How to choose an ultrasonic humidifier: what to look for before buying?

ultrasonic humidifier

It is quite possible to create an ultrasonic air humidifier with your own hands, but for this you will have to use some special materials. For such a humidifier you need:

• Ultrasonic transducer.
• Computer cooler.
• Plastic container for 5-10 liters.
• Plastic cup.
• Bagel from a children's toy pyramid.
• Power Supply.
• Corrugated pipe or any flexible.
• Stabilizer.
• Aluminum corner.

You will have to spend a little money on this version of the humidifier, but in any case it will be many times cheaper than buying a factory one.

Do-it-yourself ultrasonic humidifier

After you have purchased everything you need, you can start assembling. Using a drill, make holes in the lid of the plastic container. You will need to insert the fan mount, outlet tube, and steam generator wire into them. After that, screw the fan to the container and insert the corrugated tube.

For the steam generator, make a special floating platform that will be in the water all the time, thereby ensuring uninterrupted operation of an ultrasonic humidifier.

But what to make such a platform from? And everything is simple - take a plastic cup and a round piece that will have a hole in the middle. You can take this from your child, namely the part from the pyramid.

Ultrasonic humidifier ready

Insert a glass into a bagel, drill a hole in the bottom, and then attach a piece of fabric to its bottom with an elastic band. The fabric will act as a filter, then insert the steamer into the glass.

Such an ultrasonic humidifier works by supplying a current with a voltage of 24V, for the operation of the fan, in turn, 12V is needed, for this reason it can be powered using a stabilizer microcircuit.

Its best work will provide a constant or variable resistor. It is better to hide the microcircuit, the speed control knob under the aluminum corner.

Such a unit does not need special care, the only thing you need is to make sure that there is always water in it, and another important point is that it must be distilled.

Floor fan humidifier

If you don’t have time to make something at all, and you want to breathe normal air right now, then you can make such a humidifier: fix a dense mat on the pipe, which you pre-moisten, hang this structure, for example, on a floor lamp, slightly higher than the height of your fan . Behind a similar design, put a regular floor fan and turn it on

It is important to constantly keep the mat moist, only then there will be an effect, however, at the end of the season it will most likely have to be thrown away, since stubborn salts and rust are unlikely to be washed off

Comparative characteristics of humidifier models

To choose a humidifier for an apartment, we recommend that you first decide on the set of functions that you need.

It is equally important that the model fits into the interior and pleases the eye. We hope our rating will help you make the right choice.

Features of operation and maintenance

When using a humidifier, you should follow a few rules. The first is to pour only distilled water into the tank, since the principle of operation of the device is to turn water into suspended particles along with all contents. As a result, salts dissolved in water will also end up inside the rooms and subsequently cover all surfaces in the house with a white coating. The filter element copes well with desalination, but when pouring tap water it has to be changed often.

The second rule is to periodically flush the parts of the device, and the third is the timely replacement of cartridges. If the apparatus functions constantly, then washing is done daily with running water and once a month with acetic or citric acid. Special chemicals for humidifiers are also used.

In this case, it is important not to flood the fan and the electronic unit of the device with water. The filters are changed according to the instructions in the user manual. How to clean and change the cartridge of the Boneco 7135 ultrasonic humidifier is described in the video:

How to clean and change the cartridge of the Boneco 7135 ultrasonic humidifier is described in the video:

Watch this video on YouTube

What humidifiers are best for a child's room

Silence is the first thing parents think about in their children's room.

That is why, when planning a purchase, it is important to choose the quietest of all possible options. If you are dissatisfied with the noise level, do not rush to despair and take the gadget to the store

Often, babies fall asleep with pleasure under the so-called "white noise" - a continuous hiss or measured buzz, which is associated in babies with uterine sounds. Generally speaking about maintaining the microclimate in the nursery, one cannot fail to notice that manufacturers here follow an unspoken rule - to pay more attention to the design and bright shell of the gadget, and not to its technical content. And rightly so, because the simplest device in the form of a dog or a fish is enough for a child. According to the reviews of experienced parents, complex, technically more advanced, on the contrary, should be avoided - they can seriously injure the baby.

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No open windows

Any user who is going to purchase climate equipment for their home has a reasonable question: what about ventilation? After all, if the air washer or humidifier is working, then the windows must be closed? Because if you open them, the device will humidify the air outside. But not ventilating for a long time is also bad, because the concentration of carbon dioxide in the room increases. And this is worse than flying dust and dry skin.

