Home Humidifiers: Humidifier Care and Use

Posted on December 31st, 2008 in Information by Humidifier Guide

Why humidifier care? Humidifiers need regular care and maintenance. Because they continuously release water vapor into the air, they are apt to spread harmful bacteria into your room if kept unclean. Additionally the water receptacle has to be cleaned and changed often, lest it become a breeding ground for invisible household pests. Here are tips and advice on basic humidifier care and Use.
 
Use your humidifier only when it is needed. Excessive moisture in the air can cause mold, mildew and a host of germs to grow in your house. First determine the humidity level of your room using a hygrometer. Also there are clear signs of dryness in the air: sore throat, cracked lips, and furniture damage among others.

- Humidifier care should be done once a week during regular use.
Consult your doctor immediately if you believe you are having breathing problems caused by your humidifier.
 
- Always unplug the humidifier before cleaning it.

- When changing the water, empty out the water receptacle completely. Wipe it and dry it before refilling it again. No trace of the “old” water must stay there for too long.

- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for humidifier care.

- You can clean the humidifier with a solution of water and a little hydrogen peroxide, or even a solution of water and bleach. However if you use bleach or other strong cleansing agent, be sure to wash the humidifier receptacle several times. This will prevent harmful chemicals from being sprayed into the air.

- Do not increase humidity level above 50%.

- Keep warm mist humidifiers away from children and pets. They may cause burns.

- No matter what, if you see condensed water drops in your glass windows, turn down the humidifier. This means there is too much water vapor in the air. If the humidifier cannot be adjusted, turn it off for a while.

- Humidifier care also requires that you keep the room dry. No extra moisture would help since the humidifier is doing that already. If you spill water or something, turn down or turn off the appliance.

- If parts need to be changed, use only those recommended by the manufacturer. Not doing so may damage the humidifier, or void the warranty on it.

- When you know you won’t be using the humidifier for a long time, empty it out completely. Dispose of used parts such as cartridges and filters. Clean the whole appliance thoroughly and dry it before storing it in a clean, dry place.
 
 
Humidifier care is essential to keeping your home environment clean and safe. Follow these directions so you can have safer, happier times during the low-humidity season.

Home Humidifier Safety Guidelines

Posted on December 30th, 2008 in Guides by Humidifier Guide

A home humidifier is an important part of many homes. It helps raise the level of humidity in the environment during cold weather, so you don’t get that sore, itchy throat or dry lips. However for some people – namely those with breathing problems – a home humidifier can pose a threat to their health.
 
Contrary to what some of you may think, a home humidifier can do more harm than good to individuals with asthma and allergies. This is because an increase in humidity in a room encourages the growth of mold, bacteria, dust mites and other harmful organisms. Even the moisture in the air itself can irritate one’s lungs and thus trigger asthma attacks and other respiratory conditions.
 
Even healthy people can be put at risk if either the humidifier or the room it is in is not kept clean. A home humidifier ought to be cleaned every couple of days, or according to the instructions of its maker. The water reservoir must be emptied, cleaned and dried regularly. No water is too remain there for too long. Further, if you are not going to use the home humidifier for a long time, clean and dry it thoroughly before putting it away.
 
The room where the humidifier operates in must be kept dry. If water is allowed to collect, then humidity level would get too high. Water would condense and cause mold to grow. It would also be impossible to dry your laundry!
 
To avoid these troubles, you need to know the humidity level of the area prior to installing a home humidifier. You can buy a model that already has a built-in humidity level monitor known as a hygrometer. But they are not very accurate. The best thing to use is a standalone hygrometer.
 
Now here are the different levels of humidity:
 
Too low – 30% and lower
Just right – 40-45%
Too much – 50% and higher
 
When humidity is at 30% or less, you will experience discomfort like dryness and itchy skin—and so will your wooden furniture probably. The 40-45% range is the ideal level of moisture. If the humidity is 50% or higher, you must not use a humidifier as this would over-moisturize the room. In that case, you might need a dehumidifier instead!
 
A home humidifier is a handy appliance for those bitterly cold winter times. But as shown here, it needs to be monitored and cleaned regularly. Do make sure your home humidifier is in good running condition always.

