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Do Humidifiers Really Work?

Humidity level is one of the keys to proper health. Too high of a humidity can allow for the growth of mold and bacteria, while humidity levels that are too low can cause dry, cracked skin, nosebleeds and other problems. When the humidity is low, one option to get the humidity up to a safe level is the use of a humidifier. There are many types of humidifiers on the market, all which vary in design and price. Before using one, it is worth examining the effectiveness of the machine.

  1. Wet Surface Humidifiers

    • One humidifier design involves a wet surface. Air is pushed across this wet surface, and as a consequence, the moisture on the wet surface is distributed into the air. These types of humidifiers can work well in climates that are very dry. However, these types of humidifiers are not as effective when the relative humidity is high. This is because not as much moisture is able to be distributed into especially humid air from the wet surface; the amount of moisture that can be distributed from this surface is dependent on how much moisture the air can hold.

    Water Reservoirs

    • Humidifiers are used primarily to avoid health problems related to humidity. However, many humidifiers rely on water reservoirs --- water is taken from these reservoirs and, in one way or another, transferred into the air. Chemical additives can be used to prevent bacterial, mold and viral growth on the humidifier, but the additives aren't as effective in the water chamber itself simply because of the moisture level. The bacteria, mold or viruses that grow in the warm, wet environment of the chamber can be forced out into the air with the water, as can the chemical additives, so it is questionable as to whether humidifiers actually increase health benefits. Users may be simply exchanging one health condition for another.

    Minerals

    • Almost all water has some minerals in it. The harder the water, the more minerals that the water will contain. These minerals tend to build up on the coils and mechanisms of humidifiers. This decreases their effectiveness and even can stop the machine from running altogether.

    Room Size

    • The effectiveness of a humidifier is not only dependent on the type of humidifier used and the minerals/pathogens that are present in the water, but also by the size of the room that the humidifier is expected to serve. Small humidifiers will not be able to push enough moisture into a large room to keep humidity levels high enough and thus will be ineffective.

    Climate

    • Climate is the final factor that determines whether or not a humidifier is effective. Even if the size of the humidifier is appropriate for the room served, it still may not be able to keep up with the moisture demand if the climate is especially arid overall. Arid climates may require that a humidifier be run at a higher level or for longer periods of time.

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