Typically, the ideal humidity of a room for humans is anywhere between forty and sixty percent, anything above this can create a breeding ground for bacteria and allergens due to the high moisture content in the air, and in fact the same is true of low humidity conditions. A lack of humidity means dry air which can cause throat infections, dry, itchy skin and nosebleeds. We have all suffered the irritating itchiness of red raw, dry skin at some point and while we often blame it on the brand of shower gel we use or that thick, caustic jumper auntie Nora knitted for us last Christmas, but the truth is that dry skin, one of the most common skin complaints, is caused by a lack of humidity.

This problem is easily cured, within the realms of the home or office anyway, with the use of humidifiers. Humidifiers are not as well known as their more famous cousins, dehumidifiers, a godsend for many on those said balmy summer days, but they are equally as useful in creating a comfortable, healthy environment in which to live and work. As well as reducing the risk of infections and ailments related to dry air, humidifiers can also protect hardwood structures found in many modern homes, this is commonly used in the construction of floors, staircases, hand railings and cabinets, it can easily crack if exposed to overly dry air for long periods. Humidifiers are available in a range of formats and sizes from plug in devices, wall mounted radiator-type arrangements all the way up to large industrial units.

So air conditioning has come on leaps and bounds, but have you ever wondered exactly how these gizmos turn your stuffy, unpleasant sweatbox into a chilled out heaven of tranquility? You might imagine that blasting out cold air is a simple process, but it is much more complex than a glorified hair-dryer.  Whether they are  through the window or wall units or portable air conditioners, they don’t in fact produce their own cold air.  Rather they suck in the stagnant air in the environment and recycle it, reproducing it at a lower temperature.

To go into slightly more detail, an air con unit contains a loop of refrigerant gas that expels heat when compressed and absorbs heat when expanded, thus transferring the heat from the room outside. The air cools when it passes over the surface previously cooled by the refrigerant gas. When that refrigerant  gas expands in the loop, a fan sucks in warm air from the room and blows it onto the cold coils, reducing its temperature (think of it as the opposite of what happens in a fan heater).   In the loop, the warmed expanded gas is pumped to a compressor where it is “squashed”.  As it’s squashed the heat is expelled and blown out the unit by another fan. In a portable  air conditioner the hot air is pumped outside through a hose and in a wall-mounted  air conditioner the outside unit does this. The compressed gas is then pumped back into the loop where is expanded again and so the process continues. This system is the same as the one used in a fridge or freezer.

This is the basic system every air-con unit is based around, though as a rule of thumb, the bigger the unit, the more complex the innards. Different types and sizes of units are used for different proposes.  For example, the unit found in a shopping mall will work differently to that of an in-car system, though they both operate on the same basic principles and even a portable air conditioner will use similar technology. Unfortunately this type of air-conditioner will slowly be phased out over the coming years, making way for more eco-friendly versions because the Freon gas used as the refrigerant is harmful to the ozone layer.   So don’t say goodbye to your faithful desk fan just yet!

Although we are bona fide experts, us Brits should not moan about the conditions. Other countries suffer from much more severe spells of dryness. Here are three countries that are dryer than Bond’s Martini!

Egypt

Officially the driest country in the world, and little wonder when you consider that the first images to pop into your head when you think of this tourist-friendly north African territory are vast desserts and parched stone pyramids. It goes without saying that almost all the hotel rooms here have a ceiling fan.

Chile

The long, thin strip of land which runs down the west coast of the South American continent makes up the country of Chile. Now famous for their successful run in the 2010 World Cup, the country is popular with backpackers and houses the Atacama dessert which scientist have described as ‘super-arid’. Allegedly this is so dry that insects don’t even live there, no need for a fly killer here!

Sudan

Sudan is one of the poorest countries in the world, covered by the eastern end of the Sahara dessert. The dry conditions only add to the countries existing political and social problems, poverty and disease are widespread and the lack of access to clean water is a contributing factor.

Perhaps us Brits shouldn’t moan so much about the weather then, we have it good with our largely consistent, temperate climate. If the dry weather does continue however we will be in for a very chilly winter, meaning now would be the perfect time to invest in  patio heaters.

As soon as summer shows its face the barbeques come out and friends and families congregate in backyards and gardens across the country. This marks the start of summer as a chilled, laid back vibe envelops the national culture. Despite popular belief, this does not have to stop in winter. Invest in a couple of stylish patio heaters and your BBQs and garden parties can continue all year round! One common annoyance in Winter is getting the temperature in your house just right, whack the heating on full blast and you feel like you’re in a sauna and have little choice but to open your windows, this wastes energy and money. A much handier option is a fan heater. You can quickly regulate the temperature in your room with one of these and it uses much less power.

There is one part of winter we do all look forward to, some of us perhaps even more than our kids, and that’s Christmas. The festive period brings joy and happiness to so many, reuniting long-separated friends and family. The exchanging of gifts brings enough warmth to our hearts without needing extra assistance from our boilers, but an air purifier might be a good idea, especially when you have uncle Fred round hoovering up the buffet you’ve laid on! Here are just a few reasons why we should anticipate winter rather than dreading it., get your wooly jumper on, have heated outdoor dinner party, get the tinsel out the attic, and enjoy winter to the fullest!

There are a range of ceiling fans on the market right now that not only circulate the air in your family living space, but also look great. Brushed aluminum blades sit angled on the central chrome plated electric motor, gleaming in the early morning sun. This is the ‘Modena Ceiling Fan’. A beautiful design that would compliment any lounge or kitchen area that looks like it has been subject to the attentions of Lawrence-Llewellyn-Bowen.

