Can a humidifier cause a cough. What to choose: ultrasonic or steam humidifier Which humidifier is better steam or ultrasonic Komarovsky

Air humidifiers play an important role in our lives, helping to create an exceptional microclimate at home for the health of the whole family. Especially often resort to the acquisition of these devices in the cold seasons. At this time, the heating system and additional devices for heating the room are switched on to the maximum, the side effect of which is a strong drying of the air. If we are talking about a children's room, then the optimal humidity should be 40-60%, and if the baby often has acute respiratory infections, then from 50 to 70%. Before you come to the store and choose a humidifier, you should familiarize yourself with the basic principles of operation of these devices, their varieties, and also remember that improper operation can lead to even more undesirable consequences than dry air in a child's room.

When Should You Buy a Humidifier?

A real boom in the field of sales of air humidifiers begins in our country at the time of the onset of cold weather. Caring parents know that during the heating season, the humidity in the apartments is about 20%, which is similar to the level of humidity in the desert.

Some mothers and fathers believe that if the room is well ventilated in winter, then it is saturated with moist air, therefore, the problem goes away on its own. But in fact, with such ventilation, the level of humidity in the room does not increase, the air only cools.

Humidifiers are needed under such conditions:

A humidifier is a must for those who are prone to frequent viral diseases.

• if the family has allergies, especially if the child suffers from allergies;
• if the baby has restless sleep, he is capricious and restless;
• the child often suffers from a variety of viral diseases;
• children's skin becomes dry and flaky.

This all happens because dry air dries out the mucous membranes, causing irritation and innervating them. As a result, the nasal mucosa dries up and a crust forms on it, as if with a cold - this complicates breathing, and also creates a favorable environment for the reproduction of bacteria. Due to the dryness of the air in the room, especially in the nursery, the baby's immunity is significantly reduced, frequent colds begin to occur, and sometimes even asthma attacks.

What are humidifiers

Before you begin to study the principles of operation of humidifiers, you should understand that each of the devices has different functions, principles of operation and maintenance, and, of course, cost. Some of the types of such specialized equipment are not recommended for use in children's rooms. It is important to understand that the humidifier will only pay off if it is operated correctly, as well as timely replacement of cartridges, water and other necessary maintenance.

If the machine for cleaning and humidifying the air is not equipped with a special device - a hydrometer that allows you to measure the level of humidity in the room, then it should be purchased separately, because too humid air is just as harmful as overdried.

Humidifiers are very diverse, and each has its pros and cons, the main types include:

• devices that humidify the air with cold or hot steam;
• ultrasonic and ionized humidifiers;
• "air washers" and climatic complexes.

Photo gallery: Types of air humidifiers.

Steam humidifier
ultrasonic humidifier
Air ionizer
"Washing" the air

The first ones work according to the following principle: the air is driven by a built-in fan through a special mesh that moisturizes and partially cleans it. If a heating element is built into the steam device, then the air is heated, which kills microbes to a greater extent, and also allows the appliance to be used as a heater. The main advantage of this class of devices is low cost, the absence of replaceable filters, which reduces the cost of its operation, as well as low energy consumption. However, hot steam appliances are undesirable for use in children's rooms, since they emit a hot stream of air that can cause burns. Such humidifiers do not have automatic adjustments and in order to maintain the balance of moisture in the room, they should be constantly monitored.

Ultrasonic devices operate on the principle of decomposing water droplets into a mist, quickly saturating the room and creating a favorable living environment. This type of humidifier is equipped with additional functions that allow you to set the necessary parameters to maintain a certain level of humidity, etc. Ultrasonic machines are the most popular on the market, but their use in children's rooms is prohibited if the baby is under 4 years old. This is a very smart and easy-to-use technique, however, it has several disadvantages:

• high price level;
• if untreated water was poured into the device, then during operation, everything in the room is covered with white “frost”;
• the cost of maintenance and accessories is also high.

Purified water (left) and tap water (right) after electrolysis

As for ionized humidifiers, this is more of an additional feature than a separate class of devices for improving the microenvironment. A feature of this process is the saturation of the air with negatively charged ions, which not only has a positive effect on human health, but also creates a feeling of the past rain. It immediately becomes easy to breathe in the room, and the air is like mountain air. This addition can be equipped with any humidifier, from steam to ultrasonic.

