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The answer is straightforward: "Clean water." We'll explore why this is important below. As always, we've delved into the wonders of writing where advice suggests using well or spring water as it's purer than tap water.
How Does a Humidifier Work?
To understand why water quality matters, it’s essential to know how the device operates. There are three types of humidifiers: evaporative, steam, and ultrasonic.
Cold Humidifiers
The simplest design is the so-called cold humidifiers, which blow air through a wet filter using a fan. The air cools, and due to heat transfer, a certain amount of water evaporates.
Steam Humidifiers
Steam humidifiers include a distiller that releases micro-droplets into the air instead of condensing them. These humidifiers are rarely used in households due to their high energy consumption and the risk of hot water, making them dangerous in homes with children.
Ultrasonic Humidifiers
The most common type of humidifier is the ultrasonic one. Its operation is based on water being fed into a vibrating plate that creates ultrasonic waves, breaking the water into micro-droplets that are then expelled into the air by a fan.
Due to the size of the droplets, they don't settle on surfaces but remain in the air until the humidity reaches a critical level, at which point even the smallest droplets start to condense. However, modern humidifiers rarely reach such levels, as most models feature built-in hygrometers that automatically turn off the device once the desired humidity is achieved.
Cold humidifiers are the least sensitive to water quality. Steam and ultrasonic humidifiers require the cleanest water possible. Let's focus on the latter, as they are the most common today.
Why Is Water Quality Important for a Humidifier?
Several issues can arise from using poor-quality water in a humidifier.
First, there is limescale buildup. Ultrasonic evaporation is very close to boiling, making calcium and magnesium carbonate deposits inevitable. This limescale buildup can disrupt the humidifier’s operation, leading to premature failure and frequent servicing.
Second, a "mist" appears in the room where the humidifier operates, and sometimes a residue forms on furniture surfaces—these are also results of hard water.
Sometimes, the water in the humidifier can become slimy—this is due to microbial contamination or water standing for too long.
What Type of Water Is Best for a Humidifier?
The water should not be murky (which can cause malfunctions by settling on the ultrasonic plate) and should contain as few hardness salts and iron as possible (which cause scaling and mist). The absence of microbial contamination is also crucial. Distilled water (more expensive) or reverse osmosis water (cheaper) are optimal solutions, as both contain minimal salts and are less likely to cause scaling and other negative effects. Boiled water is a simpler option for a humidifier.
Can You Use Tap Water in a Humidifier?
This question concerns many people. The answer depends on whether the humidifier has a filter. A filter is a replaceable cartridge that can soften water and remove mechanical particles. The only downside is that it needs to be replaced regularly—approximately every 3-6 months, depending on water quality. If you forget to replace it, the negative effects described above will occur.
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