I’m thinking of gettting a humidifier for my apartment. It is very dry inside, when I take off my fleece jacket, I can hear the crackling. I have a fleece blanket on my bed and when I pull it over the comforter, it sounds like a 4th of July fireworks celebration when I unflold it.
What is your experience with using a humidifier? I think this would be a better solution that putting bowls of water all over my apartment.
They are fine… what exactly do you want to know about them? They typically make a little noise, but not more than a small desk fan. You have to refill them every day or so, but it’s usually not a big deal. I think they all technically require distilled/purified water, but I doubt anyone actually ever listens to that.
All in all… they are fine.
I used to swear by 'em, until my daughter came down with pneumonia two winters ago. When the respiratory techs and doctors found out I had a humidifier in her room, you’d have thought I was inviting clumsy ninjas in through her bedroom window to juggle grenades without pins. “Bacterial breeding grounds!” “Huge petrie dishes!” “Airborne contamination on a global scale!”
I got rid of the humidifiers before she got home from the hospital. Now I use a large pot of just barely simmering water on the stove with some cinnamon sticks and cloves in it to smell nice (and also, the essential oils of cinnamon and clove happen to be antimicrobial). When I run the shower, I plug the drain and let the water collect in the tub and when I get out I leave the door open to let the warm bathwater evaporate into the house for a while. I hang laundry to dry inside to give its moisture to the air. But no water stays standing for more than a few hours and I don’t use humidifiers or vaporizors anymore.
If you’re absolutely hellbent on using a humidifier, read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions to the T. That generally means emptying, cleaning and drying the reservoir before refilling it every day, and cleaning the whole unit every three days or every week, including a bleach water soak. It’s the only way to reduce the risk of bacteria growing in there and getting spewed out into the air with the vapor.
If anyone in the house has asthma, COPD or other respiratory problems, talk to their doctor before using a humidifier.
Finally, monitor the humidity level in your home so it doesn’t get too humid. Too much humidity causes allergen and bacterial growth on surfaces and can make people sick, too.
My doctor recommended a humidifier for my allergies. I went through many different humidifiers, and the only one that wasn’t a piece of crap in one way or another was the cheapest one: the Vick’s steam vaporizer. Because it works by boiling the water, there are no filters to change and it never gets moldy. It’s also the quietest and has lastest the longest without breaking.
The cool mist humidifiers are far more prone to spreading mold and stuff around; I’ve always preferred the warm steam kind. The drawback of them are that it’s easier to over-humidify and damage surfaces, but honestly, if you aren’t running one all night in a shut room it isn’t an issue.
The cool mist ones can also cause a powdery white condensation to form on everything near them. Ick.
keeping the air about 50% is good. it holds more heat and you are more comfortable. your respiratory passages work better as well.
cold mist impeller ones are bad.
room temperature evaporation or hot evaporation are good. follow cleaning and drying procedures to keep the device healthy. use caution if using heat to produce humidy.
I wound up with a closet full of mold. There are probably ways to prevent this.
The cold ones (ones that use a fan only) will cool a room to IMHO unacceptable levels, the hot ones work great but some say are a source or breeding ground of something like bubonic plague or some end of all life on earth microbe. Perhaps the safe way would be a cold humidifier + space heater.
Avoid the cool mist ones at all costs, as they spread mold & germs, & do a generally crummy job.
Hot vaporizers are the only way to go.
No one has specifically mentioned there are 3 types:
Wick - I think these are just water, cloth and a fan.
Ultrasonic - the “cool mist” type. Advantages: low energy consumption, no heat. Disadvantages: breeds bacteria.
Heat - this is basically slow boiling water. Advantages: no bacteria. Disadvantages: more energy consumption (I think 250W), heat produced (no matter in winter, bad in summer).
You’re probably not in Australia, but I used to use this: http://www.fgb.com.au/euky-bear-vaporiser
If you’re getting a hot type, you might want these features:
auto cut-off
keeps water cool (only heats up part of the water at a time)
doesn’t tip over
This brand was expensive ($50 for what amounts to a heater and a water container), but the warranty was good. Mine kept spoiling, and they sent me new ones (it helped that their office was near my house).
Also, if you use a steam type, get cleaning tablets or the inside of yours may look like this: http://lh5.ggpht.com/_6cM8WmwYUjc/S-2Mh8wQmSI/AAAAAAAAB_A/lbgajuZ6oQ0/s1600/DSC03465.JPG
you were hoping it was simple, weren’t you? it isn’t.
I grew up in Minnesota and the air in winter was so dry you’d get electric shocks petting the cat. I also get bloody noses and sinus headaches, blech.
humidifiers help a lot but they are a pain in the ass to clean - bacteria, yes, also hard water deposits.
lately I’ve done without them and keep the house very cool (the more you warm it up, the drier it is) but it’s not perfect.
since at night is when I want more humidity boiling water on the stove isn’t the answer. after reading this thread I’m considering getting a vicks vaporizer.
anyone got info on specific models?