The next class of appliances is the "air washer", which is an excellent option for those who live in cities with a high level of environmental pollution. The sink has rather large dimensions due to its high functionality and efficiency in cleaning and humidifying the air in the room. The principle of its operation lies in the complex processing of air masses, which go through the following stages:

• air is sucked into the device with the help of a special fan;
• getting into the drum, the air mass is processed with the help of cleaning discs, on which all the dust, resins remain and pathogenic microorganisms die;
• the drum contains a small amount of water, which carries out the humidification process.

The device is very convenient to use due to the large number of useful functions that allow it to be used in children's rooms without age restrictions. One of the biggest cons is the very high price of the product.

Humidifier in the children's room

Perhaps ideal in every sense, except for the price, is the climate complex, but when it comes to the health of the child, then saving is not always important. The device has an incredible number of functional features, due to which it is able to replace a huge variety of different devices:

• cleaner;
• fan;
• heater;
• air conditioning;
• humidifier;
• ionizer.

Its developers paid special attention to air purification, making the device an outlet for a quiet life not only for ordinary families, but also for parents whose children are allergic. The device, in addition to the classic air purification from particles, dust particles and odors, allows you to destroy all kinds of bacteria and allergens that are so harmful to the baby.

How to choose a humidifier for a nursery

It is impossible to unequivocally answer the question regarding the choice of a specific type or model of a household appliance for this purpose. Everything depends on the purpose of its use, as well as individual preferences and consumer confidence of the buyer.

How to choose a humidifier for a nursery?

If this household appliance is purchased in order to prevent possible colds in a child or to maintain an optimal level of humidity in a nursery, then the most ordinary steam engines will do. But if the child suffers from allergies or other diseases that require additional air treatment in the room, then it is better to buy an “air cleaner” or a climate complex.

There are the following parameters that can guide you when choosing a humidifier:

• the power and performance of the machine should be proportional to the volume of the room. It is best if a full volume of air passes through the technique in one hour. In order to calculate the volume of air mass, it is necessary to multiply the height of the ceilings by the total area of ​​​​the room;
• it is important to pay attention to the volume of the water tank, as this indicator will determine the possible operating time of the device. For continuous operation throughout the night, four to five liters of purified water are usually enough;
• make sure that the machine has moderate water consumption. To perform a full range of tasks for this technique, an average of eight to twelve liters of water is consumed per day;
• if the device is purchased for a children's room, then such a parameter as the noise level during its operation is extremely important. The most optimal would be the version of the technique that has the "sleep" function, which allows you to leave the device to work at night, when the baby is dreaming;
• ask about accessories, such as removable cleaning filters. It is important to find out what exactly filters can protect against, what is their validity period and where they can be purchased for replacement;

And don't forget to change your humidifier filters regularly.

Naturally, the functional potential of the machine will provide not only productivity in work, but also ease of use. The use of technology will be facilitated by a function such as automatic on / off, which works similarly to a timer. The automatic monitoring function to ensure that the humidity level does not exceed the norm will help out perfectly, allowing you not to worry that the nursery will become too damp. This potential of household appliances will save time and nerves during its operation, creating a healthy microclimate in the house where healthy children should grow up.

Video: Humidifier - Dr. Komarovsky

For the first time, we seriously thought about the humidity of the air in our apartment, having read the book by Dr. Komarovsky, respected by us, “The Health of the Child and the Common Sense of His Relatives”, preparing for the birth of our son. No, of course, we have noticed before that many of our indoor flowers, with which all our windows are filled, do not survive until the end of the heating season, but we did not take any active steps to correct the situation. Dr. Komarovsky writes that the optimal relative room should be 50-70% (better than 60%, and for a patient with a respiratory infection - 70%), but in winter during the heating season, indoor air humidity is usually two times lower than recommended. Therefore, when making repairs in the apartment, we installed regulators on the batteries and thought that this would solve the problem. But, despite the regulators, as well as the two aquariums with fish that we have, we realized that the problem was not completely solved. The flowers began to feel better, but still not good enough, the water in the aquarium continued to evaporate, although a little slower than before. The child often asked for water, the nasal mucosa dried up and we often got sick with SARS. Therefore, I was delighted when they brought us the Philips HU4802/01 humidifier.

