Mist humidifiers are used to help a whole range of problems ranging from dry skin and chapped lips through to allergies and sinus problems. Humidifiers help relieve nasal congestion in babies and make it easier for a baby to sleep at night. The wide ranging uses of mist humidifiers are well known, choosing the most suitable type however can be difficult, especially when it comes to comparing warm versus cold mist humidifiers. This article attempts to explain the differences between the main three types of mist humidifiers – warm mist humidifiers, cool mist humidifiers and ultrasonic humidifiers and
helps you to select which is best for you. It might be that your doctor has recommended a particular type in which case the decision is made easier for you. In cases of breathing problems the choice usually comes down to the type of environment that you feel comfortable in. A good way to make the choice is whether you find you can breathe easier in a warm humid environment such as a sauna or a greenhouse, as we shall see below.
Cool Mist Humidifiers
There are in fact two type of cool mist humidifier, ultrasonic and evaporative. We have put ultrasonic under its own section since these cool mist humidifiers that are usually sold under the banner of ‘ultrasonic’. Cool mist humidifiers work by sending a jet of air across a wick in water which generates a vapor – essentially a mist of cool water droplets. These water droplets remain suspended in the air for a long time and eventually have the effect of increasing the humidity firstly by the extra liquid and secondly by cooling the temperature down. Cool mist models can be a little noisier than the warm mist counterpars but look out for models which have a silent feature so that you are not disturbed if it is running at night.
Cool mist humidifiers are frequently used by people suffering with sinus problems, nose bleeds, dry skin and cracked lips, as well as relief from allergies such as asthma. If you are choosing a mist humidifier to help with breathing problems, the greenhouse test mentioned above is a good indicator, if you feel more uncomfortable in a greenhouse, or a steamy bathrom for example, choose a cool mist humidifier.
Warm Mist Humidifiers
If on the other hand a steamy bathrom or humid greenhouse makes you feel more comfortable you should consider investing in a warm mist humidifier. These humidifiers operate using boiled water, the steam creates a mist when it is ejected from the unit. On the basis of using boiling water, parents should take care if using one for a baby or young child and take appropriate safety measures. Treatment of colds and congestion that are so common in the winter are the prime uses of warm mist humidifiers. Many machines allow you to add medications to warm water to aid in relieving symptoms. Warm humidifiers need cleaning more often in order to stop a build up of bacteria in the warm environment.
Ultrasonic Humidifiers
Ultrasonic humidifiers are essentially cool mist machines and work by adding moisture to the air using sound vibrations at high frequency. The vibrations induce an extremely fine mist in the air. The high frequency vibrations are generated by a metal diaphragm which is made to vibrate thus creating the mist. Most ultrasonic humidifiers are smaller than their counterparts and this makes them easy to position in the room and to stow away when not needed.
Getting the Humidity Right
If used for short-term relief it is usually a matter of judgement as to whether the humidity feels right. If used for many days on end it is wise to invest in a cheap hygrometer, the instrument used to measure humidity. It should be in the range 40 to 50%.
Mist Humidifiers – News And Information