Among modern household appliances, air humidifiers are gaining great popularity. What kind of water to fill in with them is an important question, on the correct answer to which the usefulness and correct operation of the device depend.
general information
The popularity of devices for humidification is due to the desire of consumers to optimize living conditions and make them appropriate to the natural environment, where the humidity parameter ranges from 50%. The fact is that insufficient air humidity provokes a disruption in the functioning of the respiratory and nervous systems of a person, causing the manifestation of symptoms of various diseases. The final indicator depends on what water to fill in a humidifier.
Often, this problem leads to a lack of natural moisture in the apartment, especially when using a wide range of electrical appliances. Also on this parameter is influenced by the type of heating and features of the place of residence. What kind of water to fill in a humidifier? Let's try to figure it out further, taking into account the mechanism of the device, its operating characteristics and efficiency.
Operating principle
For domestic use, several types of humidifiers are provided. What water to fill in them, we will consider below. First, the types of devices:
- The traditional version of the cold type.
- Ultrasonic model.
- Steam version.
All devices operate on the principle of evaporation of water by different methods. In industry, these units operate on the principle of spraying fine particles of liquid into the atmosphere. Additional functions of some devices include the possibility of purifying the atmosphere (air washing).
Before buying a humidifier, you need to understand the principle of its action and the possibility of using a certain quality of liquid. Some devices can be refilled with purified water obtained at home, which can significantly reduce costs and save on the purchase of special products and liquids. In addition, properly selected water for an air humidifier extends the life of the device and increases operating efficiency.
Adiabatic version
In traditional (adiabatic) variations, the liquid is poured directly into the stationary tanks, then it is evenly delivered to the sump. Its design includes special cartridges that create the effect of evaporation and the release of steam into the atmosphere. The simplest elements consist of paper plates or plastic analogues.
The air flow is transported using a fan unit with simultaneous humidification through a special hole. In this case, dust and dirt deposits remain on a paper or plastic filter element. The amount of evaporated liquid depends on the current level of humidity. The main task of the device is to achieve the set percentage of air humidification.
What water to fill in with an ultrasonic humidifier?
It is worth noting that the ultrasonic installation operates on the principle of high-frequency oscillations of atmospheric masses. The liquid is poured into the reservoir, which is responsible for its supply to the plate, which vibrates intensively. Air through a fan is supplied to the working compartment and moistened with a special composition, spraying through vibration. The enriched mixture enters the room through a nebulizer in the form of steam that looks like a mist.
Before deciding which water to pour into a humidifier, it must be remembered that ultrasound devices in this regard are the most moody. This is due to the fact that during the transformation of electrical energy into a mechanical effect, electrical elements convert liquid into fine particles. At this stage, the level of demineralization of water plays an important role. Most of the undissolved inclusions accumulate on the processed objects in the form of a white coating, often negatively affecting the human body and domestic animals.
To avoid the appearance of such an effect, manufacturers include expensive filters with a high level of cleaning. If distilled water is used, the unit may be operated without filters.
Steam and industrial modifications
Next, we will figure out what water needs to be poured into a steam type air humidifier. The specified unit uses the principle of heating the liquid to the natural thermal formation of steam. Water is supplied from a special tank to a tank with a heating element, where it evaporates. The composition is processed by means of a pair of electrodes, the operation of which ceases without the presence of a sufficient amount of water. This provides additional safety, since a device switched on without liquid will not cause a breakdown or fire. During the operation of this device, the maximum degree of air humidification, regulated through a hydrostatic controller, is noted.
The next question is - what kind of water is better to fill in an industrial humidifier ? For this purpose atomizers or similar installations are used. At the same time, the performance of the unit reaches 230 l / h. The devices do not work on the principle of evaporation; they spray liquid to the consistency of a finely dispersed mixture with droplet inclusions (the size of the last elements is 6-8 microns). The splitting occurs under pressure, and the water is transformed in nozzles to a minimum size, spraying in workshops or production facilities.
Atmospheric washing
Combined options include combining in one design an air wash and an air humidifier. What water to pour into this device depends on the technical characteristics of the device and the manufacturer's recommendations. The device is multifunctional and after processing produces cleaned and moistened air of high quality. The disadvantages of the device include low productivity, since the workflow is an order of magnitude slower compared to the above counterparts.
Fluid requirements
What water should be added to the humidifier? To ensure long-term and correct operation of the devices in question, it is necessary to take into account the degree of purification and the structure of the liquid being filled. Otherwise, the procedure can not only act negatively in relation to the unit, but also harm the health of people or animals.
Composition requirements depend on the type of fixture used. At the same time, it is forbidden to fill any types of humidifiers with oils, broths, flavorings and other liquids that are not provided for by the operating instructions. In specialized models, the possibility of diluting water with essential ingredients is allowed.
Features
For traditional units, the use of distilled water is provided, which helps to protect the cartridges of cold humidifiers from contamination. It is worth noting that the mineral water is not suitable for these purposes, since specific components block the working capillaries of the filters, making the evaporation process more difficult. Tap water is also not suitable, because it contains many additional inclusions that even additional filters installed by bona fide manufacturers cannot cope with.
Water softener recommendations
What kind of water can be poured into an air humidifier will help to understand the table with recommendations for softening the liquid.
Kind of filter | Softness level | Cleaning rates | Performance parameter | Nuances |
Jug tank | Low | Elimination of odors, impregnations of chlorine and some metals | From 1 to 2 liters (depending on working capacity) | Cartridge replacement required every 45-60 days |
Crane nozzle | Average | It cleans the liquid well, but allows bacteria to pass through | About 0.5 liters every minute | You will need an additional tank for the cleaned mixture |
Flow option | Tall | Some types of microorganisms are skipped | About 8 liters per minute | It is mounted only next to a tap or sink |
Reverse osmosis | Highest | Parameters identical to bottled water | 0.5-1 liter per minute | The design includes an expensive special membrane |
Self distillation
What kind of water to fill in humidifiers? Polaris and other world famous manufacturers claim that distilled liquid is the best option. It is not necessary to buy it at specialized retail outlets, since it is realistic to do it yourself.
An elementary method of obtaining the specified composition is the collection of rainwater. In ecologically clean regions, it does not contain extra microscopic particles. In this case, the first drops must be ignored, since they pick up dust and surface impurities. In addition, perfectly clean containers must be used.
To prepare distilled water at home, you will need:
- gas or electric stove;
- oven grill;
- enamelled bucket or basin;
- glass container;
- tube and cover.
First, water is left to stand for 6-8 hours, which contributes to the precipitation of metal salts, as well as the release of hydrogen sulfide and chlorine components. The lower part of the liquid (about a third part) is drained. The necessary composition is obtained by evaporation. An enameled bucket half filled with prepared water is heated on a stove. A glass container for distillate is mounted on the grid plate. To obtain a reaction, an ice container is placed on top. During evaporation, liquid accumulates on the lid in the form of condensate, then drains into a plate.