DIY Network

Buying Humidifiers Learn how to shop for the perfect humidifier. From "Home Made Easy" episode DHME-101

Guest Carolyn Forte, the Good Housekeeping Institute home care director, joins host Stephanie Lydecker to share tips on buying humidifiers and points out features that will help you make a decision.

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C

Buying a Humidifier

• Humidifiers are compact, portable and affordable appliances that can make a world of difference in the comfort of your home. There are two main types:
  1. Cool mist.
     
  2. Warm mist.

• Cool-mist humidifiers are also called a wick-evaporative system, which means it uses a paper filter--or wick (figure A)--to draw water out of the reservoir. A fan blows over the wet wick to put moisture into the air. As the air absorbs moisture, the slower the water evaporates from the unit. This is called self-regulation, as the humidity increases, water vapor output decreases. You will see that the water level doesn't go down as fast when the air has enough moisture or some shut off when a pre-selected humidity level is reached. The advantage to cool mist humidifiers are they have no heating elements or parts to get warm. They may be a little safer, especially if you have kids, though it's best to keep kids away from any of these units. The disadvantages are: filters must be replaced every three to six months of use or at the end of the season, and if the tank is not cleaned on a regular basis, bacteria could grow.

• In warm-mist humidifiers (figure B), water is boiled with a heating element. The steam is cooled a bit with cool air before exiting the humidifier. The advantages are that they tend to be very quiet and there is no filter that you would have to replace. Some surfaces are warm to the touch and they may be more difficult to clean. They can actually facilitate mold growth in the room if you do not keep an eye on the humidity level.

• No matter what type, all humidifiers must be cleaned weekly with vinegar and disinfected with bleach according to the manufacturer's directions. Most manufacturers suggest cleaning them once a week.

• When buying humidifiers, performance is important. How much water will it put out? Some put out up to three gallons a day which is plenty to humidify a medium to large sized room in your home. Look for one that automatically cycles off when the room reaches the ideal humidity level. Look for ones with automatic shut-off when the water tank runs dry, timers so that it can be preset to run for a specified period of time, digital and easy to use controls, and adjustable speed on cool mist humidifiers so they will be quieter for bedroom use.

• Humidifiers are pretty easy to use. All you basically do is fill them, set the humidity level if you can (figure C), and turn them on. Look for tanks with big openings that are easy to fill and that are easy to lift and carry, especially when full. Remote controls make them easy to adjust without even having to get up. Many of the bases can even go into the dishwasher for cleaning.

GUESTS :

Carolyn Forte
Home Care Director
Good Housekeeping Institute
E-mail: cforte@hearst.com
Website: www.goodhousekeeping.com