Whole home humidifier

[trlcavscout]

Anyone have recommendations on a good humidifier? Any idea on what it costs to have them installed?

[newracer]

I had a Honeywell unit in my last house. Install was not difficult.

[hghclsswhitetrsh]

Steam is the only way to go. I sell Aprilaire 800 220v hookup. It will bring the blower motor on when the humidity is below set point. Outdoor temperature sensor is a must.

I typically charge 1800-1909 depending on the install. Something a home owner can do, expect to spend some time on it. I install them regularly with all the correct tools and they take me 4-5 hours.

[Great-Kazoo]

You could use hghclsstrash or brycom, he's a little closer to you. Both do quality work. .

[hghclsswhitetrsh]

Yup brycom for up yonder.

[bryjcom]

Did someone say my name????

I'll send you a pm when i get to a computer

[earplug]

Our April Air has been trouble free for 15 years.

[HoneyBadger]

I installed one of these by myself in our Colorado house about 3 years ago and it did a really great job. Install was not that complicated and it was very low maintenance and easy to operate. Just set the dial to whatever humidity level you want (0-60%) and it will do the rest. I set mine to run any time the heat came on and the level depended on the outside temp. Change the pad every other year or so for $12.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_134223-74493-HE360A1075_1z0wmr1Z1z13yb6__?productId=3459854&pl=1

[hghclsswhitetrsh]

In my professional opinion a by pass humidifier is pretty much a waste of time and money.

1st choice Aprilaire steam, Honeywell steam is junk.

2nd choice is fan powered wired with a blower activation control.

[HoneyBadger]

In my professional opinion a by pass humidifier is pretty much a waste of time and money.

1st choice Aprilaire steam, Honeywell steam is junk.

2nd choice is fan powered wired with a blower activation control.

I respect your professional opinion, but it did wonders for the humidity levels in our 3400sqft house. :)

[encorehunter]

I have 4 teapots on the wood burning stove. It works great as a humidifier, and was fairly inexpensive.

[hghclsswhitetrsh]

What was the humidity level before and after, on average?

[HoneyBadger]

What was the humidity level before and after, on average?
Using a Kestrel 4200 (not really sure if this is an accurate enough tool, but it's what I had available), the humidity level in the center of the main floor of the house was 16% when I finished the installation and after running it continuously for an hour, it was up to 22%. That night, I had water collecting (condensation) around the window wells of my unfinished basement (something I hadn't seen before in that house). I installed it in November at the start of our second winter in that house and that year I had to make periodic adjustments to the humidistat to limit window well condensation.

I can't say that my testing was scientific and I didn't account for changing temperatures or weather outside, but I do know that the humidifier introduced a large amount of moisture into the air in our house. My skin stopped cracking, I stopped getting nosebleeds in my sleep, and our dog's dandruff pretty much stopped. I even had to wipe up the water that was collecting on the windows around the house a few times before I figured out that I was setting it way too high... oops! Sorry I don't have more complete data, but I didn't really need it.

I think I got $220 worth of humidifier. I wouldn't even begin to argue that its as good as some of the other systems out there (and it certainly was not very efficient), but it definitely worked.

[fitz19d]

Get a 300g+ aquarium. Entertainment and humidity!

[bryjcom]

I have a bypass that came with my house.. It does just fine.(Of course I keep my blower running all the time) I prefer the power humidifiers though, if there's enough space, but the by-passes do well enough.

Our houses aren't the International Space Station or the Space shuttle... Sometimes the simplest is good enough.

[bryjcom]

I have been wanting to install one of those steam humidifiers though... Haven't had the chance.. HighClass... You mentioned it needs a 240volt power source... If so, are you tying into the main panel? Are you getting an electrician in there or are you doing yourself?

[hghclsswhitetrsh]

You can run it off of 220 or 110. I prefer to have 220 @ 16.xx amps which puts approx 35 gallons in the air. I typically have a licensed electrician do it. The company I use is reasonable.

[hghclsswhitetrsh]

Dedicated circuit either way from the panel. With a shut off switch near by.

[hghclsswhitetrsh]

I put this in my friends house this year. 4000 square feet, 95% hardwood, custom wood working through out the house.