This new breed of over-head oxygen oscillators is a far cry from the ugly off-white plastic monstrosities that once littered lower class living rooms. The ceiling fan is about to make a comeback akin to that of David Hasselhoff and will soon be top of the home-gadget wish list along with 3D TVs and butt-massaging sofas. Other designs are available with see through blades to give your fan a stealth effect, or pine-wood air choppers to match your coffee table.

The way fans are operated has also come on leaps and bounds, instead of using a breakage prone and frankly dangerous string pull chord, most fans on the market today come with a remote giving you options on the speed of rotation while also meaning you don’t even have to get off your bespoke goose-feather couch to switch the thing on. Ceiling fans may have fallen behind the times recently, but they are about to come back for good!

While I love being able to wear summer clothes and spend more time outside, when temperatures in Britain begin to soar everyday life does become uncomfortable. If you own a car with no air con you are drenched in sweat by the time you get home from work.  Sleeping is difficult, and it becomes a necessity to take multiple showers in a day if you don’t wish to end up smelling like stig of the dump!

Many people blame the heat, ‘it’s too hot’ is a common compliant we hear very often, but do you ever hear people moaning about the humidity? While heat is easy to gauge as we have been conditioned to notice changes in the ambient temperature, I would guess that we’re not so perceptive about how humid it is. Humidity contributes just as much to how hot it ‘feels’ as temperature does.  No need to panic though!  There are products on the market which allow you to control the humidity of your immediate environment at least.

Dehumidifiers are a great way to make your scorching summer that bit easier to deal with. While desk fans and air conditioning units can help control the temperature of the room, a dehumidifier will absorb moisture and take away an annoyance you didn’t even know was there. They available in a wide range of sizes to suit cupboards, lounges or large offices.   A simple desk fan on its own may not cut the mustard on a particularly stifling mid-summer afternoon, but if you can’t stand the humidity, trying teaming your fans up with a dehumidifier or investing in air conditioning instead.

It was only a matter of time before the Dyson brand branched out into other areas. Although their washing machine was widely regarded as a flop, their range of ‘airblade’ hand-dryers installed in public conveniences have been received warmly and they have just released a range of bladeless desk fans which jump on the back of this technology. The bladeless fan is a spellbinding piece of engineering genius in the way it operates and no one can deny its aesthetic appeal, but with a price tag exceeding £200, is it really worth it!?

Desk fans and pedestal fans have been keeping homes and offices cool in Britain for years and can be picked up for a very reasonable price. For gadget geeks who gobble up every new gizmo like a gannet, this new fan may be at the top of their wish list alongside other very expensive, very cool but ultimately unnecessary products which value form as much as function. For the rest of us however a traditional desk fan does the job just fine.

One area the Dyson exceeds in is safety, if you have young children they will have absolutely no chance of injuring themselves as they edge their over-curious little digits into the central vortex. Although this is true, almost every bladed fan on the market comes with a protective metal safety cage surrounding the blades, meaning even the tiniest of pinkies couldn’t get near the blades if they wanted to.

If the new Dyson has piqued your interest, take a minute to get over it’s good looks and consider for a moment whether or not you are happy spending two-hundred big ones on something you could pick up for a tenth of the price. We seem to forget that while form and function are very important in today’s fashion conscious society, so is the dent left in your wallet, especially in the current climate!

1. Sunburn: We all know how to prevent it yet it seems all the good advice is hitting a brick wall. WEAR SUNSCREEN, as Baz Luhrmann once said in his 1997 number one hit. A swift slather of sunscreen on your sinewy silhouette will stop sunburn, ensuring you don’t look like a lobster, and more importantly, minimize the risk of skin cancer.
2. Dehydration: This is another easily curable ailment, simply drink water regularly. Sounds like a synch but so many people fall foul of it. Dehydration creeps up on you slowly making it hard to focus on the task in hand.
3. Heat Exhaustion: Slightly harder to diagnose, this occurs in prolonged exposure to high temperatures. Invest in portable air conditioners to keep you cool at home or in the office.
4. Insect Bites/Stings: This is more down to luck than judgment but you can still take measures to avoid the attentions of angry ants or berated bees. A quick spray on repellant will make you an unattractive prospect for critters.

So there we have it. A few quick, simple hints to keep you protected from those UV rays and all that go with them so you can get on with enjoying doing whatever it is that you do in the sun.

Excuse my rant but while I fully appreciate that combating global warming is of vital importance, governments must let the British public take their own steps to tackle the issue rather than controlling them through, uncompromising policies. Luckily there are a range of products on the market which help make your home greener, while not impacting majorly on your quality of life. Even if you are unconcerned about the environmental benefits, your wallet will be fuller due to the lower monthly electricity bills.

We all know about energy saving light bulbs and can crushers, but innovative new devices such as evaporative coolers have been designed to replace existing commodities you own with cleaner, green versions. Evaporative coolers are intended as an alternative to air conditioning units, they consume much less power and work by housing a water tank which slowly evaporates water into the surrounding air, gently cooling it. To lower the temperature further, simply add ice to the water tank and seriously chill-out!

As with air con systems the coolers are available in a range of sizes, from modest units perfect for home use, to large tanks more suitably for an industrial or commercial environment. Evaporative coolers are forecast to make air conditioning units obsolete in the future and smaller iterations of the products are currently in development for in-car use. Global Warming is an issue that can’t be solved overnight, it is about everyone taking it upon themselves to make small steps to reduce their emissions and power usage. Evaporative coolers are a great starting point. As the saying goes – every little helps!

