Table of Contents
- Humidifiers are appliances designed to add moisture to your house’s air to balance out the humidity levels.
- There are various types of humidifiers, but in this article, we will focus on the popular cool mist ultrasonic humidifier. The right humidifier for your house will have a balanced combination of functionality and ease of use.
- Keep reading to discover how to ensure your humidifier is maintained correctly. You can also check the instruction manual and warranty of your cool mist ultrasonic humidifier online.
Types of humidifiers
The most popular types of humidifiers are
- ultrasonic,
- evaporative,
- impeller, and
- steam;
Among steam options, there are cool and warm mist models.
- Cool mist humidifier
The most common—cool mist humidifiers—release cool water vapor into the air to improve humidity levels.
You can add essential oils to make your home smell extra lovely.
- Warm mist humidifier
The second steam type, warm mist humidifier, gives off a heated vapor.
It’s the most popular go-to option for wintertime and alleviating cold symptoms. You can use a warm mist humidifier with some medicated products for improved cough relief.
Warm mist humidifiers can achieve higher moisture saturation levels and better reduce bacteria and germs.
Important: Warm mist humidifiers operate without an internal fan, making them quieter than their cool mist counterparts.
If maintained properly, both types are a fantastic way to keep your home perfectly comfortable all year round.
It’s important to pick a humidifier size appropriate for your space. A too-small main unit won’t produce enough mist to raise humidity levels in the room.
On the other hand, an oversized humidifier runs the risk of putting too much moisture into the air—and this, in turn, can lead to condensation and mold.
Tip: Calculate the size of the room where you plan to use the humidifier and find a unit able to handle your house’s square footage.
Choose the best humidifier
How do you know it’s time to add humidifiers to your House Rituals?
It’s time to use it, if
- you start to feel dry skin as the weather cools, or
- you wake up with throat irritation;
Some essential features to look for when choosing a quality humidifier are:
1. Large capacity tank
The Ultrasonic Humidifier by HoMedics has a large, nice, easy-to-remove 1.4-gallon tank.
It makes this vaporizer get up to 65 hours of runtime without a refill.
What’s more, auto-shutoff protection will power down your unit when the water level gets too low.
Micro-fine cool mist is easily absorbed into the air.
2. No white dust or build-up
Look for a clean mist anti-microbial technology.
It will help prevent the growth of mold and mildew on the tank’s surface, making the vaporized mist free of allergens.
So-called “white dust” is a white mineral residue caused by hard water and can settle on your floor, appliances, and furniture.
This machine can function both as a 2-in-1 humidifier and air purifier.
3. Multi-use humidifier
Consider this variant if you crave different features and benefits.
The HoMedics Ultrasonic Humidifier is a cool-misting humidifier designed with
- ultrasonic technology (high-frequency technology converts water into 1-5 million particles that are dispersed into the air),
- a built-in nightlight,
- auto shut-off protection (ensures the humidifier won’t continue running when its water level gets low), and
- super long runtime;
With all the innovative options, the risk of any damage or possibly overheating of your ultrasonic humidifier is minimalized.
In general, a warm mist humidifier is preferred during the cooler months of the year, and a cool-mist humidifier adds indoor humidity.
4. Simple to use and clean
Here’s a quick instruction manual to get rid of the build-up on your humidifier:
- before you fill the unit with water, turn the power off and unplug unit from the outlet,
Important: Keep in mind that water and electricity can be dangerous together.
- now, turn the tank upside down and remove the cap,
- fill the tank with clean, cool water,
Tip: Use distilled water if you have hard tap water.
- replace the cap and install the water reservoir back onto the humidifier base,
- adjust your power knob to set your preferred misting setting,
- remove any scale or build-up with a 50/50 mixture of white vinegar and lukewarm water to clean the inside of the tank; let it sit for 30 minutes.
5. What’s included in your purchase?—look for basics and fancy extras!
Cool Mist HoMedics Ultrasonic Humidifier comes with a demineralization cartridge, user’s manual, and a one-year limited warranty.
Cleaning HoMedics humidifier
The biggest threat of not cleaning your humidifier is that the neglected HoMedics humidifier may spray harmful pollutants into your home’s air exposing you to toxic substances.
Let’s view the consequences of not properly and regularly cleaning your humidifier.
Consequences of dirty humidifiers
1. Mold
Keep in mind that your elegantly-looking humidifying machine could very well be concealing mold and yeast.
Accumulation often occurs on
- the vent,
- fan blades, or
- inside of the humidifier’s water tank;
Mold and mildew love damp, dark places—no wonder your humidifier can become the perfect playground.
Tip: To keep your humidifier mold-free, clean it regularly and the right way.
Besides cleaning the water reservoir, mind that water can seep into other humidifier parts that you can’t see. So the only solution is to clean the entire machine regularly.
Be aware that your humidifier can cause mold on walls—even if you’re not able to see harmful mold spores on the surfaces inside of your humidifier, they can still contaminate the air.
When excessive wetness or humidity accumulate, mold will start growing on porous surfaces, i.e., windowsills and walls.
2. Dirt and debris
Again, even imperceptible dirt, dust, and debris particles can affect our humidifiers, clogging the spraying and creating wear on it.
It makes our humidifiers ineffective, causing them to incorrectly spray water into the air.
If your home is dry and uncomfortable, it may be time to react.
- Odors
A HoMedics humidifier with a moldy build-up may begin to smell like vinegar or a musty basement.
Naturally, every time the humidifier sprays moisture into the air, it will also spray the unpleasant odor.
Clean your humidifier the right way to get rid of this nasty odor.
It’s crucial to be aware that humidifiers can introduce harmful viruses, bacteria, and toxic molds into your home’s air. Emissions from dirty humidifiers can cause health problems, especially in asthma or allergies.
General cleaning tips
The first rule is to clean the unit regularly:
- empty all leftover water,
- wipe dry all humidifier surfaces with a towel, and
- refill the humidifier with clean water;
Don’t forget to sanitize weekly.
To do it, first empty any leftover water, then, fill the humidifier’s water tank with a weak bleach solution (one teaspoon of bleach for every gallon of water).
Leave the bleach solution in the water reservoir for around 20 minutes. Then, to ensure that the water tank sides are coated, swirl it around every few minutes.
Finally, pour out the bleach solution. Rinse inside of the tank thoroughly with clean water until the smell of the bleach is not susceptible anymore.
Alternatively, use a 3% solution of one part hydrogen peroxide in place of bleach.
Remove scale and mineral deposits with a vinegar solution (one cup of vinegar per cup of water) and a soft-bristle brush or towel.
Is it a good idea to run vinegar through a humidifier? Not really. While vinegar is a great way to clean a humidifier, don’t run the humidifier with vinegar in it; it can irritate your eyes, nose, throat, and lungs.
According to Hunker, to clean the ultrasonic membrane, fill the water tank halfway with lukewarm water and add two tablespoons of white vinegar or one tablespoon of bleach.
The vinegar is a natural cleanser that loosens any residue and disinfects the small unit. Let soak the humidifier filters in the pan containing water and vinegar mixture for 30 minutes.
Don’t use abrasive cleaners or detergents to clean to avoid damaging the humidifier.
Replace the water tank cap securely and shake the water tank to mix the contents.
All you have to do to clean your humidifier is follow a few simple steps:
1. First, remove the water bottle mount and top cover.
2. Use a separate bowl to make a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and distilled water. Then, stir it.
3. Apply the mix to the unit using the small brush included with the product.
4. Finally, wipe dry with a napkin or paper towel. Repeat every 2-3 weeks.
Find more tips in manual and warranty information.
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