Air humidification at home. How to humidify the air in a room without a humidifier: folk methods and simple devices

In winter, the humidity level in the apartment drops to 15-20%. And that's bad. Why?

Firstly, because dehydrated air dries out the skin and mucous membranes, contributes to a decrease in immunity and the development of diseases such as sinusitis and sinusitis. By the way, young children are especially sensitive to its effects.

The second reason - insufficient humidity harms plants, books, wooden furniture and musical instruments.

The optimal level of humidity in the apartment is about 40-60%.

You can measure the humidity of the air using a special device - a hygrometer. If you don't have it, use the following method. Fill a glass with cold water and leave it in until the temperature of the liquid drops to 3-5 ° C. Then take out the glass and place it in the room away from the batteries. Observe the surface of the glass for five minutes. Evaluate the result like this:

If the walls of the glass are foggy at first, and dry after five minutes, the air in the room is dry.
If the glass remains foggy after five minutes, the humidity is medium.
If streams of water appear on the glass, the humidity is increased.

Is the air dry? Then use one of the following tricks to restore normal moisture levels.

1. Use the bathroom

Probably one of the easiest ways. Leave the door to your room open every time you take a shower or bath. Evaporation will penetrate into the apartment and humidify the air.

You can also not immediately drain the water from the bath, but let it cool first: this will increase the amount of steam.

2. Dry things in the room

Another way that does not require any effort from you. Just put the dryer with the washed things next to the radiator: the clothes will dry faster and the air will be saturated with moisture.

The main thing is that there are no cleaning products left on things. Otherwise you will breathe chemistry.

A similar way to humidify the air is to hang wet towels on a radiator. You can extend the life of this humidifier with a bottle of water.

Freee.ru

How to build such a structure is described in detail.

3. Boil

All you need is a stove and a pot or kettle.

Option 1. Bring water in a saucepan to a boil and put it on a table or window sill so that the steam humidifies the apartment.
Option 2. Boil the kettle and leave it on low heat for longer evaporation. This technique can be used when you are cooking (often the air is dry at this time).

You can also add a few drops of tea tree oil or eucalyptus oil to the water. Their aroma is soothing, and the vapors kill germs and reduce the risk of colds and flu. In addition, cinnamon sticks, herbs or other spices can be thrown into the water to make the air fragrant.

4. Arrange water containers around the apartment

You can do without boiling. Simply fill vases, bottles and other containers with water and place them near heat sources. If you add stones and flowers, you get a beautiful composition - guests, most likely, will not even guess that these are not decorative elements, but homemade humidifiers. Just do not forget to periodically wash the containers and change the water.

5. Get houseplants

Home flowers not only humidify the air, but also ionize it. Some are also excellent and disinfect.

The following plants give especially a lot of moisture:

nephrolepis (house fern);
fatsia;
cyperus;
sparmania (room linden);
ficus;
dracaena;
hibiscus.

6. Set up an aquarium or fountain

Both of these decorative elements also humidify the air. Of course, buying them specifically for this purpose is irrational. But if you want to get fish or decorate your house with a small fountain, you should not forget about this additional property.

7. Ventilate and do wet cleaning

Even in winter, it is not superfluous to ventilate the apartment 2-3 times a day in order to maintain a comfortable level of humidity. Well, you probably know yourself that from time to time you need to wipe the dust and wash the floors.

8. Build an Electric Humidifier

Option for owners of crazy hands. This air humidifier cost Lifehacker about 300 rubles. An ultrasonic steam generator can be ordered on AliExpress for 180 rubles, a fan for 50.

Important to remember

High humidity in the apartment (more than 70%) is not better than dry air. It contributes to the appearance and occurrence of allergies. Yes, and it just creates an unpleasant feeling of dampness. So do not overdo it with moisturizing - and the force will be with you!

Dangerous phenomenon is the formation of dry air in the room. Humidity is a necessary condition for a favorable microclimate, which prevents many unpleasant sensations, as well as the development of many diseases. Not every family can afford a good one, so in our review we offer alternative options for such devices for your consideration. So, let's figure out how to humidify the air in a room without a humidifier. Also from our review you will learn for staying indoors, as well as how you can build a simple structure for humidification from improvised means.

To decide whether you need an apartment, let's find out why dry air is so dangerous. It is worth noting the various factors of its impact on human health.

the severity of the load on important organs increases, resulting in functional disorders, such as reduced immunity, distracted attention and sudden fatigue;
there are problems with the mucous membrane of the eyes, which provokes the appearance of pain and inflammation;
in people with a dry surface of the skin, rashes and irritations appear;
airways dry up. And in allergy sufferers and asthmatics, the function of cleansing the lungs is impaired;
colds become more frequent;
hair and nails begin to break;
favorable conditions are created for the electrification of synthetic fabrics, the wear of carpets, and the drying out of objects and musical instruments.

