home > Floor repair > Why do you need a humidifier in the apartment. Why do you need a humidifier in the apartment for a child? The negative impact of dry air

Why do you need a humidifier in the apartment. Why do you need a humidifier in the apartment for a child? The negative impact of dry air

Many do not take the temperature and humidity of their homes seriously. Hence there is a misunderstanding of why a humidifier is needed, some even consider it an unnecessary device. The quality of the air in the apartment affects the well-being of the owners living in it. One of the most important indicators of the microclimate in the room is such a parameter as humidity. A humidifier is able to normalize and maintain it at an optimal level. His inconspicuous work affects in the best way on general well-being and human health.

Using a humidifier will provide a favorable microclimate in the house all year round. During the heating period, its use is especially important, since radiators and other heating devices closed windows make the air in the room extremely dry. This makes it difficult for the body to absorb oxygen, which causes rapid fatigue. In the warm season, it is also necessary to humidify the air. When it is warm outside with the windows of the house open, a natural renewal of air masses occurs with which dust, plant pollen and other impurities enter the room.

If the humidifier works, then all the dust that has fallen will quickly settle, which will prevent it from entering the lungs.

The concept of air humidity itself refers to the amount of water vapor contained in the air mass, which is determined by the percentage. The range of 40-60% is considered to be favorable and optimal for humans. Smaller and larger values can cause respiratory illness and mold, respectively.

The negative impact of dry air

With dry air, a moisture deficiency occurs in the body, which leads to dryness of the mucous membranes, which contributes to the occurrence of respiratory diseases. The lack of moisture in the air negative impact also on skin, hair and nails. In people with allergies, dry air provokes seizures, since the amount of dust in such an environment is higher. Completely healthy people may occur headache, loss of concentration, general malaise is felt.

If there are children in the family, then you especially need to take care of the quality and humidity of the air in the nursery. Young children are more sensitive low content moisture in the air due to the peculiarities of thermoregulation of their body. Significant temperature and humidity characteristics in the bedroom. Extremely dry air can cause you to wake up with a dry throat.

If you feel dry skin on your face, hands, dry cough, itchy nose and throat, difficulty breathing, you should take measures to increase the moisture content in the room air.

Why do you need a humidifier and what is its role

The task of the humidifier is not only to normalize the moisture content in the air, but also to maintain its optimal value in the room. The device will monitor the humidity indicator and, if necessary, turn on to maintain the set value. That is, you can independently set the required level of moisture content, which is useful not only for health. In some cases, a certain value of temperature and humidity characteristics is required, for example, for collectors who store old books, paintings, furniture and other things that require special storage conditions.

The device is capable of supporting desired value moisture in the air, provided that the space is isolated from external environment. With the windows open, the set humidity level may not be at the proper level. The device itself is completely safe and easy to use. During its operation, no additional costs are required for the purchase of any Supplies(not for all types and models of devices). After filling the device with water and placing it in a convenient place, you can turn it on and it will begin to create a microclimate. The air humidifier can function continuously both day and night. At the same time, it will not interfere with the usual household chores, as well as rest and sleep, since it works quietly.

Types of models

When it is clear why you need a humidifier, you need to choose the right one so that it meets all the requirements for creating a microclimate in the house. The main thing when choosing is to determine the type of device suitable for you. Humidifiers used in everyday life are divided into several types according to the principle of operation:

traditional;
steam;
ultrasonic.

The traditional view, also called "air wash", is the most accessible means due to low price and simple device. Its action is based on the natural evaporation of water. At the same time, it does not heat up, and why should it - everything happens by itself. As water evaporates, it gradually increases the moisture content of the air. The water poured into the container of the device enters the pan, after which it enters special elements on which it evaporates. Evaporators can be in the form of discs, cartridges or special filters.

The advantage of such devices is their affordable price, small power consumption, low noise during operation. Negative side the device is characterized by insufficient humidification efficiency and inconvenience of use caused by the need to use only distilled or demineralized water. Also, periodically you will need to change the installed filters.

Steam humidifiers have a similar principle of operation, but only with water heating. In a container with water there is a pair of electrodes heating it. Under this action, the water evaporates and the escaping steam saturates the air with moisture. Some models of this type of humidifier allow use them as inhalers. This function allows you to warm up the respiratory system. To do this, along with a humidifier, special nozzles are included.

