Articles
Humidifiers: Ease skin, breathing symptoms
Content
What are humidifiers?
Ideal humidity levels
How to measure humidity
Humidifiers, asthma and allergies
When the air's too damp: Dehumidifiers and air conditioners
Keep it clean: Dirty humidifiers and health problems
Tips for keeping your humidifier clean
What are humidifiers?
Humidifiers are devices that release water vapor or steam to increase moisture levels in the air (humidity). Types of humidifiers include:
- Central humidifiers. These are built into home heating and air conditioning systems. They are designed to humidify the whole house.
- Ultrasonic humidifiers. These produce a cool mist with ultrasonic vibration.
- Impeller humidifiers. These humidifiers produce a cool mist with a rotating disk.
- Evaporators. Evaporators use a fan to blow air through a wet wick, filter or belt.
- Steam vaporizers. Steam vaporizers use electricity to create steam that cools before leaving the machine. Avoid this type of humidifier if you have children. The hot water inside this type of humidifier may cause burns if spilled.