Complications after a cold can occur under the influence of adverse conditions. With the initial symptoms of the disease, it is necessary to reduce it to 18-20 degrees, which will maintain the optimal level of humidity.

Advice! Particular attention should be paid to options for humidifying a room for infants. Consider methods for safely saturating the air with moisture.

Related article:

In a separate publication, we will consider what kind of device it is and why it is needed for children, what types of devices are, what characteristics you need to pay attention to when choosing.

How to find out the optimal humidity in the apartment

What to do if you feel dry air in the apartment? First you need to determine the degree of humidity. The normal value is 50-70%. This is an indicator not only for your home, but also for furniture, office equipment and musical instruments. When arranging winter gardens and planting, this value should be - 60-75%. This indicator can be determined in different ways. The easiest option is to apply. This device is not so common, so you can use a special Assman table. To do this, measure the air temperature with a wet and dry bulb, and then correlate the readings with the values in the table.

There is also a folk way. Pour water into a glass and place it in the refrigerator. Then the cooled water must be put in the room. Better away from batteries. If the fogged surfaces dry in less than five minutes, then the air is definitely dry.

For your information! An indicator for determining the desired indicator can be a fir cone. If its scales are strongly attached to each other or slightly open, then the presence of moisture is optimal. If the scales are open, then it is worth taking some measures.

How to humidify the air in a room without a humidifier: the main ways

A humidifier is often used to humidify the air in an apartment. This mechanism distributes water droplets in the air. It is small and easy to manage.

The design also has certain disadvantages. It consumes a lot of electrical energy, can be noisy when used, and some models have a fairly high price.

If such shortcomings matter to you, then do not despair. The people have come up with a large number of ways to humidify the air in a room without a humidifier.

Water application

High-quality movement of moisture is perfectly produced by ordinary water. You can place special containers filled with water everywhere. In this case, the container should be wider, which will increase the evaporation area. It is better to use plates than mugs and glasses. Water must be changed, as bacteria can quickly develop in the liquid.

When deciding how to humidify the air in an apartment, you can do without a humidifier, without a large number of bowls in all rooms. This will be a good helper. This option is ideal for a child's room. With it, you can not only moisten the room, but also keep children busy. If special plants are placed in the aquarium, this will increase the moisture content in the air.

For your information! Remember that the aquarium requires special care. Before buying, it is worth evaluating your strengths. Think about it, maybe you should choose a fountain that is cheaper and does not require complex maintenance. Inside such a device there is an engine that promotes the circulation of water, which contributes to the rapid saturation of the air around.

Drying wet items

The consequences of dry air in an apartment can be the most negative. Therefore, for moisturizing, you can use the old method - drying wet laundry. As a rule, drying clothes in rooms is not recommended due to the appearance of mold and condensation, but with very dry air, such an event will only benefit. A simple method is to soak more of the towel and hang it up. Under the influence of high temperatures, the fabric will warm up and intensively evaporate moisture. Do not use for drying. You can use another simple device - a wet bandage. It is necessary to pour water into the container and lower one end of the matter there, and distribute the other on the battery. In this case, one part will dry out, and the second will be saturated with the contents of the jar. At the same time, the air will be perfectly humidified.

How do plants affect moisture levels?

If you have no idea how to humidify the air in a room without a humidifier, then you should use plants. They not only produce oxygen, but also saturate the air with moisture. At the same time, the air masses are ionized and cleaned of all kinds of bacteria.

The highest humidity is present in the jungle. Therefore, it is plants such as orchids, ferns or phytonia that can be of great benefit. But for such crops, abundant watering is required. You can also purchase plants that are typical for central Russia. These are ficus, home fern, dracaena and hibiscus.

There are plants that have an antibacterial effect. They relieve stress and improve the quality of sleep. Let's look at these plant options:

sheffler allows you to maintain favorable humidity. When growing it, consider certain subtleties of care. Moderate watering is important, abundant light and a temperature not lower than 17 degrees. The soil must not become dried out;

monstera perfectly saturates the air with moisture particles. For her, you need to provide sufficient moisture, lighting and high-quality watering. This option is not suitable if you have small children or pets, as the leaves of this culture are poisonous;

cyperus is a great interior decoration, in addition, it can release up to three liters of moisture per day. Care is simple: normal watering and ventilation is required;

ficus can grow in any apartment. For this culture, it is necessary to provide high-quality watering, heat and abundant light;

dracaena is an unpretentious plant. It also releases moisture. With regular watering and good lighting, dracaena forms into a beautiful plant.

