Category: Humidifiers

How Do I Know if I Need a Humidifier?

Do I Need a Humidifier?

The most sure way to know whether or not you need a humidifier is to measure the humidity in your room. The hygrometer is a gauge that will measure your humidity and tell you what the relative percentage of moisture you have in your air.

What should the humidity be in your home?

 

The ideal relative humidity range is between 40 and 60% according to the National Library of Medicine.

Most publications including Martha Stewart.com say that the ideal humidity is between 30 and 50%.

So going off on average, you should be sitting good at 45% relative humidity.

Don’t Have a Hygrometer Handy?

Don’t worry there are plenty of telltale signs that indicate your humidity is too low and that you need a humidifier without having to have an actual humidity meter.


do i need a humidifierSymptoms of Low Humidity in the House


1. Chapped lips

If you have noticed that your lips are extra dry and you are pulling out the Chapstick more often than usual, that’s a pretty good indication that the air is dry.

Dry air is like a sponge that draws moisture out of every possible thing it can.

When your lips get irritated and dry, they will eventually start cracking. And most of us just put more and more Chapstick on.

  But the underlying condition is a lack of moisture in the air.

2. The Bloody Nose

Bloody noses are one of the more popular indications that air is too dry.

Whether you blow your nose and there’s blood on the tissue or your nasal passages have gotten so dry that they crack and bleed, there is one culprit that may be going unnoticed.

And that is the low relative humidity in your space. Increasing the moisture in the air will moisturize the inside of your nose and give you some much-needed relief.

3.  Dry, Itchy, and Cracking Skin

Dry skin is one of the main telltale signs that dryness has taken over the ambient air.

And it is also one of the biggest reasons people seek out a humidifier to give them some relief with dry skin.

Dry skin is not only annoying, it can also cause your skin to break and allow airborne bacteria to burrow down into your skin and cause outbreaks of rashes and acne.

Replenishing the moisture in your air for the humidifier is one of the best skin moisturizers you can buy.

4.  Dustiness

Dust is a problem when there’s not enough moisture droplets in the air to weigh down dust particles so that they fall to the surface.

Dust is also very greedy for any available moisture in the surroundings. That’s why dust dries your face and skin out so bad.

The humidifier will add the necessary humidity droplets to attach to wayward dust particles and keep them from floating.

5.  Viruses

Along the same lines of using a humidifier to alleviate dustiness, is the need for moisture in the air to keep viruses from being able to spread as far.

When there is a lack of moisture, allergens, viruses, and airborne bacteria are free to float and travel further throughout a room or house.

When the proper moisture is added back into the air, humidity droplets attach themselves to the viral particles and cause them to be too heavy to float or travel.
Which reduces the chance of exposure to the viruses.

6. Asthma

Asthma is another problem that can be triggered by airborne particles.

Particles that are allowed to flow freely throughout the air because of a lack of moisture droplets to weigh them down.

Many asthmatic episodes can be avoided by keeping the moisture level in the home in the 40 to 60% range.

7.  Acne

Acne is not a condition that you normally consider being an issue with humidity.
But acne can actually be a dry skin problem.

Dry skin can break open and allow the bacteria that is causing the acne to get a deeper root inside of your skin.

Moisturization in the form of humidity can keep your skin from drying out and being a richer plantation for acne to grow.

low humidity symptoms8. Static Electricity

Static electricity is one of the first indicators that the moisture in the air has dipped.

Walking around, shocking each other, discharging on every metal object you touch is a huge neon sign blinking ” your humidity is too low!”

And just like every other humidity problem, it seems to go on weeks before you ever make the connection between the static electricity and the humidity level.

9.  Dry Throat.

Just like the nasal passages, the throat needs proper moisture to function.

When the humidity is dropped, you will often start to get a sore, itchy, and dry throat.

And often just turning on a cool mist humidifier for a few hours will magically relieve the soreness.

10. Wood Cracking.

When the air is too dry it causes wood to shrink. The shrinking can eventually cause the wood to crack. And if it’s your furniture, not so good.

  The lack of humidity also  causes stress on an acoustic guitar which can make it buzz. And warp the neck to the point that the strings are hard to press down.
And it will eventually crack.

Too much humidity can eventually saturate the wood causing expansion and adhesives to give loose.

Warning:

You may need a humidifier if you have any of these symptoms.

But for all the benefits that keeping the proper humidity level in your house can offer you,

It’s important to remember that humidifiers are maintenance heavy by nature.

They require thorough cleanings often.

Most of the symptoms above would be negated if you were to use the humidifier wrongly.

And by wrongly, I mean if you were to operate the humidifier after it has had stagnant water sitting in it with bacteria growing.

The bacteria that grows on water can be very dangerous. That is why it is very important to understand that humidifiers must be kept clean.

Why Does my Humidifier Have White Dust Around It?

Why does my humidifier have white dust around it?

 

The white dust that you often see around a humidifier comes from mineral deposits in the water used in the humidifier.

Hard water calcium deposits are often noticeable around your faucet and shower heads. Humidifiers that use the same water can also develop the same white calcium deposits.

The dust is not considered harmful but it can become airborne and inhaled.

  The high mineral content from the water can also be responsible for accelerated bacteria growth inside of the water basin of the humidifier.

How to clean the white dust off of your humidifier?

Hard water stain removal is an easy process that you can do with items that you generally have in your home already.

You will need a cloth towel, a bottle of apple cider vinegar, and some Dawn dish soap.

1. Completely soak the cloth towel with apple cider vinegar.
2. Cover the white calcium deposited areas on and around your humidifier with the vinegar soaked towel.
3. Allow it to sit for about 3 hours
4. Take the cloth off
5. Use the Dawn dishwashing soap to completely wash the area
6. Rinse the towel and wipe the area dry.

What can be done about the white dust that gets on your humidifier?

 

 

1.  Clean the humidifier more often

This step we have already gone through, but it cannot be stressed enough that a humidifier must be kept clean.

  Humidifiers can begin to grow bacteria inside of the water in as little as 48 hours. Operating a humidifier that has had standing water sitting in it can turn the device into a health hazard.

And water that has a lot of minerals in it can provide food sources for mold and bacteria to take root inside of the humidifier.

  Simply breathing and inhaling the mist from a dirty humidifier can result in illness and cause pneumonia-like symptoms.

  Legionnaires disease and Pontiac fever are serious conditions that occur from inhaling bacteria that has grown on water. Legionnaires can be deadly.

So stressing the importance of keeping your humidifier cleaner and done more often, not only helps keep the white dust away, it is honestly imperative that it is done.

2.  Switch the type of water 

The white dust deposits around your humidifier are there because of the high mineral content in your water.

Tap water and drinking water are full of minerals. Spring water even more so.

Even water that is processed by osmosis has minerals added back into it for consumption.

So what kind of water should you use in a humidifier?

A. Distilled water

The only water that is near perfect to use in a humidifier is distilled water.

It is because distilled water goes through a process that removes the minerals and particles from it.

Distilled water can even lengthen the life of your humidifier because  it eliminates the likelihood of mineral buildup inside of your machine. Build up that will eventually diminish the effectiveness of it.

B.  Boiled water

Boiling water will also separate the minerals of the water. If you have ever seen a pan that is used for boiling water over and over, then you probably noticed the white rings that develop on the pan.

If the pan is used specifically for boiling water, it will develop a layer of white calcium deposit that will eventually flake off.

But the main issue with using boiled water for the humidifier is filtering the clean part of the water into the humidifier without the big build ups of sediment getting into the humidifier with it.

