Humidifiers need
to be cleaned every week so they don't build up bacteria. Most humidifier
manufacturers suggest using a lengthy process that can take up to 45 minutes
to thoroughly clean the humidifier. If you don't have a lot of time, you may
want to consider a humidifier that you can clean in the dishwasher. The water tank and tray are designed to be cleaned in the
dishwasher, leaving them thoroughly clean and sanitary, making your weekly
cleaning process much easier.
The most favorable
humidity levels will vary depending on your needs. Consider purchasing a
style that continually
keeps track of your humidity level. Set your
desired humidity level, and the humidifier automatically turns on and off to
keep that desired level.
Are You
Worried About Bacteria in Humidifiers?
Are you worried about bacteria growing in humidifier water? You are not
alone! A phone study just concluded that 60% of
humidifier owners are concerned about bacteria growing in their humidifier. Why is
this so important? Multiple types of bacteria, protozoan, fungi and viruses
have been found in poorly maintained humidifiers. Cleaning a humidifier
according to most manufacturer specifications is very time-consuming (taking
up to 45 minutes), and many humidifiers have parts that are difficult to
reach and clean. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (www.cpsc.gov),
this time-consuming task must be done every week to keep your humidifier
clean.
Humidifiers And Colds
Our heat gets turned up and everyone,
especially our kids, get sick more often as the cold season approaches. Here are some facts about
respiratory illnesses that you may not know.
Did you know...
Most children have between 8 and 10 colds each year before they turn two?
Rhinovirus causes most strains of common cold and there are more than 100
strains of it?
Once you catch a certain strain of the rhinovirus, you develop immunity to
that strain?
When your child has a virus, your pediatrician will give you advice on how
to make your child more comfortable, and may suggest the use of a humidifier to ease the symptoms of the virus?
Croup is an infection of the area in and around the voice box and is usually
a viral infection?
The AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) recommends the use of a cool mist
humidifier to help alleviate the symptoms of croup.
Bronchiolitis, a virus that causes swelling of the bronchial tubes, is a
disease of the lower respiratory tract.
The AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) recommends the use of a cool mist
humidifier to help alleviate mild symptoms of bronchiolitis. Kids are not
the only ones effected by the common cold. It accounts for over 15 million
missed workdays in the United States for each year.
Winter Humidity Levels?
The colder the outside temperature, the more the heat must be turned on
inside to keep you warm and comfortable. However, the heat that is added will cause a drying effect and
lower the indoor relative humidity, unless an indoor moisture source is
present.
While a room
temperature between 71° and 77° F may be comfortable for short periods of
time under very dry conditions, extended exposure to dry air has different
effects on the human body and usually causes discomfort. The amount of moisture
in the air is important, and by increasing the relative humidity to
50% or above within the above temperature range, 80% or more of all average
dressed persons would feel comfortable.
Different Types of Humidifiers
Are you confused by the different types of humidifiers on the market? Here
is a helpful explanation of each style:
Evaporative Cool Mist - Uses air pulled by a fan over a saturated wick to
evaporate moisture into the air. This is the most popular type of
humidifier. Many people
prefer cool mist humidifiers because unlike vaporizers and warm mist
humidifiers, they don't have a heating element inside. Cool mist humidifiers
are also recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Impeller - Uses a fan/impeller blade to sling droplets of water into the
air.
Ultrasonic - An evaporative method that uses inaudible high-frequency sound
waves to blow water into mist-size visible particles. Many major
corporations such as At&t , Lucent and Sony use Ultrasonic humidifier
technology. Ultrasonic humidifiers are very energy efficient.
Vaporizer - Boils water, which releases warm mist into the air. Vaporizers
usually use very intense heat.
Warm Mist - Uses a heating element to boil water into the air (uses a
different methodology of boiling water than a vaporizer).
How
can I track the humidity level in my home?
During the winter, you may want to keep your home at a healthy
humidity level. Many Cool Mist Humidifiers come equipped
with electronic controls. This feature continually tracks the
humidity level and automatically adjusts the humidifier to help maintain the
desired level. Also a humidistat ( like a humidity thermometer ) can keep
constant track of humidity levels in your home.
Tap Water or Distilled Water?
Humidifiers can
disperse minerals into the air, and so it is usually best to use distilled
water in your humidifier.
Tap water contains many minerals, and if used, can cause a white dust to
coat surfaces in your house, and scale to develop inside your humidifier,
which can be a breeding ground for microorganisms.
Is
the humidifier easy to wash? Look for a model that has parts that can be
cleaned in the dishwasher. This makes cleaning simple.