When choosing any plant, you need to study in advance the features of caring for it.

Article

Air humidity is one of the most important components of the microclimate of a dwelling, on which the health and comfort of people depends. How to humidify the air in the apartment to prevent serious diseases and discomfort? Before choosing a method of struggle, figure out why it is necessary, explore all possible options - from household humidifiers to folk methods that do not require costs and connection to electricity.

Moisture is necessary for nature and man

Why humidify the air in your home and why it is important

It is necessary to monitor the humidity of the air, because the well-being and health of residents directly depends on this indicator.

Dry air provokes a sore throat, dryness of the nasal mucosa, which leads to discomfort during the day and disturbed sleep at night.
Warm, dry air with a high dust content is dangerous for allergy sufferers and young children. Cough attacks, bronchospasm, complications of colds are directly related to the microclimate. Doctors advise at the first signs of illness to ventilate rooms more often and lower the temperature to 18-20 degrees, it is in such conditions that it is easiest to maintain optimal humidity.
Wearing lenses often provokes dry eye syndrome, which develops in dry hot weather, as well as in winter in rooms with insufficient air humidity.
For women, a weighty argument to take care of air humidification can be the fact that in a dry room, the skin of the face also quickly dries out and loses its elasticity. If you have constantly dry and dull skin, brittle hair, think about it, maybe the air in the apartment is just very dry.

Humidification will prevent a lot of problems

In addition to the above negative consequences for human health, excessive dryness leads to drying out and creaking of floors, doors, and furniture. Many are familiar with the unpleasant effect of the accumulation of static electricity, when harmless objects are suddenly shocked. It turns out that this is due to insufficient moisture content in the air.

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What determines the humidity and what indicators are optimal

Most often, the question of how to humidify the air in an apartment arises in the cold season with the beginning of the heating season. However, if you live in a hot southern region, then the problem of dryness can bother you all year round.

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What standards are required for a person

In order to provide a comfortable microclimate in a dwelling, it is necessary to understand what such a concept as air humidity is, and what indicators will be the most optimal. There are two main characteristics - relative and absolute humidity.

In everyday life, as a rule, the first definition is used - the relative humidity of the air. This indicator is indicated as a percentage, which indicates the content of water vapor in the air at a certain temperature in relation to the maximum amount of vapor that can be in the air at the same temperature.

Optimum air humidity 40-70%

Simply put, with the same amount of water vapor, the warmer the room, the less humidity it will have. For example, if the apartment has +15 degrees and at the same time the humidity is 60%, then you should not think that this indicator will remain when the temperature rises to +25. In this case, the humidity will decrease and will be about 35%.

Scientists have long established that a person feels best at a relative humidity of 40-70%. It is in this range that the development of pathogenic bacteria and viruses is inhibited, the accumulation of allergens and dust is reduced.

Since humidity is inextricably linked with air temperature, the most comfortable microclimate indicators are as follows:

bedroom - temperature 16-19 degrees, humidity 50-70%;
living room - temperature 19-23 degrees, humidity 40-60%;
children - temperature 18-21 degrees, humidity 60-70%.

Electronic hygrometer

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How to determine the humidity of the air

A device called a hygrometer is used to measure the amount of moisture in the air. You can often find modern air conditioners and room thermometers with a built-in sensor. To obtain reliable data, it is better to place the hygrometer away from heating appliances and household humidifiers.

If you do not have a measuring device, use the old folk methods. Of course, you will not get exact numbers, but at least you will understand whether the apartment needs to be humidified.

For approximate determination of humidity:

Pour water into a bottle and put it in the refrigerator.
After a couple of hours, take out the bottle and leave it in the room for 5 minutes.
During this time, the walls will be covered with droplets of condensate.
If after five minutes the fine condensate is practically dry, the air is very dry.
At normal humidity, the drops will lazily slide down without drying out, and at excessive humidity, a puddle of condensate will form under the bottle.

A bottle of cold water will serve as a hygrometer

A common spruce cone can serve as a good indicator of humidity. Moreover, it is spruce, and not pine - it has more delicate and sensitive scales. If the scales of the cones lying in the room are tightly pressed against each other or only slightly ajar, then the moisture content is normal. A fully open cone indicates that the air is too dry.

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Simple devices for increasing humidity

It is not always possible to buy a functional device for humidifying the air, so the question arises of how to humidify the air in an apartment without a humidifier. Use simple but effective devices.

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Portable humidifiers or sprayer

To humidify the air in a residential or office space, it is convenient to use portable humidifiers that are inserted into a water bottle. The devices periodically spray water in the form of microsprays. If desired, you can find a compact device powered by USB with installation in a glass or a small vase.