Also it’s a huge ordeal to have to boil water every time you need to fill your humidifier.

( Notice we said boiled water and not boiling water, don’t pour boiling water into the humidifier. You will probably damage the humidifier beyond use and you will also risk getting burned badly in the process.)

C.  Filtered water

Water filters do not take out 100% of minerals and particles from tap water. But they do remove a huge portion of them. Using filtered water is better than using tap water but it is still not as good as using distilled water.

D.  Vaporizer/ warm mist humidifier

Warm mist humidifiers or vaporizers have a built-in advantage when it comes to keeping the water inside of the humidifier clean.

The advantage is the heat that they produce. Since these machines heat the water to a boiling point to produce steam, they also inadvertently kill bacteria and germs before they become an issue with your humidifier or your health.

Boiling water also separates minerals in water which are removed through the humidifiers filter.

Warm mist humidifiers have a lot of benefits and advantages over using cool mist humidifiers.

But they do have the downside of making a room feel steamy. Which can be great for a little while, but not so much when you’re trying to sleep. Especially if you’re sick.

They also have the danger element of containing scalding water. This is why every warning label you’ve ever seen about vaporizers says that they should not be used around or put in children’s rooms.

Products

 

For most people, the prospect of purchasing gallons and gallons of distilled water for humidifier use will get less than an enthusiastic response.

  But cleaner water doesn’t just amount to just purchasing water that is already been treated.

There are products that you can purchase that will distill water for you, and or purify and filter your water.

And though some of these items may be more of an upfront cost, it is a cost that can end up saving you money in the long run.

1. Hard Water Filter

Hard water filters can be screwed right on to the end of a faucet or shower.

And if using the shower to fill your humidifier is an option for you, there is a much wider range of hard water filters you can purchase for the shower.

And since the shower head and the filter usually have the same size threads, you can easily put a filter on a shower.

More so than on a kitchen sink.

Hard water filters do not filter out 100% of all minerals from tap water but they do filter a majority of particles from the water.

And the price of one filter that can last you 6 months and even up to a year is a huge savings that will also help lengthen the life of your humidifier.

AquaBliss High Output Revitalizing Shower Filter

MULTI-STAGE sediment filters, redox media, calcium sulfite, activated carbon and ceramic beads deliver MAXIMUM WATER FILTRATION

Click here

2.  Home water distiller

Distilled water machines can be installed right on your kitchen counter.

These machines will distill up to six gallons of water per day. They not only remove minerals but completely eliminate any harmful chemicals that have been used to clean your water.

CO-Z 1 Gallon Water Distiller

This tabletop water purifier by CO-Z purifies water, filters out impurities, and dissolves VOCs at 0.3 gallons per hour

See here

3.  Water purifier

You can take your water to a new level by purchasing a water purifier that will put your water through a vigorous four stage filter and reverse osmosis process with ultraviolet light.

Water purifiers can remove up to 99% of viruses bacterias and chemicals as well as heavy metals chlorine and fluoride.

Interested and having clean water available 24/7, not only for your humidifier, but having clean uncompromised drinking water, water purifying may be the way to go.

APEC Water Systems ROES-50 Essence Series Top Tier 5-Stage

Premium long-lasting filters remove up to 99% of contaminants such as chlorine, taste, odor, VOCs, as well as toxic fluoride, arsenic, lead, nitrates, heavy metals and 1000+ contaminants.

Click here for Water Purifiers

4. Demineralization cartridges

Demineralization cartridges are drop-in additives that you place into the water of an ultrasonic humidifier that binds particles together and causes them to stay on inside of the water tank.

  An excellent product for minimizing the amount of white dust that collects around a humidifier. But unfortunately they only work in ultrasonic humidifiers.

HoMedics Demineralization Cartridge for Ultrasonic Humidifiers

Eliminate Buildup: Ultrasonic humidifier demineralization cartridges help reduce the potential for white dust

Click here

Recap

What is the white dust that accumulates around my humidifier?

 

 

  The white dust that accumulates around a humidifier is mineral deposits.
It comes from tap water and more specifically, hard tap water.

Though it is not dangerous as far as being poisonous, it is capable of becoming airborne where it can be inhaled and cause a respiratory reaction.

The high mineral content in tap water can also Foster the growth of mold and bacteria faster in a humidifier water tank.

It is very easily cleaned. Apple cider vinegar is an excellent DIY product that you can soak a towel in and leave it on the hard water deposit stains.

After a couple of hours for 3, take the towel off and the stains will be virtually gone. Clean the rest with a little bit of Dawn dishwashing soap and water.

  One of the easiest things you can do to eliminate the problem of white dust and hard water deposits around your humidifier is to switch the type of water you are using.

Distilled water is the best for humidifiers because it goes through a process that eliminates the minerals from the water.

And though distilled water can get expensive there are ways to minimize the cost.

Home water distillers can be purchased and installed right on your kitchen counter.

One distiller can distill as much as 6 gallons of water a day. Plenty of water for a humidifier.

Purified water systems can eliminate 99% of all chemicals and minerals and create a system of safe water, not only for your humidifier, but for everyday drinking use.

Hard water filters are another product that you can attach to your shower head and remove most minerals and particles from your water.

Not on the same par as distilled water or purified water, still a great way to reduce the mineral content in your water for a small price.

Demineralization cartridges are also a disposable product that you can get as much as 6 months use out of that will help bind minerals together inside of your ultrasonic humidifier tank before they become a problem on the outside of your tank.

The biggest downside with these cartridges is that they only work with ultrasonic humidifiers.

The biggest thing you can do to minimize your exposure to any white dust or mold and bacteria that can form in your humidifier is to have a strict cleaning regimen for your humidifier.

Humidifiers can be very beneficial when used correctly. But when they are allowed to sit with standing water and then turned on, they can become a health hazard by emitting dangerous airborne bacteria into the air where it is inhaled.

Warm Mist Humidifier – Benefits and Impediments

The humidity in your home has so many direct benefits to your respiratory and skin health but you don’t even notice till the air is dry.

And regardless of the temperature of the humidity, moisture is moisture and you will reap the benefits of a humidifier all the same.

But is there any advantage to choosing a warm mist humidifier other than a cool mist?

What are the benefits of using a warm mist humidifier?

1. Kills bacteria and mold
2. Relieve nasal congestion
3. Good for additives like Vicks and eucalyptus
4. Will warm up a cool room
5. Silent
6. Less hard water buildup and fewer particles released into the air

1.  Kills bacteria and mold

Warm mist humidifiers have a built-in advantage to keeping bacteria and mold from forming in and around the humidifier.

What is it?
Heat. Since the water and a warm mist humidifier or vaporizer is heated to a boiling point to create steam, bacteria and mold are a much smaller problem than with a cool mist humidifier because they simply cannot survive the heat.

Does that absolve them of regular cleaning? Not exactly. Any appliance like a humidifier, diffuser, dehumidifier, or air cooler that has a chance for water to be left standing inside it for even a small amount of time can and do have a tendency to grow bacteria in the water.

The chance for bacteria becoming a problem in a warm mist humidifier maybe smaller but it still exists and should not be taken lightly.

2.  Relieve congestion

If you have ever sit in a sauna, then you know the feeling of steam opening up your airways.
For many people, steam has a relieving feeling on their nasal passages and opens up their airways nicely when they are stopped up with congestion.