Holmes Humidifier Reviews

Posted on December 29th, 2008 in Brands by Humidifier Guide

There are times that you feel that it’s quite difficult to breathe inside your home. This is because there is a low level of humidity. Humidity is very important in the house since it can help solve the dry air that is the main cause of irritated throat. What you are about to read is a thorough review of the Holmes Humidifiers. Generally, all humidifiers can help treat asthma and in fact it can help alleviate the discomfort that you feel coming from flu and colds. If you are not really sure about the signs manifested by having a dry air, one common sign is having a dry skin.

Among the top three Holmes humidifiers is the Holmes HM 3500 8-Gallon Console Humidifier. This product has receives great reviews from home owners who have experienced breathing a clean air with this humidifier. If this purifier is properly maintained, it can stay durable for for five years. The product is a also a good choice because it is not noisy and it only becomes a little noisy when the fan is turned on to the highest level, but then even with that slight noise, the purifier is still highly efficient.

It pumps out moisture that circulates to the air, so it is much better to leave the purifier running on medium or low at day time and high during night time for the air to be saturated completely. If you are having some difficulties in evaluating the humidity amount inside your home, here is a simple trick that you need to watch out for. If you have a cat inside your home and it tend to spark when you are petting it, it is sign that you have a low level of humidity inside your home. Or if you notice that your windows have some condensation particles, it is a sign that you have overdone the humidity system.

Another good choice of a Holmes humidifier is the HM 5305-UC Warm Mist Humidifier. There are a lot of people who choose this kind of humidifier since it is very easy to grip and that you need not to deal with messy filters. It is very easy to clean and it will only take a couple of minutes before it hearts up. This device is good for people having irritated sinuses. This can help looses up your sinuses and relieves it carefully. It does not only purify the air, but also it helps you breathe easily especially if you have breathing problems.

Health and Home: The Warm Mist Humidifier

Posted on December 28th, 2008 in Brands by Humidifier Guide

Humidifiers come in all shapes and sizes. For the customer who lives in cold areas, the warm mist humidifier may be the one that is best for their household. For the uninformed, a humidifier is a device that generally increases the amount of moisture in the air in a given area. Some humidifiers can be used to control the humidity in an entire house, while others are travel size and are mainly for personal use. Uses of the machine vary, but warm mist humidifiers are generally used to alleviate allergies or the like and make breathing easier.

Warm mist humidifiers are compact steam producing machines. These are also called steam humidifiers or vaporizers by some. While often more costly as it needs to create heat to properly function, they are also safer on the level of health as the steam air is sterile, unlike the increasingly common cold mist version. Inhaled medicine can also be added to the often warm water to create cough reducing vapors. Precautions should be taken around the warm mist humidifier if there are children, as they can get burned or hurt by the heat. These come in various sizes, as previously mentioned, unlike the cool mist version.

There are numerous reasons to use a warm mist humidifier over a cool mist humidifier. Colder areas make the warm mist humidifier more appealing, as well as seasonal changes. A quick visit to the doctor might also reveal what kind of humidifier you actually need. Household maintenance also factors into the use of your warm mist humidifier, as too little water in the air can lead to cracks in wooden materials. This can prove disheartening to the guitar player who finds their instrument broken and essentially useless. This is not a situation most consumers want themselves in – they want to be sure that both their health and their home is protected and improved by their warm mist humidifier.

Too much water in the air can also be detrimental, as it can lead to rapid mold and bacterial growth, which could potentially worsen the allergic reactions that you may have sought to prevent with the warm mist humidifier. This is why users often buy a hygrometer as well to monitor the amount of moisture in the air. It is generally agreed upon by consensus that the healthy and best amount of moisture inside a home ranges from thirty five to forty five percent.

Guide to Buying Humidifier

Posted on December 27th, 2008 in Information by Humidifier Guide

Guide to Buying a Humidifier

A humidifier is used to adjust the level of humidity in a room. This makes it more pleasant and prevents cracked lips, dryness, sore throat and also damage to furniture. There are different types of humidifiers around. This article looks at how to pick one when you go shopping for a humidifier.
 