You can also take a spray bottle with a fine spray. This simple device is convenient to use in the heating season and in the summer heat. Just spray water around you or near the heater and forget about excessive dryness for a while.

Mini Humidifiers

To fill the room with a pleasant aroma, add essential oils to the water. With the help of oils, you can not only neutralize dryness, but also create a certain microclimate. For example, the aroma of lavender relaxes, eucalyptus and tea tree kill germs, and orange reduces appetite.

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Battery humidifiers

This simple invention is a decorative ceramic flask with a hook for attaching to the battery. The principle of operation is as simple as possible - the water in the vessel slowly evaporates, filling the room with moisture destroyed by heating devices. Such devices serve for a long time and do not entail any costs. Thanks to the thoughtful shape, they look like jewelry.

If you do not want to spend money, use ceramic bottles or unnecessary narrow vases. Hang them so that they are not conspicuous and wait for the result. Aroma oil can also be added to the water.

Stylish things

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Indoor fountain - decor with functionality

If you don’t want to mess with fresh flowers or take care of an aquarium, you can simply get an indoor fountain or waterfall. Now in stores there is a fairly large selection of these designs, so it will not be difficult to choose a model for every taste and budget. Bubbling water not only brings peace to the interior, but also moisturizes the room well.

Indoor fountains moisturize the air well

If desired, it is easy to make a small table fountain with your own hands, taking as a basis a pump and suitable decor: stones, a jug, tea cups. A mini-oasis is useful not only for people, but also for indoor plants.

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How to quickly normalize humidity in folk ways

There are many simple folk ways with which you can also achieve the desired result. It is important to understand that most methods bring only temporary results. Therefore, they should be applied regularly or other long-term solutions should be sought.

There are many ways to improve the microclimate

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Regular ventilation of the apartment

If you do not live in a hot southern region, then you can safely say that the air from the street contains much more moisture compared to the apartment. Regular ventilation contributes to the normalization of the microclimate in the home. It is especially useful to do this in the autumn-winter period, when heating devices are working.

Unfortunately, sometimes ventilation does not bring the desired results, for example, if the windows face a busy freeway, it is better to leave them closed. The same is recommended for residents of the lower floors in dry weather, so that instead of the desired moisture, clouds of dust do not get into the apartment.

The apartment must be regularly ventilated

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Electric stove or kettle in a new role

To quickly humidify indoor air in winter, you can use a small electric stove. Just put an open pot of water on it and let the water boil. Hot steam will quickly make the air humid and safe. For an extra boost, add herbs or aromatic oils to the water.

If there is no stove, you can use an ajar kettle, slow cooker, or other suitable appliance that allows you to boil water. As a rule, this method gives a very quick effect, so it should not be abused so as not to damage the furniture and wallpaper.

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Wet towel tricks

A wet towel on a hot battery is a traditional folk way to quickly increase the humidity in an apartment. As it dries, the towel is moistened again and returned to the battery.

You can build a makeshift cold humidifier from a wet towel and a fan. The towel is thrown on the grate and the fan is turned on at low speed.

The same effect is easy to achieve by simply leaving damp laundry to dry in the apartment. Of course, this does not add aesthetics to the room, but it will help to quickly bring the humidity back to normal.

Linen on the battery can be an alternative to the humidifier

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Humidifier from a plastic bottle or jar

DIY enthusiasts can make an impromptu humidifier from a plastic bottle. To do this, take a bottle with a capacity of 0.5 or 1.0 liters, screw on the lid, after which a “window” is cut out along the entire length of the bottle. The bottle is hung from a heating pipe and water is poured into it. The humidifier is ready.

You can build a humidification system from a glass jar and a piece of bandage or cotton rag. A jar of water is placed under the battery. A bandage or rag is wound around a pipe going to the battery, and the end is lowered into a jar. Water will be absorbed into the fabric and gradually evaporate from contact with the warm pipe.

Homemade bottle humidifier

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Water containers and colorful balloons

The easiest way to increase the humidity in the room is with the help of water containers placed in different places, and especially near heating appliances. No need to think that these should be basins or pans, use beautiful vases and other attractive dishes. Under the batteries, it is most convenient to install elongated rectangular flower pots.

Hydrogel in the form of colored balls, increasing tenfold in size in water, gradually evaporates moisture, giving it to the air in the room. Fill various vessels with pink-colored balls and arrange them around the apartment. Do not forget to periodically add water so that there is something to evaporate. For beauty, put live or artificial plants in a vase.

