Humidifier Radiator
Finding a humidifier radiator and understanding what it does are two different things. Most people have never even heard of a humidifier radiator. The truth of the matter is that this is the term often given to the independently upright radiators that are found in vintage apartments in places like New York City and Chicago where the buildings have not been retrofitted with central heating and air conditioning. These metal frame structures are typically below waist height and warm an apartment or office by releasing moisture in the form of warm mist periodically to generate heat. Even many readers that are not familiar with the common name for this appliance are aware of the distinctive hissing and humming sounds that these radiators produce. I know that for this author the sound takes me back to being to a young child in an elementary school classroom on particularly cold winter days. Across much of the US and even the world these specific types of heaters were quite literally lifesavers for a generation of society.
While oil filled radiators and other similar adaptations were also popular pieces in the timeline of man’s evolution to stay warm it was the humidifier radiator that drew particular attention for its innovation. In addition to providing much needed warmth the mist humidifier version offered an additional unique practicality in terms of aiding in preserving certain types of furniture that was particularly susceptible to drying out. Without regular moisture many types of woods, leathers, and other finishes common to furnishings during this time period would be prone to cracking and peeling. Without proper moisture in the air expensive family heirlooms passed on for generations could be ruined in a single winter.
The functionality behind the working components is really quite simple. A holding bowl must be regularly filled with room temperature water that will then be heated and released into the air in the form of warm mist. Circulation of this warm vapor fills the room and in turn produces the desired end effect of a sufficiently heated space without the necessity of a fire. This heating method was particularly useful in tall apartment buildings where fireplaces in every unit were simply not practical from feasibility or engineering standpoints.
The main selling point that attributed to the proliferation of this particular model was not the salvation of furniture but rather the inexpensive nature of the product. Water was essentially the primary fuel being heated/burned and that was readily available even in the early era of indoor plumbing and running water. Perhaps the most frequently complained about drawback was the issue of refilling that was required increasing often as the weather grew colder and the need to run the machines more often became a more consistent concern. The fact that the units were inexpensive also made them suitable for having in multiple rooms. This was a heating luxury that even middle class families could readily afford and this contributed to the increased number of units sold which ultimately made the production, distribution, and sale of humidifier radiators very profitable for some time.
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