3.  Good for Additives like Vicks and Eucalyptus

The combination of warm mist and Vicks congestion medicine can make you feel so much better when you are down sick that there is a whole line of Vicks warm mist vaporizers that have been created and sold just for that.

Other essential oils like eucalyptus and peppermint can also be used in conjunction with warm mist and steam to help break up phlegm and open up your airways to breathe better.

4. Warm a Room Up

 

Warm mist humidifiers will warm up a space and make it more comfortable when the temperature is chilly.

5.  Silent

 

Warm mist humidifiers and vaporizers are completely silent.

6. Less hard water buildup and particles released into the air

 

 

Boiling water has the advantage of separating minerals out of hard water. Which can mean that there is less hard water buildup around your humidifier and less mineral particles that can be emitted into the air when you are using the humidifier.

warm mist humidifierWhat’s not to love?

Well there are a few things…

Disadvantages of warm mist humidifiers

 

1. Creates a swampy atmosphere
2. Not everyone experiences nasal relief from steam
3. Can be dangerous

1.Create a Swampy Atmosphere

 

  Warm mist humidifiers can make a room feel swampy. Humidity is not always the most comfortable feeling especially when the temperature is hot.

And when you’re feeling sick, that steamy feeling is not always welcomed.

2.  Not everyone experiences relief from steam.

 

 

When the air is dry, adding humidity to the air regardless of the temperature of the humidity will moisten your nasal passages as well as your skin and so forth.
But cool mist can offer more relief sometimes than warm.
Mayo clinic indicates that cool mist can be more of a relief for a cold than warm, but more research is needed.

3. Can Be Dangerous


  Warm mist humidifiers heat water to a boiling point as a means of creating steam to humidify the room.

That means that the water would be scalding hot if it were to spill on someone.

That’s why you will find a universal warning on vaporizers that they should not be used in the baby or children’s rooms.

Hot and Cold Combination Humidifiers

There is really no reason to pit a warm mist humidifier up against a cool mist humidifier. There are specific advantages to using both and they both have their disadvantages.

There are many times when you need a vapor machine to help you breathe better immediately, but don’t need the vapor on throughout the night.

There’s also times when the warm mist feels good, but that doesn’t mean you want to sleep in a steamy room.

Modern humidifiers like the Levoit 6L give you the advantage of being able to use the humidifier as a warm mist or cool.

Being able to diffuse essential oils with these humidifiers is a basic feature anymore.
They can be filled from the top, set on auto and left alone, and
They also have the capacity to schedule and turn them off and on via a smart app that can be used with Alexa or Google Assistant.

Humidifiers like Air Innovations are made from mold resistant materials and can also have ultraviolet lamps that target the water to keep mold and bacteria from ever becoming an issue.

warm mist humidifier disadvantageRecap.

Warm mist humidifiers have specific benefits that you do not get with a cool mist humidifier.

 

They have the advantage of heating water to a temperature that automatically reduces any bacteria, germ growth or mold that can take root inside of a humidifier.

They also work very well for disseminating essential oils like eucalyptus and peppermint and work great with Vicks. So much so that Vicks has their own vaporizer meant to do just that.

And many people consider steam to be more of a relief to swollen and dried nasal passages with congestion then using cool mist.

And you can’t beat the fact that they are completely silent.

But on the flip side,..

Not everyone likes the feeling of hot humidity especially when they are sick and trying to sleep.

And there is the issue of being dangerous because of the temperature of the water that they create.

Warm mist humidifiers are never recommended for the children’s room where they can get bumped and accidentally spill.

Best of Both Worlds

 

 

 

Humidifiers like the Levoit 6l give you the advantage of being able to operate the humidifier as a warm or a mist humidifier.

There are times when using vapor to disseminate essential oils can be an awesome way to open up your airways but that doesn’t mean that you want to sleep in a steamy room.

Having the option to use the vapor and then turn the humidifier on cool for the rest of the night while you sleep is a great feature/benefit.

This new style of humidifiers also comes with built-in hygrometers and humidistats that allow you to set and leave your humidifier knowing that it will elevate the humidity and turn off when the appropriate humidity is reached.

Most have the option of being able to fill them from the top as well as operate them from your smartphone or an Alexa or Google Assistant.

Humidifiers like Air Innovations also have the advantage of being made from mold resistant materials that resist bacteria and create a much safer humidifier.

Can I Use Boiled Water in a Humidifier?

There is quite a bit of confusion when it comes to knowing what type of water you should put in a humidifier.

Some people say it doesn’t matter and some people are emphatic that it must be distilled and nothing else.

  But what is the primary issue with using any type of water regardless of how it is processed?

Mineral content is the answer.

Water that has a lesser mineral content is going to be easier on your humidifier and not have as much white calcium dust buildup and a lesser chance of mold.

Can I use boiled water in a humidifier?

Boiling water is a way of taking hard water and turning it soft. In other words it removes the minerals. Or at least separates them. The idea is to boil the water and when it cools, the minerals will collect on the bottom of the pan.

We are talking about water that has been boiled and allowed to cool and not water that is boiling. Don’t make the mistake of pouring boiling water into your humidifier. It will more than likely melt the humidifier and could cause a terrible injury if you had an accident with it.

“Boiled water is good to use in a humidifier because boiling separates the minerals and causes them to settle.”

But the real trick of using boiled water in a humidifier is filtering out the settlement from the rest of the water. 

If you can do that successfully, then you have good clean soft water that will work well in your humidifier.

If you can’t filter it well, then the water will have bigger chunks of sediment then otherwise, which would leave you worse off than you were then if you hadn’t boiled it in the first place.

Ideally, distilled water is the best water to put in a humidifier because it has gone through the process of removing the minerals. But when you know how much water a humidifier can actually go through, purchasing distilled water to use exclusively in a humidifier will get expensive.

So boiling tap water is an okay solution if you’re absolutely concerned about the content of your local water or if you just have hard water in your area. And mostly you just don’t want to pay for water.

There are a few products you can purchase though that are a little expensive up front can and I’m saving you down the road. Even if we’re just talking about your time.

One set of products is purchasing a hard water filter and placing it either on your kitchen faucet or your shower.

  A Search on Amazon brings up quite a few more shower filters that kitchen filters when you do a search for a hard water filter. And if it’s all the same where you fill up your humidifier, the price for shower filters is a little better than putting a filter on the kitchen sink.

AquaHomeGroup 15 Stage Shower Filter

  • EFFECTIVE shower filters to remove chlorine and fluoride, heavy metals and other sediments. 
  • Clean, soft water means no more issues with lime scale build-up on the shower head or fixtures and no hard water spots.
Buy Aqua Homegroup Filter here

Another solution, although a little more expensive up front, the purchase of a water distiller. You can set up a water distiller in the kitchen for less than a couple of $100 and never have to purchase distilled water for your humidifier ever again.

CO-Z 1 Gallon Water Distiller

This tabletop water purifier by CO-Z purifies water, filters out impurities, and dissolves VOCs at 0.3 gallons per hour

Buy CO-Z Water Distiller here

The third product is made by pure guardian technologies and it’s called the aqua stick.
It is an additive that you place into your humidifier similar to a cleaning pod that you place in the back of a commode.
The aqua stick will keep mold from growing in your humidifier for up to 90 days.
So it is a recurring purchase.
But if mold occurring because of hard water is your primary concern, aqua stick can save you a lot of time and money versus purchasing distilled water all season.

Guardian Technologies GGHS15 Aquastick Antimicrobial Humidifier Treatment

Pure Guardian GGHS15 Aquastick humidifier water cartridge helps reduce the growth of mold and odor causing bacteria in the water of a humidifier tank 

Buy Aqua Sticks Here

Clean your humidifier often.