Humidifier Basics
 
Each home needs its own type of humidifier. Before you set out to buy one, first you need to decide what type of humidifier to get.

Before anything else, do you really need one? If your lips get cracked and dry and your throat aches in the morning, probably yes. Also a humidifier can help preserve furniture as well.
 
Then use a hygrometer to find out the humidity level of the room or unit you will be using the appliance in.
 
Warm or Cool?
 
You can choose either warm or cool mist humidifiers. The warm type is easy to breathe and a little quieter than cool mist humidifiers. However they need more frequent cleaning. If you neglect to clean a warm humidifier regularly, it can quickly breed germs.
 Somall? 
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Big 
Are you going to use the humidifier in a small den? Or a large living room? Get a humidifier for the size of the room you will be using it in. If you use a narrow-range humidifier in a big room, it won’t be effective. If you use a wide-range humidifier in a small room, condensed water will appear in window panes. You also risk bacterial growth.
 
Warranty
 
Make sure the humidifier comes with a warranty.
 
Liter or Gallon?
 
Humidifiers come with varying sizes of water receptacles. If you don’t want to have to refill it every few hours or so, get a big one.
 
Noise
 
How much noise can you tolerate? Humidifiers vary in the amount of noise they generate. So test it first before buying.
 
Warnings and Reminders
 
No matter what brand of humidifier you purchase, you need to read AND follow the directions exactly. Humidifiers can be dangerous to health if left dirty. Clean your appliance regularly – once a week at least if you use them often. Also, DO NOT fill it with water unless you are going to use it. When you clean a humidifier, use vinegar to clean the appliance. You can also use a solution of water and bleach to clean the water receptacle.

Furnace Humidifier for Your Home

Posted on December 26th, 2008 in Information by Humidifier Guide

A lot people are very excited about a white winter, however, what they do not see is the problem associated to the dry air that winter brings and it is quite unpleasant. A room or air with low humidity can cause our skin to dry and damage it. It also dries our mucous membranes as well as our nasal passages. It can cause drying of wooden furniture too thus making it brittle and easy to break. What is worst here is that, when the air lacks moisture, there is a great tendency that we might experience nosebleeds, sore throat, cough, colds and among others.

An air humidifier helps alleviate the problems that is caused by dry air. It works by sending out moisture to the circulation of the air, it raises up the level of humidity of the air. A tabletop humidifier is a good choice if you want to humidify a small space like a bed room or a nursery room. The console humidifiers are perfect for the large rooms and can work with multiple rooms and even small apartments. If you want to humidify an entire house, the whole house humidifier is the perfect choice. All these are attach to an air-conditioner or a heating system and it circulates the moisture of the air of your home.

The furnace humidifier works with the furnace system. It is basically installed to the works and ducts of your cooling and heating unit system. This help humidify the entire house. Furnace humidifiers works by using your very own house water system. A furnace humidifier may be a little bit expensive as compared to the other humidifier models. But then it is energy efficient and it appease to cost less for the operation. If you are about to purchase a furnace humidifier, you have to look for the model that has a built-in humidistat.

This can help you adjust the humidity to your desired level. As soon as the desired level of humidity is reached, the furnace humidifier will automatically shut down. This is very important so as to avoid over humidifying the room. Just like any other humidifier, you need to clean your furnace humidifier according to the instructions given by the manufacturer. You have to be very careful about this one, if you fail to follow the said instructions, you will be surprised to see molds covering up your humidifier and this will be circulated with the air inside your home. So, be sure to follow the cleaning instructions properly.

Filters for Various Robitussin Humidifier Models

Posted on December 25th, 2008 in Filters by Humidifier Guide

Several makers of humidifier parts exist in the United States (U.S.). Some produce parts for different humidifier brands, while some exclusively manufacture parts for one humidifier brand alone. There are even companies that concentrate solely on manufacturing one type of humidifier part, which is the filter. We would like to make Robitussin humidifier filters as the focal point of this discussion by taking a look at several types of filters that fit various Robitussin humidifier models.

