Dry winter air wreaks havoc on the skin and respiratory system. While heating systems do a satisfactory job of warming the air, they also reduce the level of humidity in the air drastically, which can lead to aggravated respiratory ailments, allergies, asthma flare-ups, dry scaly skin, etc. Wood floors and indoor furniture pieces may lose moisture and contract, leading to unsightly cracks, warps, and separations. Moreover, static electricity can flourish, causing unexpected and painful shocks as well as potential damage to electronic equipment.
Why Do You Need a Humidifier?
Humidifiers are typically used in colder months to combat dry air and it can also play a key role in alleviating symptoms of a variety of health conditions and improving indoor comfort. Humidifiers are also helpful if you are living in a dry or cold climate, forcing doors and windows shut during much of the year. Installing a furnace humidifier will help in maintaining optimal humidification throughout the house.
As per the Environmental Protection Agency, the humidity level in the house should be maintained between 30% and 50%. Regularly running a humidifier can assist in:
Improved Air Quality:
Home furnace humidifiers have been shown to improve lung health, relieve chronic running nose, dry throat, nose bleeds and reduce instances of illness. Humidifiers are also regularly recommended by asthma and allergy doctors.
Preserve Wooden belongings:
Dry air can have adverse effects on wooden furniture, flooring, cabinets, window frames, etc. Humidifiers can help in protecting wooden furniture from cracking and drying out.
Improved Comfort:
Furnace humidifiers can help heal your skin, as well as make your eyes, sinuses, and throat feel more at ease by maintaining optimal humidity. Furthermore, it also reduces static electricity, preventing painful shocks from doing everyday activities.
Energy Savings:
The efficient use of energy by a home furnace humidifier can lead to energy savings. Research has shown that dialing down the thermostat by three degrees can reduce the heating bill by approximately 5%.
What a Furnace Humidifier Does
A stand-alone humidifier, which is available in departmental stores can be plugged into the electric outlet and use in a room. However, these humidifiers eject the moist air directly from the vents on the unit, thus the air around the humidifier has the most moisture, and keeps reducing as we move away from the unit. If you like to humidify the house with traditional humidifiers, each room in the house needs to have a separate unit, they take up floor space, require daily maintenance of filling and cleaning the water tanks and also add up to the electric bill.
Unlike portable humidifiers, furnace humidifiers can easily maintain the desired humidity level in the entire house, by adding moisture to the air that is distributed by the furnace. The equipment is mounted on the furnace’s hot air supply and is connected directly to a water source, allowing it to work in conjunction with the HVAC (Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) equipment.
A humidifier contains a humidifier pad, a rotating drum or a steaming system that is used to distribute water to the air. While the humidifier is running, water continuously runs down the humidifier pad, is collected by the rotating drum or is misted into the device, depending on your model. When air from your ducts enters the humidifier, it is exposed to the water inside. The water vapor that the unit produces travels through the ductwork and into the home. Once the humidistat is set to the desired humidity level, the furnace humidifier maintains those levels automatically.
Things to consider while installing a Furnace Humidifier
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Location:
To ensure that the humidifier works optimally it is essential to decide the optimal location. Some humidifiers are required to be installed on the supply side of the ductwork, while others can be installed on the return side. Moreover, the humidifier must be located close to the water supply and electrical outlet, while being away from other components of the HVAC system such as air conditioner coils.
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Cutting openings into ductwork:
A Furnace humidifier should be able to use the house’ air supply, hence an opening must be cut into your ductwork. Additional cuts are also required for other humidifier parts such as the humidistat. It is essential that these openings are cut carefully so that the parts are secure and there are no openings to allow air to escape from ducts.
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Connecting the humidifier to water supply:
Furnace humidifiers are connected to the water supply in order to add moisture to the air, and should be done in a way to avoid water leaks in pipes or humidifier.
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Wiring:
Humidifier and its components need to receive power, hence it should be carefully wired and connected securely to a power supply, in order to avoid fire hazards.