Another solution which in truth should be your first solution is to clean your humidifier with an acidic vinegar cleaner more often.

Vinegar cleaner is 25% more acidic than regular white distilled vinegar and it will remove hard water deposits if you allow your humidifier parts to soak in it for 30 minutes or so whenever you clean your humidifier.

Bacteria and mold can take root in the water basin anytime the water is allowed to stand even in as little as 48 hours.

If you turn the humidifier on after there has been standing water in the humidifier then the bacteria will become airborne and can cause illness when inhaled.

Very serious diseases like legionnaires disease and Pontiac fever are caused by inhaling bacteria that has grown on water.

The symptoms are very similar to pneumonia.

So even though using the right water will help provide longevity for your humidifier and keep humidifier dust to a minimum, cleaning the humidifier thoroughly and often is a must.

Recap

When it comes to choosing the right water for your humidifier there is a lot of back and forth on the subject.

And a lot is made of being very careful not to use tap water because it is considered hard water and full of minerals.

  And naturally that brings up the practice of boiling water before using it in a humidifier. Should you do it?

“Using boiled water in a humidifier is fine because it does separate the minerals and cause them to settle.

The only problem is filtering the sediment out of the boiled water so it doesn’t get into the humidifier.”

  Otherwise, purchasing distilled water will save you the time and you will not have to worry about filtering the boiled water perfectly.

And if the cost of distilled water over the humidifier season is too expensive, then there are other purchases you can make that even though there is an up front expense, could end up saving you in the long run.

Hard water filters are available for your faucets. For around 50 bucks you can filter the minerals out of your tap water and not worry about it till it’s time to exchange the filter.

Another solution is to buy a water distiller and make your own distilled water. The upfront cost is a little more expensive but it will pay for itself and save you down the line.

Aqua sticks are humidifier additives that will keep your humidifier from getting moldy for up to 3 months.A reoccurring price but cheaper than buying gallons of distilled water from the supermarket.

Finally, and like I said before, and should be the first option, is keeping your humidifier cleaner by soaking your humidifier in vinegar more often.

 

Can a Warm Mist Humidifier Make You Sick?

Humidifiers in the winter are a genuine lifesaver when it comes to healing dried out nasal passages, bloody noses, congestion, and keeping viruses at Bay.

But the same humidifier that can give you such amazing relief when you are  feeling congested can also be the source of illness when it is not maintained carefully.

Yet there is one type of humidifier that is inherently safer than other types of humidifiers.

Warm mist humidifiers or vaporizers have a built-in protection mechanism against mold and bacteria growing in them.

The safety feature they possess is that they bring water to a boiling point to create steam.

Bacteria cannot survive the temperature of boiling water. So Warm mist humidifiers actually clean the humidifier as they are operating.

The typical problem that humidifiers possess is that they can become full of bacteria when they are not cleaned often enough.

That results in the humidifier becoming a source of airborne mold, fungi, and bacteria. Attaching themselves to humidity aerosols floating and waiting to be inhaled.

Anytime that water has been left inside of a humidifier for over 48 hours there is the potential of mold and bacteria already starting to take root in the machine.

According to health professionals including the national library of medicine “the relative humidity inside a home should be kept between 40 and 60% to avoid humidity related issues”

Sticky

But though warm mist humidifiers may have the advantage when it comes to staying cleaner, they do not lend themselves to being a system for humidifying a large area for very long.

The problem is that they are hot ,steamy and Sticky. 
A good solution when you want to use a product like Vicks or an essential oil like eucalyptus to clear out your nasal passages, but not such a good solution when you’re entire house is dry and you’re trying to raise the moisture level.

Warm mist humidifiers and vaporizers tend to make the area swampy and uncomfortable when you are feeling sick.

So even though they are less likely to be responsible for getting dirty and making someone sick, they are also uncomfortable to be around when you are sick.

They also have a big disadvantage of being scalding hot if they happen to spill on you.

Most vendors make a point of warning that warm mist and steam humidifiers should not be used in the kids rooms or the baby’s room for that exact reason.

warm mist vaporizerWhat to do…

Humidifiers in the 2000s are not the same humidifiers that you purchased at the local pharmacy in 1985.

The amount of features that humidifiers have these days can suit just about everyone’s humidification needs.

One of those features like you can find on the Levoit 6l large room humidifier is the capacity of the unit to be used as a warm mist humidifier or a cool mist humidifier.

This is a great solution for people who want to be able to use the steam setting to help open up their airways but don’t want to have to try to sleep in a sauna atmosphere.

Humidifiers like that same Levoit model or also loaded with the latest Wi-Fi smart technologies to allow you to control and schedule your humidifier directly from your phone or your Alexa device.

  It also allows you to set and leave your humidifier without the concern of it ever over humidifying or running out of water without you knowing it.

Other advances in humidifiers are concentrated on reducing mold and bacteria growth inside of the humidifier water.

An example is the…. Humidifier that uses antimicrobial mode resisting plastic and it’s construction.

Another example is the… Humidifier that features an ultraviolet light that targets the water container so that bacteria is stopped before it has a chance to take root.

Which only makes sense since UV has been used for aquariums and barber shop disinfecting containers for as long as I can remember.

Though UV is also something you probably do not want in the children’s rooms either because it can damage your eyes if you stare into it.

warm mist humidifierSummary

In this article we tried to make the point that warm mist humidifiers can actually be safer because they raise the temperature of the water to a boiling point which is a bacteria killer.

Humidifiers for all their benefits also have a dark side.

Which is, they can grow mold and bacteria in the water when they are not cleaned often enough.

The result is that the mold and bacteria inside of the water becomes part of the air you breathe when the humidifier is turned on.

Inhaling airborne bacteria that come from water is the cause behind the horrific legionnaires disease.

Which can cause death primarily in people with low immunity such as the elderly.

Pontiac fever is a milder version of legionnaires that produces symptoms closer to pneumonia and is not usually fatal.

But although you can make the case that vaporizers and warm mist humidifiers are safer because they produce less bacteria, there is also the other side of the coin which is that vaporizers can create a swampy atmosphere which is uncomfortable when you are sick, and especially when you are trying to sleep.

What’s the alternative?

Thankfully humidifiers have continued to get better over the years and now you can purchase humidifiers that function as both warm mist and cool mist humidifiers.

There is also a new breed of humidifiers that is tackling the problem of humidifiers creating bacteria by building their units out of antimicrobial plastic that resists mold and targeting ultraviolet light on the water inside the basin to kill any bacteria before they become airborne.

But if purchasing a new humidifier is not in your immediate future, then there is the old elbow grease method combined with some acidic vinegar to keep your humidifier clean and protect you from bacteria growing in your humidifier and becoming airborne.

What is the Ideal Humidifier Setting in Winter?

What is the Ideal Humidity Setting in Winter?

 

It seems that humidity and humidification are a subject that are gaining interest as people are becoming more aware of the impact that moisture levels in the home, School, work or otherwise, can have not only on dry noses and cracking skin but even more importantly the transmission of viruses.

“The ideal humidity setting on a hygrometer or humidifier is 50 Percent. According to the National Library of Medicine: “the majority of adverse health effects caused by relative humidity would be minimized by maintaining indoor levels between 40 and 60%.”

When conditions are dry, airborne viral particles become smaller and or able to travel much further.