Hydrogel in the interior

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Home mini-garden for comfortable air

The microclimate of the apartment will improve significantly if you acquire indoor flowers. This will not only decorate the interior, but also humidify the air in the apartment without a humidifier. Plants need to choose moisture-loving, requiring regular spraying. Ferns, ficuses, palm trees, dracaena, hibiscus well moisturize indoor air.

Flowers improve the microclimate

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Aquarium as an effective humidifier

It has a good effect on the microclimate and passion for aquarism. In fact, an aquarium is an ordinary container of water, and water tends to evaporate. It should be noted that modern aquariums with solid lids are not very suitable for air humidification, so you should choose open models with pendant lighting lamps.

Palludariums are also very good as a humidifier - shallow aquariums designed for growing marsh plants. They, as a rule, are made open, so there is an intensive evaporation of moisture, which is required for moisturizing.

The aquarium plays the role of a moisture evaporator

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Iron or steamer - an unconventional approach

Some resourceful housewives use a steam iron or a clothes steamer as a home humidifier. Devices are simply plugged into the network and spray steam around the room when they feel unpleasant dryness. Connoisseurs say that in an hour of such processing it is really possible to increase the humidity from 30 to 80%.

A significant drawback of this approach is the power consumption. In the case of an iron, it is important not to forget about safety and the possibility of burns, especially if there are small children in the house. The method is more suitable for winter. In summer, it is easier to achieve a greater effect with wet cleaning.

The air in the bathroom is always humid.

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The bathroom is an affordable source of moisture

To normalize the humidity in a small apartment, it is enough to simply turn on the water in the bathroom and open the door leading there. Moisture will quickly spread throughout the room and relieve dryness. By the way, an open door is useful not only for the microclimate in the apartment, but also for the bathroom itself, where high humidity leads to mold and damage to finishing materials.

When designing a large house, pay attention to bedrooms with installed bathtubs - this approach is effective and very beneficial for the health and youthfulness of the skin.

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How to make a humidifier with your own hands

To humidify the air in the apartment at minimal cost, make an effective humidifier with your own hands.

The easiest option is to use a container of cold water and a fan from the computer's system unit built into the lid. To increase efficiency, a fabric filter is used. Water flow rate - from 0.4 to 1 liter per hour. After half an hour of operation, the humidity reaches 60%.

The operation of the cooler will cause the water to vibrate, which in turn will lead to the formation of cold steam, which will slowly spread throughout the room.

Video: Budget humidifier for home

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What are humidifiers and should you buy them?

A humidifier powered by the mains is a rather unusual device and can be found in far from every home. To determine whether it is worth spending money on it, you need to measure the humidity in the apartment several times. As a rule, during the heating season this figure drops to 20-30%, if so, then you need a humidifier.

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Classification and types of electrical appliances

Most often, a humidifier is purchased by families with small, often ill children or allergy sufferers. The humidifier reliably maintains the desired humidity, as a result of which the concentration of pathogens of colds and dust in the air decreases. This reduces the risk of diseases and complications after them.

All humidifiers are divided into four types:

Traditional humidifiers of the "cold" type.
Steam "hot".
Ultrasonic.
Humidifiers-purifiers, climatic complexes.

Before purchasing a humidifier, you need to decide what area it will serve, what maximum humidity will suit you, whether energy saving is relevant, and whether it is possible to fill the device with purified water.

In a traditional humidifier, you need to change the cartridges

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Traditional "cold" type humidifiers

The principle of operation of such a humidifier is that the evaporation of moisture occurs naturally, without heating and other tricks. The design of a traditional humidifier is extremely simple and consists of three main elements - a container with water, a replaceable evaporating cartridge and a fan.

The main advantage of such a device is self-regulation, that is, when the air is saturated with water vapor, there will simply be no place for moisture to evaporate and the humidifier will stop working. However, there is a downside to the coin - this device will not be able to raise the humidity above 60%, which is necessary, for example, during a child's illness.

Advantages:

low power consumption;
there is no need to constantly monitor the presence of water, if it runs out, the device will not break;
self-regulation without hygrostat.

Flaws:

the need to change humidifying filters, which fail after a few months;
it is necessary to fill in the tank only soft, and even better distilled water;
the maximum humidity is 60%, which in some cases is not enough.

The steam humidifier has a high performance

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Steam "hot" humidifiers

Such devices generate steam by simply heating water to a boil. With the help of a steam humidifier, you can quickly increase the humidity in the apartment to the required level.

Considering that there is boiling water in the tank, it is better to choose stable models that are not easy to turn over, especially if there are small children or pets in the family. For the same reason, it would be useful to have a handle so that, if necessary, the device can be rearranged from place to place.

