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Which
humidifiers work best:
There
are two basic types of humidifiers: permanent
and portable. The permanent unit is normally
mounted on the ductwork of a forced-air
furnace. Portable units sit on a tabletop
or other level surface. Both types can provide
proper amounts of humidity. If the area
you need to add humidity to is small, such
as a single room, a portable unit is adequate.
However, if you need to condition an entire
house, a permanent unit is usually more
effective. One type does as good a job as
the other, based on your needs.
How
to care for your humidifier:
You need
to check and clean your humidifier frequently.
Do not simply turn it on and leave it all
year. Humidifiers often have standing water
in them, allowing mold and bacteria to grow.
If your humidifier has standing water, or
any type of water reservoir, it's necessary
to treat the water with an anti-bacterial
solution. You must disassemble permanently
mounted units to clean and sanitize them
using standard household products. For wick
and/or filter type portable units, you can
order humidifier cleaner and bacterial solution
here.
Checking
the household humidity level:
It is extremely
important to maintain the proper humidity
in your home. Humidity levels affect your
health and the structure of your home. In
addition, high humidity levels can cause
mold and mildew growth within the walls
of your house. What's the proper humidity
level for your home? It depends on a lot
of factors. We found the following article
by the Cold Climate Housing Information
Center at the University of Minnesota very
helpful. You can read it
here.
Though many
humidifiers have a humidistat, they don't
tell you the actual humidity level. To accurately
check the humidity level, use a hygrometer,
which you can purchase
here.
Other
humidifier problems and concerns:
We've put
together lots of additional information
about humidifiers; how they work, maintenance
tips and FAQs.
Click here for more info.
Parts
and accessories:
We stock
many of the most common humidifier belts,
pads, wicks, filters, screens, motors and
other parts and accessories. You can search
using the PartDetective for your specific
humidifier or look through our universal
humidifier parts.
Click here to use the PartDetective.
Click here to see our supply of universal
parts and accessories.
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