RPS Products created the “Robitussin Humidifier Filter DH832 RCM832” for such Robitussin humidifier models as DH-830, AGW-813, WF-813, RCM-832, DH-832, DH830, AGW813, WF813, RCM832 and DH832. A single pack contains two Robitussin humidifier filters of this kind and costs $7.99. If consumers want to save money, they can make a single purchase of six or twelve filters, wherein each filter will only cost $6.24 and $5.27, respectively. Money can be refunded within 30 days if consumers find damages with regard to the filter’s fit and function.

Another filter from RPS Products is the “Robitussin Humidifier Filter DH835.” Priced at $11.99 each, this was manufactured to support Robitussin humidifier models AGW-835 and DH-835. This can also be availed at a discount if consumers opt to buy six or twelve filters at a single purchase. Each filter will then cost $7.78 and $7.11, respectively. The quality of this Robitussin humidifier filter is also backed with a one-month money back guarantee.

The “Honeywell HC-835 Replacement Filter” also supports Robitussin humidifiers. This can be purchased at $7.99. Aside from Robitussin humidifiers, this filter also fits Vicks Cool Moisture Humidifiers.

Replacement filter part numbers ACR-832 and AGW-813 supports “Robitussin Cool Moisture Humidifier” models DH-832 and DH-830. This Robitussin humidifier filter features honeycomb filtration which traps mineral pollutants seen in water. Priced at $2.99 each, this filter measures about 4 inches x 6 inches x 1 ½ inches.

Another Robitussin humidifier filter fits model DH-835. It measures about 5″ H x 5 1/2″ ID x 7″ OD x 1 1/4″ Thick. This costs $9.99 and features an antimicrobial agent.

“Honeywell HAC504” is also a replacement filter for a model of a Robitussin humidifier. This Robitussin humidifier filter features an agion microbial coating that aims to prevent the surface growth of bacteria, algae, fungus and mold.

Wick filter HW500 is also a filter that can replace models of such humidifier brands as Robitussin, Vicks, and Kaz. Its regular price is $16.99 but there are retail and online stores that offer it at a discount. As a matter of fact, several stores sell it for onlye $10.99.

If consumers are efficient in finding discounted products, they might also be able to purchase Robitussin humidifier filters for as low as $5.

However, we also advise consumers to not only look at the prices of these filters, but also check on their quality. Anyway, there are also stores that allow a refund if damages concerning the filters’ fit and function are discovered.

Do You Need Warm Air Humidifiers?

Posted on December 24th, 2008 in Information by Humidifier Guide

 Warm air humidifiers or warm mist humidifiers are machines that haven’t gotten the love that they deserve. When its winter and you want to put some water in the air to keep your wood and skin safe, you turn to warm air humidifiers. Of course, not everyone knows what a humidifier is and whether or not they even need one to begin with. Luckily, along with technology’s ever increasing development speed, warm air humidifiers have been improving to the point that most of their faults have been repaired. Learn the basics of warm air humidifiers and you may realize that you need one after all.

First you need to realize why maintain the right percentage of humidity is important. When the air is dry, any number of bad things occurs. Asthmatics become more prone to attacks. Breathing dry air can even cause the onset of bronchitis and could further dehydration. Not only does it affect your body, but dry air doesn’t hesitate and also does a number on your possessions. Wooden objects have a tendency to suffer due to dry air, cracking and essentially becoming devalued and damaged. Now looking over warm air humidifiers doesn’t seem like such as a bad idea.

The purpose of a humidifier is to avoid exactly that using a variety of methods, each of which is unique to particular machines. Warm air humidifiers does so by heating up the water to its boiling point and using the steam to disperse water in the air. This is beneficial for a large number of reasons, not the least of which is that it also sterilizes and cleans the water before sending it out there. This makes sure that it at least isn’t counterproductive and cause more trouble than it solves.

If you’re looking to pick up one of these warm air humidifiers, it may be a good idea to look for one that covers a slightly larger area than the place you’re trying to protect to further increase the machine’s capabilities and efficiency. Of course, before you even consider it, you may want to find out if you actually need one. Drop by any hardware store and they should be able to sell you something that is called a hygrometer, which can essentially tell you if you need warm air humidifiers. This tells you the amount of moisture currently in the air. The numbers you should be looking for lie between thirty five and forty five percent. Any higher or lower and you receive a number of negative repercussions.

