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A humidifier is a household appliance that increases the level of water vapor, or moisture, in a room.

Contents 1 Anatomy of a humidifier 1.1 Reservoir 1.2 Wick 1.3 Fan 2 Other types of humidifiers 3 Testing humidity 4 See also 5 External links

Anatomy of a humidifier

The most common humidifier, an "evaporative" or "wick humidifier", consists of just a few basic parts: a reservoir, wick and fan.

Reservoir

Reservoirs are common to all humidifiers and come in different shapes and sizes. The reservoir is a containing tank of water filled prior to operation, and provides fuel for the moisture output.

Wick

The wick is a filter that absorbs water diverted from the reservoir. Evaporation of water from the wick is dependent on relative humidity. A room with low humidity will have a higher evaporation rate compared to a room with high humidity. Therefore, this type of humidifier is self-regulating: As the humidity of the room increases, the water vapor output naturally decreases.

Fan

The fan is adjacent to the wick, and as it blows on the filter the water evaporates, changing from a liquid state into a gaseous water vapor state.

Other types of humidifiers

Other types of humidifiers include:

• Vaporizer (Steam Humidifier) - Boils water, releasing steam and moisture into the air. The least expensive of humidifiers, you can add medicated inhalant to the water to help reduce coughs. It produces the noisy sound of boiling water.
• Impeller Humidifier - A rotating disc flings water at a diffuser, which breaks the water into fine droplets that float into the air.
• Ultrasonic Humidifier (Cool Mist Humidifier) - A metal diaphram vibrating at an ultrasonic frequency creates water droplets that exit the humidifier in the form of a cool fog. Although silent, Ultrasonic Humidifiers should be cleaned regularily to avoid bacterial contamination which may be projected into the air.

Testing humidity

Humidity can be tested by using a device called a hygrometer

See also

• Dehumidifier
• HVAC

External links

• All About Humidifiers Site to help you find the right humidifier for relief from dryness, allergies and other health problems.

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