How, What and Why: Getting to Know Ultrasonic Humidifiers

Posted on May 16th, 2009 in Brands by Humidifier Guide

Ultrasonic humidifiers are electrical appliances designed to increase the amount of moisture in the air. In a dry environment you can get dry and itchy skin, chapped lips, irritated eyes, sore throat and sinus headaches. Low humidity can also trigger and provoke respiratory ailments like cough, colds and asthma as well as an assortment of allergies. The respiratory system needs the right amount of moisture to fight off bacteria and viruses, and ultrasonic humidifiers help in keeping respiratory problems at bay.

Aside from keeping you healthy and comfortable inside the house, ultrasonic humidifiers help make indoor air suitable for wooden furniture, house materials and electronic equipment. Too much dryness can cause your furnishings, walls and flooring to warp and crack. Ultrasonic humidifiers also minimize static electricity which can cause sparks in your electrical equipment.

Ultrasonic humidifiers are just one kind of humidifier. They use a vibrating transducer that breaks water into a million of very small droplets. The main concern here is the mineral deposits in the water that also become airborne during humidification. They become “white dust” that lands on furniture and can be inhaled. However, the latest models have a cartridge that keeps the minerals from being airborne.

Other major kinds of humidifiers are the steam or vaporizer, impeller and evaporative wick.

The steam humidifier heats the water and releases steam. The boiling process kills germs in the water and keeps the water from stagnating. It is also the reason why the steam humidifier eats a lot of energy and is constantly hot.

The impeller uses a rotating disc to spin water towards a diffuser, causing mist to come out of the humidifier. The impeller needs energy to propel the air, but not as much energy as the steam humidifier because the impeller does not provide heat. This makes it more energy efficient. However, impeller humidifiers must be disinfected after every use because the still water attracts molds and bacteria. Newer and pricier models already have anti-bacterial features.

The evaporative humidifier uses a wick filter to draw water from a basin. The fan blows through the filter and dries up water particles. The advantage of this kind of humidifier is that it is self-regulating or adaptive to existing humidity levels. The downside is it needs to be cleaned all the time. The filter must be replaced regularly as indicated in the manufacturer’s instructions.

Ultrasonic humidifiers are very popular because they run on low energy, have quiet settings for nighttime use, and produce a cool mist instead of steam that can burn children.

Before you pick one of the many models of ultrasonic humidifiers, look for an anti-bacterial and humidity-recognition feature, noise-free option, and demineralization cartridge.

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