The temperatures have soared over the last couple of years, particularly in Northern India where temperatures have been said to break the 50°C mark several times in the last few weeks.

The heat has not only had a devastating effect on the agricultural and farming industries in India, but has also caused over 100 deaths, as Indian citizens struggle to find relief from the overwhelming heat.

Air conditioners aren’t as prevalent in India as in the western world, and most people have no form of air conditioning in their homes whatsoever.
According to recent reports, people have started taking prolonged trips on the subway, as they’re one of the only air conditioned places available. Other solutions for the locals include makeshift portable air conditioners (usually handheld fans or just a magazine or something to fan themselves with) and taking a dip in the local pools.

So next time you’re complaining ‘it’s too hot for this’, spare a thought for those who live in India. It can always be worse.

But will it last? Yes it’s been lovely but i don’t think i’m the only one concerned that the cruel British summer will snatch it away from us and it’ll rain throughout July and August. Apparently, high pressure has been dominant since December around the UK, which is responsible for the low amount of rainfall over the last five months.

So how long are we going to need the desk fans and air conditioners for? According to Paul Hudson (BBC Weatherman), apart from a short period at the end of this week, we should be in store for a dry, hot summer. So it looks like we’ll be needing the fans just that little bit longer!

Mr. Hudson also commented on the winter, and apparently we’re in for one of the coldest winters in recent times – and there’s no escaping it either, as it’ll be that way for the whole of Europe. So, in a couple of months keep your eyes peeled for those patio heaters … before they all sell out!

Flies can be carriers for infectious diseases and since they breed in manure or assorted nastiness, they carry particles of manure on their tiny hairy legs and bodies to spread germs to wherever they land. To make matters even worse, they regurgitate part of their last meal when they land.  Yeah house flies are really quite nasty and not conducive to good hygiene especially in kitchens, restaurants, canteens or any food preparation, serving and storage areas.

The little nasties can be very hard to swat too thanks to their compound eye and the fact that they detect changes in air currents. That’s why flyswatters have holes in them to reduce air currents, so hopefully the fly won’t realize something is about to splat it until it’s too late!   Obviously, in a restaurant or café you can’t have waiters and staff running around with flyswatters in hand and even at home it does begin to get tedious rolling up yet another copy of the Radio Times before you begin the fruitless stalking and hunting.

Sprays and other chemical treatments are also not much of an option  in food preparation areas or around pets and young children, so the ideal solution would seem to be electric fly killers.  They provide protection without any toxic fumes or chemicals and you can also get glue board units that attract and catch flying insects without exploding them – far more hygienic for catering facilities.

Low energy zapper type electric fly killers use the latest in energy efficient UV light technology and are remarkably effective.  Most flying insects can see in the UV end of the spectrum.   Many flowers that appear bland and dull to normal vision look spectacular in UV to attract their insect pollinators.

Flies are lured towards ultraviolet light as this gives them the impression they are flying in the easiest path towards something worthwhile.   Some units will attract insects within a very large range and can be wall mounted, free standing or hung on a chain.  The EcoZap 39 for example has an electric grid on both sides so it can cover twice the area and costs around £10.25 per year to run.

No, the fan has a fascinating history going back at least 3,000 years.  There’s even a Fan Museum in Greenwich where you can see examples of what many aficionados consider an art form that combines functional, ceremonial and decorative uses.  The Greeks, Etruscans and Romans all used fans and Chinese culture and literature are just stuffed full of fans. The first folding fans were copied from examples brought to Europe from China and Japan.   They were very much luxury goods and  a status symbol with their “montures” (sticks and guards) made from  exotic materials like ivory, mother of pearl and tortoiseshell pierced and decorated with silver, gold and precious stones.

By the end of the 18th century, with cheap print production methods available, fans were mass produced and covered virtually any topic or theme from Nelson’s Victory of the Nile to “How to play Whist”.   Spain is probably the only part of Europe where the fan is still a common object, although they remain everyday accessories in the Far East and Japan.
Modern desk fans are a more practical substitute.  It’s true that they may not fit the handbag and would look out of place hiding Elizabeth’s  face while she fluttered eyelashes at Mr. Darcy, but they undoubtedly provide far greater and more efficient cooling properties.

At their lowest settings, these fans produce a quiet breeze, ideal for night-time use and with an overheat safety cut-out device that will automatically turn the fan off, there’s no need to worry about safety.  Most of these fans also consume less electricity than a 40 watt light bulb.  Wall mounted fans are just as inappropriate for hiding feminine blushes, but will at least generate a refreshing breeze without sacrificing table, counter or floor space and the oscillating feature incorporated in many models helps cover larger areas for optimum cooling.

South Africa Fans

Colourful, lively and full of hope and enthusiasm (despite most of the stadia now being stewarded by the Police) but regrettably soon to transfer their allegiances to other teams.  They cannot be forgiven though for the introduction of the sonic weapon called the Vuvuzela, which is an aural experience similar to watching the director’s cut of “The Attack of the Killer Bees” in magnificent Stereo Surround-O-Rama.  Frankly, whilst we respect African traditions, the Vuvuzela plain sucks and the thought of it appearing at Old Trafford or any other premier league ground next season is just scary.

Brazil Fans

Obvious why these fans are so popular really.  It’s all got to do with the magnificent Latin beats of the samba drums, the joyous demeanour of very seldom knowing defeat on the field, qualification achieved already,  the delight in the beautiful game,  the skimpy tops, the blonde hair….