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Humidifier gauge:
A humidifier gauge is used to measure the level of humidity in the house and maintaining it to a set level. The best humidity level in winter is between 30%-40% – and it is important to regularly check the gauge to maintain humidity at the optimum level.
Cost of installing a humidifier to your furnace
Installing a whole-home humidifier is subjective as it depends on a number of factors such as type of humidifier, size of the humidifier in relation to home, type of installation square footage, materials used to construct it, insulation levels, type of heating system, ease of maintenance, etc. Here are the factors-
The type of humidifier being installed:
Bypass humidifier:
A bypass whole-home humidifier works by adding in a “water panel” inside the ductwork and is generally installed on an air-return duct. As air passes through this water panel, it’s replenished with moisture before being delivered into the house. The bypass humidifier only works when the furnace is on.
Fan-powered humidifier:
In a fan-powered humidifier, the humidistat’s sensor detects when air is too dry, opens the solenoid valve and activates a fan. The solenoid valve enables the water to enter the panel or moist pad. The water flowing through the panel vaporizes, and the fan then directs the water vapor into a home’s ductwork. Water that does not vaporize exits the equipment through a drain line. Once the air reaches the pre-set humidity level, the solenoid valve closes, discontinuing the flow of water into the panel. Fan powered humidifiers are not required to be installed on bypass duct, and since they use a built-in fan to move air through the humidifier’s water panel, these humidifiers work even when the furnace is not running.
Steam humidifier:
A steam furnace humidifier works by heating water until it produces steam, via tiny electric heating elements. The system’s blower moves the humidified air through the ductwork and into the home, where it’s quickly absorbed into the air.
Size of the humidifier
Humidifiers are sized according to how much moisture it can produce in a given time, and is measured in gallons per day(gpd). Higher the gpd, the larger size it would require—and more expensive the unit. A small humidifier would not be able to provide the intended benefits and needs to be run for a longer time, while a humidifier which is large in proportionate to the house area will add too much moisture, which may trigger growth in mold spores decreased comfort and damage to furniture. It is also important to know how insulated the house is. A poorly insulated home needs a humidifier with a higher GPD output to keep humidity levels at a comfortable level, as more dry outside air will enter your home and the more humid air will leak out.
Installation type
Having a whole-home humidifier installed professionally will incur extra charges to the overall cost. However, since the whole-house humidifier works in tandem with the most expensive appliances in the house such as AC and furnace it is important to get it installed correctly as incorrect installation may result in damage to the HVAC system and/or avoid HVAC warranty. Furthermore, a professional installation typically provides labour warranty that lasts anywhere from 6 months to 2 years after the installation. Given the precise details that are required for a furnace humidifier installation, it’s best to have it installed by a professional instead of taking it on as a do-it-yourself project.
Does a Furnace Humidifier Cause Mold?
Mold is a natural part of the environment. Mold grows and thrives on primarily two things water and oxygen. They generally spurt in any damp area inside a home, often in bathrooms or near plumbing leaks. Furnace humidifiers do not cause Mold unless they are set for too much humidity, creating the conditions needed to help Mold take over.
Related Read: Do dehumidifiers help with mold?
Tip: Common Mistakes to Avoid During Humidifier Installations
Size: Sizing a humidifier is the first step to be considered when installing a humidifier, and as mentioned above it should be appropriate to the house area.
Type: Different types of humidifiers work meant to work optimally under different conditions, hence it is essential to consider factors such as hardness of the water in the house, type of heating system, etc. Also, it is important to purchase a high-quality system in order to avoid maintenance issues down the line.
Incorrect Installation: installing in a hard to reach location, may lead to neglected maintenance of humidification systems. A humidifier should not be made dependent on the furnace and be able to run when required.
Maintenance: Humidification systems generally don’t require much maintenance. However, just like any electronic equipment they should be periodically cleaned and serviced for preventative maintenance. Since most humidifiers require water and drainage, it is important to ensure that the supply and drainage plumbing are working efficiently.
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