Whole house humidifier systems

[siercia]

So, was talking to one of my co-workers yesterday, complaining about it was so cold on Monday night that even wearing extra layers and bundled under my normally entirely warm enough down throw, I was *still* cold (and too damn cheap to turn up the heat, I added).

He told me that he and his wife had added a humidifier onto their furnace, and that it gently humidifies the entire house in the winter - hispoint was that it makes the same heat setting feel warmer, but I'm thinking it sounds awesome for a million reasons, since the cold dry air in the winter is murder.

We did some looking today on the vast intarwebs, found that they're not super expensive (in the $200-300 range), relatively easily installable (may need a plumber), have a significantly lower cost of operation, and should work with our furnace (sadly, for many, it only works with forced hot air heating systems).

I'm wondering if anyone out there in LJ land has used one and has anything to share, good or bad, about them.

Part of me is thinking that if they were as wonderful as they seem, they'd be a lot more common. Part of me is really hoping they ARE all that and a bag of chips.

Comments

[siercia]

Apparently, rather than spraying water into the heating unit, what they do is spin a drum through a shallow pan of water - the drum picks up the water, and as the warmed air passes over the surface of the drum is evaporates the moisture into the air and carries it into the house.

Since you can control the humidity level, I'd think you could set it low enough (I think I'd aim for around 30%) that mold would hopefully not be an issue.

I'd not thought of the oxidation, I'll look into that.

[scirocco.livejournal.com]

The newer systems don't put that much water directly into the ducts, it vaporizes pretty thoroughly into the airflow, and therefore doesn't cause oxidation.

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

Sounds like it could promote mold to me.

[siercia]

It seems like it should, doesn't it? But I found them listed on a few sites that seemed to specialize in products for allergy sufferers, and I'd think that if they promoted mold, they'd at least have big warning notes that they weren't for the mold averse.

But, still, yet, that is what my gut wants to think.

[scirocco.livejournal.com]

30-40% humidity is ideal, reduces dryness and static, and anything that level or below does not promote mold build-up. Once you get up into 50-60%, however, you'll get mold.

[bigscarypilot.livejournal.com]

I keep the house at 60% humidity and it is great for our sinuses. We use the inexpensive mobile units and run them at night when we are home. We lysol the hell outta stuff about once every two weeks and have not had any mold problems, but ours is a newer home and I know that homes that have plaster walls can be more susceptible.

I'll let you know if we grow a mold monster. It is entirely possible.

[kayre]

Yes, added one to our house in South Bend, it was wonderful. No sore throats or dry coughs all winter, and it's a selling point for the house, too. Sadly, wrong type of heat here so we're using a freestanding unit at night.

[siercia]

Thanks for the input! I'm really loving the idea.

[xinef.livejournal.com]

Furnace-connected humidifiers are VERY common up here. We have one. Had to replace it earlier this winter. Suggest you ask Andrew about them, he knows far more than I do and can discuss pros and cons. They are WONDERFUL. Make living in winter much more pleasant.

[siercia]

Oh, thanks! I'll see if I can corner him for a few minutes to talk about tomorrow.

[digitalemur.livejournal.com]

So it sounds like when they're not the right kind they can breed mold. However, I do a similar thing with big metal mixing bowls, because I have radiators. I set the bowl on top of the radiator, set an old washcloth or dishtowel half inside and half hanging outside, and fill the bowl with water.

Humidifying the air does make the air feel a little warmer, and it keeps my sinuses from drying out so badly and my skin from getting so itchy. I think you should humidify your air somehow, whether it's with a unit on the furnace or something else.

[siercia]

We have a big unit that we run for the downstairs when it gets really bad, but it's huge and kind of loud, and refilling it is a big giant pita. That's why I was thinking this furnace attached one seemed like an awesome idea if it worked. It attached to your water lines, so you never have to worry about refilling, and there's a filter you have to change a couple times a year.

With three cats and a six year old, leaving water out in bowls seems like ASKING for trouble!