Holland Fans

Ordinarily the Oranje’s international following are amongst the most colourful, best behaved and most demanding in the world having being spoilt by “Total Football” over the years.   They seem to have made it to the final stages again, but   on a domestic level though they do have a reputation for getting a bit steamed up.  Perhaps a dehumidifier might help?

Scotland Fans

Although they didn’t quite make the cut for South Africa, the Tartan Army has a reputation for good humoured banter with the natives where ever they are.  Drink is certainly involved in following Scotland, however the fans are generally not noted for causing too many problems.  Many authorities ascribe this perception of good behaviour to the fact that, in major tournaments, Scotland is never there long enough (i.e. beyond the initial qualifying stages) for the fans to have enough time to really kick off.

England Fans

At the time of writing, England doesn’t know what to expect….  Let’s face it, it was hardly a day of World Cup drama on the pitch and off the field the only highlights seemed to be Rooney apologizing for his outburst and England fan Pavlos Joseph being charged with trespass after his dressing room moan at the team.  Mr Joseph, from Crystal Palace, said a security guard sent him in the direction of some toilets nearby and after taking a wrong turn he found himself in the changing room.  His impromptu team talk happened only minutes after Princes William and Harry left the dressing room.  Despite John Terry’s interview, it looks like senior players may be turning on manager Fabio Capello as the pressure mounts.  We’ll find out more this coming Wednesday against Slovenia no doubt, but in a raft of weird results it would be a brave pundit indeed who would confidently predict the outcome.

Ceiling Fans

To the best of our knowledge these must be the best fans in the world.  They’ve never caused any problems inside a stadium or in its immediate vicinity and none have ever been banned from travelling abroad.   They consistently add to the comfort and décor of any room, supply effective lighting, often display traits like varying speeds for maximum cooling and are very quiet.  They are gainfully employed all year round cooling in Summer and pushing warm air down from the ceiling in Winter.  Their understanding of the off side rule is however, very limited.

So how do we know if we need to break out the desk fan or thermal jacket? Other than relying on the TV weather forecast, which seems to get it wrong around 50% of the time … somehow…see previous musings on that subject….

One of the best ways for you to easily and quickly get a decent prediction for the day’s weather is with one of the many hi-tech weather stations available on the current market. Take the Diva Base Weather Station for example:

This fantastic little device will allow you to view indoor or outdoor temperatures in °F or °C, and will predict the weather based on air pressure and temperature.
It also looks great anywhere in the house with its sleek and modern design; fitting in particularly well in offices, conservatories and greenhouses.

As well as the outside transmitter included, additional outside transmitters can be connected to the Diva Base. This will allow you to monitor the environmental pressure in several different areas and access the readings for the greenhouse, garden and wherever else you have the transmitters positioned.

So there’s really no need to rely on what seem like total guesses sometimes on TV, become your own personal weather forecaster with one of the many amazing weather stations on the market.

Within a few minutes, Obama realised that he (and everyone else present), may be in a little bit of danger…

“We’re a little concerned about Lightning … a little but of rain won’t hurt anybody, but we don’t want anyone getting struck by lighting”

And with that the president was off, advising the crowds to return to their cars and wait out the storm.

We’d have to say that once again, the US President was spot on to stop the speech and advise people to return to their cars. A car is one of the safest places you can be during a lightning storm, as the car forms a Faraday Cage; preventing external electricity from entering the car and instead guiding it around the car to the earth. So if you do get struck by lightning, a car’s not a bad place to find yourself.

The timing for Obama’s not bad either, considering it’s Illinois’ National Lightning Safety Awareness Week late this month.

Back in the UK, we’re hoping to avoid rain, thunder and lightning all together and the forecasts look promising for at least (!) a few days of proper sunshine this summer. We’re aiming more for the ceiling fans and desk fans than the umbrella’s and hiding from lightning. That said, the summer months do bring with them an increased likelihood of thunder storms as the moisture in the air increases, particularly on very humid days.

So if you do find yourself caught out in a sudden summer storm, make like the President and head for the car (not an open top one of course!).

It’s June now, so I  think we can be forgiven for expecting a bit of sun. Yes I know we’re in Britain, but I want my summer.

After a couple of false starts (where it pretended it was summer to get us all in shorts and sandals and then rained heavily), it appears (in hushed tones) the British summer may actually be on the way.

Below is the weather report image for Saturday, with temperatures forecast to reach 26C in some areas:

So with temperatures predicted to be this high, it’s worth investing in some kind of air conditioning for you and your family. I personally hate trying to sleep when it’s this hot (and this is seriously hot for the UK!), so a wall-mounted fan with a remote can’t be a bad way to go:

Three speeds of operation are adjustable either from the fan itself or the remote control, and a timer feature means you can set the fan to turn itself off – ideal for those long, sticky summer nights. It even features a sleep mode that slows the fan’s speed while the timer counts down.
Having a wall-mounted fan provides the comfort of cooling along with the convenience of keeping the fan out of the way. Most other 16inch fans are pedestal types, which can get in the way or be knocked over. With a wall-mounted fan you have none of these worries.

If you’re looking for something more focused towards the office, get yourself a desk fan – a particular favourite of mine is the chrome retro fan:

This chrome fan not only looks cool (no pun intended) but it’s perfect for the office environment; it features a 12 inch fan head and three speed settings, allowing you to set it for maximum cooling or minimum sound.
An oscillation feature will gently move the fan head from side to side, providing cooling for a whole room, or if you’re just a little selfish, like me you’ll turn that off!

However you plan to keep yourself cool this weekend, make sure you enjoy yourself and keep safe in the high temperatures.

