If you are worried about skin and hair problems, there is a lack of moisture in the air, breathing is difficult and repairs and furniture deteriorate noticeably, perhaps you should think about how to choose a humidifier for an apartment and a house in 2020? With the right approach, this device will become simply irreplaceable.
A large number of pathogenic bacteria are found in our houses and apartments due to the fact that dry warm air serves as an ideal medium for their spread. We have to figure out which humidifier is better to buy in accordance with the tasks assigned to it, the allocated amount of money and other nuances.
Content
When is it worth buying a humidifier
Before choosing a humidifier for your home, you need to decide if you really need one. The name of this device speaks for itself - it increases the level of moisture in the air when it is insufficient. Many air conditioners are equipped with a built-in humidifier, but if this function is not available, the air gradually becomes drier and drier. The same situation is observed in the absence of room ventilation.
The air is especially dry in the winter season due to the low temperature outside and the use of heaters. The lack of humidity in the air negatively affects the health of humans and pets, houseplants, furniture, and wall decoration.
As many experts say, a humidifier is necessary for children if the moisture level is insufficient, because because of this, a large number of diseases develop. Most often, it is the insufficient level of moisture that causes a runny nose, allergic reactions, and other respiratory diseases. Of course, when buying, everyone tries to save money, but before choosing the cheapest air humidifier, first familiarize yourself with the general pros and cons of the device and then decide on the price.
What are air humidifiers?
If you nevertheless decide to buy, but do not know which good humidifier to choose so that it is inexpensive and of high quality?
There are 4 main types of appliances that are used in a domestic environment:
- traditional
- steam
- ultrasonic
- humidifier-purifier
Traditional
Traditional models of humidifiers, or as they are also called "air cleaning", are distinguished by the simplest design. They are equipped with a water tank, from which the liquid then falls onto a special tray with cartridges that humidify the air. Air passes through the cartridges due to the fan. At the same time, the air is cleared of dust. The price and quality of this type of humidifier are at a good level. Plus, it can be used for aromatherapy.
The presented models have some strengths and weaknesses:
Pros:
- Ease of maintenance
- Simplicity of design
- Cheapness
- Low noise level
Minuses:
- Supports only natural moisture levels
- Small assortment of models
- Requires frequent filter changes
The noise level emitted by traditional models is 35-40 dB.It's not much, but discomfort at night is possible.
Steam
The steam humidifier works like an electric kettle and is very easy to operate. Water is poured inside, which boils and forms sterile steam. He, in turn, saturates the air with moisture. Water of any quality is suitable for such a model; aroma mixtures can also be used. The model has a good performance up to 700 g / h, in addition, the device does not need consumables. However, steam installations make a lot of noise and consume a significant amount of electrical energy. There is a risk of scalding from the hot steam escaping from the device.
If you are looking for a humidifier for a children's room, then this type of device should never be bought. The same goes for rooms with pets. There is a danger of scalding from the steam!
Ultrasonic
These humidifier models are considered to be the most modern and popular. The device contains a special membrane. It is characterized by vibrations at a high frequency, due to which the water turns into cold steam. The ultrasonic installation makes almost no noise during operation (25 dB). The level of moisture saturation in the air can be adjusted independently. The humidifier allows you to do this in manual and automatic modes. You can also find models with a hot steam function, which fights against a large number of microbes.
There are many other nice features that make it worth choosing an ultrasonic humidifier with a hygrometer. If the tank runs out of water, it turns off automatically. The device regulates its operation in accordance with the humidity level you set. Sprayers have a rotating design so they can be adjusted in the desired direction.
It is also worth giving preference to the ultrasonic type thanks to its high-quality cartridges. In the course of their work, the water goes through a purifying stage. This will keep your furniture free from white deposits. This is a common disadvantage for conventional and steam installations.
Advantages:
- Ultrasound does not pose any danger to people, animals and plants.
- A fairly large assortment with a different set of functions.
- Low power consumption.
As a disadvantage, of course there are few of them, but they are still there. Filters need to be changed regularly (every three months) - this is one of the disadvantages of these types of humidifiers. In addition, they are more difficult to maintain and, of course, high cost, especially compared to other devices.
The best option in terms of functionality, cost and additional conditions (such as the presence of children or animals in the house) remains an ultrasonic device. Better to set aside a little more money and get an efficient device than waste your money on buying the wrong model.
Humidifier-air purifier
It is a combined humidifier with a complex structure and double action. Such a device contains a large number of plastic discs of various shapes. Inside the installation, they collect dust on themselves, which is subsequently washed off with water. Ionization is a really high-quality and effective air purification from dust and many other contaminants. As a rule, combined humidifiers are produced in the form of traditional ones, respectively, they have many disadvantages in common with them. Recently, some ultrasonic units are also equipped with a cleaning function.
The presented devices are usually expensive and require regular replacement of consumables. It's up to you - to accept these shortcomings, and in return get purified and ionized air, or find another solution. For example, you can select an air purifier with an ionizer as a separate unit and place it at a distance from the humidifier. This option will be more economical.
Serviced area
The main thing to pay attention to when choosing an inexpensive but good humidifier in 2020 is what size room it will work in. In most cases, it is assumed that one device should humidify the air in one room. For example, if the area of the room is 20 square meters, you need a model with a case of no more than 5 liters. There are also larger options, for example, with a capacity of about 7 liters. In this case, the serviced area will be much larger. In any case, it is better to buy a humidifier based on the area of its work, so as not to waste money and not overpay for extra performance.
When choosing a device, consider not the area of the entire living space, but the area of the room where the device will be located!
Noise level
A very important criterion for choosing the right humidifier is the noise level of the device. In the daytime, this indicator is not so important, but it is quite possible that you will want to leave the device on at night. In this case, the noise level is of great importance. If you are thinking about the best humidifier to choose, then it is best to take a closer look at models that operate at a level of up to 35 dB. Such a device will not interfere with sleep, as it does not exceed the level of a normal whisper.
Water consumption
To choose the right humidifier model, give preference to a device with an average water consumption. This parameter is very important. In this case, you should know that low-flow devices are ineffective. They take a very long time to raise the humidity to the required level. An indicator of 250 ml / hour is considered insufficient. According to reviews on air humidifiers on popular forums, consumption is considered the optimal indicator. 450 ml / hour... Such models are designed for a large area and in a small room will cope with their task in 2 hours.
Rating of the best humidifiers of 2020
There are a huge number of different types and modifications of these devices on the market, and it is very difficult to decide which humidifier is best for an apartment or house for a couple. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the rating selected by our experts, which presents the best humidifiers of 2020 according to the reviews of their owners and their reliability.
- Electrolux EHU-5515D
- Boneco U7135
- Polaris PUH 2650
- Electrolux EHU-1010 - excellent value for money
- Timberk THU ADF 01
- Polaris PUH 3005Di
- Atmos 2640
- Stadler Form Fred F-005EH
- Ballu UHB-270 M Winnie Pooh is the best option for a children's room
- Galaxy GL-8005
Conclusion
Now you know exactly how to choose the best humidifier for your home yourself, and you can make a profitable and useful purchase. The result of using this device is felt after a few hours of its operation. If you still have questions about a quality device, expert advice and user reviews will help you make the final decision.
