Humidifier Questions

[tmbrown97]

I don't have a permanently installed unit, but a portable... and I'll agree it makes a difference. My last house was one of those totally-sealed high-efficiency houses, and it got really dry in the winter - too low to register on the humidifier's sensor, so under 15% I think. It caused all kinds of probs with my allergies - and increased static around the house (blankets, etc)... and because we have cats that I'm allergic to, made my allergies worse because of their dry skin. Adding the humidifier set to 50% it was pumping 2 gallons of water into the air to keep up - and it made the house much more comfortable, killed the static, and make our skin stop flaking... and reduced the constant need for chapstick...

Current house is dead-opposite - it's a raised wooden foundation, everything but sealed - and it doesn't get as low in the winter because more outside air gets in - but the humidifier does help - it seems to make the house feel warmer and more balanced throughout the house.

I swear by them now... they're one more thing to maintain, but I've been very happy. I wouldn't mind looking into an automatic one for the next house.

 

[aehusted]

The Aprilaire models recommend using the hot. I'm a bit rusty on my thermodynamics, but I think the hot should evaporate more quickly.

Why did you do the hot water line? According to the install video for the Desert Spring humidifier, it said to use the cold water line.

Better results?

 

[lorenkoeman]

I agree with the need to keep up humidity. This is needed in the winter in the kind of cold weather we have in MI. Summers it is generally too high. We try to hold 40% RH. Without supplemental humidification it can drop as low as 20%.

The tuner for our grand piano said the best thing we can do to keep it in good shape is to maintain humidity at exactly 42%. He says if eveyone did that he would be out of a job...lol.