Huge ash clouds from the volcano last week lead to many people rushing to buy air purifiers to make sure that none of the particulate matter would drift across their own atmospheres. Air purifiers available do include units that remove airborne particles with filters, incinerate pollutants with high temperatures, wash the air with water and sterilise the air with plasma, ozone or UV light. As well as the filtration process, some air purifiers have a built in ioniser which adds negative ions to the air replacing those which have been destroyed by pollution and electronic equipment. Adding negative ions makes the air feel fresh and clean irrespective of what Eyjafjallajokull does.  Speaking of which, Icelandic seismologists reckon these tremors indicate a build up of lava within the crater and since Eyjafjallajokull has reached about 80% of its intensity, the earth tremors could cause an even larger eruption at a neighbouring crater.

Here’s our (less than serious) take on the eruption though.  The 2008–2010-Ongoing Icelandic financial crisis involved the collapse of all three of the country’s major banks following their difficulties in refinancing their short-term debt.  Relative to the size of its economy, Iceland’s banking collapse was the largest suffered by any country in economic history!  They went bust big time basically!

As a result of the crisis, Iceland is in the grip of a severe economic recession.  They reckon the financial meltdown has cost 75% of the country’s GDP.  What would any desperate business do in that situation?  Pull an insurance job!  Sudden fire wipes out premises and stock, company is bereft, but collects insurance. Iceland has done the same – set fire to the entire country!  Get your air purifier ready, as there are more particulates to come and watch out for those hikes in your premiums once that claim goes through!

If the forecasts of just how sweltering this summer is going to be are anywhere near correct, then air conditioning will be essential for virtually anyone at home or in the office.  They will probably be a life-saver if you have a conservatory.  If temperatures do reach the stratospheric heights predicted, you could wind up with a very effective blast furnace in which you could smelt steel instead of a comfortable room outdoors!  They could also, very literally, be a genuine life saver for the elderly in particular if we do indeed get a real heat wave!

Portable and window air conditioners are the ideal temporary or permanent cooling solution for offices, cafés and restaurants, kitchens and domestic environments when the weather turns really hot and sticky. Window air conditioners can provide a year-round solution by fitting permanently in the walls of a building or the supporting brickwork of an extension or conservatory.    They’re also suitable for temporary installation through sash windows for example.

Many people think that air conditioners lower the temperature simply by somehow pumping cool air in when in fact any unit recycles warm air in a room back as cooler air. In some senses, an air conditioner is essentially a refrigerator without the insulated box and uses the evaporation of a refrigerant, just like a fridge, to provide cooling.  Some air conditioners can cool and help clean the air as well.  Some indoor units have filters that catch dust, pollen and other allergens as some can also function as dehumidifiers, taking in excess moisture  from the air and using  it to help cool the unit.

If you are considering a portable unit, you should also be aware of the limitations on just how “portable” it will be.  All portable air conditioning  units require a hose to be fed out a window or door to extract the hot air produced by the compressor. This does limit where they can be situated, but you can get hose extensions so you can reach a convenient window or other opening.  “Through the wall” vent kits to go with portable units are probably a better solution.  They allow you to maintain a sealed room rather than leave doors or windows slightly open. This improves the overall cooling efficiency, but does of course require a hole to be drilled through the wall and some installation work.

1998 was a record because the El Nino that year was the strongest ever seen, but climate scientists believe 2010 is likely to top it.  A record warm year in 2010 is not a certainty though, especially if the El Nino is weaker than expected or there was a large volcanic eruption on the scale of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines in 1991 that spews vast amounts of dust into the upper atmosphere.  The current eruption of the volcano under the Eyjafjallajokull glacier (does anyone out there know how to pronounce that?)  in Iceland may disrupt air traffic but isn’t big enough to have that sort of impact.

The consensus seems to be that there’s more than a 90% chance that this summer will be hotter than 2009 and may well turn out to be the fifth hottest year in the global record. Don’t rush out and buy the Barbie just yet though, because if all the predictions are true, then a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, so it will also be hot, humid and sticky with an increased chance of rain.

So it’s likely that the “must have” piece of kit for this summer won’t be the BBQ, but a decent fan for home, office or industrial use. Whether it’s oscillating desk fans, remote control pedestal fans, high velocity fans, ceiling fans or heavy duty industrial drum fans for cooling factories, warehouses and depots, they all work the same way.  The difference is merely a matter of scale and square footage they can handle.  Any fan does not actually “cool” a space at all. What a fan does is to create a wind chill effect in the summer. It’s the same effect that you get when you blow on hot soup to cool it down. The movement of the air increases the soup’s loss of heat by convection, so the soup cools down quicker.  By blowing air around, a fan makes it easier for the air to evaporate sweat from your skin, which is how the body normally gets rid of excess heat. The greater the rate of evaporation, the cooler you feel.

This is the UK.  You can be pretty sure there will be no bush fires, earthquakes or tsunamis.  Really there’s a 50/50 chance that it will rain or it won’t rain. Aren’t they just making it all up as they go along, like we would if we found ourselves addressing the nation live on TV in front of a giant map that you can’t actually see?  Just like Dorothy, we suspect that behind the curtains, the omnipotent Wizard of Oz is really just a little bloke desperately  pedalling away on some Heath Robinson affair shouting: “Warm front coming in from the continent!” through a cheap megaphone.  We don’t trust weather forecasts any more!

Apparently uncaring about the wash-out “Barbecue Summer” prediction of the Met Office last time round, another weather organisation, Positive Weather Solutions (PWS) is saying that summer 2010 is likely to be the warmest one ever with stifling temperatures. Even the Met Office has flipped the coin which has come up heads again and said that it really, really, really will be a “Barbecue Summer” this time thanks to a strong El Nino, which always heats things up.  Of course, if the El Nino does not materialise or turns out to be weak, PWS and the Met Office will be left with egg on their faces again and the sceptics will have a field day.

