Will A Bowl Of Water Work As A Humidifier? Yes, But…

Will a bowl of water work as a humidifier? It is a common conception that a water bowl can be used as a humidifier.

While it is true that evaporation will occur and raise the humidity in the immediate area, the amount of moisture added to the air is minimal.

How Will A Bowl Of Water Work As A Humidifier?

To achieve any noticeable effects, you would need to have a very large surface area of water evaporating. This is not practical in the home.

However, it can be used in small, enclosed spaces such as cars or boats.

But since you want to know more about a water bowl as a humidifier, we’ll tell you how it works.

How It Works:

The air around us is always moving. When the air moves, it carries with it water vapor. This is what we call humidity.

The amount of water vapor the air can hold depends on the temperature. Warm air can hold more water vapor than cold air.

When the air can’t hold more water vapor, we say it’s saturated. The air is said to be “full” of water vapor.

At this point, the excess water vapor will start to condense. This happens when you see water droplets outside a cold glass of water.

The same thing happens with a bowl of water. When the air around the bowl cools down, the water vapor will start to condense.

And you’ll see water droplets forming on the surface of the water.

These droplets will create a current when they fall back into the water. This current will help to circulate the water and keep it moving.

As the water evaporates, it will cool the air around it. And cooler air can’t hold as much water vapor. Thus this will help to increase the humidity in the immediate area.

Moreover, as the water evaporates, it will add more water vapor to the air.

7 Benefits Of Using A Bowl Of Water As A Humidifier

There are several benefits to using a bowl of water as a humidifier. From improving your health to preventing damage to your home, a water bowl can be pretty helpful.

1. It Is Cheap:

One of the main benefits of using a bowl of water as a humidifier is that it is very cheap. All you need is a bowl and some water.

You don’t have to worry about buying any expensive equipment. While humidifiers can be pretty pricey, a water bowl will only cost you a few cents.

If you have a spare bowl, it will cost you nothing. You need to make sure that you change the water every day.

2. It Is Easy To Use:

Another benefit of using a bowl of water as a humidifier is that it is effortless. You don’t have to worry about setting up anything.

Just fill the bowl with water and place it where you want. You can even put it on a timer to turn it off when you don’t need it.

For instance, if you only need it at night, you can remove the setup in the morning.

3. It Is Portable:

If you travel a lot, you will be happy to know that a water bowl is also very portable.

You can easily take it with you when you travel. Just make sure that you empty the water before you leave.

You don’t want the water to spill into your luggage. You can fill the bowl anytime you need it.

4. It Improves Your Health:

One of the health benefits of using a bowl of water as a humidifier is that it helps to relieve some respiratory problems.

If you suffer from a cold or the flu, the humidifier will help loosen the mucus. It will also help to soothe your throat and nose.

Moreover, it can also help to reduce the symptoms of asthma. If you have trouble breathing, the humidifier will help moisten the air.

It will also help to reduce the inflammation in your airways.

Moreover, a humidifier can also help to prevent nosebleeds. If you have trouble with your sinuses, humidifier will help reduce the inflammation.

It will also help moisten the air and prevent your nose from drying.

5. It Prevents Damage To Your Home:

Another benefit of using a bowl of water as a humidifier is that it can help to prevent damage to your home.

Dry air can cause the wood in your home to crack. But humidity can help to prevent that from happening.

It is because dry air causes the wood to lose moisture. But with humidity, the wood will be able to retain its moisture.

Thus, it will be less likely to crack. Moreover, dry air can also cause static electricity.

But with humidity, the air will be more conducive. Thus, it will help to reduce static electricity.

6. It Reduces The Risk Of Fires:

Another benefit of using a bowl of water as a humidifier is that it can help to reduce the risk of fires.

Dry air is one of the leading causes of wildfires. But with humidity, the air will be less likely to catch fire.

It is because the moisture will help to keep the fire from spreading. Moreover, it will also help to keep the fire from getting out of control.

7. It Is Safe:

One of the main concerns people have with humidifiers is that they worry about their safety. But you don’t have to worry about that with a water bowl.