“Indeed, it turns out an absurd situation,” says Viktor Borisov. - We clean and humidify the air, then we start fresh from the street, with it all the dirt, dust, soot, soot that is overboard flies into the apartment. You can keep the windows ventilated so that the flow of air from the streets does not stop. Through a small window gap, the purified air will not immediately escape, and yet there is a more effective solution to the problem - forced ventilation.

Victor assures that after installing the supply air purifier, you can forget about open windows and ventilation - “smart” technology will itself supply fresh air to the house, purify it and warm it in the cold season.

“Inlet ventilation is installed quickly, it does not require dirty and dusty work - a small hole is drilled in the wall bordering the street, a breather is attached to it from the inside of the apartment - a device slightly smaller than a conventional air conditioner,” explains Viktor Borisov. - The air is drawn from the street into the hole, goes through several stages of purification by filters that trap dust, soot, unpleasant odors, and enters the room. Some manufacturers also supply the breather with an ultraviolet lamp, but there is no definitive answer on whether the UV disinfection devices in compact breathers are really effective.”

Almost all breathers sold in Russia are equipped with a heater that brings the air taken from the street to a comfortable temperature, and many are equipped with a carbon dioxide sensor: the gadget itself determines when the level of CO₂ in the room rises and turns on the ventilation. While the owners are not at home, the device turns off so as not to consume electricity.

Forced ventilation should be done in every living room, primarily where people sleep. The cost of equipment for one room is about 35 thousand rubles. Once a year, you need to change the filters in the breather, and also wash the air intake grille every couple of months, on which the largest particles of debris and dust stick.

“If we installed forced ventilation in an apartment or house, the problem of air purification and fresh air supply is solved.It remains to buy a humidifier to maintain the optimal level of humidity at home, because the presence of forced ventilation during the heating period, when it is colder outside than in the house, will a priori make the air dry,” says Viktor Borisov.

A device with a built-in humidifier has recently appeared on the market, such a breather solves three problems at once: ventilation, air purification and humidification. The disadvantage of such a device is a small water tank with a volume of only three liters, such a breather will have to be filled twice a day.

The expert notes that supply ventilation is especially relevant in houses that are located near noisy roads, highways, in environmentally polluted areas.

Karina Saltykova

Features of steam humidifiers

Steam humidifiers look like "trains", and their principle of operation is similar to an electric kettle: a steam humidifier heats water and releases hot steam that humidifies the air in the room. Using a steam humidifier has its advantages and disadvantages. Consider those that are among the first.

1. The ability to use any water, including tap water. There are no side effects after use, it is enough to periodically clean the steam humidifier from scale.
2. The cost of the device can please buyers. Mostly, humidifier models do not need the expense of purchasing water softening cartridges.
3. Sterility of the outgoing hot steam and high reliability of the device.
4. Simplicity and unpretentiousness in operation.
5. High performance humidifier - evaporates up to 700 ml per hour. This indicator is the best in the ranking of humidifiers of all types.
6. The exit of sterile air, purified from bacteria, the destruction of which occurs in the device due to boiling.
7. The presence of other useful features: there are models of steam humidifiers with an inhaler function and with built-in containers for aromatic oils.
8. Device safety. The steam humidifier will not turn on if the lid is not completely closed, and will automatically turn off when all the liquid has boiled away.

Despite all the advantages, the steam humidifier has its drawbacks.

1. The operation of the device consists in heating water, which is why there is a risk of burns from hot steam or boiling water from the tank. Such evaporators are not suitable for installation in an apartment with small children.
2. An evaporative type humidifier can damage wood furniture, parquet, and books if used near them.
3. If the steam humidifier is used for a long time, the temperature of the air rises by several degrees, which can aggravate the already inappropriate humidity.
4. A steam humidifier consumes a lot of electricity.
5. To avoid the effect of a steam room due to waterlogging of the air, you will have to buy and install an additional sensor.
6. Boiling water makes the device very noisy, which can interfere with work and sleep indoors.

In some cases, due to the disadvantages described, it is worth giving preference to cold evaporation devices. The cold steam humidifier provides natural, even evaporation and is suitable for families with children. The fan inside the device drives oxygen through the filter, and purified, humidified cold air enters the room.The device can also be equipped with additional functions and filters. However, the cost of the cold evaporation model significantly exceeds the cost of the steam generator described earlier.

Varieties of air fresheners

On the shelves of household appliances supermarkets, you can find the following models of air humidifiers:

Thermal steam generator - this device humidifies the air by boiling water, during which a "dose" of steam is released. Such humidifiers are cheap and productive - in one hour of operation, some models can “overtake” almost a liter of liquid into steam.