The steam type of devices has a protection system. When all the liquid from the tank of the device evaporates, it will automatically turn off. Since the device has heating elements, it consumes a significant amount of kilowatts. This indicator varies depending on the model in the range of 0.3-0.6 kW.

The following type of ultrasonic humidifiers is considered the most efficient and effective, which is why it is in great demand. It is arranged quite complicated on piezoelectric elements. They convert electrical vibrations into mechanical vibrations, which create waves of different pressure in the liquid. As a result of this action, water no longer boils at a temperature of 100 degrees, but at a lower value. The resulting steam sends a fan into the room and humidifies the air to the desired level.

The main advantage of ultrasonic humidifiers is that the resulting steam is cold, not hot, like the steam types of these devices. It is both safer, you can not get burned, and more comfortable especially in hot, dry weather. In addition, the ultrasonic appearance of the devices allows for more accurate control the humidity level at home, does not require consumables, can work with ordinary water from the tap. Based on this, when choosing a humidifier, you should pay attention to Special attention precisely on the ultrasonic type of devices.

Main characteristics and additional features of air humidifiers

Price different types devices to be in a fairly wide range. The cost is affected by the capabilities and availability of additional options for the model. To choose a suitable humidifier, you need to consider the area of \u200b\u200bthe room in which the device is supposed to work. At different models its performance and some of them are not suitable for large areas. But even high-performance humidifiers are not able to cope with the task in the entire apartment. Therefore, you will need to purchase several devices or move the humidifier from different rooms. The performance of the humidifier depends on the power it consumes. Therefore, you will have to choose between efficiency and efficiency of the device.

Models also differ in noise level, this figure, depending on the model, can vary between 5-70 dB. How quiet the appliance will operate depends on design features and fan speed. The duration of operation depends on the size of the water tank, the smaller it is, the more often the humidifier will have to be filled. When the liquid runs out, a special signal will notify you. Typically, devices with a tank volume of 5 liters are able to work all day.

Exist portable humidifiers which are compact and mobile. To make it work, it is placed in a glass of water and connected to the USB connector of the computer. Portable humidifiers allow you to saturate the air with moisture locally at your workplace, which will allow you to work comfortably and productively.

In the characteristics of humidifiers, there is an indicator of maximum air exchange. Based on it, you can understand how much air the device passes through itself per hour of operation. If the model has a hygrostat and the ability not to exceed the set humidity level, then you can not be afraid of dampness in the room. Some models are regulated by a built-in timer, having worked set time the device will turn off and turn on again after a specified interval.

Certain models are equipped with filters that provide cleaning varying degrees. Filters are of the following types:

pre-cleaning, performs coarse cleaning;
fine cleaning HEPA filters, consisting of materials based on glass fibers;
electrostatic, purify the air from microparticles, using an electrostatic field;
photocatalytic, they oxidize the toxins contained in the air with ultraviolet light, they also have the longest service life.

It will also be useful if the humidifier has an air ionization function. The escaping steam is additionally enriched with negatively charged ions and dust particles sticking together will settle faster. Air ionizers are also manufactured as separate devices.

Why do you need humidifiers? Everyone at least once saw an advertisement for these miracle devices. But not everyone thought about the benefits of having such a device at home. What do these devices do? The answer is simple - humidify the air. The best percentage of air humidity ranges from 40 to 60. In such a room, the person himself, his skin and all mucous membranes feel comfortable. It is easy to breathe in this room. Once the moisture in the air starts to evaporate, everything that felt good begins to suffer. This is because the air begins to compensate for the lack of moisture in all available ways: from freshly washed things hanging in the room, plants, an aquarium (if any) and, of course, from people. Everyone knows the truth that a person consists of water by 74%. This percentage begins to rapidly decrease in a very dry room, worsening health. The eyes, the nasal cavity dry up rapidly, discomfort appears, the formation of microcracks makes it easier for viruses to enter the body. There is an urgent need to normalize humidity.