My son was also happy and wanted to open the box as soon as possible. First of all, we read the instructions and chose a suitable place for installation. We didn’t think of anything better than putting the device on a wide window sill in the bedroom, because you need to find a place so that the child does not knock over the humidifier. The window in the bedroom overlooks the loggia, and the radiator does not fry much, it is muted to maintain the optimum temperature in the apartment at 21 degrees Celsius.

The device is easy to use and the instructions are clear. They poured water, connected it to the outlet, turned on the device itself. The sensors are clear and understandable: you can adjust humidity, speed, set a timer. When the desired air humidity is reached, the indicator will glow blue, and then the device will simply maintain this humidity.

It turned out that the humidity in the apartment is not quite low, about 40%, but I wanted more. Humidity of 50% was reached after 9 hours. But since our beloved doctor believes that it is better to keep the air humidity at 60%, we decided not to stop there. Since then, for three weeks now, we have been trying to reach a humidity of 60%, but apparently this will not happen quickly: the apartment is three-room, the interior doors do not close, and all objects in our apartment must first be saturated with moisture. In addition, when we go for a walk, we turn off the humidifier, open the window and ventilate the apartment.

Now, twice a day, we fill the humidifier with tap water (there are two ways to fill it: bring and pour water into it from a certain container, or pour directly into the bowl of the humidifier from the tap).

If the water in the device runs out, then the indicator starts flashing in advance, informing about it, and when it runs out completely, the device turns off, i.e. "Protection from a fool" is available and works (verified). At night, we turn on the silent mode (although it is not very noisy in normal mode, it makes much quieter noise than our aquariums). Once every two weeks, it is recommended to rinse the water bowl and filter, which is not at all burdensome.

Disadvantages? So far, I haven't been able to find them! Is that not enough scoreboard with information about what is the current humidity of the environment. But we can fix it! Firstly, I know that Philips has another humidifier model with such an information board, and secondly, you can simply purchase a hygrometer.

So, after three weeks of using the Philips HU4802/01 humidifier, we managed to achieve a relative humidity of more than 50% in the apartment. It became easier to breathe, you feel yourself on the Mediterranean coast. The nasal mucosa does not dry out, our child walks without snot! The water in the aquarium began to evaporate much more slowly, and the flowers began to feel noticeably better, I even began to water them less often, only once a week. I am glad that we have such a device!

How did people ever live without a humidifier? Well, before there were no disposable diapers and automatic washing machines. In the apartment, from morning to evening, they washed, boiled and dried diapers constantly, thus increasing the humidity of the environment. However, even now you can do without a humidifier: often do wet cleaning and rinse your nose, use a spray bottle, put open water containers around the apartment, install aquariums and decorative fountains. But getting and using a humidifier is much easier!

Russia, Kurgan

15/01/2014 11:14

Ukraine, Lugansk

Fill the humidifier with DISTILLED (for example, for cars, do not need pharmacy) or SOFTENED water and there will be no plaque on the furniture. A few years ago, the filter failed, a new one is expensive. Now I buy softened, it is cheaper than distilled and no problems.

04/09/2013 09:54

Russia, Zelenograd

Tatyana, an ultrasonic humidifier really moisturizes better than a traditional (disk) humidifier, but it immediately forms a plaque in the house on everything (like dust), and you don’t have time to wipe it, but in the room, like in a bathhouse ... Tanushka said correctly -kirushka Russia, Trubchevsk, that you need to buy clean water (filtered through a home jug is not suitable, boiled too), it's expensive! We got rid of such a humidifier, it worked for us for a year, I was exhausted. We bought a traditional disk, although it gives less moisture. But it is necessary to look at the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room, I advise you to take a larger area than in the room!