Humidity makes the particles wider and weighs them down so they are not able to float, which reduces the particles located in the ambient air (the air you breathe) and inhibits their capacity to spread.

Exciting.

It’s interesting that simply adding moisture to the air can create indoor conditions where viruses and bacteria along with other dust particles can reduce respiratory illness.

humidifier settings in winterHumidity levels in the winter are typically exceptionally low. The lack of moisture in the air creates all types of havoc with your body including:

  • Dry skin
  • Lowered immunity
  • Raw and bloody noses
  • Dry throat
  • Acne
  • Congestion
  • Static electricity
  • Frizzy hair

But you may be asking how do you know what your humidity actually is in the house?

That’s all good and fine knowing that humidity can affect your health but if you don’t know what your humidity is or how to correct it, what’s the use?

Humidity is measured with what’s called a hygrometer.

Hygrometers can be purchased as standalone devices but you will mostly find them as digital units combined with thermometers these days.

A thermohygrometer coupled with a humidifier to add moisture to the air is all the tools you will need to increase your relative humidity when conditions are too dry in your home or workplace.

This method works by using trial and error and increasing or decreasing the output of your humidifier as needed.

But even though it works, it’s not the most convenient as it will take a lot of monitoring between the humidifier and the hygrometer to achieve and maintain the proper humidity level.

humidifier winterLucky for us, humidifiers have raced into the new age and are among the upper echelon of appliances that come equipped with smart technology to auto control your humidifier, but it turns on and off as needed according to censored hygrometer technology.

In other words, it increases and decreases humidity automatically.

Smart humidifiers not only can be controlled using Alexis and Google Assistant, they can also tell you your home humidity levels directly from an app on your phone and let you control it as needed.

Smart technology is only the beginning of where this new generation of humidifiers get started.

For instance the Levoit 6 l whole house smart humidifier can be utilized as either a warm mist or a cool mist humidifier.

It is equipped with sleep mode, essential aromatherapy oil ready, and is ultra quiet.

And one of the smartest features of this new breed of humidifiers is that they are top fill.

Which means they are much easier to put water in than the old plastic pharmacy style humidifiers that had to have the tank taken off and turned upside down underneath a faucet to fill it.

Other advances in humidifiers include methods of keeping humidifiers cleaner longer.

Technologies like UV light and antimicrobial plastic or advancing humidification to a new level. see: Self Cleaning Humidifiers

It’s no secret that humidifiers are among the most maintenance heavy devices.

Humidifiers must be kept clean to avoid germs and bacteria from growing inside of the water.

Unfortunately the same device that can reduce your chances of getting sick in the winter can also make you sick if it is not maintained properly.

That’s what makes these new technologies like ultraviolet light and antimicrobial materials so exciting.

You can imagine that in the future we are going to see humidifiers that alert us when they are in danger of developing bacteria and humidifiers that simply clean themselves.

We’re not quite there yet. But it’s definitely on the horizon. (Vaporizers use boiling water to create steam. Since the water is brought to a high temperature, bacteria is not able to survive)

Summary 

What Humidity Setting Should You Use in Winter?

According to PubMed, 40 to 60% relative humidity in the home, School, or workplace is the ideal humidity to minimize adverse health effects caused by humidity. 

Humidity can adversely affect your health when it is too low or too high.

Though most people generally pull out the humidifier when they start getting bloody noses and congestion, humidifiers can relieve all types of conditions including dry and cracking skin, dried out nasal passages, acne, viral spread, and lowered immunity.

Though they can be purchased separately and used in conjunction with your humidifier, hygrometers, which are the tool that is used to measure humidity, come built in to humidifiers as a standard feature these days.

Smart humidifiers can automatically increase or decrease the humidity level inside of the house to maintain the optimal humidity of 40 to 60%.

They also give you the advantage and convenience of being able to control and schedule your humidifier with your phone or using an Alexis device or Google Assistant.

This new breed of humidifier offers features like the capacity to use the humidifier is either a warm mist or a cool mist device. Antibacterial features like ultraviolet light and antimicrobial plastic, and one of my favorites, the ability to fill it from the top.

Top fill humidifiers take a huge amount of hassle out of using a humidifier.

It hasn’t been that long since humidifiers only came with basins that had to be taken off and turned upside down in order to fill.

Top fill humidifiers can be filled with a water pitcher.

Humidifier Smells Musty- Red Flag! Important

If you look in the dictionary, the word musty is defined as having a “stale, moldy or damp smell”.

If your humidifier smells musty then you more than likely have a humidifier with stagnant moldy water.
This is a red flag and you should turn the humidifier off till you have thoroughly cleaned the humidifier with vinegar and allowed it to completely dry.

  Though the benefits of a humidifier are many , operating a humidifier that has stagnant water will turn the humidifier into a germ machine that will fill your air full of mold spores and airborne bacteria.

At that point it’s not just an issue of smelling bad, it can actually be dangerous to your health.

Did you know that the symptoms of mold allergies often look very similar to the symptoms of the flu or pneumonia?

Sneezing, runny nose, post nasal drip, fatigue, itchy and watery eyes, can all occur from breathing in mold.

Legionnaires disease is caused by inhaling bacteria from water or soil.

Symptoms related to legionnaires include fever, muscle aches, shortness of breath and gastrointestinal symptoms including nausea vomiting and diarrhea

A lesser version of legionnaires is called Pontiac fever which also creates symptoms that resemble the flu and pneumonia.

As you can see that a musty smelling humidifier is not something to take lightly.

Don’t panic.

Just take the appropriate steps and clean your humidifier thoroughly before using it.

How to Clean a Musty Humidifier

Cleaning a musty humidifier requires one main ingredient and that is “vinegar”. And though you can get away with using white distilled vinegar, you can purchase ” cleaning vinegar” . It is actually about 25% more acidic and will do a better, more thorough job for you.

The steps are simple:

1. Take your humidifier apart (these are just the parts that are made to come apart easily, I am not talking about taking a screwdriver and breaking the machine down to its bare components or anything like that)
We’re just talking about taking the basin off, removing any lids, gaskets, etc.

2. Dump the water out of the basin

3. Pour a cup of cleaning vinegar into the basin and swish around

4. Take the other parts and soak them in a bowl of  vinegar. Nothing too amazing just make sure that everything is soaking enough to ensure that no mold or bacteria is left untouched.

5. Poor enough vinegar into the bottom half of the humidifier to ensure that all the areas are covered.

6. Wipe any area with vinegar that does not lend itself to sitting in a bath of vinegar to ensure that everything has been disinfected.

7. Let it sit for at least 20 minutes.

8. Wipe everything down. There shouldn’t be too much scrubbing unless it’s just been a very long time since the humidifier has been cleaned.
  You should find that all the mold and grime is easily removed after having let it sit for 20 minutes.

9.  Rinse everything with very warm water.

10. Let everything completely dry before putting it back together

Humidifiers have actually taken a very positive turn in the world of appliances.

These days humidifiers can be purchased that are very sophisticated and will monitor your humidity levels and alert you when you need to increase or decrease the humidity in your house.

Some even have sensors that will turn the humidifier on and off as needed.

Other advances in humidifiers are geared towards making humidifiers safer so that they do not have as much of a chance of becoming a germ farm.

Though there is yet to be a humidifier built that you could call 100% germ-free, there are technologies that some brands of humidifiers use that come awfully close.

Some of these technologies include:

1.  Ultraviolet light

Ultraviolet light is a technology that has been used to kill germs and bacteria for a very long time.