Advantages of a steam humidifier:

high performance, able to significantly raise the humidity in a short period of time;
you can use water of any hardness;
does not require replacement of cartridges;
most models will automatically turn off when the water boils.

Flaws:

the most wasteful of all humidifiers, consume a lot of energy;
may be dangerous to children and animals due to high heat.

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New generation ultrasonic humidifiers

Today it is the most common and affordable type of air humidifiers. The release of water vapor occurs due to the high-frequency ultrasonic vibration of a special membrane. Impulses from the membrane are transmitted to the water, as a result of which it boils and steam is formed.

Manufacturers care about the appearance of their devices

All ultrasonic humidifiers have high performance and compact dimensions. They are safe to use and economical in terms of energy consumption.

Advantages:

compact size of the device;
low power consumption;
high performance;
the ability to increase the humidity in the room above 60%.

Flaws:

white mineral deposits can form on furniture in a room with a humidifier if hard water is used.

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Multifunctional climatic complexes

The climate complex combines the functions of many devices. It monitors humidity, air temperature, cleans it from dust and allergens, ionizes and aromatizes the room.

Climatic humidifiers-purifiers first drive the air through mechanical or water filters, freeing it from dust, humidify it, and then cool or heat it, depending on the set program.

Split systems with built-in humidifiers can also be attributed to climatic complexes. Together with the inclusion of a heater, it neutralizes dryness "in the bud".

Climate complex

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What heaters dry the air the least

The main thing to understand is that humidity drops when using any heating devices, because the higher the temperature, the lower the humidity with the same water vapor content. To reduce the need for air humidification, use heaters that do not burn oxygen and operate in a gentle mode.

The following types of heaters dry out the air the least and do not destroy oxygen:

infrared. They do not heat the air, but objects, so their negative impact on the microclimate of the room is minimal.
Convector with a closed heating element. The heating element, enclosed in a housing, does not burn oxygen, and the presence of natural convection does not raise dust.
Oil. They never heat up to critical temperatures.
Ceramic. Just like all heaters with a closed heating element, they interact little with water vapor.

Do not install fireplaces and fan heaters with exposed heating elements. It will be very difficult to maintain the humidity at a sufficient level in rooms with such heaters.

If you have come to the conclusion that the microclimate of your home needs to be adjusted, it's time to decide how to humidify the air in the rooms, do it without a humidifier, or still buy a special device.

The problem of dry indoor air is familiar to many. It is especially relevant in winter. Why is excessively dry air dangerous and how to humidify it to a normal state?

Atmospheric air always contains a certain amount of water vapor. Their percentage is called air humidity. Humidity is high after summer rain. At low temperatures, the humidity is less, the frosty air is dry. In the apartment, the humidity is even lower than outside, due to the operation of heating devices.

What is considered normal humidity?

Humidity of 40-60% is considered normal for a person. Within this norm, most people feel comfortable, although this does not mean that the air is not breathable for other indicators. The inhabitants of dry deserts and tropical rainforests are proof of this. Normal can be considered the humidity of the air to which a person is accustomed, and it differs only by 10-15% from the generally accepted one.

You can measure the humidity level with a hygrometer. Some observations will also help determine if the humidity is normal.

Signs of high humidity in the apartment:

hard to breathe, as in a bath or in a greenhouse;
misted windows;
damp and in unventilated areas.

Signs of too dry air in the apartment:

the mucous membranes dry up - lips crack, tickle in the throat, stuffy nose;
slight cough;
dry skin of the face and hands, peeling, burrs and cracks on the hands;
hair and clothes made of synthetics are strongly electrified;
indoor plants dry out the tips of the leaves.

The climate in your area can help determine with certainty whether the humidity in the apartment is normal. If frosty periods alternate with thaws in winter, when the temperature rises above 0 degrees, snow melts or it rains, just watch. Regularly open windows and vents for ventilation and notice that during rains and thaws, all your unpleasant phenomena with dry skin and coughing go away on their own.

What is dangerous dry air in the apartment?

Reduced humidity in the house, in other words - too dry air, cannot be considered dangerous. Rather, it is an unpleasant phenomenon that can lead to diseases under a combination of other circumstances.

The mucous membranes of a person secrete a wet secret, which serves as a protective barrier for the penetration of pathogenic bacteria, seasonal infections - SARS and influenza. When the nasopharynx and oral cavity dry out, this barrier becomes thinner or damaged and does not protect the body sufficiently. Constant irritation of the upper respiratory tract leads to the development and exacerbation of various diseases - pharyngitis, bronchitis, asthma. This problem is especially relevant if the family has small children. They suffer the most from dry air.

