Humidifiers

[Eieio]

Anyone have an humidifier on their furnace in there home???


How do you like it?

[Leo G]

Cast Iron radiators. Stick a pan of water on the radiator for a humidifier. Makes little difference, still dry.

[Len]

Yeah, I think most in MN do? It gets so dry in the winter, makes a huge difference. Works pretty well, just set the level to take the dryness out and make it more comfortable.

[Blue]

yep. 65% right now. like it- hate itching all the time.

[Eieio]

I am noticing how dry the air seems this winter.. I actually found a few that don't need to be drained, which would make for an easier install up in my attic.

Guess I can put that on my list of house repairs

[Leo G]

How cold does your attic get in the winter?

[Eieio]

How cold does your attic get in the winter?


I have a vent that I open in the attic in the winter. Keeps it nice up there in the winter. I don't think the water freezing in the humidifier would be a problem.

I thought about it though

[naptownCr]

yep. 65% right now. like it- hate itching all the time.

Itch Bitch you are destroying your house.
I can see the mold growing in your walls and the studs rotting from Maryland

I am noticing how dry the air seems this winter.. I actually found a few that don't need to be drained, which would make for an easier install up in my attic.

Guess I can put that on my list of house repairs

Do not do it you will create more problems than you solve

I have a vent that I open in the attic in the winter. Keeps it nice up there in the winter. I don't think the water freezing in the humidifier would be a problem.

I thought about it though

Is your attic insulated?
If you don't live up there why heat it OH sorry forgot about the squirrels comfort the need to be warm.

Sound a little rabid about the no humidifier thing?
It's because I have seen more damage done with them than almost anything else.
Oh and by the way they also breed legionairs disease as a side benefit.

[Eieio]

Yes it is insulated..

The unit was over sized on purpose I was going to heat the basement with it but it did not happen, long story. So we just use it to keep the attic warm in the winter..

It actually seems to work the unit a bit less having the space up there conditioned during the winter.

Any suggestions to take the dryness out of the air vs the humidifier?

[naptownCr]

Yes it is insulated..

The unit was over sized on purpose I was going to heat the basement with it but it did not happen, long story. So we just use it to keep the attic warm in the winter..

It actually seems to work the unit a bit less having the space up there conditioned during the winter.

Any suggestions to take the dryness out of the air vs the humidifier?

Lots of heavy breathing works. Many times a day. Preferably 2 people doing it.
Actually a reasonable amount of humidity is OK but most people crank them up too high. they really need to be adjusted to keep the humidity just above the static shock stage.
As blue stated above his houseis at 65% RH
He lives where it is COOOOLD
He will have moisture condensing within his walls reducing the R value of the insulation and creating a situation for mold to prosper among other things.
I would say to keep the humidity level below 30% at outdoor temps above freexing and 20% at temps below freezing

[Silvertree]

I bought and installed an Aprilaire unit on my furnace and keep humidity at about 30 to 35%.

Help the guitars, I'l like it a little higher but then I get condensation and mold on the windows.

[naptownCr]

I bought and installed an Aprilaire unit on my furnace and keep humidity at about 30 to 35%.

Help the guitars, I'l like it a little higher but then I get condensation and mold on the windows.

that's actually a pretty good test
If you get condensation on the interior of an insulated glass window the humidity is too high.

[Eieio]

I bought and installed an Aprilaire unit on my furnace and keep humidity at about 30 to 35%.

Help the guitars, I'l like it a little higher but then I get condensation and mold on the windows.

How hard was it to install Paul? Do you remember how long it took? Seem pretty straight forward reading the online instructions

[naptownCr]

How hard was it to install Paul? Do you remember how long it took? Seem pretty straight forward reading the online instructions

Seems like you are serious about this.
What kind of air handler do you have and is it a heat pump? this is important

[Eieio]

Seems like you are serious about this.
What kind of air handler do you have and is it a heat pump? this is important

Goodman gas furnace. vented through the roof.. I have a picture of it on the forum let me see if I can find it. My wife is very serious about this

[Eieio]

Here you go http://www.remodelcrazy.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1296&highlight=attic

[naptownCr]

Ok a gas furnace you can put about any kind on that you want. With a heat pump you can't or shouldn't use a bypass type humidifier. Try to get one that drains and after each use and doesn't hold the water in it they are disease breeders.

[Eieio]

Ok a gas furnace you can put about any kind on that you want. With a heat pump you can't or shouldn't use a bypass type humidifier. Try to get one that drains and after each use and doesn't hold the water in it they are disease breeders.

I have two options on the drain. Dump it into the condensate pump or down to the laundry box directly below the ac unit..

