Which humidifier to choose: a detailed guide. Which air humidifier is better to buy in an apartment Natural Humidifier

A humidifier is a device that allows you to create an optimal microclimate in a room or apartment. It is very important for the children's room, as it reduces the risk of diseases in children. The device is indispensable if the baby is often sick. It should be remembered that most heaters dry the air, which contributes to the growth of pathogenic bacteria, so the device will be useful not only for children, but also for adults. It disinfects the air in the room and is a barrier to the reproduction of harmful microorganisms. In this article, we will tell the readers of the site how to choose a humidifier for an apartment and which one is better in 2017.

Device types

A humidifier that works on the principle of natural evaporation. The device device in this case is extremely simple - a water tank with a cooler that blows out the evaporating water, thus cold steam is obtained. This type has a low level of efficiency and is a poor option for a home with small children, since the air is humidified rather slowly.
Steam - moisture in the form of hot steam enters the air of the apartment. The principle of operation of this type is quite simple - humidification is carried out by heating water. A clear example is a boiling kettle. The steam humidifier has 2 significant disadvantages:

Great power consumption. Heating elements are characterized by a high level of electricity consumption.
Low level of safety, it is necessary to ensure that the humidifier is in a place inaccessible to a small child, as the baby may get burned. And adults need to be careful.

The advantage of choosing this type is the ability to combine moisturizing and aromatization.

Ultrasonic type - the principle of operation of such a device is based on the vibration of the membrane, which turns water into the smallest aerosol. Water dust and humidifies the air in an apartment or house. This technology is considered the most efficient in terms of humidification, energy consumption, and safety. The advantage is also speed, the increase in humidity begins immediately after turning on the device. The disadvantage is that the use of water with impurities will lead to the appearance of a white coating in the apartment.
Air washing is nanotechnology. A complex that automatically creates an optimal microclimate in the apartment: cleans and ionizes the air. The choice of a type of device with a cleaner and an ionizer is complicated by high cost. It is several times higher than the price of the three above types.

All varieties of household humidifiers are united by only one feature - the absence of noise. We figured out the types, now let's talk about what features you need to pay attention to if you want to choose an inexpensive but good humidifier in 2017.

Additional functions

The choice of device may be due to additional functions:

The display, which indicates the air temperature in the apartment, room and humidity level. This feature is useful and very convenient.
Remote control. You can turn the humidifier on and off with the remote control. This is the so-called option for the lazy. But at the same time, many believe that this function is overkill and you can easily take a few steps to turn on the device. Here the choice depends solely on the preferences of the buyer. Keep in mind that the more features in the model you decide to choose, the more expensive it will cost.

Summing up

Obviously, in terms of practicality for the home, it is best to choose an ultrasonic humidifier. But the choice is also driven by cost. And here the situation is somewhat difficult, since all types of humidifiers have different costs. For example, a device based on the principle of natural evaporation can cost more than ultrasonic and vice versa.

Here the determining factor is the manufacturer. In order not to overpay for a promoted name, you must choose based on technical characteristics, needs and financial capabilities. The best companies producing these devices are Boneco Air-o-Swiss, Timberk, Electrolux, Sharp, Philips and Ballu. If you want to choose a high-quality humidifier and not overpay, we recommend giving preference to these manufacturers. However, keep in mind that the price will be higher than that of Chinese counterparts. Of the inexpensive domestic brands, I would like to single out Atmos, whose products are gradually conquering the Russian market.

Although you need to pay special attention to the manufacturer, in most cases the choice is as follows: ultrasonic or steam. But which one is better if both options have the same parameters and cost? Here expediency and practicality come to the fore.

The first factor is the right choice of area. For a children's room, a humidifier designed for 25m 2 is quite enough, but if you need to humidify a large area, for example, an apartment, then you should choose a more powerful device. There are models focused on humidifying the air in a room up to 60m 2 .