Dry skin of the face and hands requires constant use of cosmetic moisturizers. In people prone to certain skin diseases or allergies to care products, winter is always considered a period of exacerbation. And the reason for this is the dry air in the room.

How to deal with increased dryness of the air?

How to increase the humidity in the room? The answer is simple - to evaporate a certain amount of water in the room and saturate the air with vapors. But how to do it most effectively?

The easiest and most unpretentious way is to hang damp cloth on the battery or pour water into a wide vessel and put in a warm place to evaporate. Humidity will rise, but this is an ineffective way. The advantage of this option is its safety - you can hang a wet rag on the battery and forget about it, it is especially convenient to do this at night.

boiling kettle able to humidify the air much faster. A fast and effective remedy, but it works for a short time and requires constant supervision. Not suitable for the bedroom and may be dangerous for children.

Wet cleaning moisturizes the air well, but for a short time. Often it is recommended to do it in the premises of kindergartens. At home, she will also not be superfluous.

Houseplants, especially with large leaves, moisturize the air well. They evaporate water with their entire surface, and the larger it is, the more moisture is released into the atmosphere. One or two large moisture-loving plants can normalize the air in the room. Monsters, diefenbachia, indoor lemons, cyperus, hibiscus, scindapsus are considered the best. The advantages of this method are constant evaporation, easy care. By adding a spray of leaves to regular watering, you can easily solve the problem of low humidity. Disadvantages: you need to take care of indoor flowers constantly, in the case of a trip on vacation, there is a problem of watering, large plants need space and good lighting.

Aquarium easily solves the problem of normalization of air humidity. Cons - requires care and special knowledge.

The most reliable way is to buy humidifier. There are a wide range of these devices on the market, there are different options for price and mode of action. All of them quite effectively cope with their task and do not require constant supervision. Cons - some material costs.

conclusions. If the problem of too dry air in the apartment is relevant for you, if children constantly sneeze and cough, if you feel tightness of the skin on your face and hands, then look at an inexpensive humidifier in the store and try to use it for a while, at least in the children's room. In the event that it is not possible to purchase a humidifier for any reason, hang wet towels on the battery and do wet cleaning more often.

One of the key factors of human comfort and health is the optimal air humidity in a house or apartment. There is a norm for this indicator in different rooms and at different times of the year, fixed by the state standard (GOST 30494-2011).

Most people are primarily concerned about the temperature regime, ignoring the humidity indicator. But it depends on him how much cold or heat will be felt. The amount of steam radically affects people's health, the condition of indoor flowers, books, wooden furniture and household appliances.

Problems associated with damp and dry air in the apartment

Relative humidity indicates how much the air in a room is saturated with water vapor. People, pets and objects do not tolerate extremely high and very low humidity.

If the air is too dry, the body rapidly loses fluid through the skin and when breathing.

The consequences of a lack of humidity in the apartment:

Microscopic cracks, dermatitis, peeling, early wrinkles appear on the skin. Hair becomes inelastic.
The mucous membrane of the organs of vision dries up, which is accompanied by itching, redness and discomfort.
The blood becomes thicker, which slows down its circulation. As a result, weakness occurs, the head begins to hurt, efficiency decreases and the load on the heart muscle increases. The general tone of the body decreases, the development of chronic fatigue syndrome is possible.
Reduced immunity, which leads to an increase in the frequency of SARS. Difficulties in the treatment of current diseases, especially if the nasopharynx is affected, as the mucous membranes of the respiratory organs dry up.
The juice in the stomach and intestines becomes more viscous, and as a result, digestion slows down.
Allergic reactions develop.

An excess of moisture in a home is no less harmful than a lack. Dampness serves as a fertile environment for the growth of pathogenic microflora, mold.

Excessive moisture in the apartment provokes:

Respiratory diseases such as runny nose, asthma, bronchitis, allergies.
In a damp room, there is often a feeling of stuffiness.
Due to the growth of colonies of pathogenic microorganisms, not very pleasant odors arise, washed linen dries for a very long time.

Humidity deviations from the normal level up or down are fraught with drying out or decay of indoor flowers, wooden furniture is deformed, paints in paintings fade, and the structure of paper products deteriorates.

Factors

The main factor that affects the humidity is the relative temperature of the air, not only the heat itself is important, but also the temperature difference between the outside and inside the room. In heat, more steam accumulates than in cold. For this reason, ventilating during the colder months makes indoor air fresher but drier. The optimum temperature in the room is from + 18 ° C to + 22 ° C.

Moisture from the air in the apartment is "taken":

central heating radiators;
upholstered furniture;
air conditioner;
carpets.

