humidifiers work better while dispensing medicine than cool mist humidifiers. If you need to put medicine in your humidifier, you still have to consult with your physician. He or she can explain to you the best humidifier to use with your medication. If you can cure your cold with just essential oils, then both the warm mist and cool mist humidifiers will work just fine.
Sources: Good Housekeeping, Healthline, Sylvane.com