The second factor is safety. For a child aged 2 to 10 years, it is better to buy an ultrasonic humidifier to avoid injury and burns.

The third factor is the possibility of various kinds of reactions, for example, the sudden onset of a cough in a child. This factor is the most controversial and little studied. It's hard to give any advice here. One of the solutions to the problem can be the choice of a high-quality humidifier manufactured by a well-known brand. In this case, the overpayment will be appropriate. Another factor affecting the operation of the device is water. It is advisable to use a purified one, since the liquid from the tap contains a wide variety of elements that are not always useful. This is especially important to consider with allergies and pregnancy.

Important! It should be remembered that ultrasonic or steam, as well as a device operating on the principle of natural evaporation, by itself will not solve the problem in terms of air disinfection. A household humidifier will become an effective assistant if a set of measures is carried out, which includes systematic ventilation and wet cleaning. Only in this case, the maximum benefit for the newborn will be achieved and there will be no problems with allergies and pregnancy. In addition, the risk of such reactions will be significantly reduced.

It is equally important to carry out systematic maintenance of the device. Guidance on this is in the documentation that comes with it. The vast majority of people ignore the instructions or study only the "Management" section. And this is a very important component of normal operation in terms of efficiency (efficiency).

Various substances and pathogenic bacteria are collected in the filters, which must be periodically removed by replacing the filter element. The most practical in this regard is the microclimatic air washing complex. Devices of this class are equipped with indicators that signal the need to replace the filter and ionizing rod.

As a result, in order to choose the right humidifier, it is necessary to take into account the following factors and find the arithmetic average between:

technical characteristics - selection by type, by area, by a set of additional functions;
cost - the choice directly depends on financial capabilities;
safety - concerns steam humidifiers, as well as the manufacturer (if you choose an expensive model, then to a greater extent there is a guarantee that there will be no unforeseen reactions, for example, allergic ones).

Model Rating

Well, the last thing I would like to talk about is which models of air humidifiers are considered the best today. If you do not know which device to choose in terms of price and quality, you can safely give preference to the most suitable option from the list provided by us.

The best humidifiers for a children's room with a creative design and a price of 3,000 to 5,000 rubles:

Ballu UHB-270 M Winnie Pooh
Scarlett SC-AH986M06
Atmos 2640
Marta MT-2659
Ballu AP-105

If you need a humidifier for an apartment or the whole house, we advise you to choose one of the following 5 models that are quite popular in 2017:

Panasonic F-VXK70 (designed for 52 sq.m.)
Boneco H680 (100 sqm)
Sharp KC-D51RW (up to 40 sqm)
Euromate Grace Electrostatic (up to 90 sqm)
Winia AWX-70 (50 sqm)

Expert opinion

School of Dr. Komarovsky

Here we have provided tips on choosing a device for humidifying the air. We hope our advice helped you and now you know how to choose an air humidifier for an apartment and which one is better in terms of price and quality in 2017!

The dryness of the air in the apartment negatively affects the health of households, especially allergic people and small children. A humidifier will help to normalize the microclimate. The main thing is not to get confused in the variety of models and choose the appropriate unit that meets the operating conditions.

To understand which air humidifier is better, you need to compare the parameters of different devices, evaluate their capabilities and effectiveness.

In this article, we will talk about how to choose the device that is most suitable for specific requirements. In addition, in the article you will find a brief overview of the most popular models among buyers.

Humidity is one of the determining criteria for the microclimate of a room. For an apartment, an indicator of 45-60% is considered optimal, in a house where there are small children, the standard rises to 70%.

In early autumn and spring, a comfortable level of moisture is established naturally - due to active air exchange. In summer and winter, the situation becomes more complicated - in hot weather and during the heating season, the air dries up.

Keeping the windows open in winter will cool the room. At the same time, already 15-30 minutes after closing the window, the relative humidity of the air will decrease due to the active operation of the heating devices.