When do you need a humidifier? How to choose a device? It depends on many factors: the area of \u200b\u200bthe room, the general humidity of the climate of the place of residence, the number of people permanently located in the perimeter, the presence of vegetation and aquariums, as well as the season of the year. Humidity is measured by a special device called a hygrometer. But in the century modern technologies there is no need to go shopping in search of it. It is enough to download the application to your smartphone - and now the result is already known, what is the percentage of humidity in any room. Now it has become clear why air humidifiers are needed, but another question arises: how to choose a device? There are several types of these devices: ultrasonic, traditional, steam, multifunctional complexes. To understand which humidifier for apartments will do, you need to learn more about each type.

Ultrasonic

The principle of its operation is that the liquid that falls on a constantly vibrating plate is split into water sprays. These tiny drops form a "cloud" of steam, which is thrown into the room in portions, saturating the air with life-giving moisture. In other words, this principle of action forms a kind of "fog" in the house. Silent and efficient.

The released water suspension is absolutely safe for people and animals. It is cold, which eliminates the possibility of getting burned. The ultrasonic humidifier autonomously maintains the optimum level of humidity, working automatically (it turns on and off by itself), so the question “How often should I turn on the humidifier?” disappears by itself. Such a device consumes less energy and is more compact than its competitors. The most visible drawback can be called a replaceable cartridge. It will have to be periodically replaced with a new one, otherwise the entire moisturizing process will be interrupted. At the moment, this particular device is in great demand among citizens.

Traditional

It is the simplest in its design and principle of operation. Water is poured into a special tank and descends to the pallet, where it sucks in and humidifies the air with the help of a fan and filter elements. Compared to ultrasonic, this device is noisier, although it can only be heard in absolute silence. Also has replaceable filters. Its special highlight is that you can add aromatic oils to the tank and fill the house not only with life-giving moisture, but also with a wonderful fragrance.

Doing yoga and other relaxing procedures will be a real pleasure. Such an air humidifier for an apartment will be an ideal, inexpensive option.

Steam

The principle of operation and design resemble a boiling kettle. Water is heated inside the container, and at a certain moment it is released with a hot jet of steam. Exactly hot! The temperature ranges from 52 to 63 degrees Celsius. Where should the humidifier be placed? The device must be placed away from places where children, animals and even adults can be.

The air is humidified and heated at the same time, which cannot be said about the first two devices. The big disadvantage is the high energy consumption and rather loud noise. Nothing can be done about it. One of the main (and perhaps the only) advantages is the possibility of using it as an inhaler for colds and prevention. Special nozzles are sometimes sold as a set.

Multifunctional buildings (climate complexes)

Often they are called "washers". Analogues of traditional, but more perfect. They quickly humidify and in parallel ionize (clean) the air. The consumable is a simple H 2 O, which greatly simplifies their use, no replaceable cassettes or filters. Virtually silent, but quite expensive. Do kids need a humidifier? Undoubtedly, this the best option for children.

control mechanism

Another thing that distinguishes one product from another is the control mechanism. It can be mechanical (more simple, 1-2 control knobs) and electronic (display, touch buttons). A humidifier for an apartment is suitable for anyone who wants a person. When choosing, everything depends on finances and the desire of the client. It is worth paying attention to the size of the room in which the apparatus will be located, and to the health features of family members (contraindications to humid, hot air are possible). In case the buyer is completely confused and does not know what to buy, competent consultants will help him and tell him what to choose.

Peculiarities

So that he served for a long time and carried good service, necessary:

Undoubtedly, read the entire instruction from beginning to end, so as not to inadvertently pour tap water into an expensive ultrasonic device.
Monitor the performance of the hygrometer in a timely manner (if the mechanism has this function). These figures should be at least 46% and not rise above 61% for rooms where there are adults, and 49-72 for rooms with children

The benefits and harms of a humidifier

Some buyers, with improper use and a frivolous attitude to devices, end up not feeling well, but a lot of trouble. It is not the apparatus that is to blame, it is the person who is to blame for all the troubles.

Untimely change of filters, incorrect positioning of the device, high humidity lead to disastrous consequences, bringing not benefit, but harm. You should carefully study the instructions and strictly follow its advice.

To better understand what harm humidifiers can do, let's analyze the intricacies of their use in more detail, step by step.

A traditional humidifier runs on replaceable cartridges and requires frequent replacement. If the buyer ignores this need, the cassette will become a breeding ground for pathogens. They are then sprayed together with moist air, causing allergies and unpleasant diseases in all family members.