It is because there are no moving parts and no electricity involved. So, you don’t have to worry about it causing any accidents.

Some people also worry about the water being much contaminated. But as long as you use clean water, you don’t have to worry about that.

How Much Time Does It Take To Increase Level Of Humidity With A Bowl Of Water?

It takes about an hour for a bowl of water to increase the humidity level in a room. However, this will depend on the size of the room and the amount of water in the bowl.

For instance, if you have a large room, then it will take longer for the humidity to increase. But if you have a small room, then it will take less time for the humidity to increase.

There are many ways to speed up the process. Let’s discuss a few of them.

1. Use More Than One Bowl:

If you want to increase the humidity level in your room quickly, use more than one bowl.

The more bowls you use, the faster the humidity will increase. Just make sure that you don’t use too many bowls.

Otherwise, the humidity might become too high. The minimum number of bowls you can use is two.

But if you have a large room, you can use more than that. Just make sure that you don’t use too many.

2. Use A Larger Bowl:

If you want to increase the humidity level in your room quickly, use a larger bowl.

The bigger the bowl, the more water it will hold. And the more water it has, the faster the humidity will increase.

The adequate size of the bowl is 12 inches. But you can use a larger bowl if you want.

3. Use A Hotter Temperature Of Water:

The hotter the water, the faster it will evaporate. And the faster it evaporates, the quicker the humidity will increase.

You can use water that is at room temperature. But if you want the humidity to increase quickly, use water that is at a hotter temperature.

4. Use A Darker Color Bowl:

The darker the color of the bowl, the more it will absorb heat. And the more it absorbs heat, the faster the water will evaporate.

The best color to use is black. But you can use any dark color. For instance, you can use a dark blue bowl.

5. Use A Bowl Made Of A Material That Retains Heat:

Materials like ceramic and glass will help to retain heat. And the more heat it retains, the faster the water will evaporate.

Other materials you can use are clay and metal. Just make sure that the bowl is not made of plastic.

Because plastic is a poor heat conductor.

6. Type Of Water Matters:

The type of water you also use matters. For instance, distilled water will evaporate faster than tap water.

Thus, it will increase the humidity level in your room more quickly. Tap water contains minerals that can slow down the evaporation process.

For instance, if you live in an area with hard water, then it will take longer for the water to evaporate.

Frequency Of Use:

You can use a bowl of water as a humidifier every day. Why? It is because the water in the bowl will evaporate over time.

So, you need to replenish it now and then. You can also use it as often as you want. There is no limit to how often you can use it.

Limitations:

There are some limitations when using a bowl of water as a humidifier.

First, it will only work if the air in the room is not too dry. If the air is too dry, the water will evaporate too quickly.

And you will need to replenish it often. Second, it will only work if the room is small. If the room is too large, the humidity will not increase significantly.

Third, it will only work if the bowl is in the correct location. The bowl needs to be in an area with good air circulation.

If the bowl is in a location with poor air circulation, the humidity will not increase much.

Recommendation:

There are other ways to ensure that the air in your home is humid. For instance:

1. Tea Pot:

You can use a teapot to humidify your home. All you need to do is to boil some water and pour it into the teapot.

Then, put the teapot on a heat-resistant surface. After that, place a towel over the top of the pot.

The towel will help to trap the steam. Make sure that you don’t put the pot on an unprotected surface. Otherwise, it might cause damage.

2. Bottle & A Cloth:

You can also use a bottle and a cloth to humidify your home. All you need to do is to fill the bottle with hot water.

Then, take a clean cloth and soak it in the water. After that, wring out the cloth. After that, put the cloth over the neck of the bottle.

Make sure that the cloth is not too tight. Otherwise, it might cause the bottle to break.

Final Word:

Yes, you can use a bowl of water as a humidifier. Ensure that the water is at a hot temperature and that the bowl is of a material that retains heat.

Also, make sure that you replenish the water often. Lastly, ensure that the bowl is in a location with good air circulation.

There are other ways you can humidify your home. But using a bowl of water is the simplest and most effective way.