Among modern household appliances, air humidifiers are gaining popularity. What kind of water to fill in them is an important question, the correct answer to which depends on the usefulness and correct operation of the device.
General information
The popularity of air humidifiers is due to the desire of consumers to optimize living conditions and make them correspond to the natural environment, where the humidity parameter fluctuates within 50%. The fact is that insufficient air humidity provokes a violation in the work of the respiratory and nervous systems of a person, causing the manifestation of symptoms of various diseases. The final indicator depends on what kind of water to fill in the humidifier.
Often, this problem leads to a lack of natural moisture in the apartment, especially when using a wide range of electrical appliances. The type of heating also affects this parameter.and characteristics 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 features of operation and efficiency.
Operation principle
There are several types of humidifiers for domestic use. What kind of water to fill in them, consider below. First, the varieties of appliances:
- Traditional cold type.
- Ultrasonic model.
- Steam version.
All devices work on the principle of water evaporation in different ways. In industry, these units operate on the principle of spraying fine liquid particles into the atmosphere. Additional functions of some devices include the possibility of purifying the atmosphere (air washing).
Before you buy a humidifier, you need to understand the principle of its operation 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 the humidifier will prolong the life of the device and increase the efficiency of operation.
Adiabatic version
In traditional (adiabatic) variations, the liquid is poured directly into stationary tanks, then evenly delivered to the sump. Its design includes special cartridges that create the effectevaporation and release of steam into the atmosphere. The simplest elements consist of paper plates or plastic counterparts.
The air flow is transported by means of a fan unit with simultaneous humidification through a special opening. At the same time, dust and dirt deposits remain on the paper or plastic filter element. The amount of evaporated liquid depends on the current level of air humidity. The main task of the device is to achieve the set percentage of air humidification.
Which water to fill in an ultrasonic humidifier?
It is worth noting that the ultrasonic installation operates on the principle of high-frequency vibrations of atmospheric masses. The liquid is poured into the tank, which is responsible for its supply to the plate, which vibrates intensively. Air with the help of a fan is supplied to the working compartment and moistened with a special composition, sprayed through vibration exposure. The enriched mixture enters the room through the atomizer in the form of mist-like vapor.
Before you decide which water to fill in the humidifier, you must remember that ultrasonic devices in this regard are the most capricious. This is due to the fact that during the transformation of electrical energy into mechanical action, electrical elements convert liquid into fine particles. At this stage, the level of water demineralization plays an important role. Most of the undissolved inclusions settle on the processed objects in the form of a white coating,often negatively affecting the body of people and domestic animals.
To avoid this effect, manufacturers include expensive filters with a high level of purification in the design. If distilled water is used, the unit may be operated without filters.
Steam and industrial modifications
Next, let's figure out what kind of water to fill in a steam-type humidifier. The specified unit uses the principle of heating the liquid to the natural thermal formation of steam. Water is supplied from a special container to a tank with a heating element, where it evaporates. The processing of the composition is carried out by means of a pair of electrodes, the operation of which stops without the presence of a sufficient amount of water. This provides additional safety, since the device, turned on without liquid, will not cause damage or fire. When using this device, note the maximum degree of air humidification, regulated through a hydrostatic controller.
The next question is what kind of water is better to fill in an industrial humidifier? For these purposes, atomizers or similar installations are used. At the same time, the productivity of the unit reaches 230 l / h. The devices do not work on the principle of evaporation, they spray the liquid to the consistency of a finely dispersed mixture with droplets (the size of the last elements is 6-8 microns). The splitting occurs under pressure, and the water is transformed in the nozzles to a minimum size, sprayed through the shops orproduction facilities.
Atmospheric sink
Combined options include combining an air washer and a humidifier in one design. What kind of water to fill in this device depends on the technical characteristics of the device and the manufacturer's recommendations. The device is multifunctional and after processing it produces purified and humidified air of high quality. The disadvantages of the device include low performance, since the workflow is an order of magnitude slower compared to the analogues discussed above.
Requirements for filling liquid
What kind of water should be poured into 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 may not only have a negative effect on the unit, but also harm the he alth 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, flavors and other liquids that are not provided for in the instruction manual. In specialized models, the possibility of diluting water with essential ingredients is allowed.
Features
Traditional units use distilled water to keep cold humidifier cartridges from getting dirty. It should be noted that "mineral water" is not suitable for these purposes, since specificcomponents block the working capillaries of the filters, hindering the evaporation process. Tap water is also unsuitable, because it contains many additional inclusions that even additional filters installed by bona fide manufacturers cannot cope with.
Recommendations for water softening
What kind of water can be poured into a humidifier, a table with recommendations for softening the liquid will help you understand.
Filter type | Softness level | Cleaning rates | Performance parameter | Nuances |
Pitcher Reservoir | Low | Removing odors, chlorine and some metals | From 1 to 2 liters (depending on working capacity) | Requires cartridge replacement every 45-60 days |
Crane nozzle | Medium | Cleans well, but lets bacteria through | About 0.5 liters every minute | You will need an additional tank for the purified mixture |
Flow variant | High | Missing some types of microorganisms observed | About 8 liters per minute | Mounted only next to a faucet or sink |
Reverse osmosis | Maximum high | Parameters identical to those of bottled water | 0.5-1 liter per minute | Design includes expensive special membrane |
Self distillation
What kind of water to fill in humidifiers? Polaris and other well-known manufacturers in the world claim that distilled liquid is the best option. It is not necessary to buy it in specialized outlets, since it is really possible to make it yourself.
An elementary method of obtaining the indicated composition is the collection of rainwater. In ecologically clean regions, it does not contain extra microscopic particles. In this case, the first drops should be ignored, as they seize 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 grate;
- enameled bucket or basin;
- glass container;
- tube and cap.
First, the water is settled for 6-8 hours, which contributes to the precipitation of metal s alts, as well as the release of hydrogen sulfide and chlorine components. The lower part of the liquid (about a third) is drained. The desired composition is obtained by evaporation. Enamel bucket half fullprepared water, heated on the stove. A glass container for distillate is installed on a lattice plate in it. To obtain the reaction, a container with ice is placed on top. During evaporation, the liquid accumulates on the lid in the form of condensate, then flows into the plate.