Wet work with easy breathing. How to choose a heat sink?

Humidifier or air washer? Before choosing, let’s understand how these devices are built and for what purpose they are designed.

The so-called air washers – these devices are devices that combine a humidifier and a simple air cleaner. The air is humidified by this device on the principle of cold evaporation – acts without any filters or cartridges. The principle of operation ingeniously simple: in a reservoir filled with water, rotates composite drum, which is blown by dry air from the room it is pumped by a fan , while with the plates of the drum occurs natural evaporation of water. It is water that evaporates, and all impurities in the air flow remain at the bottom of the tank.

Air washer – what is it?

The main advantage of this type of devices – no consumables, low power consumption and ease of operation: poured water and turned on. All!

Cold evaporation keeps the humidity in the region of 40-60% which is recommended by doctors , but when buying a device, one must take into account its capacity – for what area of the room it is designed.

From a bona fide manufacturer, the device is made of high-quality materials. As a rule, it is food-grade plastic, which guarantees a long service life. Some companies use a “silver” rod submerged in a container of water to clean the air better. It saturates the air with silver ions, which is extremely beneficial to the quality of the resulting air mixture.

Almost all modern models have a hygrometer to measure humidity levels. The unit turns off automatically if the air is saturated with moisture. You can buy a hygrometer separately it costs about 200 Dollars and turn on/off the device depending on its readings.

PLUSSES AND MINUSES

When the air washer is used?

Good health for your children. The air washer will help if your child has allergies – it will make the air a little cleaner, humidify it and get rid of coarse dust. Thanks to the device, you will get rid of dust mites, products of which are one of the main allergens. Also helps with frequent respiratory illnesses, irritability, and sleeping problems.

Eco-friendliness. Ideal indoor air should be clean and humidified. It is difficult to achieve, especially knowing the seasonality of our climate. Heating appliances on mercilessly dry the air, causing unpleasant skin sensations tightness , difficulty breathing, poor sleep and a deterioration in general well-being. The air washer does a wonderful job. But as in any business, it is important not to overdo it. Excessively humid air promotes mold growth in your home. Be sure to use a hygrometer and turn the humidifier on and off according to the readings in the hygrometer.

Maintenance of furniture and floors. All wooden products require a certain level of humidity, otherwise they begin to give their: the furniture is shrinking, cracks appear on the parquet, the parquet flooring comes apart.

Comfortable working conditions. Increased fatigue, reduced efficiency, inability to concentrate – all these are the consequences of dry air with low oxygen content. Comfortable air is one of the main components for successful work.

As this type of device uses cold evaporation, it is as close as possible to the natural saturation of the air with moisture, it is difficult but possible to saturate the air with moisture with such a device. There are models with built-in aromatizers and ionizers.

Of the disadvantages of this type of devices it is worth noting the size and somewhat noisy operation at maximum load. Care of the device also causes some inconvenience: it is very difficult to find a container to wash the drum due to its unwieldiness, it is painful to clean discs from lime scale.

Prices for sinks start at 6500 Dollars ALC Climatexnic XJ-225, made in Italy , the average price is 12 500 – 16 000 Dollars models of Swiss and German manufacturers , the maximum price is over 120 000 Dollars devices designed for 800 m2 or exclusive models .

WITH THE HELP OF ULTRASOUND

Ultrasonic humidifiers are by far the most popular. They use an interesting physical effect. The water from the tank is pumped to a plate, vibrating with a high frequency, where it splits into the tiniest sprays. Microscopic droplets gush over the plate and form a cloud through which the fan moves the dry air. Ultrasonic humidifier generates a fog in the conditions of a single apartment. Emitted vapors seem hot similar to a boiling kettle , in fact they are cold and wet, like a morning mist.

This “mist” is absolutely safe for the health of adults and children. All devices of this type are equipped with a built-in hygrostat, which allows you to regulate the level of humidity produced. Many manufacturers illuminate the “cloud” produced, and this is very pleasing to children.

PLUSES AND MINUSES

The main advantage of the ultrasonic humidifier is the ability to achieve high levels of humidity up to 100% . Another undeniable advantage is the compact size and almost noiseless operation. The appliance is absolutely safe in operation, because the temperature of the steam escaping does not exceed 40 °C ⁰C and the risk of scalding is excluded.

Almost all models of this type are equipped with a built-in hygrostat, which allows the device to turn on and off independently upon reaching a preset level of humidity. In addition, the ionizing rod included in the kit provides for cleaning the air from pathogenic germs.

Most modern ultrasonic humidifiers have digital control and LED display. Some models support a warm steam mode, providing a more effective destruction of bacteria and viruses without lowering the temperature in the room. There are devices equipped with a rotating atomizer, which blows air in different directions.

Of the disadvantages it is worth noting the need for periodic replacement of cartridges or the use of only distilled water, which still have to be found. When using water from the tap without filters, white salt deposits can form on wallpaper, floors and furniture.

