Applications of Humidifiers: Focusing on the Right Area
A Humidifier, as can be guessed by the name, increases the humidity level (moisture in air) of a particular space. This space can be a single room or a house with multiple rooms. The primary purpose of a humidifier is health related in nature as it’s used to relieve people suffering from a dry nose, skin, throat or lips. Other benefits include reduced occurrence of static electricity, furniture, paint and wallpaper cracking which all occur due to winter heating in a household. However it has to be used in moderation as excess humidity can lead to growth of micro-organisms.
What is the Need for Increasing Humidity?
Humidifiers are used in regions where homes have a high amount of dry air circulating in their environs. Dry air refers to the air lacking in water vapor while humidity can be defined as the measurement of the atmosphere’s water vapor level. Absorption is related directly to the relative humidity. Low humidity levels lead to a high evaporation rate while it’s the opposite for a room with high humidity levels as it normally has a low evaporation rate. How does this affect us? Well in highly humid rooms perspiration is almost non-existent.
The reason for this is that since the conditions are already highly humid, the air is unable to absorb anymore water vapor. It’s saturated with water fully. This makes occupants of that room feel warmer than the actual prevalent temperature in the room. On the other hand, very low humidity levels have a reverse effect. Here the occupants of such a room perspire a lot as the dry air absorbs as much water vapor as it can. Both the above scenarios are not good for human health. This is where a Humidifier is ideal.
A Look at some of its Types
Evaporative Humidifier – The three main working parts of an Evaporative Humidifier are the fan, wick and reservoir. The wick can be described as a filter which is useful for absorbing the water. This water is absorbed from the reservoir. As the humidity increases the water vapor levels go down. Humidifiers of these types require regular cleaning to allow them to continue humidifying.
Level Electric Humidifier - Contrary to its name, it doesn’t require electricity for operation. It uses a capillary system and doesn’t require regular cleaning for it to operate.
Ultrasonic Humidifier – A very silent humidifier, it also has the capability to produce cold fog. It incorporates a diaphragm of metal which vibrates at a very high ultrasonic frequency. This creates water droplets inside the humidifier.
Some humidifiers are built into the air furnaces of buildings. They not only increase humidity levels in a space full of dry air but also save wooden furniture and other similar furnishings from damage due to dry air. These are known as bypass humidifiers. Most of these humidifiers need to be used with distilled water as normal water can stagnate over time. Humidifiers are, thus, a highly necessary accessory to homes and spaces which have a very dry atmosphere.
