INDOOR WATERFALLS
22 September 2008
“Show Me”
When I first wrote about indoor recirculating waterfalls a couple of weeks ago, I have to admit that what primarily interested me about the concept was the aesthetics of it, but since then I have been contacted by another manufacturer in the field who has really taken this product to the—well, I was going to say to the next level, but I hate slang. But, on the other hand, it’s difficult to think of another way to describe what has been done with Humidifall Indoor Waterfalls. They bill themselves as integrating art and science, and I really believe they do.
In view of the pictures accompanying this blog, the beauty of the concept
itself would seem to need no introduction from me, but there are two practical considerations that are worthy of a little comment: function and maintenance, because a waterfall that did something more than recirculate water might be worthy of one’s attention, and especially so if the upkeep did not require a lot of one’s time.
I have to confess that one of the primary selling points for this product—a whole-house humidifier—is essentially lost on me because I live near the ocean in San Diego, and we are never too dry. In fact I remember the culture shock my family experienced when we moved to Southern California. Back in Montana we used to leave an open bag of potato chips on the counter for a day or two. Leave potato chips out overnight here, and you have rubber bands in the morning!
However, it is a fact that large parts of the country would benefit from a humidifier, especially in the winter months. One of the testimonials on the Humidifall website talks about a house that creaked all winter long because trim and other wood dried out and contracted, which opens the joints. That sort of thing goes on because wood is hydroscopic (meaning it absorbs and expels moisture dependent on its environment), and it
goes on even here, but because our climate is more stable, it is not nearly the factor for us as it is for others. For those who have such a problem, a humidifier will definitely help.
The other potential problem for indoor waterfalls, after the splashing problem has been solved, is the maintenance of them. Anything that uses water like that is going to need to be cleaned on a regular basis and re-filled to avoid burning up the pump when the water level gets too low, neither of which sounds all that onerous, and in the beginning, when the unit is new and shiny and lots of fun, one breezes through that sort of thing. But after a while…
Humidifall is connected to a water source, just like connecting an ice-maker line for a refrigerator, which eliminates manual filling. Mineral deposits are handled with specially designed water filters (no expensive distilled water), and the inevitable dirty water (because all waterfalls attract dust particles in the air) is cleaned automatically. They have a UV sterilization light and a super heating cleaning cycle that heats the water to 130 degrees and then replaces it on a daily basis. And I gotta tell you, any cleaning system that involves my just opening a beer and watching the machine clean itself gets my vote!
The other intriguing facet of Humidifall is their ability to change and to customize. The panels and trim are changeable, so one can obtain a different look for one’s waterfall in a matter of minutes. They have a number of waterfalls that are pre-made and ready for sh
ipping, but they also work with their clients to make something that never was. The waterfall we featured at the top of this blog is a custom piece that is twenty-two feet high and extends through three floors of the client’s home, ending up in a crescent shaped sitting area in the basement. And what particularly impresses me about this particular unit is that the wall it is affixed to is concrete, which meant that they could not run it inside the wall, as they normally do with their waterfalls. The solution to that particular dilemma was for Humidifall to create a custom trim piece to hide the in-wall unit.
We live in an age where much of what we consume in this country is manufactured overseas—in third world countries by incompetents, because it’s cheaper that way—and one size has to fit all, because only one size is available. So, I find it rather refreshing to encounter a company that is willing to work with their clients to the extent that Humidifall does. And the fact that they’re headquartered in Missouri just adds icing to the cake. That oughta show ‘em!
Joseph
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