Do you find your skin and scalp getting drier than necessary? Or you feel an unusual dryness or congestion in your airways? It might be a question of your humid indoor quality. Most people often ignore the dryness of the air around them until it becomes uncomfortable.
Have you heard about the indoor humidity? You might be overlooking a crucial point that affects the air dryness or air moisture around you. The use of humidifiers and dehumidifiers can influence the humidity around you and bring it to a desirable level. Humidifiers add air moisture, while dehumidifiers remove air moisture, depending on your needs.
If you are confused about a humidifier or a dehumidifier and its uses, this might be the most informative piece you will get to read today. This article provides a full insight into what humidifiers and dehumidifiers are. It also includes their uses, when to use them, and their similarities and differences.
What is Humidity?
The term humidity might seem like a mere scientific concept. On the contrary, it is the dryness or moisture in the air around us, every time and every day. Before providing further insight into the use of humidifiers and dehumidifiers, you must understand the concept of humidity itself.
Humidity is the amount of moisture in the air, and it is one of the essential environmental factors. A high amount of vapor in the air might not always translate to a suitable temperature; it can even make hot temperatures unbearable. In some other cases, you might have to increase the humidity around you because it is one of the factors that affect indoor air quality.
The best humidity level for homes is between 30% and 50%. Maintaining humidity within the home can be somewhat challenging, hence the need for humidifiers and dehumidifiers. Humidifiers and dehumidifiers are useful for optimizing the humidity of the environment and making it bearable.
What are Humidifiers?
Humidifiers alter humidity levels and air quality by adding moisture to the air to increase indoor space humidity. There are two major types of humidifiers. These humidifier types use different techniques to add moisture to the atmosphere. These two types are cool mist humidifiers and warm mist humidifiers (Steam vaporizers).
Cool Mist Humidifiers: Cool mist humidifiers are of three types; ultrasonic, impeller, evaporators. The cool mist humidifier breaks up water molecules into tiny particles and releases it into the air as water vapor. The water vapor usually stays cold to cool the air and increase its moisture.
Steam Vaporizers: The steam vaporizers usually use an electrical power source. The electrical energy is converted to heat energy that boils the container’s water. The water produces steam and then cools down before leaving the humidifier through an opening or tube.
Benefits of Humidifiers
Some of the primary uses of humidifiers include;
- It reduces the risks of catching flu and influenza.
- It gets more moisture into the airways to aid breathing.
- Keeps the air and skin moist.
- Aids the growth of moisture-loving houseplants.
- It reduces the risk of chest congestions, allergies, and asthma.
- It helps mitigate the risk of other health complications such as bronchitis, nose bleed, sinus inflammation, and sore throats.
What are Dehumidifiers?
Dehumidifiers are the direct opposite of humidifiers. A dehumidifier removes air moisture and makes it drier to increase comfort. A typical dehumidifier works by taking in warm air through a fan. This sucked air goes into a metal coil and then a cool down refrigerant that uses various chemicals to lower the coil’s temperature.
Have you heard about thermal expansion? Yes, the water uses this principle, and the warm air shrinks, thereby causing the tiny water droplets to fall out in the form of condensation. It is stored in a tank on the outer part of the dehumidifier. The dehumidifier then uses a fan or tube to blow the dry air into the indoor space.
Benefits of Dehumidifiers
The benefits of dehumidifiers are;
- Helps to control seasonal allergies
- Mitigates pet-related problems
- Improve moisture level and enhance comfort
- Lowers energy costs
Humidifiers vs. Dehumidifiers: Similarities
The significant similarity between humidifiers and dehumidifiers is that they help to regulate indoor humidity. They aim to keep the indoor humidity between 30% and 50%, which is the ideal air moisture. Both instruments help maintain the right humidity level, control seasonal allergies, and improve indoor air quality.
Humidifiers vs. Dehumidifiers: Differences
The main difference between the two is that dehumidifiers remove air moisture while humidifiers add water to dry air. A humidifier is employed if indoor humidity is less than 30%, while a dehumidifier is useful if the indoor humidity is more than 50%.
Frequently Asked Questions About Humidifiers and Dehumidifiers
This article might leave you with a few questions about humidifiers and dehumidifiers. But that’s no problem. Below are some of the frequently asked questions about humidifiers and dehumidifiers.
Should you use a humidifier or dehumidifier in winter?
Air during winter is usually cold and dry, and the more this air enters your home, the dryer it is. Therefore, what you need during winter is a humidifier, not a dehumidifier. Dehumidifiers are helpful during spring and summer.
Can humidifiers cause mold?
Humidifiers do not cause mold on their own. But, excess humidity or wetness can create a suitable environment for mold germination, which can, in turn, contaminate the air. Mold can grow on various surfaces, including walls and other porous surfaces.
How do I know I need a humidifier?
You should know you need a humidifier when your hygrometer shows this via its measurement. You can also observe this when you start to have dry skin, dry scalp, and other dry air symptoms.
A Final Word From Wellness Nova
Humidity plays an essential role in your general well being. It is one of the environmental factors that can make you uncomfortable if it is not right. The use of humidifiers and dehumidifiers allow you to optimize indoor humidity levels to suit your needs. Knowing all these, you can adjust your surrounding moisture level to enjoy a better life quality.