12/07/2013 10:22

Russia Moscow

Tatyana, when choosing an ultrasonic humidifier, it is important that the area indicated in the documents be larger than the area of ​​the room (anyway, part of the humidity goes to other rooms and the window, and in winter it is difficult to achieve the desired humidity). Plus, a good filter is very important so as not to suffer from a permanent white coating. In cheap ultrasonic humidifiers, as a rule, there is no filter. Therefore, you will either have to constantly boil water, or buy distilled water.
The ionizer is marketing and an additional vague feature. In order for the humidity to be distributed evenly throughout the room, it must be placed higher, at least at the level of the middle from floor to ceiling.

A normal level of moisture is needed not only to ensure the health of children and adults, but furniture, parquet and plants also need a comfortable environment. Therefore, the choice of a humidifier should be taken seriously. Consider which is better steam or ultrasonic humidifier.

Steam humidifier

The principle of operation of this device resembles an ordinary electric kettle. The water that is poured inside boils and is released in the form of steam.

Positive traits:

• The steam evaporates at a rate of approximately 700 grams of liquid per hour, which is not typical of other species;
• Steam sterility, does not depend on the purity and quality of water;
• It is used in medicine as a device for inhalation;
• Security. When the lid is not closed tightly, the device will not work, and when all the water in the tank evaporates, the device will turn off;
• Filters and cartridges are not used, so you do not have to constantly replace them;
• The presence of an indicator that shows how much water is left;
• Availability. The prices for steam appliances are much less than for other types.

Disadvantages:

• Consumption of a large amount of electricity;
• The boiling liquid in the device makes a characteristic noise, which can contribute to restless sleep when working at night;
• Hot steam increases the temperature in the room;
• This type of humidifier is unacceptable to put in free access to children, you can get burned by hot steam.

Where is it used?

• It is recommended to use in greenhouses, home corners with flowers, in winter gardens;
• In medical needs, for inhalation, as well as aromatherapy.

Popular Models

Steam-type air humidifiers of the Swiss brand Boneco have gained wide popularity in the vast Russian market.

The Boneco 2031 tops the company's product range and is a great buy.

And Stadler Form Fred, in turn, released the F-005EH / F-008EH / F-014H / F-015RH series devices not only to provide comfortable humidity, but also to provide a unique design addition to the interior.

Polaris models are also worth attention due to their functionality and design. For example, Polaris PUH 0607 has a remote control, the possibility of air ionization and looks great in the interior.

Ultrasonic Humidifier

This device works on the basis of a complex process (Fig. 1). A special membrane makes vibrations at high frequencies, due to which the water begins to vibrate and breaks into small dust particles. With the help of a fan, these particles are carried out, in this way the humidity in the room increases.

There is an opinion that ultrasound negatively affects humans and animals, but these data are unfounded. According to numerous studies and facts, it has been proven that modern devices are safe and do not affect the body in any way.

Fig.1 Detailed diagram of the operation of the ultrasonic humidifier.

Advantages:

• Low noise level, because the water does not boil or heat up;
• Safety in use. The steam is cold and this eliminates the possibility of getting burned;
• Choice of steam temperature, it can be cold, warm or hot;
• The presence of a rotating steam atomizer, thanks to which you can choose the direction of the jet;
• The energy consumption of such a device is very small, but this does not prevent it from being the most effective device for humidifying the air;
• Thanks to the built-in hydrostat, the device automatically turns off when the desired moisture level is reached;
• Also, the automation turns off the device at the end of the presence of water in the tank.

Disadvantages:

• Sensitivity to water quality. During evaporation, all impurities in the water move freely around the room, settling on furniture and other interior items;
• The need to change filters, which often become clogged.

Where is it used?

• Due to its safety and low noise level, it is intended to be used in a house where there are children;
• Just like steam devices, ultrasonic devices are used in greenhouses, winter gardens and home corners;
• Such devices are also used in rooms where antique items are located that require a special level of moisture. For example, antiques, musical instruments, furniture.

Popular Models

Bork Trademark provides ultrasonic type model HF MUN 2140 BK. It combines low power consumption and affordable price, which is an excellent economical option.

Venta-Luftwaescher is a company that has been developing humidifiers for over 20 years. A successful product of this brand is VENTA VS370. The model is easy to use, and thanks to a unique filter, the device purifies water not only from lime impurities, but also from harmful microorganisms.

The presence of an ozonator in the device POLARIS PUH 0407 makes this brand popular among buyers.

