Humidifiers for a healthy room climate

Evaporator, vaporizer or air washer? We will explain which humidifier is right for you and how you can create healthy room and breathing air with the right humidification performance

Humidifiers:
The right humidity level is beneficial to your health

Sore throat, itching eyes and irritated mucous membranes are often the result of a too dry room climate. Humidifiers provide a remedy here and provide the right humidity level depending on the size of the room. But there is a wide range of suitable models.

We will point out the decisive purchase criteria and show you the necessary humidification performance and available versions. Whether vaporizer, nebulizer, evaporator or atomizer – we will also provide an overview of the different functional principles of humidifiers and the fields of application to be preferred in each case. This will place you in a position to choose exactly the model that meets your requirements.

What is a humidifier?

A humidifier is a technical appliance with a clearly defined task: If required, it increases the humidity level in rooms filled with too dry room air. This improves the overall room climate. Some manufacturers therefore also refer to their devices as room humidifiers.

A distinction must be made between devices with an integrated water tank and models with a fixed, permanent connection to the existing water supply line. Room humidifiers with an integrated water tank offer the advantage that they are mobile and can be used anywhere, but they need to be refilled regularly. For private domestic usage chiefly compact humidifiers are applied. We offer various versions in different price ranges.

Ideally, the humidity level in rooms should range between 40 and 60 per cent. A room’s humidity level always depends on the nature of the room, structural conditions, weather and season. Especially in the months of winter the room humidity often decreases by 20 or even 30 per cent, sometimes more. Heating significantly lowers the humidity level. Therefore it is immensely important to supply the room air with more humidity.

Easily done using a humidifier. Excessively dry room air often leads to health issues. Other than the known health problems regarding the respiratory tract and eyes, too dry room air often causes exhaustion, weariness and failing concentration. Coarse skin is inevitable and all types of skin diseases or allergies might get worse.

Only with the correct dose of humidity can such a scenario be prevented in the long run. The difference will be perceptible at once: It’s time to take a deep breath. Symptoms such as eyes and mucous membranes irritated by the too dry air will be alleviated.

You can refocus on your work or domestic chores. Ultimately you can improve your own well-being by using a humidifier that ensures the perfect humidity level in your rooms and simultaneously cleans the air.

Listed below is an overview of the respectively ideal temperatures and matching humidity levels that shall serve you as reference:
Living and working spaces:	temperature of 20 to 23 °C	humidity level of 40 to 60 percent
Bedroom:	temperature of 17 to 20 °C	humidity level of 40 to 60 percent
Children's room:	temperature of 20 to 23 °C	humidity level of 40 to 60 percent
Kitchen:	temperature of 18 to 20 °C	humidity level of 50 to 60 percent
Bathroom:	temperature of 20 to 23 °C	humidity level of 50 to 70 percent
Corridor:	temperature of 15 to 18 °C	humidity level of 40 to 60 percent
Basement:	temperature of 10 to 15 °C	humidity level of 50 to 65 percent

Increasing the humidity level to 50 % reduces the risk of transmission of viruses

Medical specialists have evaluated research findings relating to the resistance of viruses (e.g. SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV or SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19), influenza) to air humidity. These findings have revealed that the humidity level has a crucial impact on the infectivity of germ droplets. Dry room air with a relative humidity content of less than 40 % lets tiny droplets infected with influenza or cold viruses dry up. This preserves pathogens so that they remain infectious for a very long time. In the optimum relative humidity range between 40 and 60 % aerosols only shrink so far that the salt concentration in the aerosol core increases, causing the germs and microorganisms contained to be killed. This minimizes the risk of an infection with influenza and cold viruses.

Medical specialists emphasize that we are able to reduce the risk of infection by increasing the humidity level in buildings. In this way, increasing the humidity level to approx. 50 % by humidification will reduce the risk of transmission. Moreover, the humidified air improves the body's defence situation by more efficient cleaning of the air passages and an improved immune defence. In modern buildings with a watertight building envelope, central heating and ventilation systems, these limit values can often not be complied with in everyday life without active humidification. This is where devices with a humidification function come in to provide assistance.

But humidifiers are not only beneficial to the human health and well-being. In fact, the corresponding models can also prevent damage and harm otherwise done to plants or the furniture.

These are the decisive criteria for selecting the right humidifier

Not every humidifier is the same. There are vaporizers, evaporators and atomizers, and occasionally the individual models differ greatly in terms of pricing. Additionally, they have different quality standards and offer varying equipment features. But which are the aspects you need to watch out for that really matter in the end? Which features are important and which equipment components can just as easily be left out? We'll shed some light on these issues. Described below you will find all factors worth considering for your selection.

Room size: The ratio needs to be right. If the humidifier is insufficiently dimensioned for the size of the room, the air will not be adequately humidified. However, should it be too powerful, this increases the risk of mould formation. You can only benefit from a high-performance humidifier if the room is to be rapidly humidified and then again deactivated.

Filtration: The filter is a very important factor for it filters lime deposits and bacteria from the water. Consequently they cannot be refed to the room air, thus accomplishing a more hygienic room air humidification process. High-quality filters guarantee a bacteria output reduced by more than 97 per cent.

Control: Especially advantageous is a digital control unit. For high-quality devices it permits the precisely accurate activation of the respective humidifier as soon as the humidity drops below the set target value. Make sure that the control unit guarantees high measuring precision. We recommend a digital, capacitive high-precision measurement technology. Another asset can come in form of an automatic mode. With such a function the humidifier automatically switches on and off as needed and in doing so ensures an ever-constant humidity level. This also prevents excessive humidification.