If you count yourself in that legion of sceptics or if you prefer a more localised forecast and aren’t really bothered (given your south of England location) if the road from Cockbridge to Tomintoul is under eight feet of snow again, then you should invest in a weather station.  These handy and high-tech devices will provide a wealth of accurate and empirical information on outdoor and indoor conditions where you live.   Weather stations and instruments can range from simple analogue thermometers to advanced digital weather forecasting devices.  You can get stylish, easy to read and understand weather stations that have left the humble barometer far behind.  They will display the current air pressure as well as humidity and temperature and use icons to indicate likely weather conditions.  Great as your own Met Centre, a fascinating educational tool for the kids, and a rather fetching ornamental addition to the home.

Aside from all those lofty motives, you could well save money too!  And it looks like getting a humidifier could contribute to all that!  There are some cost-effective approaches you can take to energy conservation in the home, especially as the weather gets cooler.  Some are obvious, some perhaps more surprising.  Here’s a list of some suggested measures:

• Turn on Your Humidifier: when it’s cold outside, don’t turn up the thermostat.  Turn on the humidifier for additional moisture that will increase the heat index inside your home. Low humidity makes the air feel colder than it actually is and the greater the moisture content of the air, the warmer it feels.   According to howstuff works.com, a relative humidity (RH) level of just 10% makes an air temperature of 95° F actually feel 5° colder. That’s really desert – dry and in practice you’d probably never get down to 10%  RH without a massive dehumidifier.  The air “feels” cool because the moisture evaporates from your skin more in a dry atmosphere.  Increase the humidity and less moisture evaporates because we sweat less. Boost the RH to 50% and the same air temperature feels almost 10° warmer than it really is for the same reasons.     A simple step like this uses considerably less energy than turning up the heating, whether that’s electric or gas-fired.  You can use a portable unit in frequently used areas like the bedroom or living room to get the same effect.
• Insulate the Loft: especially if your home was built before 1980. Heat can escape via the ceiling, through the roof and into the atmosphere.   12 inches plus ideally of insulation is one of the most cost-effective ways to help cut heating and cooling costs and make your home more comfortable. Also add insulation to crawl spaces, under floors, against basement walls and the wall adjoining an attached garage if you have one.
• Replace single pane windows: double or triple-glazed windows, especially those with a coating on the glass that reflects heat back into the room, will noticeably affect your heating costs and can help reduce heat loss through the window by as much as 50%.  Better fitting doors will help reduce draughts and properly fitted draught excluder strips around door frames will cut down on heat loss too.
• Seal all external gaps: by using caulk, sealants and weather-stripping to plug cracks or fissures inside and out, around windows, doors and where systems protrude through the skin of the house.

A humidifier is an accessory that may not be quite so high on the list of essentials for the nursery, but it could be one of the best things you can buy to assure a healthy and happy baby as well as hopefully peaceful nights for all concerned!

Dry air often causes babies to develop breathing problems, swollen sinuses, and respiratory infections. Humidifiers in the nursery will help prevent those symptoms and can also protect your baby from allergies and drying of the skin, both of which are common in winter.

So what is the best humidifier to get for the baby’s room?  Some paediatricians prefer cool mist humidifiers as they do not have a heating element which could accidentally hurt an inquisitive and active toddler, but generally the only type of humidifier recommended for a nursery is a steam humidifier.

Other mist types may put dust into the air which is carried in the water.  In addition, if the unit is not maintained properly there’s a risk of putting stagnant water into the air and spreading any bacteria or germs it might contain.  A steam system ensures that the moisture released is totally hygienic.

When it comes to humidity levels, anywhere between 40% – 60% is recommended for a house or an office. A humidity of 40% is also the electrostatic threshold.  Anything below  40% and there’s not enough humidity in the air to dissipate electric charge, so static can build up.

For the nursery, you should aim for a relative humidity (RH)  level of between 50%-60%.  You should also look for humidifiers that are not too noisy when they operate as this could disturb the baby’s sleep.

Probably the best all round solution we’d suggest for the nursery would be the Turmix AX200 Steam Humidifier.  It’s a simple but reliable design and is completely silent in operation.  You just pour water into the top of the unit (you can use distilled or even bottled water rather than tap water) and plug it in. The solid element gently warms the water to release steam and raise the humidity in the room and if the tank becomes empty, the unit automatically turns itself off. There’s also a safety overheat feature which will turn the Turmix AX200 off should the unit overheat for any reason. The water tank will hold up to 3.8 litres of water and a special receptacle in the top allows decongestants to be gently heated and evaporated into the atmosphere as well.

All dehumidifiers use mechanical energy to move air, so they do tend to make a certain amount of noise that comes from the compressor mainly in refrigerant models and even desiccant units use fans to draw in air.   However the latest models are certainly far quieter than their predecessors.  Many top end models also have a frost protection feature using a hot gas system to defrost the internal cooling coils so they can be used in cold weather, however their efficiency can be diminished at very low temperatures.

For very small spaces like wardrobes, cupboards, sheds, caravans, boats or garages, a desiccant moisture absorber should be sufficient, especially if these locations don’t have a power supply.   The Superdry moisture absorber for example contains desiccant that will absorb up to 1.5 litres of water from the atmosphere for up to eight weeks at a time.

