Do you have a humidifier on your office desk?
Now that most people are working from home, they need to keep themselves healthy and happy. The only way to create a comfortable environment with the perfect condensation level indoor is to position a humidifier on your office desk right beside your family photograph.
The top two benefits of a desk humidifier are ― it allows you to breathe easily and soothes your dry and cracked skin. This little device manages to do all this without asking for too much attention or maintenance.
The question that remains is whether a desk humidifier is safe for use or not?
Absolutely YES!
Don’t just take our word for it. With a little research, you can easily find out its numerous benefits. The good news is that we have already done this for you. So, keep on reading to find out how a humidifier on your office desk can boost efficiency and your health. First, let’s talk about desk humidifiers in general:
The Basics of a Desk Humidifier
A desk humidifier is basically an evaporator designed to clean an office environment. When the humidity level is low in a place, it leads to coughing fits. The humidifier adds moisture to the air makes it easy to breathe in the dry weather. This device is mostly used in winters to combat the harsh weather. Moreover, it also helps to reduce your heating bills.
Below are the different types of humidifiers that you can put on your office desk:
Evaporators
An evaporator blows moisture via a moistened filter. It has a fan that powers the unit, which expels moisture into the air. The device contains water in a small compartment, which vaporizes when the fan is turned on. The moisture is then dispersed in the air in the form of a mist or spray.
An evaporator is the most affordable humidifier. Its only downside is that it works in just one room. Moreover, it also expels too much moisture, which can be a problem for asthma patients as it raises mold growth.
Central Humidifiers
A central humidifier is built in the heating or air conditioning unit of a home. This type of humidifier is quite expensive but is the best choice to add moisture to the entire house. There aren’t any big drawbacks to this humidifier. Compared to traditional humidifiers, this one does not carry the risk of causing burns from its steam.
Impeller Humidifiers
This type of humidifier has a rotating disk that operates at a high speed. Water is poured into a container and when the disk rotates, it is flung at the diffuser, which breaks water into droplets, which float in the air.
An impeller humidifier is less expensive. It’s also a child-friendly device because the mist emitted from it is cool and does not cause any burns. Again the drawback of this humidifier is that it only works in a single room thus, can cause breathing difficulties.
Steam Vaporizers
This is an electrically powered humidifier. It heats water, cools it, and then expels it in the air. This is done through the heating element in the device that vaporizes the water. Steam vaporizers are portable and quite inexpensive. You can easily purchase one from a drugstore. However, this one is not child-friendly and can cause burns.
Ultrasonic Humidifiers
Lastly, an ultrasonic humidifier is the most advanced type of humidifier that cools the mist using ultrasonic vibration. The price of this humidifier varies based on its size. The humidifier is available in two versions: one that produces a cool mist and the other with a warm mist. The cooler version is child-friendly and is a great option to add to your house.
Benefits of a Desk Humidifier
Nowadays, offices are being equipped with humidifiers to reduce absenteeism and increase productivity. As mentioned earlier, a humidifier surrounds you with fresh air that is easier to breathe and makes you feel energized.
Sitting at home and working without any breaks, other than walking to the kitchen and having a snack can be quite unhealthy. You being a couch potato and on top of that sitting in a stale atmosphere present plenty of health risks.
Don’t believe us?
Check out the benefits below, some of which are backed by studies, to find out how a humidifier can benefit you:
1. Removes Dryness and Adds Humidity
When moisture vanishes from the air, dryness can become a huge problem. Lack of moisture can cause respiratory and skin problems and worse symptoms over time. A humidifier can help treat the following problems:
- Irritated eyes
- Dry skin
- Dryness in the airways and throat
- Frequent coughs
- Allergies
- Bloody noses
- Cracked lips
- Sinus headaches
You are probably feeling skeptical about the nose bleed, right? Well, a humidifier helps heal the nasal membranes and prevents them from drying out. Moreover, it also decreases the chances of further nose bleeds by offering protection from bacteria and viruses.
2. Reduces Snoring
Snoring is usually caused when you are not able to breathe properly. The reason behind this is the lack of moisture in the air. A person’s airway becomes dry without any moisture. When the passage is not lubricated well, the snoring gets worse. According to Dawn Study, if snoring is caused by a medical condition, a humidifier can help tone down the sleepless nights and also alleviate the pain caused by other health problems.
3. Prevents Influenza
According to a study published in the journal of PLOS ONE, a humidifier can help reduce the effects of the influenza virus. Instead of human test subjects, the study used manikins. Nebulized influenza was released into the room and samples were collected to find out the breathing stability before and after the use of a humidifier. The results showed that a room with humidity above 40% deactivated virus particles. Based on this study, we can safely conclude that placing a humidifier can help you keep the air in your home office free of any bacteria.
4. Keeps the Skin Moist
In colder months, there’s barely any moisture in the air. The humidity level is quite low, and the artificial heat created by your HVAC system makes the air in the house extremely dry. When you are outside, your skin is exposed to cold air, and as soon as you get home, it’s exposed to warm air. According to dermatologists, this changing temperature can strip the natural oils from your skin and cause psoriasis and eczema on top of dry skin. When the humidity level is raised in your office room, you can sit and do your work more comfortably and feel beautiful at the same time. Who would have thought that a little moisture in the air could make your skin feel baby smooth?
5. Keeps the Hair Healthy
Just like your skin, your hair also loses its natural oils in winter. When the skin’s natural moisture barrier has degraded, it can lead to peeling, cracking, and flaking. Abrasive factors like strong winds, hot showers, and indoor heating can disrupt the lipid layer. This is the barrier that protects your scalp from pollution, bacteria, and other harmful assaults. Imagine giving a presentation in your office and having this strong urge to scratch your head. When the meeting ends, you finally give in and use your nails to find relief. Then, you see small white flakes falling on your shoulder. That’s dandruff and a byproduct of alternating between cold and hot weather.
Let’s not forget the hot showers you take to lower your body temperature and feel warm. All in all, a humidifier can help eliminate all these problems and keep your hair soft, shiny, and smooth.
6. Halts Flu Germs from Spreading
According to a study published by National Academy of Sciences, a humidifier can stop the spread of flu germs. It can prevent you from getting the flu in the first place! As mentioned earlier, the transmission of influenza and dry conditions can exacerbate coughs and sneezes. The higher the level of bacteria in the room, the more difficult it will be to breathe properly and the higher the chances of you catching the flu.
Final Word
Air humidifiers are great at improving your home life, but they are also the harbingers of heinous organisms. Legionella pneumophila is a type of bacterium that lives in humidifiers. When the device is cleaned after a long time, the filter causes this bacterium to release into the air, which can cause pneumonia. This is why we recommend you clean your humidifier at least every week.
For home offices, the best humidifier is an ultrasonic humidifier. It tends to be noiseless and comes in multiple options, whereas the other types with disks and rotating elements make too much noise, which can be a nuisance.
So, there you have it ― the benefits of a humidifier, scientifically proven! Now that you know what kind of bacteria the air inside your home holds, we urge you to get a humidifier immediately.