Sound level: To be sure, a humidifier cannot be called completely inaudible. Having said this, most devices are not perceived as particularly annoying either. Here a couple of guide values: The operating noise of a humidifier should range between 25 and maximally 40 dB(A). For comparison: Moderate household noise comes to approx. 50 dB(A).

Ionization: You would like to take a deep breath? Feel refreshed? No problem. The integrated ionizer produces negatively charged ions in the room air. This ionization process conveys the feeling of breathing fresh sea or mountain air, which is bound to increase your well-being.

Integrated functions: If comfort is important to you, you should get a humidifier with additional functions. The variety to choose from is great. For example you can decide in favour of devices with a fragrance diffuser holding essential oils or with a special LED colour change technology. Comfort may be substantially increased by such features, the humidifier's functioning however is not affected in the least.

Condensate formation: An increased humidity level in dry rooms can result in the formation of condensate. But if you purchase a humidifier of high quality, equipped with an efficient humidity regulation, you can adjust the humidity just perfectly to the on-site conditions. This enables humidification without the corresponding condensate formation.

Lime deposits: Influenced by the temperature, especially vaporizer-type humidifiers tend to be a subject to calcification. Yet, some high-end models feature equipment components preventing calcification. One example frequently employed consists in lime transforming cartridges. They change the overall molecular structure of lime which can then no longer settle or deposit within the humidifier.

Different types of humidifiers

The choice is yours! There are a number of versions available some of which differ considerably from the other models.

Ultrasonic humidifiers:

Contemporary humidifiers of this type use ultrasound to atomise the water into very fine droplets. The most important features comprise:

A low energy consumption.
Comparatively quiet operation of the ultrasound generators.
From the design aspect, the models are often very stylish.
Storage containers ought to be cleaned on a regular basis.

Evaporation humidifiers:

Devices of this type work with filter mats or sometimes with rotating fins distributing the water on the surface. Optionally you can add to this effect by directing an air current across the surface. Evaporators function passively as a basic principle. But then no aerosols are formed, hence the air is never contaminated with bacteria or germs. The essential features at one glance:

Only low energy consumption.
A wide range of available models.
No excessive humidification and condensate formation; the room humidity is regulated naturally.
If no UV-C sterilization is integrated, you need to add disinfectant to the water.

Air washers:

An air washer deploys a fan that sucks in the ambient air. It then conveys the air past an integrated slowly revolving disc roller. This roller is recessed about halfway in the respective water tank.

Since there is only a small distance between the individual discs, the water sort of clings to them as a thin water film.

With the air now flowing past the disc roller, part of the air-borne contaminations are retained by the water film and then cleaned or washed off in the water tank. Only then will the air again be discharged.

Vaporizers:

In vaporizers or steam humidifiers, water vapour is generated before mixing with the air. With steam humidifiers, the humidification water is heated quickly and efficiently. They boil the water directly in the water tank so that it is free of germs such as bacteria and viruses. Afterwards the steam is directly added to the room air.

The functional principle enables precise control of the humidity level and has made the vaporizers an important component in optimising the room climate in business rooms, educational and leisure facilities.

Ultrasonic humidifiers of the Trotec B-E series:

If you want to lean back and rely on high quality as well as on a wide variety of individual functions, Trotec's B-E series constitutes a first-rate solution. You can choose from among three different model variants of varied atomization performance levels ranging from 6 to 7.2 litres per day. Depending on the model, the perfect application scenario for these ultrasonic humidifiers is in rooms sized up to 24 or 30 m². All three devices of the series are characterized by a modern design that can nicely be combined with any interior. Moreover, you can select different modes. Equipped with a removable scented oil diffuser, an integrated baby mode, a modern touch panel or a freely programmable timer function – the ultrasonic humidifiers of Trotec's B-E series leave nothing to be desired.

Evaporation humidifiers of the B series:

This series' models provide you with numerous advantages relating to an agreeable room climate and breathing freely. With their optimum value-for-money ratio, their smart design and the functional variety the individual variants basically protect your health and furniture by optimizing the humidity level. All the models in this series are also hygrostat-controlled. Depending on the model, the performance capability ranges from 0.6 to 60 litres per hour. Some of the humidifiers can be successfully applied in rooms sized up to 420 m².

Air washers of the AW-S series:

This series of air washers combines humidification and air purification in one device. You can rely on a sensor control ensuring energy-saving automatic operation. Both models humidify the air to the ideal level and at the same time reliably filter out pollen, animal hair or house dust. The air washer AW 10 S operates without the typical filter mats rendering the device particularly easy to clean. You can choose from a total of three operating modes. The AW 20 S even comes with nine operating modes. The processes of air purification and humidification are activated by an intelligent sensor. Furthermore, the air washer is equipped with an on-demand HEPA filter function for the optimum air purification efficiency.

Pure water: our advice

Demineralize the humidifier with the integrated UV lamp and sterilize the water. Alternatively you can put a SecoSan stick into the water tank of the ultrasonic humidifier. Such a stick provides long-term protection against bacterial growth and germ infestation.
The same result can be achieved by filling the water tank with decocted or sterilized and demineralized tap water.
Especially in ultrasonic humidifiers the use of distilled water is an excellent idea. The water is free from organic matter, micro-organisms, salts and other contaminations which contributes to all hygiene-related efforts.
Unfortunately, water manufactured by distillation is increasingly hard to obtain. Supplied instead is chiefly water demineralized by means of ionization. In most cases, though, this is not germ-free water. Only if the water is declared as suitable for medical purposes, can you be sure it is free of germs.
It is therefore wiser to boil tap water on a daily basis. This procedure saves money and is also a good solution from a hygienic point of view. Most of the germs and micro-organisms are killed in this manner. At the same time the water's hardness is reduced which prevents scale build-up.