Dehumidifiers: Types of Dehumidifiers

Posted on December 23rd, 2008 in Information by Humidifier Guide

What is a Dehumidifier?
 
A dehumidifier is an appliance used to lower the humidity in a room. It does the opposite of a humidifier, which raises the humidity. Reducing the humidity level in the air is sometimes needed as excessive moisture in the air can cause mold and mildew which are harmful to health. High humidity also makes people feel hotter than it really is, and laundry takes much longer to dry.
 
All this is because the level of humidity in the air determines how fast or slow water will evaporate. If there is plenty of water vapor locked in the air (like in high humidity), the air can no longer take more water in so any liquid present in the area cannot evaporate, or evaporates very slowly. On the other hand, if there is less water vapor in the air (low humidity), the air seems to suck in the water in the environment, so things like sweat or laundered clothes dry up fast.
 
With a dehumidifier, you can artificially reduce the amount of water vapor in the air to bring the humidity to a more desirable level.
 
Types of Dehumidifiers
 
Heat Pump Dehumidifiers (the Refrigerator types) – This type of dehumidifier has a fan and two coils, one cold and another warm. First the fan draws the air over the cold coil. The sudden drop in temperature causes the water vapor to condense (I.e. turn into water drops). The water is then gathered into a container and is heated by the warm coil and then released at room temperature. This type of dehumidifier is one of the most commonly used.
 
Chemical Absorbent Dehumidifiers (Dessicant types) – Chemicals are used in this type of dehumidifier. Air is drawn in and treated by a substance known as a dessicant, which has the effect of reducing water vapor in the air. The air is then re-released at lower humidity. Chemical-based dehumidifiers are preferred in industrial use rather than home use.
 
Air Conditioners – An air-conditioning unit works as a dehumidifier too. As these appliances cool the air, they also manage the water it produces and then exhaust it outside.
 
No matter what type of dehumidifier you use, it is important to clean and maintain it as per the instructions for it. Dehumidifiers are important in controlling the moisture in the air to keep people healthy and comfortable. Use them properly.

Cool Mist Humidifiers: Important Traits

Posted on December 22nd, 2008 in Brands by Humidifier Guide

The best cool mist humidifier is one that is safe for your family, clean and efficient for its cost. It is a sad fact but for the most part, just because something is expensive does not mean it will perform well – sometimes, it’s quite the opposite. There are of course, specific considerations that the best cool mist humidifier must be able to meet and excel in, or you should probably put it back and look for another type of humidifier.

Now, cool mist humidifiers often have the bad reputation of making a lot of noise – it comes with the job and sometimes, is largely unavoidable. The best cool mist humidifier comes with a very important attachment, one that regulates the amount of moisture in the air and reacts accordingly to it. This essentially means that it regulates itself and makes sure that it doesn’t over humidify the air, potentially causing mold spores to grow or damaging various wooden objects. This also has the neat side effect of potentially saving you money.

Another important thing for the best cool mist humidifier to have is to at least, be respectably quiet. The original intention of the humidifier is of course, to improve quality of breathing and of life, rather than detract from it. Having a loud humidifier that keeps you up at night is certainly counterproductive and should be replaced with one that is quieter. Another important aspect is that it should be easy to clean. Even the best cool mist humidifier needs maintenance and it’s just as well that it is easy to clean. This also makes sure that germs or other unwanted bacteria don’t fester and thrive. IF they do, they are liable to spread along with the mist and make life worse all around, potentially causing allergic reactions and the like.

The best cool mist humidifier is one that doesn’t just humidify the air, but also purifies and cleans it. Of course, this could potentially make the purchase much more expensive but it can be all the more worth it for asthmatics or people who unfortunately live in places filled to the brim with allergens. Unfortunately, except for a few notable machines, most combination machines do not deliver on their promise and sometimes are just large, useless and expensive paperweights.
For the absolute best cool mist humidifier, you cannot beat one that makes your entire house seem colder. The largest ones can be expensive, but can make a home all the more relaxing for you to enjoy them. Be sure to clean them out regularly – if you don’t you could find yourself on the wrong side of a bacterial infection.