In hot weather, active ventilation will not solve the problem, since at outdoor temperatures up to +30 ° the moisture content is about 30%, and the level of ventilation draft is significantly weakened

The best way to normalize the microclimate in an “overdried” apartment is to use a humidifier.

Alternative methods (arranging aquariums and fountains in rooms, hanging wet towels on radiators, etc.) are ineffective and give a short-term result.

Image gallery

Combined units - multitasking systems

Domestic climate systems provide a comprehensive approach to improve the microclimate of an apartment:

purify the air using a multi-stage filtration system;
refresh the atmosphere by removing unpleasant odors;
humidify the treated air.

Air conditioners are equipped with sensors that respond to dryness, dustiness, smoke and other parameters. Automation works to maintain air hygiene and normalize moisture levels.

Device diagram: 1 - aroma oil tank, 2 - carbon filter, 3 - fan and engine, 4 - water tank, 5 - purified air supply, 6 - air intake, 7 - HEPA filter, 8 - soft humidification filter

The quality of the climate systems is not satisfactory. Despite the bulkiness of the unit, the complex is quiet and economical in energy consumption (up to 20 W).

The disadvantages of air conditioners include high cost and significant maintenance costs. Filters should be changed every 3-12 months.

Criteria for choosing a home humidifier

Having decided on the optimal humidification technology, the most significant parameters of the device are selected.

Conventionally, the decision-making algorithm is based on the following selection criteria:

power of the device in accordance with the area of \u200b\u200bthe room;
the volume of the tank, which determines the period of continuous operation;
the level of emitted noise;
installation method and design;
management method;
additional functionality;
value for money.

The parameter is indicated in milliliters or grams of water evaporated per hour. A more productive device is able to serve a larger area of \u200b\u200bthe house.

The performance index of traditional humidifiers does not exceed 300 ml / h (3.5-8 l / day). The performance of ultrasonic and steam devices is much higher - up to 14-16 l / day, respectively

However, with similar efficiency, the power consumption of humidifiers differs significantly:

40-50 W - ultrasonic models;
300-600 W - hot steam units.

The choice of performance should be based on the dimensions of the room. In this case, the area of a particular room is taken into account. It is a mistake to think that having bought a highly efficient device for 60-100 sq.m, he will humidify the entire apartment with high quality. This is not so - air circulation between rooms is difficult.

To maintain an optimal microclimate throughout the house, it is better to install several humidifiers designed to serve a certain footage.

Tank volume. The value determines how often the water in the tank will have to be renewed. Often, high-power humidifiers are equipped with a larger capacity.

If you plan to use the device around the clock, then it is better to look after a humidifier with a capacious tank. So that maintenance does not cause much trouble, when choosing, it is recommended to focus on tabular indicators

Not all manufacturers indicate the time of continuous operation of the unit. The value can be calculated independently by dividing the volume of the tank by the flow rate per hour. For example, the capacity of the tank is 4000 ml, the consumption per hour is 400 ml. Therefore, within 10 hours the humidifier will use up all the water.

Noise exposure level. Do not neglect this indicator. Barely perceptible noise during the day, at night it is heard more clearly. This is especially important when choosing a humidifier for the nursery and bedroom.

The noise level of household humidifiers ranges from 5 to 50 dB. The indicator depends on the design features and power of the device. Ultrasonic and traditional models are considered low noise

For the bedroom and children's room, a humidifier with an indicator of up to 20 dB is suitable. In the living room, you can put a device with a parameter of no more than 35 dB.

All household humidifiers are divided into floor and desktop. The first, as a rule, include “washings” and climatic complexes. The units are bulky and not convenient for use in compact apartments.

Desktop humidifiers are mobile - they can be placed on a bedside cabinet, cabinet shelf or window sill.

High placement is more effective - moistened vapors slowly sink down, the water cloud gradually dissipates and fills the room with moisture

adjustment method. The choice is between mechanical and electronic control. Mechanical units are cheaper, but have limited functionality - a knob for adjusting the mode and operating time is displayed on the case.