It started at 30% relative humidity and 6 hours later it was at

http://i1036.photobucket.com/albums/a441/RamboZuki84/3C9CA484-261E-479F-A1F9-CFF6BA54847F_zpsljahpxer.jpg (http://s1036.photobucket.com/user/RamboZuki84/media/3C9CA484-261E-479F-A1F9-CFF6BA54847F_zpsljahpxer.jpg.html)

No moisture on the Windows whatsoever. I wired an outdoor temperature sensor that will manage humidity based on temperature outside. His whole family had very irritable skin and sinuses. Within days they could see a huge difference.

Here's a guide to follow based on outdoor temp and indoor humidity set points.

http://i1036.photobucket.com/albums/a441/RamboZuki84/0A16E8B9-4F5A-4715-A714-6B00168FF3B4_zpsktsmv7r2.png (http://s1036.photobucket.com/user/RamboZuki84/media/0A16E8B9-4F5A-4715-A714-6B00168FF3B4_zpsktsmv7r2.png.html)

Obviously I recommend and outdoor sensor.

[hghclsswhitetrsh]

Sorry for another post, but I don't want to edit. I recommend the steam because it has a canister instead of a pad. Those pads break down and when they dry out they put dust into the air. Which is opposite of indoor air quality. Pads should be replaced right before heating season, and removed before cooling season or that dust will get into your duct work, lungs and etc.

[HoneyBadger]

HCWT, that looks really nice. I have a little printout of that same chart with temps and suggested humidity ranges taped up next to my humidistat.

Thanks for the tip with the pads. I would love to have you as my "on-call" HVAC guy, but you're a long ways from C-Springs, so I probably couldn't afford to make it worth your time. [Beer]

[Great-Kazoo]

I keep my humidity @ 30% lower and static is prevalent.

[Brian]

Ecobee says I'm at 24% right now. Ugh, I am going to shrivel up and die. I definitely have dry skin and bloody noses, etc.

What's the story with mold? Do humidifiers potentially make it easier for mold to grow? In our last house, we had significant subfloor problems that created big issues for the kids (likely due to a broken sump pump, but she blamed the humidifier), and my wife is petrified of having the same thing happen again. So far she wants nothing to do with a humidifier now.

Side note - either of you make it down to SE Aurora/Parker? Have a couple furnaces that could probably use maintenance.

[hghclsswhitetrsh]

Brian - that's he advantage of an outdoor temperature sensor. It will regulate the the indoor humidity levels so mold won't be an issue. Easy rule of thumb is, if you see condensation on the Windows then you are potentially putting water in areas that mold can grow. I absolutely goto SE Aurora. I was just at another forum members house last week down there. I am licensed and insured.

[sealer]

HCWT - PM sent

Drew

[rondog]

That's probably something we should consider. My skin feels like crepe paper.....

[Mercula]

I run a bypass unit and the aprilaire humidistat that HCWT posted. Did the install myself. Might not be the best but makes a world of difference. My thermostat isn't nice enough to call for humidity , but a buddy is supposed to be hooking me up with one. My place is only 1400sqft.

Thanks HCWT for the advise on removing the pad after heating season , I hadn't heard that before.

[kawiracer14]

Reviving and old thread. Can you tie the whole house humidifiers into an EcoBee? Do they work well with electric heat? Any issues if its a middle condo so only front and rear exterior walls for stuff?

[fitz19d]

Dunno, but ditto feeling so dried up right now. Can't wait for my 500g total saltwater system to be running, imagine side benefit will be humidity, and I get neat shit to look at.

[Brian]

Reviving and old thread. Can you tie the whole house humidifiers into an EcoBee? Do they work well with electric heat? Any issues if its a middle condo so only front and rear exterior walls for stuff?

I was curious too so I looked up ecobee + humidifier:
https://www.ecobee.com/2014/11/guest-post-installing-a-humidifierdehumidifier-to-increase-home-comfort/

[kawiracer14]

Doesn't look like it would work for my situation of electric heat as I don't have a basement: https://www.aprilaire.com/whole-house-products/whole-house-products/humidifier/model-360