Humidifier Pad: What It Is and Why It Matters

Posted on May 19th, 2009 in Brands by Humidifier Guide

A humidifier is a mechanical appliance that increases the amount of moisture in the atmosphere. This is a very useful device because not only does it keep respiratory problems at bay, it also keeps household furniture and electrical appliance free from damage. A humidifier can be a whole-house or single-room unit that releases warm air or cold air. It can be a unit with a filter or humidifier pad or a unit that works without one. The four main kinds of humidifier technologies are the impeller, steam or vaporizer, ultrasonic and evaporative humidifier.

A humidifier pad or filter is a very valuable part of an evaporative humidifier unit. An evaporative humidifier works by letting a fanned filter absorb water directly from a water tank or through a basin. The air from the motorized fan dries up the water and sends water vapor into the air. An evaporative humidifier is self-regulating because it adapts to existing humidity levels. When indoor air is already humid, water in the filter will not be able to evaporate.

One advantage of having a filtered humidifier is that the humidifier pad also strains sediments, dirt and minerals that are in the water. This ensures that harmful particles do not become airborne during the humidification process. This is also the reason why a humidifier pad needs to be cleaned and changed as often as required. Since a humidifier filter accumulates grime and is constantly moist, it becomes a potential breeding ground for mold spores, other forms of fungi, and bacteria. An improperly cleaned or dirty humidifier pad can cause numerous health risks.

Different evaporative humidifiers use different types of humidifier pads. However, all filtered units require constant cleaning and proper maintenance. A humidifier will only function well when it is set up the right way and maintained according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Some humidifier pads are washable and can be used several times, and there are others that have to be replaced after a certain period of time. Since most filters out in the market are very cheap, it is often best to change a humidifier pad instead of reusing it.

Humidifier salespeople can provide technical advice regarding what humidifier pad to use for a particular humidifier unit. Once a match has been made, consider several brands and compare prices, durability, and effectiveness. Humidifiers pads for whole-house units are different from single-room humidifier filters. Large filters can be changed after several months, while tabletop filters have to be changed more often.

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