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How to humidify your home
There is no question that too much humidity can cause serious indoor air quality problems in your home. But too little humidity can also cause problems. We can all remember the drafty houses of our youth and the sparks between us as we walked along carpets. Besides the nuisance of static electricity, chronically dry indoor air can cause chapped lips, itchy skin, headaches, and nosebleeds. Fortunately, the advent of forced-air heating systems allowed the development of the whole-house humidifier, an accessory that is installed in the furnace. The furnace fan circulates the humidified air through the duct work to reach every area of your home.
How do I know if I need a humidifier?
Not every home needs a humidifier. The signs of low humidity include those mentioned above, as well as cracks in floors and furniture, and dry sore throats and nasal passages. Additionally, many homes have special features which particularly need protection from dry indoor air. These include extensive interior wood finishing, pianos, antiques, and artwork.
What type of humidifiers are available?
Whole-house humidifiers are available in two forms: drum and flow-through style. The drum type is the most commonly used today. It is relatively inexpensive and easy to install. However, we now know that it has one important drawback: its source of moisture is a pan of standing water. If the humidifier is not regularly maintained, this water pan easily becomes a breeding ground for algae, molds, and bacteria. The air humidified with this germ-laden water then circulates into every room in the house. Because very few drum-style humidifiers are well maintained, they are no longer recommended.
Growing in popularity is the flow-through style humidifier. In this type of humidifier, water continuously flows through the humidifier. Any water that does not evaporate into the air stream goes to the drain. There is no standing water left in the humidifier to promote the growth of germs. It is also easy to maintain and relatively inexpensive.
In addition to the drum and flow-through styles of whole-house humidifiers, there are also self-contained flow-through style humidifiers which have their own fan to blow water vapour into the air stream.
These are particularly useful where airflow restrictions exist. They are also used in homes that do not have duct work. Finally, steam humidifiers are available for special situations that require large volumes of humidity and accurate control, such as a home containing antiques or artwork.
Which humidifier is right for my home?
When you shop for a humidifier you need to consider factors such as drain accessibility, airflow restrictions, the heating system type, and the furnace size. The following are general guidelines for a few common situations.
• If there is no access to a floor drain, wash tub, or plumbing drain then the drum-style humidifier may be the only option available since it does not require a drain.
• If the airflow in the duct system is restricted, the installation of a bypass-style humidifier may make the problem worse. A self-contained, fan-assisted unit may be a better choice.
• If you have a heat pump system with lower air temperatures you may need a fan-assisted humidifier.
If you have a hot water or electric baseboard heating system, then you need a self-contained system with its own duct into the living space.
• If a furnace is oversized and it doesn't need to run much to maintain the temperature in the house, the humidifier might not be able to maintain humidity levels because it would only operate when the furnace is on. In this situation you would need to replace the furnace. However, since oversized furnaces are usually older, less efficient models anyway, you’ll be able to maintain proper humidity levels, save energy, and save operating costs by upgrading to a newer furnace.
• If you need a condensate pump to get the water to a drain make sure it goes to an inside location and not outside to prevent a frozen drain pipe in the winter.
To ensure a reliable humidifier installation, shop for the contractor first and then the unit. For example, some humidifiers are manufactured with cheaper components which do not hold up in the long run. Since field experience is the only way to know which units are the most reliable, you should speak with a licensed HVAC contractor who has experience servicing humidifiers.
What about humidifier maintenance?
Like any other piece of mechanical equipment, a humidifier needs to be maintained regularly. You need to clean a drum-type humidifier every month to prevent a potential health hazard. Clean the pan to remove scale and sludge and replace the foam pad. Flow-through style humidifiers only need annual maintenance: clean out the drain pan, flush the drain line, and change the water panel.
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