Humidifiers come in various types, each with its own advantages and considerations.
Evaporative Humidifiers
These are the most widely used portable humidifiers. They feature a simple design with a few key components:
- Reservoir: Holds the water that gets released into the air.
- Wick: A highly absorbent pad, typically made of foam, that draws water from the reservoir.
- Rotating Wheel: Sponges the wick through the water, ensuring continuous moisture absorption.
- Hygrostat: A sensor that monitors humidity levels and activates the fan when needed.
- Fan: Draws air through the wet wick, creating a cool mist that gets distributed into the room.
As your humidity levels rise, the evaporation rate will gradually reduce. While these work great, many people dislike the noise generated by the fan and we also recommend the use of antimicrobial cleaning cartridges or silver sticks to help inhibit the growth of bacteria, mould and prevent slime build up inside the humidifier.
Evaporative humidifiers are commonly used in museums, art collections, auctions, laboratories, printers, load testing, medical research, paper storage, large offices, universities and further education, exhibitions and show events, botanical and construction/refurbishment applications.
Warm Mist Humidifiers
These humidifiers function by boiling water to create steam. The steam is then released into the air, adding moisture. Warm mist humidifiers are often preferred for:
- Health Concerns: The steam produced is considered sterile and free of minerals, potentially offering benefits for respiratory issues.
- Vocal Care: The warm mist can be soothing for singers and voice actors.
However, warm mist humidifiers have drawbacks:
- Higher Energy Consumption: Boiling water requires more electricity, making them less cost-effective.
- Safety Concerns: The hot steam can pose a scald risk, especially around children and pets.
Because these humidifiers heat water before dispersing it into the air, there’s significantly less room for bacteria growth. Commonly used in vocal entertainment, hotels, exhibitions and events, medical practices, hospitals, botany applications, homes, bedrooms, small offices or desk top applications.
Ultrasonic Humidifiers
These utilise a vibrating diaphragm that operates at an ultrasonic frequency. This vibration breaks down water into tiny droplets, forming a cool mist that gets dispersed into the air. Ultrasonic humidifiers offer:
- Quiet Operation: The ultrasonic technology operates silently, making them ideal for bedrooms.
- Cool Mist: The cool mist is generally considered more comfortable than warm mist for most users.
Many ultrasonic humidifiers will also have antibacterial features to prevent stagnant water however we recommend water is refreshed daily. Commonly used in Orchestral entertainments, hotels, museums, TV production, exhibitions and events, medical practices, hospitals, botany applications, homes, bedrooms, and small offices.
Think carefully about your climate before selecting your humidifier. Cold mist ultrasonic or evaporative vapour versions are generally more suitable for warm environments and the hot steam or warm air ultrasonics are better suited for colder environments.