A steam appliance, as mentioned earlier, throws out a very dangerous hot jet of steam. It can harm living organisms. But it can also spoil household items if you install it, for example, near electrical appliances. It is very easy to spoil expensive wallpapers or your favorite picture with such a steam. It is necessary to correctly and competently approach the installation site of such a mechanism.

winter use

Many are also interested in another question: do I need a humidifier in winter? In such a period of time of the year, air humidity drops to 14%, which is significantly below the optimum level. The air then can be compared to that of a hot desert.

There is an opinion that in winter the air is dried by batteries. They dry wet towels, so they do the same with him. Although in reality it's all fiction. Wet things dry on the radiator, because the water in them turns into steam. And the liquid that is present in the air is a priori in a gaseous state. And what would hot battery nor was it able to dry the air. But in winter, the air in the house really becomes drier. Why then is this happening? It is possible to dry the air not by heating, but by adsorption, that is, you just need to take moisture from the air. Simple physical and chemical processes are at work here. Getting from the street, cold air begins to warm up and its moisture capacity increases. As a result, the relative humidity decreases. It no longer contains optimal amount water vapor like a few minutes ago. Dry air is more thirsty. Now, in search of the missing moisture, he sucks it out of everything around, and, of course, a person serves as its main supplier.

Air enters the house through any gap or opening, open window or permanently open front door. Such regular ventilation launches even more cold air into the apartment. And, as a result, greatly reduces the relative humidity. So it has now become clear whether a humidifier is needed in winter.

Summer use

What about summer period? Why do we need humidifiers in summer? Many will say that at this time of the year the air in the room and outside is about the same temperature. And such ventilation does not make the air dry at all, and they will be right. The air dries up in the summer for a completely different reason. Air conditioner! Almost every second family has this miracle of technology at home. After all, he saves so much in hot weather summer days cooling the air in the room. While doing a good deed, it also dries the air a lot. Therefore, a humidifier is just as necessary in the summer as it is in the winter months.

Conclusion

Now you know why air humidifiers are needed at any time of the year in every health-conscious family. And whether it is worth it to spend a certain amount on it, it is up to the potential buyer to decide. In our article, we talked in detail about the benefits and harms of a humidifier.

Is the air in your apartment too dry? Wither from lack of moisture houseplants? It is urgent to take action! Dry air adversely affects human health, as the mucous membranes dry out and there is a threat of respiratory diseases. To prevent this phenomenon in your apartment, you need to purchase a humidifier.

Today there is big choice various models devices of this kind, they do not need to be mounted, since the humidifier is small device, which does not take up much space, and does not produce a lot of noise.

This article will discuss the types of humidifiers and key parameters which you should pay attention to when buying.

Choosing the right type of humidifier

Before buying a humidifier, you must select its type in advance, because each acts in its own price category.

Today there are three types of humidifiers.

1) Ultrasonic;
2) Steam ;
3) Traditional.

Ultrasonic

A common and popular type of air humidifier. Water is converted into "cold steam" using high-frequency vibrations (ultrasound). This type is suitable for moistening plants, because air humidity can reach over 70%. If the model has a humidistat, then you can adjust the humidity level. The average power of such humidifiers is 30-45 watts. , and the maximum is 140 W . Therefore, the use of ultrasonic humidifiers is advantageous due to low power consumption.

The ultrasonic humidifier is notable for its silent operation and the presence of additional functions (ionization, aromatization, ozonation, water heating, use as a night light, etc.). The more functions built into the humidifier, the higher its cost. Therefore, you need to first decide which functions are necessary and which should be abandoned.

An ultrasonic humidifier is suitable for those who have small children in the family, because it is completely safe. Many will surely like the accessibility of this type devices, because the cost varies from 700 to 9000 rubles, where everyone will choose the right model for themselves.

(img:2:click:big)

There are also unpleasant sides - they are “finicky” to the quality of the water used, therefore they require special care. Timely replacement and cleaning of cartridges, filters, use of purified or distilled water.