Larger rooms may require a dehumidifier that can extract around 20 to 40 litres of water every day, especially during very humid days. If smaller rooms need to be dehumidified, half that capacity should be sufficient so a product like the GD10L 10 Litre dehumidifier would be perfect.  This compact and economic unit has a continuous drain option so a hose could be fitted to take the water directly to a drain, thus by-passing the automatic shut off many of these more compact units have when their relatively small tank is full.

Tank size is definitely a consideration to take into account. The dripping water from a dehumidifier is collected in a tank which has to be emptied periodically. Obviously, the smaller the tank, the more frequently it needs emptying. Some compact units can be surprisingly efficient with powerful little dehumidifiers that can remove up to 20 litres of moisture every 24 hours.  That’s adequate for a 3-4 bedroom house or a humid cellar or garage.  These units incorporate an integral water container or can be connected to a drain for continuous discharge.

The device is called the Cirrus 3, and while it does not appear to be an air purifier or an air filter,  it is said to eradicate up to 99.9999% of pathogenic airborne and surface bacteria and viruses.  It does this by replicating what its inventor calls “Open Air Factor” which is composed of naturally occurring ozone catalysed by UV light and combined with aromatic hydrocarbons given off by plant life.  This creates substances called hydroxyl radicals and it’s these apparently that are so lethal to pathogens.  The Cirrus 3 is in effect a ‘Fresh Air Machine’ combining three existing decontamination technologies to create an invisible defence cloud that kills germs before they can spread from person to person.

If it works as advertised, the technology could be readily adapted for a range of applications such as care homes, surgeries, and cruise ships – anywhere where there’s a large number of people and a risk of bacterial or viral transmission through the air of by surface contact.  Cirrus 3 devices could also be incorporated into HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) systems or integrated in next generation air purifiers and humidifiers.

In the meanwhile, recent studies  have suggested that maintaining an indoor Relative Humidity (RH) level between 40-60% can not only relieve cold and flu symptoms, it can actually help kill flu viruses on surfaces and in the air if used with other measures, like the Cirrus 3 maybe. Whether or not you recreate natural fresh air, maintaining the right amount of moisture in your home can help to soothe sore throats and allow you to breathe better and sleep more comfortably.

There’s even some research that suggests plants can absorb heavy metal toxins like formaldehyde and benzene.  So plants are very pretty and can be effective in improving air quality, not least because they generate oxygen.  There are some disadvantages though, even if you can keep them alive for more than a few days.  Certain compounds in some indoor plants can cause allergic reactions in animals and humans and people who suffer from hay fever may not thank you for a potted gift.  And even before you can grow your indoor plants, especially if entirely by hydroponics, you need to establish a relative humidity level of between 50 – 70% so that the plants are hydrated properly and transport vital nutrients effectively.

The belt and braces approach of using plants and a humidifier or air purifier does have some benefits. A humidifier is also particularly useful for children with colds and snuffles as helps to help ease congestion.  Adding moisture to your room can make a big difference in how you look and feel, especially if you have dry nasal and sinus passages and are uncomfortable during the arid winter months.

There is of course one indoor horticultural practice that seems to rely very heavily on air purifiers.  We are by no means endorsing it or suggesting you try this yourselves, but the cultivation of marijuana is one where the correct air purity and humidity is vital. 50 marijuana plants will yield about five pounds of harvested marijuana using cultivation equipment such as growing lights and air purifiers.  You’re far better off sticking to the mechanical alternatives!

If you’re in a band or an orchestra and have musical instruments in the house, you’ll be aware of how quickly they can “spontaneously” go out of tune.   That’s especially the case if you live or perform in a very dry or arid environment.   There are humidifiers specially made for instrument cases and some humidifiers may actually attach to or fit in the instrument, like a humidifier that fits in the soundhole of a guitar or in the f-hole of a violin.   If you live in consistently moist or damp environments, or perform in halls that have that familiar “musty” odour, you may want to consider some way to dehumidify the instrument.  That’s usually achieved by adding a desiccant, such as silica-gel or dry clay granules inside the instrument case (never inside the instrument itself).

If you and your instrument spend a lot of time in one particular location, like a practice room or a recording studio for example, then it’s probably worth looking at systems that will humidify or dehumidify the entire environment in which you perform.  That’s particularly helpful if, as is often the case, the studios, rehearsal rooms or live venues are in basements or barely maintained village halls.  If you want to find out if you need a humidifier, buy a thermohygrometer.  The ideal humidity for most normal situations and to maintain your instrument in perfect tune is between 40-60% relative humidity. If the thermohygrometer reads below this you probably need a humidifier. If it reads above this you may need a dehumidifier.  Dry air in these places can affect more than just your instrument.   Breathing in dry air can lead to fatigue, tiredness and reduced concentration levels as well as an increased susceptibility to colds and respiratory tract complaints.

Even before you get your hands on the instrument, there are equally sound reasons to control the humidity in the music store too.  Guitar woods are no longer plentiful and inexpensive and customers are increasingly asking where the wood came from and what is being done to conserve it.  Most factories control their climate during manufacture and most instrument owners will keep their guitars or whatever protected in cases. It’s the retail music store that’s potentially the worst environment that a guitar or other instrument will ever experience at a time when you want them in first rate condition in order to sell them!  Controlled humidity throughout the shop will benefit all guitars for example, not just acoustics.  Most guitar manufacturers are also becoming very strict about returns they will take responsibility for, and are insisting on the use of humidifiers or dehumidifiers as appropriate in their retail, franchised or independent outlets.

