What are the benifits to installing a furnace humidifier?
Benefits of home furnace humidifiers. Below are some key benefits of installing a furnace humidifier: Good health: You can improve your family’s well-being by treating dry air throughout your home. Home furnace humidifiers have been shown to improve lung health, alleviate allergy and asthma symptoms and reduce instances of illness. Winter ...
Do furnace humidifiers really work?
When you have a whole house humidifier installed, the humid air that circulates through the home feels hotter, so you can set your furnace to a lower temperature and still feel as if it were at the setting you’re used to. The humidifier pays for itself through your energy savings.
Is a furnace humidifier worth it?
Yes, get it. We get many fewer colds now that we have one. Subject: Is a furnace humidifier worth it? We have one and I think it is worth it. Our skin feels less itchy in the winter and the house "feels" warmer at a lower temperature because of the humidity. The house feels more comfortable in the winter.
Should I add a humidifier to my furnace?
should i add a humidifier to my furnace? The short answer is yes, you do need a humidifier with a high-efficiency furnace . These furnaces may contribute to low humidity levels in the home, but winter humidity levels are already so low that you may need a humidifier with any furnace, not just a new high-efficiency one.
The specialty of furnace humidifier
A furnace humidifier is a type of humidifier that installs in the ductwork of a forced-air heating system, humidifying the air before it enters the house. A furnace humidifier often operates at a slower pace than other types of humidifiers, and installation can cost from about $800 to more than $1,000.
humidifier for furnace pros
A furnace humidifier will help you avoid the need to purchase an expensive whole-home central heating system, which may cost over $5,000.
downsides of furnance humidifier
The air quality in your home may suffer because the furnace humidifier will constantly recirculate moisture into the house.
What are the advantages of a furnace humidifier?
They can even help you save money on heating, as moist air feels warmer, and you don’t need to keep the temperature set as high. Best of all, there’s no tank to fill.
How Do Furnace Humidifiers Work?
As you might guess, furnace humidifiers install right onto your main heating and cooling system, usually in the ductwork right leading out from your furnace. The warm air leaves the furnace, passes through the fan that pushes it through the ducts, and then flows past the humidifier and out into the rest of your home.
What is a drum humidifier?
Drum humidifiers have a pan of water, and a rotating belt that passes through the pan. The water from the moistened belt evaporates into the air leaving your furnace. Because this type of humidifier has a standing pan of water, you need to be diligent about cleaning it or mold can form.
How many types of furnace humidifiers are there?
There are 3 main types of furnace humidifier:
What humidity levels cause wood to warp?
Our bodies love more humidity – but if it gets over 35% you run the risk of mold growth. High humidity levels (over 55%) can help germs thrive and can cause wood to warp.
Can humidifiers cause nosebleeds?
For some, sore throats and “perpetual colds” are an issue. Dry winter air can aggravate asthma, dust allergies, and even cause nosebleeds for some people. It can be tempting to buy a small tabletop or freestanding humidifier. But the only way to really solve the problem is to get a furnace humidifier installed.
Do furnace humidifiers need to be filled?
Best of all, there’s no tank to fill. Furnace humidifiers connect right to your water supply. So there’s no struggling with the weight of a larger tank, or the constant refilling needed with a smaller one.
Why Does Indoor Humidity Matter?
The term humidity refers to the amount of water vapor in the air. Cold air has a more limited ability to hold moisture as warm air which is why low humidity often becomes a problem during the winter.
What Does a Furnace Humidifier Do?
Humidifiers take many forms from portable humidifiers that are good for allergies to whole-house humidifiers that work with your existing HVAC system. The main difference is that a portable humidifier only affects the humidifier in one room while a furnace humidifier provides a whole-home solution.
What Should You Look For in a Furnace Humidifier?
Before buying a furnace humidifier, it’s important to consider the different options and to think about the various furnace humidifier pros and cons. The right humidifier for your home may vary depending on the type of furnace you have, the size of your home, and any additional features you want.
The Best Furnace Humidifier Picks to Consider
We encourage you to consider the furnace humidifier pros and cons for any model before you buy, but we also understand the sheer number of options can be overwhelming. To help you get started, we’ve assembled a small list of furnace humidifiers we recommend.
What is a furnace humidifier?
A furnace-mounted , or whole-house, humidifier is designed to connect to a forced-air heating/cooling system to deliver moistened air throughout the house. There are several different types of furnace humidifiers. A flow-through humidifier uses freshwater that flows through the system and drains away. A reservoir type has a reservoir of water that moistens a rotating drum. A steam humidifier heats water to create steam that is injected into the furnace airflow.
What are the components of a furnace humidifier?
