Lots of people whose houses suffer from damp need a dehumidifier to rid the moisture in the air and stop costly damage to their property. At the other end of the scale, is having a house that does not have enough water particles in the air, which can cause mildew and some forms of mould, which are damaging to you and your family's health.

In order to maintain a 50-60% level of humidity in the air, you need a humidifier. This boils water in a tank and sprays it as a fine steam into the atmosphere. By managing the balance of just enough humidity in the air, your health and home can be safer.

The problems of not having enough humidity in the air are that it can create static electricity. If you find yourself getting zapped from walking on your carpets and touching a metallic object, then the humidity levels are out of kilter.

Before buying humidifiers, it is good practice to understand which type would mostly suit your need. There are two main types; the trickle type and the drum type.

The trickle type of humidifier heats up an aluminium plate and slowly drips water from the tank onto it, which then evaporates and rising up into the air.

The drum type of humidifier has a sensor to automatically regulate the humidity levels, and has sponge-like surface. This type has more parts and needs more involvement from the user, and needs regular maintenance.

A hygrometer can be used to test the humidity levels in the air, which means that a trickle type of humidifier could be used according to your tests. If you need to run the unit for extended periods of time, then a drum type would be best suited to you.

As with any type of machine that is designed to look after your health, it is best to opt for a well-known and well-respected brand. Whether you want a cool mist humidifier or a centralised warm one, have a look at each one's functions and decide which one fits your needs.

In most situations, it is handy to get a unit that is almost maintenance free, but if that is at the detriment to the function and performance of the machine then you should question it. Choose humidifiers that will keep your home free from mould, mildew, static electricity and keep your family safe.