People all over the world rely on humidifiers to treat a variety of ailments. Thanks to the versatile benefits of humidifiers, they come in mighty handy during the colder months of the year. Many people regularly turn to humidifiers to reduce the effects of colds and other respiratory illnesses.
With the world on high alert for COVID-19, the need for a humidifier in every home is greater than ever. If you want to do all that you can to stay well, stick around for more information on these handy devices and how they can benefit you and your family.
What Is a Humidifier?
Humidifiers are special units that serve to disperse water vapors or steam into the air in your home. There are several different types of humidifiers, but they all center on serving the same purpose.
Let’s take a moment to explore each type and how they work so that you have a better understanding of their function.
Ultrasonic
As its name suggests, ultrasonic humidifiers use ultrasonic vibrations to emit a cool mist of water vapor throughout your home. As you look around our website, you will notice that we prefer this type, as it is both effective and affordable.
Unlike other types, our Everlasting Comfort Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier is whisper quiet. This lets you run it around the clock without fear of bothersome noise keeping you up all night. Its 6-liter tank capacity allows for up to 500 square feet to enjoy the effects of the cool mist output.
If you or a loved one suffers from asthma, allergies, coughs, or colds, you will find our Cool Mist Humidifier to soothe your symptoms while helping to keep your sinuses open. What’s more, it comes with a built-in essential oils tray so that you can enjoy nourishing oils while you combat illnesses.
Central
Central humidifiers are units that are installed into your home’s heating and air system. While they help to keep your entire home hydrated, they are more costly and require more upkeep and maintenance.
Impeller
These models make use of a spinning disc to disperse a cool mist throughout your living space. The device’s disc propels water through a diffuser, which then distributes the water vapor into the air accordingly.
Evaporators
These units disperse water vapor into the air by the use of a wick and fan system. These function of these humidifiers is very much like cool mist models. But instead of using vibration, a fan produces the mist.
Steam Vaporizer
The biggest difference with a steam vaporizer is that it uses hot water and steam to introduce water vapors into your home’s air. These units also serve to reduce the symptoms of coughing and colds.
The Best Humidity Level for Your Home
Humidity levels are how much water vapor is in your home’s air. These can vary wildly depending on the time of year and where you live. On average, however, you should expect humidity levels to be higher around summertime and lower during the winter.
The ideal humidity level for your home should be somewhere between 30 and 50 percent. By not maintaining the proper humidity level in your home, you could potentially face health complications and illness.
Homes with higher humidity levels than normal may cause the air to feel thick and sticky. You may notice condensation on your windows, walls, and even the floor. When this happens, you are putting yourself and your family at risk.
Because of the high moisture content, molds and other bacteria can thrive, leading to severe illnesses. This can also attract dust mites and insects of all kinds. If you or a family member suffers from asthma or allergies, it is imperative that you take action and work to reduce the humidity in your home.
Homes with lower humidity levels can result in your skin feeling dry and irritated, as well as your throat and sinuses. Some people experience red, itchy eyes when humidity is too low. To reverse these effects, invest in a humidifier and use essential oils to help soothe your symptoms.
The two work wonders together and can help to keep you and your family feeling your best.
Measuring Humidity in Your Home
You will need to invest in a hygrometer if you want to accurately measure the humidity levels in your home. Hygrometers look very much like a conventional thermometer, but instead of measuring temperatures, they measure moisture levels in the air.
You can pick up these handy devices at most big-box stores and online. Investing in a hygrometer will ensure that you are keeping your home within normal humidity range, thereby keeping your family safe in the process.
Combating Cough
The great thing about humidifiers is that they help to keep coughs at bay. The effects and benefits of humidifiers can ensure that you stay your healthiest all year long.
If you or a loved one suffers from asthma, a humidifier may be what you need to help soothe the symptoms associated with it. Because of the cool mist vapor that is dispersed into the air, your lungs and nasal passages will feel more open and functional.
With that being said, it’s important to monitor your home’s humidity levels to ensure that it isn’t dropping or rising too far outside of the norm. It’s a good idea to speak with your family doctor before starting any new treatment for your lungs.
It’s always best to err on the side of caution to ensure your safety and well-being. With the proper precautions, you can be sure to get the most out of your new humidifier.
Reasons Your Air Is Damp
When using a humidifier, you may have trouble at first keeping the air from getting too damp. This is a common occurrence during the hot, summer months. However, it is easy enough to combat moisture levels that are too high in your home.
If possible, kick on your home’s air conditioning. These serve to dry out the air around you, effectively lowering humidity levels. This also ensures that your home is comfortable in the hot and sticky months of the year.
You might also want to consider investing in a dehumidifier. These units function very similarly to air conditioners. The only real difference is that they don’t produce cold air around you (although there are some special units that come with this feature).
Benefits of Humidifiers
Now that you know how humidifiers work, let’s look at the many benefits that come with using them in your home. From keeping coughing at bay to fighting the flu virus, we all do what we can to keep our families safe and healthy!
Coughing
Coughing is caused by inflammation and dry nasal passages and throat. By using a humidifier regularly in your living area, you can look forward to hydrated passages that are less likely to cause you discomfort.
If you or someone in your family suffers from allergies every season, you may find that investing in a humidifier relieves your symptoms and allows you to breathe better. The same is true for asthma sufferers.
Humidifiers can help improve lung function, leaving your breathing open and unrestricted. These units are a huge help for many people, so they are certainly worth a look if you’re tired of experiencing the same troublesome symptoms every year.
Nosebleeds
Do you or your family often experience nosebleeds in your home? Perhaps you wake up and find dried blood on your pillowcase. This is often due to the air being too dry in your home.
Thanks to the effects and benefits of humidifiers, you can work to increase the humidity levels in your air and prevent nosebleeds caused by dryness.
Reduce Snoring
Do you have a snorer in your family? By increasing humidity in your home, you may effectively be able to put a stop to this bothersome issue. Snoring often occurs when the air is too dry, causing the snorer’s airways to feel dry.
Sleeping on your side can help reduce snoring, as well--we recommend trying this in conjunction with the humidifier if you’re the one snoring. With our special Memory Foam Knee Pillow, you will be able to sleep comfortably while soothing your body after a long day. We’ll even throw in some comfy earplugs to help you get a full night’s rest!
Fight the Flu
One of the biggest advantages of owning a humidifier is its ability to make your home’s air a less than desirable place for the flu virus to survive. If you keep the humidity levels in your home above 40 percent, the flu virus can’t thrive and spread among your loved ones. This is a huge plus that will go a long way in ensuring the health and safety of your family.
In Closing
As you can see, humidifiers do much more than simply reduce coughing. When used correctly, you can experience a wealth of benefits. Always be sure to monitor your home’s humidity levels so you can be sure when to use your humidifier.
Don’t risk letting your family fall ill. Invest in our Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier and enjoy the many advantages to keeping your home properly humidified.
Sources:
https://extension.umn.edu/moisture-and-mold-indoors/do-you-have-too-much-moisture-your-home
https://www.health.com/condition/cold-flu-sinus/study-humidifiers-may-help-fight-flu
https://www.fishersci.com/us/en/products/I9C8L6S0/hygrometers.html
Leave a comment