Most of us would avoid using a humidifier during the cold season to prevent cooling rooms. I would switch it off, especially during winter. However, how true is it that a humidifier will turn the air in a room cold?
No, Humidifiers do not cool the air in the room. In fact, humidifiers do not interfere with the temperature in the room. Certain researches even prove that the more humidity in the room’s atmosphere, the warmer the room will feel.
Usually, the myth of a humidifier cooling a room is focused on a cool mist humidifier. Unlike a warm mist humidifier, a cool one releases humidity into the air with the help of cold water. The room might feel cooler due to the release of the cool moisture, but the temperatures will remain the same.
This article responds to whether a humidifier cools the air in the room. The article also speaks of other related subheadings like Do Cool Mist Humidifiers Cool a Room, Is it Safe to Run Humidifiers all the Time, Is Using a Humidifier During Winter Okay, and others.
Do Cool Mist Humidifiers Cool a Room
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No, a cool mist humidifier cannot cool a room. One might think it can since it releases cool humidity into the environment. There could be a cooling effect when you use a cool mist humidifier in a room.
This is because the cool mist humidifier eliminates the air’s warm humidity and replaces it with cool moisture. However, it does not interfere with the temperature of the room.
Even though a cool mist humidifier cannot cool your room, it has other benefits. The benefits include reducing the dry state of the air we breathe, eliminating respiratory infections and allergies, reduction of skin dryness and sinus infections.
You can use a cool mist humidifier any time of the year, even during winter. Its cooling effect will not interfere with your room’s temperature, making it too cold for you. The more they produce humidity in your rooms, the warmer and more comfortable the environment.
Is it Safe to Run Humidifiers all the Time?
It is safe to run humidifiers all the time. However, they should not run if your room already has enough humidity. It is therefore important to measure the humidity levels in a room first before running a humidifier.
It is also important to go for a modern humidifier already installed with a hygrometer so that the humidifier can automatically measure the humidity levels in a room before running.
Also, make a habit of washing the humidifier thoroughly at least once a week to get rid of mineral build-up.
Remember, too much humidity in the air can lead to mold growth on the surfaces and corners of the room. Eventually leading to respiratory issues.
Is Using a Humidifier During Winter Okay
Yes, it is very much okay to use humidifiers during winter. As discussed earlier, humidifiers do not cool the air in your rooms. Therefore you shouldn’t fear having one in your bedroom during winter; it could be of great help during the cold season.
Also, the air is usually too dry during the cold season and could cause respiratory severe discomfort and allergy symptoms. You could avoid some of these issues with a humidifier,
The dry air in the atmosphere during winter is not just affecting you and your family. The walls and the furniture in your apartment may also fall victim. The wall painting may begin to peel off, and the furniture may start cracking.
Now you can make use of humidifiers during winter without fear. It will make things easy for you, your family, and your entire household.
Will a Humidifier Make my Room Hot
Yes, a humidifier will make your room feel warmer. The more humidity is released into a room, the body evaporates a little water. When there is little sweating, there is hardly any cooling taking place on your skin. And therefore, your skin begins to feel warmer.
Humidifiers are designed to increase humidity in the environment. For this purpose, it is impossible to imagine that a humidifier can make your room feel hot.
The type of humidifier used also contributes to how fast a room begins to feel warm. For instance, it may take a bit longer to feel warmer in a room where a cool mist humidifier is used than in a room with a warm mist humidifier.
Why You Should Use Humidifiers During Summer
Some may not see the need to use a humidifier during summer. Since it is that time of the year when the air is warm, and the atmosphere feels right. However, summer is that time of the year when seasonal allergies are at their peak.
Those suffering from seasonal allergies benefit significantly from a humidifier during summer. Even those who suffer from summer skin problems like acne breakouts, dryness, irritation, e.t.c, can benefit from a humidifier. It will help moisturize the air as well as their skin.
It is advisable to measure the room’s humidity levels before adding more. As much as a humidifier is also essential during summer, there are occasions when more of it is not required. Suppose you do not have a humidifier with an inbuilt hygrometer. Ensure to find alternative means to measure the humidity levels before running a humidifier.
Are Cool Mist Humidifiers Safe During Winter
It has been agreed that all humidifiers, including the cool mist humidifier, can be used during winter. Most of us fear using cool mist humidifiers during winter since it is the coldest time of the year, and the cool mist humidifier is designed to release cool moisture in the air.
Those that use humidifiers during winter might opt for a warm mist humidifier instead of a cool one.