It should also be noted the PUH 1104 model, this is the budget version of the POLARIS company, but it is not much inferior to other products from this manufacturer.

The opinion of Dr. Komarovsky

Komarovsky Evgeny Olegovich draws attention to several factors influencing the choice and determination of which air humidifier is better:

• Security;
• The frequency of its use;
• What water will be poured into it;
• The need for additional features.

If the device will be in the nursery, you should pay attention to safety. A steam humidifier differs from an ultrasonic one in the presence of hot steam, so either it must be placed out of the reach of children or opt for an ultrasonic device.

When dry air prevails in the room all the time, especially in winter, it should be noted that the device will work almost around the clock. It is known that steam-type appliances consume a lot of energy, and in this case their use is not rational.

The difference between an ultrasonic humidifier and a steam humidifier is manifested in the sterility of the outgoing steam. A device with ultrasonic humidification, in this regard, leaves a residue on the surfaces. What can not be said about the steam device. Therefore, when determining which air humidifier is better, it should be taken into account that for ultrasonic it is necessary to additionally choose water, and steam kills all microbes and does not remove substances in the water, regardless of its origin.

Many devices for increasing the humidity of the air have many additional functions. Useless, according to Dr. Komarovsky, is the presence of sensors for determining temperature and humidity. These sensors show data that is measurable at the source of moisture, and not near the crib, so they will be unreliable.

The possibility of using a steam device for the purpose of inhalation is also an unnecessary thing. In the presence of a humidifier, the need for inhalations disappears, therefore the importance of this function is denied by Evgeny Olegovich.

In the video provided, we will consider a short overview of this product category, which will help determine which air humidifier is best for the family:

findings

When determining which humidifier is best, there are many factors to consider that have an impact on the individual selection process. It is impossible to give a fundamental advantage to one of these devices, since these two types satisfy different needs and have differences in functionality.

It can be concluded that an ultrasonic humidifier differs from a steam humidifier in greater safety, as well as economy and low noise levels. However, the steam device has the advantage of steam sterility, additional functions of inhalation and aromatherapy, as well as a lower price category.

In contact with

The correct humidity in the room where the child lives allows not only to provide him with protection from viruses and allergies, but also to recover faster if the illness does happen. Yevgeny Komarovsky, a respected pediatrician and author of many books and articles on children's health, repeatedly told parents about this.

Many mothers and fathers, listening to the doctor's advice, try to humidify the air in the children's room with the help of basins of water, an aquarium, steam, wet towels hung on radiators. Sooner or later, the understanding comes that it is easier and more profitable to purchase a special device - an air humidifier. Evgeny Komarovsky tells how to choose it and how to use it correctly.

Benefit and harm

The mucous membranes of the nose and nasopharynx perform important protective functions. They produce mucus that can bind viruses and slow their spread.

If the mucus dries up due to the fact that the child breathes dry air or breathes through the mouth during a runny nose, then the biological fluid that has changed its consistency becomes dangerous for the baby. Pathogenic bacteria begin to feel great in dried nasal mucus.

Many parents have noticed that the current snot one day turns into thick and green. This is the result of improper air humidity.

A child who constantly breathes dry air is more likely to suffer from acute respiratory viral infections.

During illness, they have a significantly higher risk of complications. The fact is that if, when coughing in the bronchi, which also actively produce a protective secret against viruses, bronchial mucus begins to dry out, this will most likely lead to bronchitis. If dried mucus begins to interfere with pulmonary metabolism, then pneumonia will begin.

Moist air during the flu or SARS is generally one of the main “medicines”: viral infections recede faster, and the immune system learns to recognize viruses and resist them when the patient breathes humid air, drinks a lot of liquids. At the same time, you usually do not need to buy any other medicines from a pharmacy.

Children who breathe insufficiently humidified air are more likely to suffer from various allergic reactions. They are more difficult to tolerate the high temperature that accompanies various diseases, they get sick longer, their immunity is much weaker than their peers who breathe air with relative humidity ranging from 50 to 70%. It is this level of humidity that Komarovsky recommends maintaining for the children's room.

