Humidifiers

[Kevin Hsieh]

Which ones are you guys using?

Recommendations? Links?

[Marc Piane]

The cheapest one they had at Home Depot.

[jisbass]

There are three kinds: cool mist(with wet filter wick), warm mist(steam), and ultrasonic.

Warm mist is good because you don't have to worry about germs in the machine, since it's hot steam. But it can make the room muggy. Probably not good for the bass.

Cool mist is good, because the filter captures the dust in the air, but they are generally more noisy and you have to replace the filter every few months or so (around $10/filter). You have to clean it well, and not let the water sit in the machine for too long(germs)

Ultra sonic is quiet, no filter to worry about, and makes cool mist. But you have to clean it often, because bacteria can grow in there if the water's been sitting too long.

I have an ultrasonic one, and a filtered one. I used to have the steam kind (good if you have the flu)
I like ultrasonic the best. works well, easy to clean.

Once you choose which type, get the cheapest one that's the right size for your room, in terms of output capacity and water thank capacity(if you're away during the day, it holds enough water).
They have ones w/ built-in hygrometer that automatically regulates the humidity at the level you set it to, but those cost more money.

[bribass]

Kevin, I've had this one for years and it works great w/o being too much of a pain.

http://www.vornado.com/products/humidifiers/model30.htm

[gnergaard]

I have a fairly cheap Kenmore model from Sears that does the trick. What is great about it is that it has a little digital display that tells you what the current humidity is and allows you to set the machine to automatically turn on and off to keep that moisture level in the room. David Gage says to keep a room between 30 and 40% humidity in the winter, but other sources say that the ideal is between 40 and 45%. In any case 30% sounds (and feels) low to me so I aim for about 40%
Really usefull feature. Without the display you don't know how moist or dry the room is. In the summer, when I'm running a dehumidifier I even leave this unit plugged in with out any water in it just to tell me how to set the dehumidifier. If it's a few extra bucks to get this feature I'd say it's really worth it.
Also- use an additive to the water called 'bacteriastat' (?) that will prevent mold, mildew etc. from growing on the filter. The instruction manual for any humidifier will tell you about it.

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

http://www.jardenstore.com/product.a...=2390&cid=1501

[forester]

H20 filled two gallon cast iron pot on top of the woodstove.. orange peel ambiance (optional) climate controlled @ .005% humidity. what can i say it's a jungle out there. bass is holding up better than yours truely.

[Kevin Hsieh]

Originally Posted by forester

H20 filled two gallon cast iron pot on top of the woodstove.. orange peel ambiance (optional) climate controlled @ .005% humidity. what can i say it's a jungle out there. bass is holding up better than yours truely.

i don't think the university would approve me using a woodstove in a dorm.

[gnergaard]

Years ago in a different apartment I just had a 5 gallon pot of water on the stove simmering on low heat in the winter. Before I figured this arrangement out I realized that although my bass was sounding fantastic in the dry air, (clear, resonant) just about every seam was on the verge of comming undone and I woke up every morning with various ailments (dry cough, eyes and mouth crusted shut). The humidity had dropped to about 7-12% and I had to come up with something. So I put a pot of water on the stove. It was a loft apartment and too spacious to humidify any other way. It was not however a good year for my bass!
NOT recommended.
Maybe I should have tried the orange peel...

[jisbass]

For emergency,
If you have a radiator type heater(as many NYC apts do), you can just wet a towel and put it on top of the heater, or hang it on a chair right in front of it. poor man's humidifier. did it for many years.