[naptownCr]

Go for the laundry tub
a gravity drain is always preferred to a pumped option. I would lose the condensate pump also and drain it all to the laundry tub if possible.

[Eieio]

Go for the laundry tub
a gravity drain is always preferred to a pumped option. I would lose the condensate pump also and drain it all to the laundry tub if possible.


Neo and I had that discussion once, I prefer the condensate pumps it moves the water even if there is small debris in the line.. I have had to clear to many gravity feed lined of debris

He pointed out to me that gravity never fails and I should loose the pump as well :rolleyes3:

[scctrim]

We heat with a hand fired coal stove...( insert hillbilly humor here )...and have a pot to set ontop of it but it boils dry almost immediately. So we run a vaporizer, makes a huge difference..and the coal is relatively inexpensive. Dirty...but inexpensive.

[Century Man]

disease breeders

you are destroying your house.

I can see the mold growing in your walls and the studs rotting from Maryland

Do not do it you will create more problems than you solve

It's because I have seen more damage done with them than almost anything else.

Oh and by the way they also breed legionairs disease as a side benefit.

He will have moisture condensing within his walls reducing the R value of the insulation and creating a situation for mold to prosper among other things.

I get condensation and mold on the windows

Don't let observations, professional opinions, and facts get in the way of making a sound decision.

[framer55]

I took the one off my furnace and when ZI replaced my furnace I didn't want one. I found that evebtually the water from the City eventually clogged it up and I had leaks.

I use a portable humidifier in my piano room, keeps the whole house around 30%.:)

[Bender]

The only window I get condensation on is in the bedroom:pimp2:

[Blue]

Itch Bitch you are destroying your house.
I can see the mold growing in your walls and the studs rotting.


It keeps peeps from smoking in the house because you can't light a match or lighter.

[Eieio]

You guys have me on the fence now on installing this humidifier.. Seems like its a bad idea..

[Blue]

You guys have me on the fence now on installing this humidifier.. Seems like its a bad idea..

as much as you drink, you could lay on a live X-ray machine for 2 months and not get hurt. I don't think a little water vapor in the air is going to hurt you and besides it will help those ashy elbows.

[SLS-Construction]

I would get one that shoots steam into the air directly from a water line / or an atomizer, instead of the normal ones where the air goes across a sponge or tray filled with water. The later ones have maintenance which is rarely done & becomes a breeding ground as others have stated. The first ones maybe problematic if you have hard water & it clogs up the nozzles.

[naptownCr]

I would get one that shoots steam into the air directly from a water line / or an atomizer, instead of the normal ones where the air goes across a sponge or tray filled with water. The later ones have maintenance which is rarely done & becomes a breeding ground as others have stated. The first ones maybe problematic if you have hard water & it clogs up the nozzles.

The other problem with an atomizing humidifier is it will put anything that is in the water into the air with the humidity. Evaporative ones release only water vapor and the odd legionaires or mold spore. the ones that spray include anything that is in the water including calcium. This will settle as a very fine dust when the water evaporates and the calcium is left. This is kind of like using a tile saw in the house without a spray hood to control the spray and collect it. you have a dust on everything the color of the tile body. To be effective these need to be fed with distilled water.

[naptownCr]

We heat with a hand fired coal stove...( insert hillbilly humor here )...and have a pot to set ontop of it but it boils dry almost immediately. So we run a vaporizer, makes a huge difference..and the coal is relatively inexpensive. Dirty...but inexpensive.

They now have coal burning stoves that are like a pellet stove self feeding and burn anthricite in little chunks.
Are you near hard coal country? Where do you get your coal from?

[Leo G]

Such a gloomy Gus.

[nEighter]

I was actually wondering if a humidifier in the attic would be a good idea, to dehumidify the air up there, have the drain come out of a hole in the soffet. Set it up to kick on at a certain humidity level. They have the automated roof fans that have a humidistat and temp reader on em to turn on when either level reaches a certain amount. Was wondering if adding a humidifier to the mix would help with the heat build-up during the summer OR winter months.

[Century Man]

We installed new windows in the Spring of '09 in this house and with the use of a humidifier this is the result.

[naptownCr]

I was actually wondering if a humidifier in the attic would be a good idea, to dehumidify the air up there, have the drain come out of a hole in the soffet. Set it up to kick on at a certain humidity level. They have the automated roof fans that have a humidistat and temp reader on em to turn on when either level reaches a certain amount. Was wondering if adding a humidifier to the mix would help with the heat build-up during the summer OR winter months.

In short NO
it would be the worst thing you could do

[Eieio]

I have decided to keep a bottle of water on the night stands next to the bed

[framer55]

I have decided to keep a bottle of water on the night stands next to the bed

In other words, you won!:)