Although there are some variations to the components of a humidifier, they all require: Water, which increases humidity as it evaporates into the air stream. A water collection medium, usually an evaporator pad. Blowing air, which facilitates the evaporation of water.
What happens when a humidistat is shut off?
When the humidistat calls for an increase in humidity, the solenoid opens and supplies the water feed tube. When the humidistat senses the humidity level is good, or when the furnace shuts down, the solenoid shuts off, stopping water flow to the humidifier.
How does a humidifier work?
The flow of water to the humidifier is controlled by a water inlet orifice and an inlet valve assembly controlled by an electric solenoid. The solenoid is controlled by a humidistat, which operates as a kind of thermostat for humidity.
What is the water collection medium that holds water briefly as it is evaporated to create humidified air?
Evaporator pad (media): This is the water collection medium that holds the water briefly as it is evaporated to create humidified air. Drain pan: Water flows through the evaporator pad and into the drain pan, from which it flows out into a household drain. Air damper/air duct: Some models have an air duct from the hot-air side ...
How does a flow through humidifier work?
Many of the components of a flow-through humidifier are shown here. This is how all the parts work together: Water tap/supply line: A water supply line for the humidifier is tapped into an existing water pipe. Water inlet orifice: The orifice reduces the water flow to the humidifier inlet valve.
What is coming out of the top of a humidifier?
Coming out of the top of the valve is the water inlet feed tube, which runs to the top of the humidifier.
Why do we need a humidifier in a furnace?
Furnaces produce dry heat, so furnace humidifiers are necessary to replace that harsh air with some that’s clean and moist. This prevents damage to the home and helps you and your family breathe more comfortably.
What are the different types of furnace humidifiers?
Common types of whole-house furnace humidifiers include bypass, fan, steam, evaporative, and self-contained. While they all do their job well, each type has its advantages and disadvantages.
How does an evaporative humidifier work?
Evaporative humidifiers, sometimes called pad humidifiers, hook up your home’s direct water line to constantly supply water to a humidifier pad. When warm air blows over the pad that has water running down it, water evaporates and moisture releases into the air. Your air system then distributes the humidity throughout your home.
How does a fan powered humidifier work?
Similar to bypass furnace humidifiers, fan-powered humidifiers push humidified air through your home using ductwork. But unlike bypass humidifiers, fan-powered ones use their own fan, resulting in increased water evaporation. These systems can produce a gallon more of humidity per day compared to their bypass counterparts.
How does a steam humidifier work?
Steam humidifiers create humidity by boiling water and releasing steam, which the humidifier pushes through a home’s ventilation system. These systems use electricity, so they can be relatively expensive to operate. Installation is also expensive because these systems are complex and require a local humidifier installer.
How much does a bypass humidifier cost?
Bypass humidifiers are relatively inexpensive when compared to other whole-house humidifiers, at $125 to $200. Plus, they reuse water, so they won’t cause your water bill to skyrocket. They’re also much quieter than other models (especially fan-powered humidifiers).
Where to install a furnace humidifier?
You can install them almost anywhere, including in a closet or under the stairs, to keep them out of the way.
What is the purpose of a humidifier in a furnace?
The concept is simple — the furnace produces dried up heated air, and the humidifier kicks in to moisturize it before delivering it outward.
How does a furnace humidifier work?
The concept is simple — the furnace produces dried up heated air, and the humidifier kicks in to moisturize it before delivering it outward. The process to do so differs depending on the type of selected furnace humidifier.
How to install a humidistat on a furnace?
Position the humidistat on-top of the furnace humidifier on the plenum — first, mark the holes with the felt-tip then drill in them; and then attach it to the mounting plate
How many square feet does a furnace humidifier cover?
Most units available have a coverage area of 1,500 square feet. Some of the best furnace humidifier units may have maximum coverage of 3,000 to 8,000 square feet.
How often should I replace a furnace humidifier filter?
A water pad or furnace humidifier filter needs replacing annually or bi-annually and doesn’t require special upkeep, whereas it takes a lot of time and effort to maintain console humidifiers. The best furnace humidifier units are a bit pricier than console units, but well worth it because of performance.
What is Aprilaire humidifier?
This Aprilaire furnace humidifier is a fan-based variant, so the hot air from the furnace gets pulled in to get humidified. Then it is delivered across the house through the ducts.
What is the difference between a furnace humidifier and a console humidifier?
Both these units humidify a place, but they operate in different ways. Console humidifiers are plug-and-play devices, whereas a furnace humidifier needs to be installed to the HVAC system. To ensure the right amount of humidity, a control unit will have to be put somewhere in your home or office.