All types of industries use UV as a method of disinfection. Air purification, aquariums, and barber shop supplies just to name a few.

It only makes sense that ultraviolet light would be incorporated with humidifiers to keep bacteria from being able to grow inside and eventually becoming part of the air you breathe.

2. Antimicrobial plastic

Another really cool technology being incorporated into the construction of humidifiers is antimicrobial plastic.

This is plastic that actually resists the growth of mold and bacteria. Building a humidifier out of materials that resist mold and bacteria is very innovative and exciting and one that you can actually find in some brands of humidifiers right now.

3.  Antibacterial additives

Anti bacterial additives are another great ideal that can help keep your current humidifier cleaner and free of bacteria for longer amounts of time.

Some of the main brands of antibacterial additives is aqua stick.

4. DIY additives

You don’t necessarily have to go purchase a new humidifier or buy commercial additives.

Distilled vinegar can be placed right into your water and help keep your humidifier cleaner for a longer period of time.

Colloidal silver is something that many people have on hand that can be added to humidifier water that will kill bacteria and benefit the person breathing the colloidal silver misted water immensely.

Hydrogen peroxide is another easy additive that will help keep the water and the humidifier disinfected and is also a great additive to reduce germs and bacteria in the air.

Summary:

A musty smelling humidifier is the definition of a moldy humidifier.

If your humidifier smells musty, then you should take it as a red flag to immediately turn it off and to thoroughly clean it with vinegar.

You should not take this lightly because there can be serious consequences to inhaling water that has bacteria growing on it.

Symptoms can resemble pneumonia and can include everything from sneezing and watery eyes to more severe symptoms like fever, achy muscles, and vomiting or diarrhea.

Cleaning your humidifier thoroughly with vinegar will disinfect the humidifier and get you back to enjoying the benefits of the humidifier.

As an added protection, you can purchase additives to place in the water to keep it fresher longer.

You can also purchase humidifiers that use technologies that will help your humidifier stay germ-free longer.

Can Humidifiers Cause Mold?- The Answer May Surprise You

Mold is a very destructive agent, not only to your home and property but also to your health. Mold growth can also be very consuming when it is left unchecked. And damage can occur very quickly. 
 Finding the source and stopping it is of the essence when you are dealing with it. 

Can Humidifiers Cause Mold? 

“No. A well maintained humidifier that is operating in the right humidity range will not cause mold.”

But a humidifier that is not cleaned often and allowed to run with water that has been stagnated will not only accumulate mold and bacteria inside of the basin,  it will dispense mold and bacteria into the air you breathe.

Poor air quality that is full of mold and bacteria can be dangerous and cause symptoms that are similar to pneumonia and the flu, etc.

However if a humidifier is being operated how it is intended to be when the humidity in the room has dropped below 40%, it will only benefit you.

Are there any special circumstances where a humidifier could cause mold to grow?

Yes. For instance, you were running a humidifier when the humidity is well above the need for the humidifier to be running.

  If you already have 80% humidity and you’re doing something to add more humidity, like run a humidifier, then you’re going to have condensation, which given the right circumstances can begin to grow mold.

Another scenario is that you have a humidifier that has a physical leak and is allowed to drip onto the wall or behind a desk or other furniture.

Anywhere you have a leak in your house, regardless of the source, you have a good chance of finding mold.

allergy headacheBut a good working humidifier will not cause mold in the right circumstances. A humidifier doesn’t even have the output to create a huge condensation situation. Even on the scale of taking a shower.

What about the opposite?

Can a Humidifier Prevent Mold?

Yes.
And yes you read that right. Studies have shown that excessively dry air creates a much easier path for allergens like mold spores, pollen, airborne bacteria and viruses, to be able to travel much further.

The idea is that when the humidity of the air in your home, business, School, etc. Is kept between 40 and 60%, the moisture in the air does not allow for these “airborne health threats” to travel nearly as far before they are forced to the surface by the weight of the humidity drops.

The right moisture level in the air will actually keep mold spores from being able to travel as far as they would be able to in dry air. And keep it out of the ambient air that you are breathing in.

Maintaining the optimal humidity in your home has so many benefits that it outweighs any of the potential negatives by a mile.

Benefits of a humidifier:

1. Alleviate dry skin
2. Stop nosebleeds
3. Help control acne
4. Keep viruses at Bay
5. Control static shock
6. Help control dust
7. Helps immunity
8. Help control allergies
9. Increase oxygen

1.  Alleviate dry skin

Dry skin is a universal problem that we all deal with from time to time. And it is a problem that is in direct correlation to the amount of moisture in our airstream.
Simply put; if the air is dry then your skin does not have the available moisture to be able to absorb. And to make matters worse, dry air means extra dust in the air, which pulls moisture out of your skin.
A humidifier is the perfect tool to add moisture back to a home that is suffering with low humidity.

2.  Nosebleeds

Nosebleeds and congestion are the main telltale signs that it is time to pull out the humidifier for the season.

Whenever the air gets excessively dry because of the low humidity content in the air combined with the heater blasting, dry nasal passages become intolerable.

Humidifiers are one of the best things you can do when you are suffering from nosebleeds and dry nasal passages with congestion.

3.  Help control acne

Acne is not something most people associate with low humidity. But according to Hadley King MD” dry conditions expose deeper layers of skin to the outside world”. Increasing the level of moisture in your room can help maintain the level of hydration needed to keep dry cracking skin from allowing acne to get a deeper root.

4.  Keep viruses away

Where the air is excessively dry, there is a wide open pallet for particles including viruses, germs and bacteria, to be able to float in the ambient air and much further than when air is properly hydrated.
Humidifiers will add moisture back to the air which can keep viruses from being able to travel as long and as far as they can in dry air.

5. Control static shock/electricity

Static electricity is another one of those telltale signs that the humidity is low.
Without the proper humidity in the air, electrons have a lot less resistance and jump from one body to the next very easily.
Adding moisture to the air with the humidifier will cut down on the amount of static electricity that you are experiencing in your house.

6. Helps control dust

When there is a lack of humidity, dust does not have anything to keep it from floating and moving throughout the air settling on your skin and into your lungs.

Providing humidity back into the air with a humidifier will create moisture in the air that will bind with airborne dust and cause it to settle.

7.  Helps immunity

A study published by medical news today states that the hair-like organelles outside of the cells that line the body’s airways, called cilia, do not function as well and dry conditions – they cannot expel viral particles as well as they otherwise would.

It’s Amazing how a humidifier can actually help your body resist viral particles much better when the air is too dry.

8.  Help control allergies

Airborne allergies like pollen and mold spores that do not have any moisture in the air to keep them from floating will eventually make it into your airways and cause you to have a whole host of allergic symptoms.

Restoring the humidity in a room with a humidifier will help keep allergens from being able to float nearly as long and far as they are able to and dry air. Which can mean big relief for allergy sufferers.

9.  Increase oxygen

Increasing the humidity with a humidifier when the air is dry can indirectly increase your oxygen intake.

“a humidifier is not an oxygen concentrator and it should not be mistaken for one or substituted for one”

The humidity droplets created by humidifiers can weigh down airborne allergens and dust by weighing them down and decreasing their ability to float in the ambient (air that you breathe)airstream.

Thus allowing for better oxygen intake.

Secondly, humidity combined with oxygen producing plants such as rubber plant, aloe vera, and mother-in-law’s tongue can create an oxygen-rich environment. Amazing.

Summary

Can a humidifier cause mold?

A humidifier used correctly at the right time will not cause mold.