To find out how much the air in the room is saturated with moisture, you should take a device - a hygrometer. If the indicator does not “reach” up to 50%, then you should think about purchasing a humidifier. It will help, without too much fuss, running around with basins, jars of water and wet towels, to create the right microclimate in which the child will grow up healthy.

Harm from the humidifier will only be if the parents grossly violate the rules for its operation. If there is a humidity in the child's room that exceeds 75-80%, then this will negatively affect his well-being and health.

Types of humidifiers - pros and cons

There are three types of humidifiers on the market today:

1. steam;
2. ultrasonic;
3. "cold".

Steam humidifiers are similar to kettles in terms of operation: in order for the water to begin to evaporate, it is heated to a boil in the device by two electrodes. This is the cheapest and most affordable option for home appliances.

When choosing a steam humidifier, you should make sure that it is equipped with a special humidity sensor, which instructs the device to turn off immediately after the desired set humidity is reached in the room. If this is not included in the humidifier, then you will have to buy it separately, which is not very convenient and expensive.

Among the disadvantages of a steam appliance, one can indicate a high level of energy consumption. But otherwise, this type of humidifier is very suitable for children's rooms - it is the most productive, quickly creates the desired microclimate, there is no need to buy consumables for it. The product works simply: water is poured and the container is plugged into an outlet.

It should be remembered that humidification occurs with hot steam, and therefore it is necessary to place the humidifier so that the child cannot reach it under any circumstances.

Ultrasonic humidifiers are more expensive than steam humidifiers, but they have more benefits. So, with lower power consumption, these devices show a fairly high performance.

The principle of operation of such a device is more complex: ultrasonic radiation is applied to the piezoelectric crystal, electrical vibrations become mechanical. The advantage of this technique is in its small dimensions, the mobility of the atomizer, with which steam can be directed from any direction.

With all the advantages, ultrasonic humidifiers are quite capricious: if too hard water is often poured into them, the filter quickly fails. This can lead to the fact that a white precipitate will fall on furniture and wallpaper. In addition, replacement filters for appliances are expensive.

"Cold" humidifiers are the most expensive. They got this name for the principle of operation, according to which the dry air that is currently in the room, entering the inside of the device, is cleaned. Inside there is a wet cartridge, passing through which the air cools and is saturated with moisture.

The performance of such equipment directly depends on the initial humidity. The higher it is, the slower the device will work, because there is no point in intensive moisturizing. Therefore, such a "smart" humidifier will always maintain the optimal level of humidity by itself, without the intervention of household members.

Such a device is very demanding on the quality of the water that will wet the filter. Too hard water will damage the filter. Therefore, it is better to use distilled water or, for extra money, buy special cartridges that “know how” to soften hard water and demineralize it.

This humidifier does not release streams of steam, like the previous two types, and therefore the child will not be interested. Another advantage is that the humidifier not only saturates the air with water, but also purifies it, since it works with smaller particles.

Cold humidifiers consume the same amount of electricity as ultrasonic humidifiers. However, their performance is lower than that of ultrasonic ones, but they are on self-regulation.

The disadvantage of the device is that it is not able to raise the relative humidity above 60%. In addition, the filter service life is no more than 3 months, so consumables will have to be purchased and changed at least 4 times a year.

Where to start choosing

You should start choosing a device for a nursery by measuring the room.

You must come to the store with a piece of paper, which will indicate:

• room area;
• ceiling height;
• a brief description of the type of room (how many windows, what the walls are made of, how many upholstered furniture, plants are in the room).

It is also advisable to tell the seller how often you can change the water in the appliance. If you are sitting at home, then the tank may be small, but if the parents are at work all day and the child is in the kindergarten, then it is better to take a device with a large capacity in order to add water less often.

Yevgeny Komarovsky claims that the most difficult thing when choosing in a store is to evaluate the noise effects that a humidifier emits. In the space of a large shopping center, not a single type of device seems to make noise. But after all, it will be used in the bedroom, including working at night. It is important that the device is as quiet as possible.

If you have to choose a humidifier for the first time, you should not immediately take an expensive and technologically complex model, says Komarovsky. Beginners do not need an instance with a control panel, an “on-board computer”, and a host of additional functions. To begin with, you just need to understand how the device is used and why this particular family needs it.