Humidifiers with electronic control are equipped with various indicators showing the level of water, humidity, temperature, current mode of operation, etc. Expensive devices operate in "automatic flight", adjusting the operating parameters to the conditions of the apartment.

Extended functionality. Among the significant options, we can note the presence of a hygrostat. The element controls the level of moisture and prevents the appearance of dampness in the room.

It is good if the humidifier has built-in lighting and an aroma capsule. The use of ionization and ozonation options will partially replace the work of a full-fledged air purifier

Balance of quality and price. In this matter, an important role is assigned to the manufacturer.

A wide range of humidifiers of decent quality in the price range from economy to premium is represented by brands:

Sharp (Japan);
Boneco Air-O-Swiss (Switzerland);
Philips (Netherlands);
Polaris (England);
Electrolux (Sweden);
Shivaki (Japan);
Winia (Korea);
Fanline (Russia).

The release of budget models of good quality has been established by companies: Vitek, Scarlett and Supra.

Overview of the most popular models

Below are the most popular humidifiers used in everyday life. The demand for models is due to their reliability, ease of use, efficiency and the equivalence of "price-quality".

Boneco E2441A - the traditional way of moisturizing

The instrument has received the Red Dot industrial design award. The original shape, along with economy and efficiency, leave the model among the bestsellers. The principle of operation is based on self-regulating evaporation.

A funnel-shaped opening is provided on top of the body for filling with water. The liquid level is controlled by a functional float. Floor mounting recommended

Distinctive features of Boneco E2441A:

antibacterial humidification filter;
silver ionizing rod ISS;
operating mode indicator;
power selection - 2 levels (normal and night);
estimated cost - 120-180 US dollars.

To maintain the quality of work, it is necessary to change the filter once a quarter and clean the water tank every week.

Ballu UHB-400 – ultrasonic steam atomization

Despite its compact dimensions, the humidifier copes with its task efficiently and quickly. The appearance resembles a night light, the model is available in three colors.

Characteristics of UHB-400: type - ultrasonic, noise level - 35 dB, mechanical control, water level indicator, installation method - floor or desktop

The device is equipped with an ion-exchange filter for primary water purification. The cartridge is designed for 150 liters. If the humidifier is used daily for 8 hours or more, the filter must be replaced every 45 days.

Ballu cost about 40-50 USD.

Boneco U7135 - premium representative

Ultrasonic device with convenient electronic control. The model is equipped with a hydrostat that automatically regulates the level of humidity in the apartment.

Note: water consumption during normal operation - 400 g / h, when switching to "hot steam" - consumption increases to 550 g / h

Distinctive features of Boneco U7135:

moisture intensity control;
cleaning indicator;
filter with silver particles;
shutdown in case of lack of water;
water disinfection system - preheating up to 80 °C.

The disadvantage of the Boneco U7135 is its high cost (about $150).

Fanline VE-200 - a device of Russian assembly

A multi-tasking unit designed to service small premises - 20 sq.m.

The air washer performs three cleaning steps:

mesh filter - performs coarse filtration, retaining wool, hair and dust;
plasma cartridge - removes plant pollen, part of harmful microorganisms;
drum with moistened discs - cleans and humidifies the air.

Still not sure which humidifier is right for you? Or have questions about the topic of this article? Ask them in the comment block - we will figure it out together. Or maybe you already purchased a humidifier. Please tell us which model you chose, are you satisfied with its performance?

Do not know how to choose a humidifier to get rid of dryness in the room during the heating season? Be careful not to get insomnia, burns and additional costs along with the device. We will try to tell you as clearly as possible what parameters you should pay attention to, starting from the advice of experts, the opinions of ordinary buyers.

The norm is considered to be humidity in the air from 40 to 60%. However, in winter, due to the operation of heating equipment, this parameter rarely varies within the indicated range. This negatively affects the work of the immune, nervous, respiratory systems. This significantly increases the risk of bronchitis. Therefore, it is important to buy a suitable device, which you can do with the help of our rating of humidifiers, but first we will deal with important characteristics and nuances.