Steam humidifier for home

However, the energy efficiency of such devices is far from ideal - they consume a kilowatt of electricity, providing only one function - air humidification. However, some steam generators can be used as inhalers, but nothing more. In addition, hot steam increases the temperature in the humidified room, which is not very acceptable in the summer.

Ultrasonic steam generator - this device humidifies the air due to the mist released from the water under the influence of high frequency vibrations. Such a device generates large volumes of steam, consuming a minimum of energy.

Ultrasonic air humidifier "Green apple"

Moreover, instead of superheated steam, relatively cold fog enters the room. In addition, this humidifier can be used as an air freshener, distributing the fragrance of essential oils throughout the home. As a result, ultrasonic generators are much more popular than other models of humidifiers.

Mechanical humidifier - this device saturates the room with cold water vapor (fog), accelerating the process of vaporization due to mechanical air injection into the evaporator chamber.

Mechanical humidifier Philips Lotus

In most cases, such humidifiers are used in the form of modules mounted in ventilation systems, air conditioners and other mechanisms of this type. Of course, this limits the demand for such humidifiers.

Air washers - these devices not only moisturize, but also clean the atmosphere of the home. A shaft with many discs is installed inside the sink body, turning water into an airborne suspension, which is blown out by a special fan.

Air washers Boneco Air-O-Swiss 2055D

Having established air circulation through the zone of rotating discs, you can not only moisten, but also clean the room. After all, the discs not only “churn” the water into a fog, but also attract dust particles, hairs, seeds and plant spores. Therefore, despite some high cost and complexity of design, the air washer is bought up with great pleasure.

Choosing a humidifier for the home - advice to the buyer

Want to choose the “right” humidifier? Then follow our recommendations:

• First, evaluate the area of ​​​​the rooms where humidification is needed. Moreover, such appliances are not needed in the kitchen and bathroom - therefore, they should be excluded from our calculation.
• Secondly, knowing the area, select the tank capacity of the device. One room of 20 "squares" is served by a humidifier with a tank of 3-4 liters. Larger rooms are served by humidifiers with tanks of 5-7 liters or more. Moreover, the exact "processing area" can be specified in the passport of a specific humidifier model.Of course, it must correspond to the dimensions of the processed rooms.
• Thirdly, when choosing a specific model, evaluate the power consumption of the device. Moreover, from the point of view of saving on electricity bills, devices with a minimum power are considered more profitable. For example, thermal steam generators “eat up” from 500 W per hour, ultrasonic humidifiers consume no more than 40-50 W, which is more profitable: after all, the second device will use up an hourly “portion” of the first device in 10 hours of continuous operation.
• Fourth, try to purchase devices with a humidity sensor - a hygrometer. After all, excessive moisture leads to mold and damage to finishes and electrical appliances.
• Fifth, don't go after extra features, but don't give up the opportunity to buy a device with the ability to purify the air.

How to choose a humidifier

In fact, with all the variety of choices, devices have a more or less similar set of options.

Performance

The device for an apartment of 40 squares and for a house of 235 are different. And you should choose the right one for your room, focusing on its productivity. For example, for a small odnushka, a simple model will be enough, producing from 300 to 400 ml / h.

Power

If you care about the environment and your own bills, this item is for you. The average values ​​for the bulk of the models are 30/35 watts. Modern gadgets, stuffed with various options and generously seasoned with additional features, require significant energy resources. Include or not include - you decide.

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Volume

The ideal humidifier is silent.It will not wake up a sleeping baby, will not prevent you from watching your favorite movie or just reading a book in silence. A good indicator is the noise level of no more than 25 dB: with it you can fall asleep quite comfortably, as if someone nearby were talking in a whisper.

Cleaning degree

It is very important to choose a good filter, because your health depends on it. A low-quality or old filter will provide infection and allergies instead of comfort

Today, ionizers have the most effective degree of demineralization. They remove not only dust, but also inorganic mixtures such as magnesium salts.

Traditional Humidifiers

Ballu EHB-010

Average price: 2900 rubles.

The Ballu concern supplies our market with a budget compact air humidifier with a simple design. Due to the low rate of water evaporation, it is able to work all night without stopping. The sponge inside the device absorbs dust well and needs to be replaced every six months. Customers complain about frequent fan failures.

Ballu EHB-010
Advantages

• several modes of evaporation;
• aromatization;
• night mode, in which the fan runs quieter;
• water control function;
• shutdown timer;
• low declared noise level

Flaws

• slowly moisturizes;
• no hygrometer;
• poor ergonomics;
• The sponge needs to be replaced twice a year.

Coway AM-1012ED

Average price: 13190 rubles.

