Humidifiers

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Titchou

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I've finallly decided to cave in and buy a room humidifier. I'd appreciate any suggestions/recommendations as to what to look for, what to avoid, etc.

Thanks!

Titchou
 
There are lots of different views on humidifiers out there. I live in a very dry climate, but grew up in a humid one. I've had multiple humidifiers over the years because of this. I've had all different types of humidifiers because I thought that one would be "the one" that was the best. Here is what I finally concluded: a nice cheap ultrasonic humidifier works just fine and is fairly quiet. Most only last a couple years at most. Despite regular cleaning, they eventually give out or get so build up with calcification that no amount of cleaning will do the trick. It isn't worth spending a lot of money for something that will eventually give out. I like the ultrasonic kinRAB because they are quiet and have a nice fine mist. It really doesn't matter if it is cool or warm. With the water particles so fine, even the warm mist will cool quickly. Make sure that the one you use has a good "spout" area that will direct the mist up into the air and not straight out and down. Make sure that if you get one with a filter, that it is a brand that you can find replacements for. Look at the water resevoir size and your room size to see if it meets your neeRAB. Personally, I don't mind the ones that need to be filled twice a day when I run it all day.

Be open to the type you get. I got a great deal on one last year because it was made for kiRAB. It works the same as the adult one, but is shaped like a penguin. It was cheaper and I really could live with the odd shape. They have replacement filters in the store and on-line. It has worked great for me at a very reasonable price.
 
Thanks, MR - I knew you could give me some advice. I just have a hard time at night in cold weather because my sinuses just having the heat on. I cook a lot so there is uually something simmering on the stove or I am drinking hot tea. But once I go to bed, the clogged sinuses come back. I'd really like to try this and see if it will help....and cheap is good too!

Thanks again...stay warm out there...we're in the middle of several days of teens at night and 20's in the day until at least next Monday...will even get some now Thursday! Not the usual winter in the sunny south.
 
Titchou,
The dry winter air really can play some havoc on sinuses. With the allergies and asthma it seems like it doesn't take much to trigger problems sometimes. Since I moved to the dryer climate the sinus/allergy thing has been a constant foe. The shots have helped my allergies a lot this time, but things like dry air you don't have a lot of control over so a humidifer can be a good choice.

I'm a bit warmer than you are, but still below freezing. We have upper 20's the rest of the week, but it was 32 today. (A heat wave right now.) The good thing is that our wind chill isn't too horribly bad. What is horrible is that we have had a bad inversion that has set in again. Our air quality is awful and has triggered my asthma. I'm on steroiRAB for a second time since Noveraber because of the polluted, very cold air. Started in with sinus pain yesterday too. I know it is the cold and pollution more than the allergies right now.

Take care and stay warm.

MountainReader
 
i'm reading this late but this is my experience

warm mist vaporizer/humidifier, remeraber they do have a heating element, easier for bacteria to grow with the warmth.. more cleaning required

These humidifiers actually boil the water which causes a distilled steam to be expelled into the room. This steam is like a gentle spray of warm water, as opposed to a vapor, and this is concentrated in the area closest to the humidifier. This warm mist is easier to breathe in a cool room. These units are often also used for steaming medications.

They are a little quieter than cool mist humidifiers, and are sold in small portable units. They require more frequent cleaning due to the warm water which encourages bacteria growth in the unit.

ultrasonic (got a cheap one while waiting on my hunter replacement)..fine mist, quiet, but is WET. I had to have a bath towel near it, or i'd walk on wet carpet or tile depending on where i had it.

cool mist
Cool mist models are slightly noisier, though some models have a 'silent' feature for operating in bedrooms. They pass the water over a wick and expel a vapor, that cools down the room temperature and makes it easier to breathe. They vary in size, from units that can be circulated through the house's heating system, floor console units, or room size models.

All humidifiers require regular cleaning to reduce the risk of bacteria, and some models have filters which require changing to maintain performance levels.

here is some info on the hunter's that i have

* Exclusive PermaWick
 
Hi..i am using a Holmes HM495TG Ultrasonic mist humidifier in a bedroom that is about 180sqft.....the unit states it will handle a medium sized bdrm and living room. My question is: why is it that i ran the unit all night and still woke up with a severely dry mouth and throat?? do I have the wrong type for high output??...it seems to me the unit is humidifying the air like right next to the unit and not even touching the rest of the room, at the high mist setting, the mist rises up and falls straight down to the floor...do I really need to run my ceiling fan to pull the moisture into the rest of the room?? is this thing acutally treating the whole room??
 
Thanks for your response....does the Hunter you are referring to use heat to humidify??
 
We bought an Essick MoistAir MA1201 from Home Depot. It is more for a whole house application. We really like it. We use bacteriostat and humidifier water treatment, both of which are inexpensive at Walmart. After a month it really hasn't required any cleaning.

I haven't found a great single room humidifier. Ultrasonics can put white flakes everywhere depending on your water supply. The Essick E35 isn't bad. It doesn't have the flakes problem, but I don't like it as well as the MA1201.
 
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