3 ms·
I’ll do my little PSA of: your “cool mist“ or ultrasonic dehumidifier is pumping your air full of particulate pollution. I’ve measured this myself, unintentiona
by vosper 3y ago
I’ll do my little PSA of: your “cool mist“ or ultrasonic dehumidifier is pumping your air full of particulate pollution. I’ve measured this myself, unintentionally, by putting one in my daughter’s room where I already had an air quality sensor. The PM2.5 soared.
Don’t put these in a bedroom! Probably avoid them entirely, and used a steam humidifier if you need the functionality.
https://www.technologynetworks.com/applied-sciences/articles/the-close-to-home-issue-of-humidifiers-and-indoor-air-quality-341176 https://www.technologynetworks.com/applied-sciences/articles...
- Modified3019 3y agoGood call out. Ultrasonic humidifiers actively aerosolize whatever particles and microorganisms (which are multiplying) in the water. For long term use (as it not just for a sick day), wick based (evaporative) humidifiers are a good option.
- eutectic 3y agoIs it actual pollution or just water droplets?
- cocoa19 3y agoNot "just water". Ultrasonic humidifiers aerosolize the water including whatever particles are on the water (e.g. calcium). This is in contrast with steam humidifiers, which evaporate "just water". This is due to water evaporating at 100C, and all other particles stay in the heating chamber.
- Havoc 3y agoNot entirely convinced this is correct. I've noticed that the humidity from a shower can also make air quality sensors readings spike so it does seem plausible that it's at least partially picking up the water
- taskforcegemini 3y agoI had to scrape a thick layer of calcium dust off of screen and furniture after using an ultrasonic humidifier all winter.
- eutectic 3y agoI find it hard to believe that some calcium ions constitute a health hazard.
- vosper 3y agoProbably depends on what’s in the water. Quoting the original research paper: > A phenomenon known as “white dust” is associated with filling ultrasonic humidifiers with hard water; inhaling this white dust caused childhood lung injury (Daftary and Deterding, 2011)
- fear91 3y agoUse distilled water. I bought a distilling machine just for this and my pm2.5 sensor barely moves. Used to peak up to 120 on tap water. Now it’s consistently under 2 and the air is humid.
- musicale 3y agoDistilling machine is a good idea since distilled water seems hard to find sometimes.