Many of us remember the trusty humidifier from childhood, sitting humbly near the bedside during the cold and flu season. Dry and scratchy throats often benefited from a humidifier filled with water and vapor medication. Although they are commonly designed to regulate the air moisture content for medical reasons, humidifiers are also used for much more then yearly colds. Found in museums, greenhouse gardens, and homes with dry conditions, these devices (also known as evaporators and vaporizers), protect delicate objects from the damaging effects of heat.
Antique or expensive furniture may eventually suffer from splintering, cracking, warping, and paint chipping if the air around it is too dry. When placed in an appropriate location, a humidifier can extend the life of your furniture for many years, preserving it to be passed down to the next generation.
While indoor home use is most common, gardeners also use humidifiers in their greenhouses to keep certain varieties of plants moist and healthy. Many types of foliage need some condensation on them in order to grow strong, and a humidifier is the perfect tool to achieve beautiful robust plants.
With the diversity of uses for the humidifier, you may think that it’s a complicated and difficult machine to operate. Surprisingly, there are only three components to be taken into consideration: a reservoir, wick, and fan. Each part plays a crucial role in successfully operating the humidifier, and should therefore be completely understood.
Starting at the base of the machine, you will first find a reservoir. Either square or round, the reservoir is a large bowl made from a durable plastic. This piece of equipment holds the water intended to be converted to soothing water droplets. Sore throats or stuffed up noses can be nursed with the addition of a medicated vapor substance.
Water sitting in the reservoir is likely to have unhealthy bacteria living in it, so a filter is needed. This is where the wick comes in. “Wick” simply means filter. It siphons out all the dirt and debris so that you don’t inhale them.
Standing water and a filter alone won’t do much, which is why you need a fan. Usually located at the top of the machine, the fan pushes the evaporating droplets through the air.
There are other parts to the humidifier, such as the heating unit, but you needn’t worry about that, since you’ll probably never find cause to go that deeply into the device.
To operate, simply un-clip the fan-wick component and fill with water to the designated “full” mark. Replace the top, and turn the dial to the desired humidity level.
Convenient and easy to use, the humidifier has a variety of purposes, such as furniture preserver, greenhouse accessory, and medical instrument. You may even find that the humidifier you purchased for a cold will also come in handy for growing plants or keeping Grandma’s old rocking chair intact. Best of all, the three components are easily understood, and make your use of the device easy.