The model from the South Korean company, unlike the previous competitor, is equipped with a hygrostat. It has a pre-filter that does not require replacement, and the cartridges are easy to clean. The automatic operating mode calculates the optimum humidity.

Coway AM-1012ED
Advantages

• ionization;
• 3 operating speeds, including night mode;
• convenient pouring of water from above;
• timer;
• auto-off function in the absence of water;
• aromatization.

Flaws

• inaccurate humidistat;
• loud melody when the device is turned on and off;
• high price.

Philips HU 4706 / HU 4707

Average price: 4900 rubles.

The compact device of the well-known brand with the NanoCloud function is designed to purify and humidify the air in a small room. Stylish design with comfortable ergonomics make it a pleasant part of any interior.

Philips HU 4706 / HU 4707
Advantages

• low power consumption;
• convenient to pour water;
• 2 speeds, including night mode;
• automatic shut-off function in the absence of water.

Flaws

• no hygrometer;
• poor room humidity;
• the filter needs to be replaced every 3 months (can be found on Aliexpress for little money).

The difference between budget models and expensive ones

Buying an expensive device or a cheap one - this problem is often painful for the consumer. When choosing a humidifier, the buyer should be concerned about another problem. You need to answer the questions:

• What is a humidifier for?
• what problem does he have to solve?
• Are there any additional circumstances that affect the choice.

Such circumstances that cause additional requirements for equipment of this kind include the presence of allergies in family members or diseases of the respiratory organs, the presence of animals in the house, the number of plants.

The price of a humidifier is affected by:

• it is narrowly functional, or it solves many problems;
• how high is the level of automation;
• power and energy intensity;
• trademark.

Goods of well-known world brands are always expensive, but equipment produced under little-known brands is not always inferior in quality.

Choosing an economical model of the device, which at the same time will solve a specific problem without increasing problems, you can be sure that the choice is successful.

Problems arising from excessive dryness of the air

The humidity level is measured as a percentage. For humans, the optimal humidity is 40-60%. At lower rates, discomfort is felt.

• Firstly, the mucous membranes of the nose and mouth lose their barrier function when viruses and allergens penetrate. A "dry" nose is a constant feeling of congestion and a desire to use drops. Sore throat, dry cough.
• Secondly, the skin flakes off, becomes dry, susceptible to irritants and allergens.
• Thirdly, lips begin to dry out and crack. Cracks, though small, but very painful, constantly bleed. And it is almost impossible to cure them until the humidity of the air is normal.
• Fourthly, the mucous membrane of the eye suffers. There is a burning sensation, itching. This is especially true for those who wear contact lenses.

Dry, bad, evil

Every autumn, millions of Russian apartments turn into a kind of desert: it becomes hot and dry in them.

Saving people from the cold, batteries and radiators adversely affect the condition of their skin, hair, and make them more susceptible to respiratory diseases and viruses.

“Our skin is already tortured with scrubs, shower gels, washcloths,” says dermatologist and dermatocosmetologist Zoya Konstantinova. - We try to wash ourselves better, washing off the natural lipid film, the skin is dehydrated from this. And dry air in the apartment and frost on the street exacerbate the situation. The skin dries, becomes covered with cracks, then they begin to itch, bleed. A person constantly feels tightness of the skin, his eyes itch. Hair also suffers from dehydration, a sure sign of this is electrification when you take off your hat, and your hair rises up like a ball. As a result, due to dry air, the skin ages faster, the hair breaks, splits, and becomes dull.

Dry air in the room affects not only the appearance. Infections spread faster in it, the protective barriers of the body are destroyed.

“The mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract, which protect the body from infections and bacteria and moisturize the inhaled air, dry up, the risk of getting sick increases,” explains infectious disease doctor Ilya Akinfeev. - In rooms with dry air, young children are more likely to get sick, because they lose moisture faster. Because of the overdried mucous membrane in the nose, nosebleeds occur. Therefore, the air in the home must be humidified.

But even a century ago, not dry, but humid air was considered unfavorable: it was he, in combination with cold, that was detrimental to patients with consumption. Why is it useful now? Ilya Akinfeev clarifies that excessive humidity, above 55%, is really no less harmful than dry air.

“With high humidity, the number of bacteria in the air rises, there is a risk of mold development, therefore it is also impossible to moisten thoughtlessly and too much, to make a room look like a Turkish bath,” says the infectious disease specialist. - It is necessary that the level of 45-50% be in the bedroom and children, it can be maintained with the help of technology, it is better to choose devices on which you can adjust these values

At the same time, it is important to regularly ventilate the room, especially if someone is sick in the house - ventilation reduces the concentration of viruses in the air.