Yes, it is safe to use a cool mist humidifier during winter. It will not make your home cold due to its nature of releasing cold humidity. The humidifier will not change the temperature in the room.
The following are the health benefits of using a cool mist humidifier during winter.
- It reduces the dry state of the air caused by fireplaces, furnaces, and other types of indoor heatings
- Rashes, dry eyes, and dry skin caused by dry air will not be experienced.
- Coughing, scratchy throat, and sinus congestion will be reduced.
- Enables easy breathing by opening nasal passages
- The spread of air-born diseases like flu, bronchitis, and pneumonia is reduced.
- Reduces dust, dirt, and allergens traces from the air.
Reasons you Need a Humidifier
Discussed below are reasons why you should get a humidifier for your house. There is no specific time when a humidifier is more important than another. A humidifier has unique benefits for its user despite the time of year. The benefits are discussed below.
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Eases pain from dry skin and throat, itchy eyes, or cracked lips
Dry skin and throat, itchy eyes, or cracked lips are skin conditions one may experience due to dry air in the atmosphere. A humidifier will bring relief to the pain caused by such skin conditions.
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Humidifiers keep your sinuses clean and clear
With clean and clear sinuses, your nasal passage hardly experiences issues like clogs, dryness, improper movement of mucus, runny nose, and nose bleeding. The moisture helps in unclogging the nasal passages enabling you to breathe easily.
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Humidifiers manage allergy symptoms
A humidifier produces moisture into the atmosphere to eliminate flu viruses that tend to survive in the dry environment. A study done at Harvard University proves that bacteria and viruses that cause flu and allergies survive in dry air. A humidifier ensures the air you inhale is moist.
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A humidifier can help loosen your lungs
Suppose you are asthmatic; you may experience issues like shortness of breath, tight lungs, coughing, and wheezing. With enough humidity in the air, your lungs may loosen up, enabling you to breathe easily.
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Humidifiers are perfect for babies
The skin of babies and young children is very soft, making them the first people to start experiencing the negative effect of dry air. Babies may not be able to express how they feel, and therefore having a humidifier in your home reduces the possibility of your baby suffering from issues like dry skin and difficulty in sleeping
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Humidifiers will protect your home decor
A humidifier will protect anything made of wood in your house—for instance, wooden floors and furniture. When air is too dry without traces of moisture, it tends to dry all the wooden surfaces in your house. The wooden surfaces begin to lose their colour and eventually crack.
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A humidifier will protect the hair on your pet’s skin from shedding
With moisture from the humidifier, your pet will be relieved from pet dander, where the hair will begin to shed due to the availability of dry air.
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A humidifier will help improve your sleep
Humidity in the air reduces snoring by softening and clearing your nasal passages. The moisture in the air also moisturizes and soothes the sore throat and nasal passage to help you sleep easily.
The Difference Between a Cool and Warm Mist Humidifier
Suppose you are interested in knowing the difference between a warm and mist humidifier. The differences are well illustrated below.
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Their purpose
A cool mist humidifier releases cool humidity into the air, while a warm mist humidifier releases a warm mist. The warm mist humidifier boils its water to the evaporation point before releasing warm humidity. The cool mist humidifier does not boil its water.
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Precaution and care
More precaution and maintenance are required when dealing with a warm mist humidifier. It needs to be placed away from the reach of both children and pets so that they do not trip over it, causing burns on their skin. The boiling water in the tank creates a breeding environment for bacteria.
A cool mist humidifier also requires proper care. Wash it thoroughly at least once a week to eliminate inbuilt minerals. It would also help if you placed it away from children’s reach, so they do not trip over it.
Where to Place a Humidifier
Where to place a humidifier depends on which room you want to place it in—for instance, living room, bedroom, office, kitchen, or bathroom. What remains common in all these rooms in terms of placement is never to place the humidifier too close to the walls, the carpet, ceiling, or the corners of the room.
When a humidifier is placed too close to the walls, the moisture interferes with the walls’ painting which begins to break. Placing a humidifier in the corners of your home also is not a good idea, as most houses already have too much humidity in their corners.
Also, a humidifier tends to spill water. The carpet will absorb the spilled water and later on cause the growing of molds and respiratory issues.
Therefore, the best place to put your humidifier is in the center of the room, away from children and pets, and not too close to the carpet and ceiling.
Final Thoughts
A humidifier will not change the room’s temperature despite the moisture released in the air, whether cool or warm. Humidifiers are perfect devices to keep the humidity levels of any room stable despite the time of the years. However, precautions, care, and maintenance are required just like any other device.