In case the humidistat malfunctions or a defective product is purchased by an unscrupulous manufacturer who “forgot” to install the humidistat, you risk over-humidifying the air and causing the humidification to become damp and mildewy.

Prices for ultrasonic humidifiers start at 700 Dollars Timberk THU mini 01 , the average price – from 3000 to 4500 Dollars, exclusive models can cost more than 150 000 Dollars.

STEAM HUMIDIFIERS

The principle of operation of these devices is based on “hot” evaporation. We can see it every day at home, for example, when the kettle boils. Steam escapes from the spout, gradually moistening the area around it. The device is a household steam humidifier is a reservoir of water, in which the electrodes are immersed for its heating – what is not an electric kettle? The water heats up and boils, the steam enters the room through special holes. The main developers and manufacturers of this equipment are specialists from Foggy Albion. In addition to humidification, these devices also warm the room. The main area of application of such equipment is industrial, but there are also household models.

Advantages and disadvantages of steam humidifiers.

As already mentioned, the main area of application of this equipment – industrial. It is used wherever very precise humidity is needed – tobacco storage and ripening rooms, wood storage, cigar storage hangars, libraries, museums, clinics and hospitals. Accordingly, less powerful units are used in private homes. The hot steam kills all germs and refreshes the air. Simplicity and reliability – that’s the main definition for this kind of equipment. These devices do not need purification plants if we are talking about industrial applications , ordinary tap water is perfectly suitable. Steam is delivered both into the ducts and directly into the room. Steam generators are highly reliable and safe.

The devices are equipped with a control panel, a hygroscope and a safety unit that turns off the device when the water is completely evaporated. Many devices are equipped with anti-foam and self-cleaning systems. Steam generators, along with the undoubted advantages, such as hygiene and price, have a number of serious disadvantages.

The first is a serious risk of getting burnt by hot steam. The second is a great danger of over-humidification, but the products of responsible manufacturers are equipped with a hygrometer, which reduces this danger to zero. Third – calcium deposits on furniture, floors and walls. With this should fight filter cartridges, but we sometimes forget to buy them. And the fourth – the higher power consumption.

Care of such products consists of periodical change of cartridges, adding antiscale agents to water.

Prices for steam humidifiers start at 2900 Dollars Philips fc 7008/02 , the average price of 8000-10 000 Dollars products Swiss and British manufacturers .

WHERE TO?

As we can see, on a purely domestic level in urban environment is best suited air washer or ultrasonic humidifier. For a country house or cottage – a stationary steam generator. It is enough to assemble it once, bring water, connect to the air duct system – and that’s all! The rest will be done by the automatics. It will regulate by itself, in which room and with what intensity the steam will be supplied. The ducts will not become infected with pathogenic bacteria, and dust will not fly around the house. It provides a comfortable temperature and humidity in the house.

Now a different installation. You are a big lover of flora, you have a greenhouse or a winter garden in your house. In this case it is best to buy an ultrasonic humidifier, because it is able to saturate the air with moisture up to 100%, and such an atmosphere is very fond of tropical plants.

Or you live in an environmentally friendly area, away from big highways and do not suffer from allergies. And in this case it will be optimal to buy an ultrasonic humidifier: it will make the air comfortable enough. And if it is also equipped with an ionisation and fragrance function, you get fresh air – like after a thunderstorm in the garden!

Another situation. You are at the cottage, the weather is pretty cool, and you are warming up with an electric heater. It is no secret that the heater dries the air much, burns out the oxygen and as a result, a headache in the morning and the effect of tightening of the skin. Spending money on a serious stationary system in a paneled house, you agree, is silly. An ultrasonic humidifier will fundamentally improve the situation: freshen the air, humidify it. You wake up in a cheerful mood, without any headaches, and your skin is fine. And you are ready again for new labor feats in the field of harvesting and harvesting!

And if you have a small child in the family, I would recommend an air washer. It is an excellent prevention of respiratory illnesses and a guarantee of a good night’s sleep. When you use this device, you will notice that your child becomes less irritable, and breathing becomes easier. Once again, note that the air sink does not need consumables, unlike the ultrasonic humidifier. And maintenance is not a problem. Light lime deposits on the drum discs increase the intensity of humidification. If there is a lot of lime, just rinse the tray and drum discs with water and vinegar. From time to time you need to wipe the casing with a wet wipe.

ADVICES WHEN CHOOSING

You often hear the opinion that humidifiers and washers only humidify the air around them, and if you move away – no difference. So a word of advice: Pay attention to humidifier performance when buying. If you have a 15 square meter room, you need a device that can humidify it, t.e. Humidifier for 16-20 square meters with 3 m high ceilings. And if the device is designed for 90 square meters, it’s stupid to spend money on it.