Humidifiers are made to add moisture back to the room when the air is excessively dry and under the 40% relative humidity mark.

But a humidifier that is not used correctly or is allowed to be operated when it is unmaintained or has standing water in it, well more than likely has mold and bacteria growing in it and can create an air quality problem that can be very serious.

Other times that humidifiers could be responsible for mold is if they are run when the humidity is already high and does not constitute the use of a humidifier.

And secondly, if there is a physical problem with the humidifier and it is allowed to leak onto the furniture or floor.

Sore Throat Humidifier- Good Idea or Not?

” When the air is extremely dry, it can make an already painful sore throat feel that much worse. A humidifier is the perfect tool to add moisture back into the room and help alleviate some of the pain. But if you’re talking about the dreaded summer cold when the humidity is already high, a humidifier will not help.”

Everyone knows the feeling of waking up with a sore throat. And to be honest there are very few quick remedies that can make a big difference when you do have a sore throat.

There are some decent sore throat lozenges like the Mucinex and the Vicks brands that provide that ultra cool feeling on your throat but they are not all that long lasting and they do nothing to help at the root of it. And you don’t want to fall asleep with a throat lozenge in your mouth. Or you might end up waking up choking on it.

Drinking a lot of liquids ( coffee and Coke not included) and gargling with warm salt water also have a calming effect on a sore throat. And staying hydrated is absolutely the best policy to get you out of your sickbed quicker.

But the one thing that can exacerbate a sore throat more than any other and in turn help you when you do have a sore throat is maintaining the proper humidity in the room.

Is a Humidifier Good for a Sore Throat?

Humidity levels in the house have a great deal to do with how dry your throat can feel. And though most throat issues are caused by a virus and there’s not a whole lot you can do besides wait it out.

If the humidity in your house is excessively low, it is going to have a compounding effect on your sore throat which will make it more painful. And since sore throat often accompanies nasal congestion, it follows that you tend to breathe through your mouth more which is only drying out your throat further.

Most professionals including the national library of science say that keeping the humidity level at between 40 and 60% in the home is the optimal level for keeping winter related symptoms at Bay.

“The humidifier is the perfect tool for adding humidity back into a room that is lacking the level of humidity that is required to keep viruses from spreading easier and to provide essential moisture for your nasal passages and throat.”

And humidifiers have become pretty sophisticated devices over the last few years that include hygrometers to be able to measure your own humidity as well as give you the option of using cool or warm mist as well as doubling as aromatherapy diffusers.

And when they are performing in a diffuser mode, there are essential oils like eucalyptus they can also have a clearing effect and offer some relief for a sore throat.

But the humidifier is definitely not the answer in every situation. For instance, everyone is familiar with the dreaded summer cold as well. And most of the time, adding extra humidity to the room in the summer is not the solution since the humidity levels in summer typically range above what would be considered the optimal humidity of 40 to 60% indoors.

At that point, it makes zero sense to try to relieve a sore throat by turning on a humidifier.

Can a humidifier give you a sore throatCan a humidifier give you a sore throat?

A humidifier can actually give you a sore throat and here’s why.

Humidifiers have to be cleaned often. When they are not well maintained, they can easily become a perfect breeding ground for mold and bacteria.

Anytime that a humidifier is left with standing water in it, it can begin to accumulate mold and bacteria in as little as 48 hours.

Imagine turning the humidifier on after it has had standing water in it for an extended time. At that point, it has basically become a distributor of bacteria into your airstream.

And the symptoms of moldy air on your health look suspiciously like the symptoms of the flu. Sore throat, headaches, sneezing, runny nose, etc.

A dirty humidifier can account for the reason you are having a sore throat in the first place.

There are a few humidifiers and humidifier products that are made to hinder the production of bacteria.

On the subject of Moldy air, humidifiers are not the only source of mold and bacteria that can affect your breathing and cause you to have cold-like symptoms.

The HVAC system (Central heating and Air) is also famous for being a distributor of bacteria throughout the house. Persistent mold allergy symptoms like sore throat and headaches can often be traced back to a dirty heating and Air system.

Most HVAC supplies offer induct air purifiers that are placed inside of your ductwork and have a high kill rate for mold.

RGF REME HVAC HALO 24V Air Purification System Light

  • 24V Installation with included transformer / Professional Installation by an HVAC Tech or Electrical Contractor is recommended ).
  • It is good against mold, odors, VOC’s, bacteria or viruses. Also: Dust, Particles, Chemicals. (It is recommended to use an electrostatic air filter.)
Buy Reme Halo here

 Evaporative coolers or also known for being a huge breeding ground for bacteria and mold. These machines operate by basically blowing a fan across water to cool the air.

Just like humidifiers, they have the propensity to collect standing water from time to time and must be cleaned often to avoid blowing moldy Misty air into your home.

There are also products you can put into your evaporative coolers to help prevent bacteria from growing.

Is a Humidifier Good for a Sore ThroatSummary: Sore throat humidifier. Good idea or not?

Though a sore throat is usually not the direct result of having dry air, dry air can definitely have a compounding effect on how a sore throat feels.

Waking up with a sore throat is often accompanied with other symptoms like congestion that lead you to breathing through your mouth.
Dry air in the room can make a sore throat that much more painful.

When the humidity in the air is low, a humidifier can be a great tool to add humidity back into the air and help relieve some of the pain of having a sore throat.

But if we are talking about a sore throat in the summer when the humidity is typically too high, the humidifier is not the answer to sore throat relief.

Many people have complained about getting a sore throat as a result of running a humidifier.

And yes, even though a humidifier can be a great relief to you when you have a sore throat and they can conditions are dry,

Humidifiers have a huge disadvantage in that they have to be cleaned very often.

Running a humidifier that has had standing water left in it can actually introduce mold and bacteria into the air which can cause symptoms very similar to the flu including sore throat, sneezing, and headaches.

  Which all is directly and indirectly the result of poor air quality.

Poor air quality can be the result of an unmaintained humidifier but it can be the result of other circumstances including dirty HVAC ducts and evaporative air conditioning which has the same type of mechanics as a humidifier and needs to be cleaned very well and often.

Humidifier-Dehumidifier Combo-What Are Some Of The Options?

Unless this is the first thing you’ve read about the subject,

You probably have already realized that a humidifier dehumidifier combo is not really a thing that you can easily find on the internet.

Yes, you might find an experimental one somewhere…

But then again there’s probably a reason why they don’t exactly fill the shelves.

A humidifier and a dehumidifier, though they may sound like the same thing or very similar;

Are actually two very different machines with two entirely different functions.

A humidifier is used to add moisture to the air while a dehumidifier is used to extract moisture from the air.

Humidifiers and dehumidifiers are not two appliances that are ran at the same time.
That’s probably the biggest reason why you don’t find too many combination humidifier and dehumidifier machines available.

dehumidifier-humidifier Though you might be able to make the case that these two devices could be combined and work well together.

Why not? they both have a basin for water.

And you could easily see that basin being  used to capture water when the humidity is too high.
  And when the humidity is too low, adding water to the basin to humidify a room….

But the truth is, a dehumidifier is a pretty hefty device on its own that has a full compressor to condense the humidity out of the air.

   And even the smaller dehumidifiers are quite a bit larger than a room humidifier.

And considering the usefulness you get out of a dehumidifier compared to a humidifier,

  it doesn’t make it all that appealing to have a humidifier that is the size of a dehumidifier.

Another issue that I see is that a region that has a climate with excessive humidity is not likely to have a excessively dry season or vice versa.

