humidifier
These devices ensure a good indoor climate
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Humidifiers should ensure a comfortable room climate. But how well do the individual systems work? Because not all devices work on the same principle.
Evaporator, nebulizer, vaporizer – please what ?! There are many humidifiers, but how do the individual devices differ and how do they work? GALA looked around and put together the most important information and some recommendations.
Humidifier: Which Devices Are The Best?
A basic distinction is made between three different types of device for humidifiers: evaporators, evaporators and nebulizers (the latter are also often referred to as atomizers). All types of humidifiers have the same goal, but try to achieve it in different ways.
The three types of humidifiers briefly explained:
- Evaporator: A Evaporator increases the humidity by using heat to bring water to a boil and thus creating water vapor. A decisive advantage of this device is that it is sterile, which results from the high temperature. On the other hand, the humidifiers that work with steam are often, but not necessarily, significantly more expensive.
- Evaporator: To explain the function of a Evaporator the example of wet laundry is best used. Wet laundry releases the moisture into the environment as it dries, i.e. to the comparatively drier air. An evaporator also works according to this principle. However – and this is the disadvantage compared to other humidifiers – this procedure takes significantly longer.
- Nebulizer / atomizer: Humidifiers that work with mist distribute the smallest drops of water in the air – this is particularly quick. These humidifiers are supposedly the most popular. This may be due to the often low price. But these devices have one major disadvantage: Nebulizer are sometimes referred to as “sprouting germs” because the cold steam can greatly increase the bacterial load in the air. A good filter can help here.
How high should the humidity be?
Humidifiers are particularly popular in the colder half of the year. This is not a wonder. Heating air causes the relative humidity in our apartments, houses or offices to drop rapidly. Now we all perceive different humidity levels as optimal and pleasant. This is why there is no exact number that indicates the recommended humidity in a room. Nevertheless, there are guidelines. For example, the Federal Environment Agency has declared a relative humidity between 40 and 60 percent to be recommended. The recommendation of the “German Society for Otorhinolaryngology” lies within this framework. This recommends a relative humidity of 50 percent in rooms with a temperature of around 20 degrees.
If the values are well below these guide values, many people complain of dry eyes and airways; they become more susceptible to disease. This is where humidifiers can help. But be careful! Excessive humidity is also not recommended. Mold growth can quickly develop in rooms that are too damp, and mites and bacteria have an easy time of it. So always pay attention to a good average.
Tip: The best way to control the humidity is a hygrometer. This not only shows you the room temperature, but also the relative humidity. This gives you the best possible control over when and how hard your humidifier has to work.
What do I have to look out for when buying a humidifier?
The good news first: Regardless of which system you choose – the humidity improves with all types of devices – with some more slowly, with others faster. Only the “how” is the crucial sticking point that you have to worry about.
Once you have decided on a type of humidifier, you “only” have to find the right device for your needs (and your wallet). We recommend that you pay attention to the following criteria:
- How big is the living space that you want to equip with the humidifier? The range of square meters that the individual devices cover is sometimes very different.
- Should your device be able to do more than just humidify the room? Some humidifiers have additional functions and serve, for example, as a diffuser for room fragrances. Others, however, have a practical remote control and / or an automatic switch-off.
- Depending on where you want to set up the humidifier, it is also important to take a look at the volume of the device. Some humidifiers have one Night modewhich should be correspondingly quiet. Nevertheless: A decibel number of 40 should never be exceeded.
- Of course, the look also plays a role. After all, the humidifier shouldn’t spoil your room. Nevertheless, functionality and equipment should be given higher priority.