Increase the content of water vapor in the room:

plants;
aquarium;
boiling water;
wet linen;
faulty plumbing equipment, leaking water pipes;
damaged roof.

Condensation, which is almost always on the windows, indicates a high water content in the air of the dwelling.

Norms

What level of humidity is optimal depends on the purpose of the room in the house:

non-residential room (dining room, living room) - 40-60%;
bedroom of adult family members - 40-50%;
children's bedroom - 45-60%;
dark room, office and other similar non-residential premises - 30-40%;
kitchen - 40-60%.

GOST has not established the optimal level of humidity for the bathroom, toilet, pantry, corridor.

Since the climatic conditions are noticeably different in summer and winter, the norm of air humidity also changes:

warm months - 30-60%, while the permissible maximum is 65% (if the region is located in a climatic zone characterized by high humidity, then the norm increases to 75%);
cold months of the year - 30-45%, the maximum allowable level is 60%.

As a rule, household items are suitable for the same level of vapor in the air as a person, but there are some nuances. Plants are more picky and generally require more moisture in the air.

Air humidity standards for categories of objects and plants:

antiques, furniture - 40-60%;
books - 30-65%;
household appliances - 45-60%;
tropical plants growing in an apartment - 80-95%;
subtropical flowers - 75-80%;
other plants - 40-70%.

How to check the humidity in the apartment

To determine the level of water vapor in the air, a special device has been created - a hygrometer. Outwardly, it usually looks like a clock or an electronic scoreboard. It must be placed in the back of the room, away from drafts, in order to minimize the error in readings.

There are simpler, but no less effective ways to determine the level of humidity in the house:

Glass of water. Pour water and place in the refrigerator for three hours. During this time, the water will cool down to + 3-5 ° C. Then remove the glass and place it approximately in the center of the room, away from the heaters. As a result of a sharp temperature drop, condensate will appear on the walls of the container:

if it dries in less than 10 minutes, the air in the room is very dry;
the walls during this time remained the same foggy - the humidity is normal;
if trickles appear on the walls of the glass, the humidity is increased.

Fir cone. Place an ordinary spruce cone away from heating appliances and watch it for several hours:

if the air in the room is dry, its scales will open;
the increased steam content will cause the scales to shrink even tighter.

Advice! Observe the condition of indoor plants. If the humidity in the room is below normal, then the tips of the leaves will dry out.

Another indirect sign of overdry air is that electrical discharges come from synthetic clothing.

How to increase humidity

There are several ways to deal with dry air in your home. The simplest of them is a humidifier. Several types of such devices are on sale:

Traditional. The principle of operation is based on the property of water to evaporate. The liquid is poured into a special reservoir, the evaporating particles are expelled outside by means of a fan. The main thing when using such a device is the systematic replacement of filters.
Steam. They provide an increase in air quality due to hot steam (up to +60 ° C). Such devices can turn off on their own, but are not suitable for children's rooms, as there is a risk of burns.
Ultrasonic. They appeared on the market of humidifiers quite recently, therefore they are considered a novelty. They have a lot of advantages compared to other types of similar devices:

consume very little electricity;
have a small size (compact);
ultrasonic models are absolutely safe for human health;
are of high quality.

Another device for humidification is the “Air Washer”. The principle of operation of the device resembles a vacuum cleaner. Air purification is carried out by means of an ionizing element, while the humidity in the room rises to 60%.

Advice! Do not abuse the ultrasonic humidifier, as this may cause white deposits to form on the floor and furniture.

Modern humidifiers can not only eliminate dry air, but also maintain performance at an optimal level. This makes it possible to protect the health of people living in the apartment, as well as to ensure the safety of clothing and furniture.

Humidifiers have a certain radius of action, which allows you to choose a device based on the size of the room. The manufacturer indicates detailed information on the packaging and in the instruction manual.

Other methods will help eliminate dry air and saturate it with water molecules:

decorative fountain;
aquarium;
the use of air conditioning and heaters to a minimum;
spraying water with a spray gun;
hanging wet towels on heating radiators;
an abundance of indoor plants;
systematic wet cleaning.

Moisture Reduction Methods

There are floor, table, wall dehumidifiers on the market, and according to the principle of removing moisture - assimilation, adsorption, condensation.

The simplest ways to reduce humidity:

ventilation;
exhaust ventilation device;
use of climate systems and dehumidifiers;
timely repair of plumbing equipment and leaking water pipes;
using the air conditioner, periodically turning on the heater.

The amount of water vapor in the room is the most important indicator that directly affects the well-being of residents, furniture and furnishings. Normal humidity is in the range of 40-60%, it is necessary to adhere to these values, otherwise the unfavorable microclimate will affect the state of health.