Pet dander is the main cause of pet allergy symptoms that can be caused by the hair or saliva of your cat or dog coming into contact with your skin or in the air.  Allergic reactions can include irritating sneezing, congestion and a runny nose through to more serious coughing and wheezing or eczema and rashes. Overexposure to animal dander can make the problem worse and can develop into Asthma.  There is no relationship between how long your pets’ hair is and how much dander its skin produces.  Aside from dander, your pet’s fur can also collect allergens like pollen, dust, and spores from the outside environment. Because pet dander is sticky and can adhere to many surfaces, you could even experience pet allergy symptoms without owning a pet at all.

Despite all this about two million people live with at least one cat or dog in their household, even though they are allergic to them.  Pet allergies can be controlled. The best solution is to find a new home for your pet, but if that sounds too extreme there are some other steps you can take.

• Wash your pet weekly with a dander reducing shampoo – this can reduce the level of allergens by as much as 84%.
• Keep your pets outdoors if possible, but if not, then create an allergy-free area in the house by keeping the pet permanently out of that particular room.
• Vacuum frequently using a HEPA filtered vacuum cleaner that removes and permanently traps airborne allergens.
• Remove airborne animal dander by cleaning the air with a HEPA filtered air purifier.  Units like the AP281 HEPA Air Purifier & Ioniser retail for as little as £31.00 and will effectively remove airborne particles like dust, dirt, pollen, animal dander and mould spores.
• Keep your pets off furniture and soft furnishings and always wash your hands thoroughly after playing with your pet.

Of course if all that fails, consider a goldfish or maybe look at animatronic Guinea Pig.   To some, these may be little more than a battery compartment with a wig, but to you he could be an allergy-free friend and companion for life.  There’s no pee or poop behind the sofa, no sawdust scattered all over the place, and when you go away on holiday they don’t die on you either!  £31.00 though isn’t too high a price to pay for the real thing and when last we heard, they aren’t planning a “Cyber Crufts” any time soon!

Top 10 Prominent Possible Air Purifier Puffers

1. WINSTON CHURCHILL:  the man for whom the imposing Churchill cigar size was named smoked around 10 a day.  He even had a special oxygen mask made that allowed him to smoke in a non-pressurised aircraft cabin.
2. GROUCHO MARX: his third wife, Eden, objected to his “stinky old cigar” and ordered him to put it out or get a new wife.  Guess what he did?
3. BILL CLINTON: the 42nd president has been known to chew cigars on the golf course and smoke them on overseas trips, but is notorious for a far more intimate employment of the rolled tobacco leaf.
4. DEMI MOORE: partial to small cigars, such as the Montecristo Joyita, but also enjoys a Cohiba No. 2 or a Montecristo No. 2. We suggest a PL3000 HEPA Air Purifier with Remote Control that will neutralise airborne particles and odours.
5. SIGMUND FREUD: the father of psychoanalysis saw phallic symbols everywhere, but even he conceded that “sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.” The HM685 Five Stage Plasma Air Purifier is a handy tower shape that should resemble a phallus enough for any Freudian.
6. WHOOPI GOLDBERG: Oscar nominated, stand-up comic and talk show host who prefers small cigars, but has been known to suck on a big Cohiba now and then.
7. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER:  the “govenator” was introduced to the Cuban tubes by Sargent Shriver, the father of his wife Maria, shortly after Schwarzenegger and Maria met in 1977.  The AP281 HEPA Air Purifier & Ioniser should be ideal.  It’s simple and easy to use.
8. MICHAEL DOUGLAS: a proclivity for playing flawed heroes and antiheroes as well as Welsh women (43) almost two-thirds his age (66) and smoking Montecristo No. 2’s on the golf course. The Air-O-Swiss Combi – Air Purifier & Humidifier will clear the room and keep the wrinkles at bay.
9. DITA VON TEESE: born Heather Renée Sweet, Von Teese began her career in a local strip club when she was 18.  She’s famed for her vintage-inspired outfits that reflect 1940s cinema and classic retro style as well as the odd cigar.  The P80 Airfree Air Purifier is not only the world’s most endorsed air purifier, it’s also got that nice rounded Art Deco Retro shape about it.
10. SIR JAMES WILSON VINCENT SAVILE, OBE, KCSG: Jimmy Savile to the rest of us.   Ex-semi-pro wrestler, host of Jim’ll Fix it, Top of the Pops and work for charity mixed with his trademark cigars – “ow’s about that then?”

Now, recent studies and reviews of previous work  suggest that maintaining an indoor  Relative Humidity (RH) level between 40-60% can not only relieve cold and flu symptoms, it can actually help kill flu viruses on surfaces and in the air if used with other measures.

Research that studied the correlation between why the influenza season peaks in the winter months when air temperature and RH levels are so low concluded that the survival of influenza germs can be reduced significantly by using humidifiers to create RH levels of at least 40%.  Using mechanically atomised influenza virus samples released as an aerosol to infect chicken eggs or egg membranes, studies consistently show that influenza survives far better at low RH levels.    Although not as extensively studied as the effects of RH on aerosol survival, studies on the effects of RH on influenza survival on hard surfaces also showed a similar correlation.  The data across several studies is remarkably consistent.  Influenza germ survival is greatly reduced in environments with an RH of approximately 40 -60%.

Of course, this only reduces influenza germ survival rates and there is still no cure for the common cold. There are things you can do to alleviate any symptoms and using a humidifier is definitely one of them. Maintaining the right amount of moisture in your home can help to soothe sore throats and allow you to breathe better and sleep more comfortably.   Even when the whole family is healthy, proper humidity levels in the home can relieve other winter symptoms caused by cold, dry winter air, such as a dry nose, a dry throat, and dry eyes.