[digitalemur.livejournal.com]

Oh, yeah, and if you have forced air and floor vents you don't have such a good place to put the bowls anyway. My system is best suited to radiators. My cat has been leaving the bowls alone, but then again he's not into still water, just running water.

[bigscarypilot.livejournal.com]

Pretty clever!

[sahara-harp.livejournal.com]

It sounds like a brilliant idea. It doesn't get cold here but it *does* get dry dry dry and I often put room humidifiers in the bedrooms.

[siercia]

The dry can be brutal. I'd love something to make it less dry when it gets so cold.

[hoo.livejournal.com]

The house I grew up in had one attached to the central/hot-air/heating. It worked without a hitch for ages, until it started building up mineral deposits. That was mum's only real complaint with it.

[scirocco.livejournal.com]

The new systems are (reportedly) self cleaning, and built with new materials so they don't build up the minerals the old ones used to. Ahhh, technology.

[siercia]

Thanks!

[smurfbrother.livejournal.com]

We kinda had a similar problem down here, because HVAC systems use heat pumps, which apparently aren't very good at heating.

We did a little looking and found ceiling fans with heaters attached, they run about $300 each at Lowe's. They seem to come with remotes, so it's easy to set the littler heater's temperature and everything, and they seem to be pretty energy-efficient.

[siercia]

Oh, that's a cool idea too.

I've heard heat pumps aren't very efficient or powerful. That must be why my New England ass had never heard of them before a few years ago =)

[smurfbrother.livejournal.com]

Yeah, what I'm told is that heat pumps put out heated air that's as warm as the thermometer is set to, if that made any sense. The upshot is that they're great at keeping the house a particular temp when it's mild outside, and very efficient, but they're at their worst when it's cold outside and the pump is trying to warm the house.

Or something.

In any event, we're going to invest in 3 of those heated ceiling fans when we get some home improvements done this summer.

[technoluddite.livejournal.com]

The plumbers an home inspectors who have come through my place suggested removing the whole-house humidifier that was installed previously, citing mold growth and rusty vent pipes. (I've not tested for mold, but yes, many of my vents have rust holes, and need to be replaced.)

I have a book on insulation and weatherization, which also recommends against such devices, because (especially in a properly insulated house with vapor barriers), excess moisture would condense inside your walls behind the vapor barrier, allowing for even more mold growth.

That said, if you really want to install such a device, I'd be happy to assist. Most DIY humidifier kits use saddle clamps, which allow you to tap into your existing plumbing. Saddle clamps are bad: they have a nasty tendency to leak, so if you use one, put it someplace where it can be shut off easily and conveniently. (i.e. do not stick it onto the water main, like the idiot who installed mine did.)

[siercia]

Do you know how old the one in your house was and how it works?

I'm still thinking that if they are able to limit the humidity level, then moisture buildup wouldn't be such a problem. Especially given that our house is awfully drafty.

Thanks for the offer of help - we will take you up on that if we decide to pursue this.

[technoluddite.livejournal.com]

The unit in my house is probably 20 years old. It sprays mist into a 3" flexible tube, which feeds into the hot air supply manifold. Think there's a simple adjustment dial (low | medium | high) to adjust the amount of spray.

Whole-house humidifiers would usually be wired in parallel with the blower relay. i.e. there is no separate feedback for humidity: when the fan is on, water is added to the system.

[bigscarypilot.livejournal.com]

I too thought these things were the coolest thing since sliced bread but learned otherwise.

Anytime you pump water into a semi-closed system you are going to have mold problems. If you followed your vent system you will find break in it throughout the house, under the house, in the walls. If you are pumping moisture through those leaks in the system you are pushing water into areas of your house never meant to have moisture. Look at some photos of dirty vents and you will see why adding water to that mix is a bad combination. Some home insurance companies have stipulations about mold damage so check that out.

To compensate for the severely dry air in our home we have inexpensive humidfiers throughout and an inexpensive $4 humidity gages in a couple of the rooms. We run these humidiers when we need them and unplug them when we don't.

Sorry no chips.

Oh and can you add me to your friends list as you seem pretty cool? thanks!

[siercia]

Thanks for your input =)

Sure, I'll add you.