Manufacturers of equipment have already managed to feel the popularity of such devices. Therefore, new inventions regularly appear that do not always meet the expectations of users. To begin with, you must decide which type of humidifier is best for your room. There are 3 types - ultrasonic, with hot and cold steam. Consider the pros and cons of each type of humidifier:

Ultrasonic - works on the basis of a membrane that vibrates at a high frequency. After water from the tank hits this component, very small splashes are formed that humidify the air. As a rule, such models allow you to regulate humidity, consuming a minimum of electricity. The problem is that tap water is not suitable for the ultrasonic membrane. If you use such a coolant, a white coating will be sprayed around the room. On average, the power of such devices is only 40-50 watts.

Hot steam - the design includes two electrodes in the tank for supplying water. When connected to the network, they begin to heat the coolant, it begins to evaporate. Such devices are quite powerful and allow you to humidify large rooms much faster. But among all types of humidifiers, this device is the most expensive in terms of energy consumption. In addition, such devices can produce steam that is too hot for indoor plants to withstand. If you do not want the room to turn into a sauna, consider the size of the room and the power. The last parameter can vary in the range from 300 to 600 watts.

Features of cold steam humidifiers

You have already understood that the disadvantages of the above types of devices often overshadow their advantages. Moreover, hot steam models cannot be used at all in small rooms, because fungus may appear.

The cold steam humidifier works on the principle of natural evaporation. The fan sucks in ambient air, passes it through the evaporator, and releases it back. It is worth noting that such models appeared before the rest, and to this day they are not inferior to more expensive counterparts. This is an economical model, but it has a serious drawback - noise. If you decide to choose a cold mist humidifier for your apartment, get ready for sleepless nights. Such devices must be installed away from the bed. Of course, there is an alternative - an expensive device in which the sound from the fan is muffled. But it will cost 2-3 times more.

One of the most important parameters when choosing a humidifier for an apartment is the water consumption, which is measured in grams per hour of its operation. Some rooms have to be humidified all night long. Imagine that the device consumes 500 ml of water in 1 hour. In this case, you will have to fill the liquid tank several times to achieve optimal humidity in just one room. The optimal indicator is considered to be a flow rate of 200 ml / h. This should be enough to humidify a room with an area of 25 to 30 square meters at a time.

Filter selection

If you decide to choose a humidifier with an air purifier, you should understand the range of existing filtration systems. Undoubtedly, the most effective is HEPA, capable of capturing radioactive elements. Such models capture all malignant trace elements up to 0.3 µm in size.

Models with carbon impregnation, in turn, have a high level of absorption, which allows you to effectively eliminate unpleasant odors. This is a good choice if there are pets or smokers in the apartment. The problem is that the charcoal cartridges need to be changed frequently.
Humidifiers with ionization, which are able to retain moisture, are also in demand. It is desirable that this option be disabled.

Modern models are equipped with many different functions. But, as practice shows, most often users have to repair devices precisely because of the failure of additional modules that do not at all correspond to the statements from the manufacturers. For example, the built-in thermometer shows the temperature not in the room, but on the surface of the device. And why do you need it? We offer to consider useful tips on choosing a humidifier from repairmen and dealers, so that you know what points to pay attention to and what is better to refuse.

Important Features

We will not discuss all kinds of options, as each manufacturer is trying to interest buyers with something new. We will look at the most important features that will come in handy when choosing a good humidifier for your apartment:

Light indicator - notifies when it is necessary to add water;
Overheating protection - automatic shutdown of the device if there is no coolant;
Cleaning indicator - informs when it is necessary to clean the filters and container;
Rotation around the axis - is responsible for uniform humidification of the room, which also favorably affects the speed of work;
Night mode - a necessary function for cold steam models;
Lock - does not turn on if you loosely close the lid.