During the winter the cold air holds less moisture and when the air indoors is heated it becomes even drier. This process sets the stage for various conditions like sinus attacks, itchy dry skin and dry eyes. For these reasons, it is very important to increase humidification, in the winter months particularly. One of the things that a warm mist humidifier does best is to reduce the possibility of winter infection. They do this by keeping the mucous membranes moist and allowing the tiny hairs in the nose and throat to expel any particles that are in the air. Cold symptoms are also greatly relieved by using a warm mist humidifier at night. Even chapped lips are relieved by using a humidifier.
If the air in your house has humidity over fifty percent it will encourage dust mites and mold spores. This is another reason to make certain that your home has the proper amount of humidity. A warm mist humidifier works by heating the water with a heating element and then dispersing it into the air. If you go with a smaller, less expensive humidifier, it is helpful to fill it with warm water and it will work much faster for you. There are also cool mist humidifiers, but most people agree that a warm mist humidifier feels best in cold climates and in a child’s bedroom. It is much more soothing. However, if you place one in a child’s bedroom, you will need to be very careful with the hot water.
There is one brand, the Air-O-Swiss, that offers dual technology and it is both a warm mist and cool mist humidifier. It uses high frequency vibration to generate a very fine mist; that mist is blown into the room and it immediately evaporates to create a comfortable environment. The unit includes something called the Ionic Silver Stick that uses the anti-microbial effect of silver to prevent the growth of microbes in the water base for up to one year of continuous use.
Warm mist humidifiers sometimes require frequent cleaning so check into this before you make your purchase as there are some model out there (like the Air-O-Swiss) that are the exception to that. Warm mist humidifiers run much more quietly than cool mist. You will need to decide what size is right for you and that will depend on where you intend to use it, but even if you have a very small room, there are tabletop warm mist humidifiers that work very well. Humidifiers also help to keep wood floors, cabinets and furniture from warping and cracking so you can get a lot of use out of these devices.
Also a house that is too dry will cause static electricity to form so if you have this problem in your house, it is time to think about adding a warm mist humidifier.
