A humid home atmosphere acts as a natural moisturizer to reduce dryness caused by forced air heating and the general climate of your location. Humidifiers are must-have appliances for many families because by relieving dryness within the house and reducing health issues like dry skin, dry throat, cracked lips, and discomfort in the airways. We reviewed the most best humidifiers and the clear winner was the Aprilaire 700 Whole Home Humidifier because of its ability to humidify the entire house without constant refilling or replacing filters.
Dual sensors to monitor and respond to both outdoor temperature and indoor relative humidity to deliver optimum humidity 24/7 throughout the home
Aprilaire Humidifiers can help you maintain optimal humidity in your home of 35% – 45% which has been shown to reduce the incidence of respiratory infections and symptoms related to allergies and asthma by minimizing the formation of bacteria and viruses, fungi, and dust mites. In addition, you’ll feel more comfortable while also preserving items in your home susceptible to damage from changing humidity or dry conditions
No refilling required, taps directly into water line and heating ducts
Designed and manufactured in the U.S.A. by Aprilaire
Self-installable but some heating systems may require assistance
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What are Humidifiers?
There are times when we find the air inside our homes is dry, causing drying skin and discomfort to the airways. This leads us to the topic we are featuring,what is a humidifier? You are probably asking what humidifiers are? Humidifiers are systems installed within the home to help regulate the level of moisture in the air within your house. This system is designed to add moisture to reduce the level of dryness in the air. Nevertheless, excessive use of humidifiers can pose a threat to your health by escalating your respiratory problems.
Knowing what is not enough, you may not want what it does and its benefits to your household. A humid atmosphere acts as a natural moisturizer to reduce atmospheric dryness. Humidifiers work under this principle to relieve the dryness within the house; this helps solve health issues like dry skin, dry throat, cracked lips, and discomfort in the airways.
What types of humidifiers are there?
What are Central Humidifiers?
Central humidifiers this type of humidifier are installed directly into your home’s heating and air conditioning system for better results. These are probably the most expensive types but also the best option when looking for a whole house humidifier. These models work best to humidify the entire house while it comes to whole house humidifier and can’t be beat by any other type.
What are Ultrasonic Humidifiers?
These devices are known for their silent operation that makes them perfect for bedroom applications. With less than 38 Db of noise, this humidifier is ideal for a disturbance-free sleep.
With a four-liter tank, the device can operate all night with a gallon lasting up to a maximum of 30 hours. The device can humidify the air in rooms ranging from 107-322 square feet on a full tank.
It has a built-in humidistat with an LED display that allows the user to keep track of humidity levels and set the appropriate humidity level.
They are safe to use with an inbuilt automatic mechanism that powers off the device when it runs out of water.
Disadvantages of the ultrasonic humidifier
Its functioning mechanism is the major cause of its disadvantages. This type of humidifier releases water droplets into the air, droplets that are likely to settle on nearby surfaces when not evaporated. This poses a health risk with water containing various microbes and molds that can aggravate respiratory conditions.
What are Evaporator Humidifiers?
These humidifiers operate by blowing moisture into the air through a moistened filter. These models are fitted with fans that power the unit releasing humidity through a single unit system. They are relatively cheaper compared to central humidifiers.
Disadvantages of the evaporation humidifier
They are generally overlooked because of releasing too much moisture and their restricted application, only working in single rooms at a time.
How to Install Whole House Humidifier?
After establishing what is a humidifier and what does a humidifier do, you need to know the basic mode of installation without requiring the help of a professional. Here is a twelve-step process you can follow,
1. Level and trace your humidifier template onto your return air duct.
2. cut a slit approximately 3 inches long onto the pattern.
3. Cut the pattern of the humidistat and humidifier.
4. Install the casing of the humidifier and the control system.
5. Install the 6 inches take off on the supply duct after locating, tracing, and cutting it out.
6. Install the bypass piping.
7. Install the drain pipe.
8. Power off your meter to connect the transformer.
9. Run the thermostat’s wiring.
10. Put in place the water line and valve to regulate water.
11. Fix in place the water feed tubing and cover the humidistat.
12. Run a test to see if your humidifier is operational.
Best Overall Humidifier
Aprilaire 700 Whole House Humidifier
- BUY WITH CONFIDENCE This humidifier was designed and manufactured in the U.S.A. by Aprilaire – the inventor of the whole home evaporative humidifier, and the leader in indoor air quality solutions
- BUILT-IN FAN pulls heated air directly from the furnace through the humidifier
- FULL COVERAGE up to 4,200 square feet in tightly built homes with a capacity of 18 gallons per day
- AUTOMATIC HUMIDIFIER with dual sensors to monitor and respond to both outdoor temperature and indoor relative humidity to deliver optimum humidity 24/7 throughout the home – simply set it and forget it
- HUMIDITY FOR HEALTH Aprilaire Humidifiers can help you maintain optimal humidity in your home of 35% – 45% which has been shown to reduce the incidence of respiratory infections and symptoms related to allergies and asthma by minimizing the formation of bacteria and viruses, fungi, and dust mites. In addition, you’ll feel more comfortable while also preserving items in your home susceptible to damage from changing humidity or dry conditions
Elechomes UC5501 Ultrasonic Humidifier
Its operational feature of evaporative humidification makes it a suitable choice for your home. The absence of mist and droplets in the air helps prevent damage to the walls and furniture. This device is suitable for the whole family when solving issues of dry skin and congested airways.
The No Mist evaporator has an easy to refill system that enables top filling. This allows you to refill the water tank even when the humidifier is running without powering it off. It also has a water level sensor that alerts you on water levels displayed on a water level light panel fitted to it.
The Smartmi evaporator is fitted with a large 4L tank capable of humidifying 240ml of water every hour for an entire day when working under reduced speeds. The rotating evaporator blades are easy to remove and clean.
This model has a low noise emission of up to 34.4Db, making it efficient when trying to catch some sleep under minimal disturbances.
The Smartmi is fitted with safety features to ease operating, and its electrical components are built at the top part away from the water tank. It features an automatic power-off system that shuts down the device when it is tampered with.
Disadvantages of the Smartmi evaporator
The evaporator humidifier requires constant replacement of filters or occasional cleaning. This makes them highly inconvenient when it comes to maintenance.
They are known for releasing too much moisture into the air, making the room too humid and discomforting. Too much moisture also acts as a catalyst for the growth of mold and other microbes.
Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier
These are electrically powered humidifiers that heat and cool water before releasing it into the air. They are relatively affordable and available at the nearest drug store. However, Amazon boasts of some of the best quality Steam vaporizers like LEVOIT Humidifiers.
Advantages of Mistaire ultrasonic vaporizers
Releases both warm and cool mists that help to relieve allergies, dry skin, and airway problems.
The device is fitted with an auto mode that readjusts mist levels providing the appropriate humidity levels. The built-in auto mode also detects the water level, automatically switching off the device when it runs out of water.
Unlike ultrasonic and evaporator humidifiers, steam vaporizers like LEVOIT allow you to add essential oils to give your room a refreshing smell.
It is perfect for a large room serving up to 753 square feet. They also come with a remote control system for easy operation.
Disadvantages
These models usually perform optimally, with the major concern being the risk of being burnt by steam or spilled hot water from the device.
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