And Dehumidifiers are more likely to be used less than a humidifier over the span of a year.

So having a device that is likely to be much bigger out of necessity,
during the time of year you don’t need it, doesn’t make combining a humidifier and a dehumidifier all that appealing either.

The bottom line is that these two devices are just not that useful when combined together. And the expense of doing so would not be worth it.

Dehumidifier Humidifier Combo alternatives

For a lot of people who live in climates that are primary dry, a full blown dehumidifier with pump and hose is just too much.

Desiccants placed around the house can be a good solution and a reasonable combination to go with your humidifier. And they are a fraction of the cost of a full size portable dehumidifier.

The easiest way to describe a desiccant is to remind you of the tiny bags that manufacturers include in packaging to help keep their products fresh.

Those are desiccant bags. And you can find them in everything from cookies to shoes.

  But desiccants also come in much bigger sizes and can reduce the humidity in a pretty good sized space.

Here’s a few examples of desiccant dehumidifiers that you can purchase.

Click here for Damprid

Damprid


Damprid is a desiccant container that is available in different sizes. It can also be bought in bags with a hanger similar to what you hang a shirt on.

One kind of Damprid includes activated charcoal that is excellent at getting rid of musty smells.
Damprid is an excellent solution to absorb excess moisture in a small area. It can also be put away from view very quickly.

Click here for Eva-Dry

Eva-dry E-500 Mini Dehumidifier

 

 

Eva Dry Dehumidifiers run totally silent, have a 10-year life span, and do not require any refills.
These are dehumidifiers with small desiccant absorber beads which are specifically designed for smaller areas such as safes and closets. You may need more than one.
These units can take in up to 8oz of moisture, without the maintenance and emptying irritations associated with the compressor-based dehumidifiers.

Dehumidifiers do not have to be the size of a portable air conditioner either. There are several models that can be used in much smaller spaces.

Click here for Levoair

Levoair Dehumidifier

A small dehumidifier, with the drain hose.
The tiny dehumidifier is able to reduce humidity up to 333 square feet.
It’s very quiet because it doesn’t have a compressor. Which is the reason that most dehumidifiers sound so loud.
It has a handle that it can be carried around with,  and it is water-proof. Easily transportable with fewer chances of spilling.
A drain hose, already built-in, allows you to operate it without having to purchase it separately.

Room ventilation

So far we’ve only talked about combining a humidifier and a dehumidifier in a small portable package.

Many people find themselves with extra dry air in the winter and overly humid air in the summer.

So as we start to go down the rabbit hole of what to do to solve the problem, many times it seems obvious that we need a dehumidifier for the humidity and a humidifier for the dry weather.

But that is not necessarily the the answer.

  With modern building practices, houses and homes are usually sealed up exceptionally well.

  Though that is something you want, it can also be a problem when you’re talking about keeping the indoor humidity at the optimal level.

Sometimes just opening the window and letting some fresh air in will help with a dry or humid room.

But what about when opening a window is not an option? Like in the Winter.

That’s where adding a fresh air ventilation system to your existing HVAC can provide the fresh air into your home that can reduce humidity.

Many of these fresh air ventilation  systems come with humidity sensors so that they do not allow excessive outdoor humidity into the home.

And they also come with built-in dehumidifiers to help reduce the humidity if it becomes a problem also.

Click here for Panasonic WhisperComfort

Panasonic WhisperComfort Spot Energy Recovery Ventilator

Panasonic WhisperComfort Spot Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) is a unique way to offer an even airflow with an integrated ceiling ERV.

It is ideal for one room. The Panasonic FV-04VE1 WhisperComfort Spot ERV Ceiling Insert Ventilator has the lowest rate for continuous air exchange. This ventilator provides fresh air to replenish exhausted air, balancing the air pressure in the home.

WhisperComfort Spot ERV Ceiling Ventilator that has Balanced Ventilation and Patent-Pending Capillary core is covered by a manufacturer’s warranty for 3 years beginning from the date of purchase. The item is sold only one unit per package.

Quiet, balanced ventilation: WhisperComfort cleanses the air and exchanges heat between outgoing and incoming exhaust air at a quiet pace that you may not even know it’s there.

LONG LIFE GUARANTEED:

  • Panasonic ventilation fans use lesser energy to transport more significant quantities of air. The less energy used results in less motor failure and overheating and lowers repair expenses.
  • The warranty is for three years.
  • Clean air and save energy: Capillary Core cleans air by exchanging heat between outgoing and incoming exhaust air.
  • Filters are simple to clean and remove.
  • Easy-to-install: Designed for four” pipes, WhisperComfort has the mounting equipment needed, and it is very easy to install.
  • Code Compliant: The item is ENERGY Energy Star certified and in accordance with ASHRAE 62.2 LEED as well as Washington VIAQ Codes and Standards.

Extractor fans

Extractor fans are very useful for bathrooms because they pull the moisture out of the room via a fan  that expels into the attic.

Removing unwanted humidity by extracting it with a fan can be a much better solution than collecting it with a dehumidifier.

Extractor fans are also a great way to reduce humidity in a damp basement that doesn’t really need or have a place to put a full sized window AC.

Click here for AC Infinity AIRTITAN

AC Infinity AIRTITAN T8 Basement Ventilator Fan

  • A fan system that is designed to provide airflow and humidity control to basements and crawl spaces.  
  •  Reduces humidity by generating exhaust airflow, which helps to eliminate foul scents and fresh air out of your home.  
  •  Controller with programmable function and cord that can regulate airflow according to temperature and humidity.  
  •  Frame made of stainless steel that is heavy-duty and has IP-44-rated fans that are extremely resistant to liquids as well as dust.  
  •  Wall Adapter included | Design: Exhaust | Dimensions.  18 x 9 x 1.6 in. | Airflow: 240 CFM | Noise level: 32 Dba

Air conditioning

Refrigerated air conditioning, whether it be what’s coming into your home via the central heat and air or a window air conditioner automatically combine dehumidification as part of cooling your home.

Summertime heat can be compounded by high humidity in the air.

And it’s at those times that cooling down with a fan or even a evaporative cooler are not going to suffice.

Newer AC units most always come with a dehumidifier setting besides their natural humidifying capacity.

Click here for MIDEA Air Conditioners

MIDEA MAW12R1BWT

PROS

  • The LED display on the front of its panel
  • Provides fast and efficient cooling in rooms that range from 500 square. Ft.
  • Dehumidification can help maintain a comfortable atmosphere within
  • Easy to install using all the mounting tools included in the package
  • EcoSave Function aids the unit to shut off when a temperature is reached to help save energy and money.

CONS
Only one-year warranty available.
Refrigerant with flammable properties that could cause a fire or even an explosion

Recap

Doing a search for a dehumidifier and humidifier combo is mostly likely a dead end.

Even though they may sound like a great combination of products to pair together,

They are not two products that are ever used at the same time and the technologies that they use to do their thing are completely different.

They are not compatible in the same way that say, combing a dehumidifier with an air purifier would be. Since they both work to reduce airborne pollutants.

Some solutions that can help manage humidity in the home and be a good combo with a humidifier or dehumidifier are products like:

  • Desiccants
  • Fresh Air Ventilation systems
  • Extractor fans
  • Air conditioners

You can purchase a humidifier with all the bells and whistles you can think of. But none of them will dehumidify.

Same thing goes for dehumidifier. There are some amazing units out there that will dry your room out like a prune. But they won’t add a bit of humidity.