Steam humidifiers occupy an average price category, they work on the “kettle” principle. That is, when water is heated, the water boils, turns into steam and thereby humidifies the room. Such humidifiers are not picky about the quality of the water used, there are no cartridges and replaceable filters in the design, and some models can even be used instead of an inhaler. Room humidity when using this type of device can reach over 60%. It would seem that everything is simple, but this type of humidifier has a number of disadvantages that make you think about purchasing it.

(img:1:click:big)

If there are small children in the house, carefully choose the place to install the appliance, otherwise the child may accidentally burn himself. In addition, steam humidifiers are noisy during operation and consume more electricity than other types of humidifiers.

"Traditional"

traditional types of humidifiers are high and unaffordable for many. The principle of operation is "cold" evaporation. Pallets are installed inside the case, they contain special mesh cartridges that are wetted with water coming from a special barrel. Humidification is achieved naturally through the built-in fan. A conventional humidifier can humidify rooms up to a maximum of 60%. The operation of the built-in fan can be unpleasant due to the characteristic noise during operation. Traditional humidifiers have a simple but austere design that won't attract the attention of young children, which in turn will be noted by any parent.

(img:3:click:big)

Served area

Agree, it is not wise to use an overly powerful humidifier in a small apartment. Therefore, to select suitable model, based on the size of your room in which you plan to use the appliance. Try to choose a more comparable model in terms of the size of the serviced area of a particular room, and not the entire apartment as a whole.

(img:4:click:big)

Power consumption

The power depends on the type of humidifier. Steam humidifiers differ from others in that their power consumption varies from 300 to 600 W . In fact, this is a lot, and affects power consumption. But there is one useful plus - high performance (300-360 ml \ h ), although it is not always justified. If your home has low humidity levels, it means your humidifier will run more often, so don't be surprised when you get your electricity bill. The use of ultrasonic models is advantageous. The average power of ultrasonic humidifiers is 30-45W, but there are also more powerful models - 100-140W. Despite such power, the productivity is high and averages 150-250ml/h. The power of traditional type humidifiers is small, generally does not exceed 40 W . But the performance depends not only on the power, but also on the level of humidity in the room. In this case, the water consumption is from 200 to 500 ml/h.

(img:5:click:big)

Water tank capacity, consumption and operating time

These parameters are interconnected. The larger the tank capacity, the longer the device will work. A capacious reservoir affects the dimensions of the humidifier. IN this case something needs to be sacrificed. For a room up to 20 m 2, it would be logical to use a humidifier with a small capacity from 200 ml to 2.5 liters. If the area of the room is from 20 to 40 m 2, then a humidifier with a capacity of 2.5 to 5 liters is suitable. If the area of the premises is above 40 m2, then it is worth choosing humidifiers with a capacity of more than 5 liters.

(img:6:click:big)

Water consumption for each model of humidifier is different. The parameter is responsible for how much water will be consumed by the humidifier per hour. The optimal value is 150-300 mg / h. With this value and the capacity of the water tank of about 5 liters, the duration of work will be a little more than a day.

Control

The presence of a display and control buttons allows you to use the humidifier with maximum comfort. Mostly there are models with mechanical buttons . But if you want to purchase a humidifier equipped with a display, touch buttons or electronic controls , you can always find suitable option in any price range.

(img:7:click:big)

Additional features and capabilities

In addition to its main purpose, a humidifier can be useful to users due to various additional features.

Evaporation intensity adjustments

Almost every humidifier supports the ability to adjust the intensity of evaporation . Basically, this setting is done manually using touch or mechanical keys. However, there are models with automatic adjustment intensity, according to pre-set values. The humidifier selects the most suitable humidification mode for itself.

(img:8:click:big)

The presence of a timer

The presence of a timer allows you to automatically turn on the humidifier at a specified time, for example, before going to bed, and turn off the device after a few hours of operation.

(img:9:click:big)

Hygrostat

A hygrostat is a relay that maintains a predetermined humidity level by automatically turning the device on and off. Therefore, when choosing a humidifier, you need to pay attention to the presence of this sensor , otherwise you will have a constant excess of humidity in your house.

With a constant stay in a room with dry air, the mucous membranes, which should always be moistened, become thinner, their protective functions decrease, they more easily pass bacteria and viruses. The mucous membranes of the eyes and nose are mainly affected - both of them can be excellent gateways for infections.