Home Humidifier Recommendations?

[Centauri]

I installed a Desert Spring humidifier. Works great with very little maintenance.
As for water supply, I have a line from a water distiller connected direct to the humidifier.

[jed]

On the radio today they said that Calgary in the Winter has less humidity than the Sahara.

We've got a drip thru on one of the furnaces, and it can put moisture on the inside of the windows. Plumber said it would be about $400 to put one on the other unit. I however don't see the need.

[pluto]

I installed a Desert Spring humidifier. Works great with very little maintenance.
As for water supply, I have a line from a water distiller connected direct to the humidifier.

Did you purchase the AutoFlush system as well? I'm considering one of these units, HighQProducts sells the base system for $259USD plus $20USD shipping, my local Rona has the system w/ autoflush for $399 cdn and they don't carry the system without the AutoFlush.

I'm not sure if I really need the AutoFlush

[rb]

Yep agree with coments on flow thru Humidifier , doesn't pump enough water into the house, we use a coupld of room sized ones for the bedrooms at nigh else we all end up with dry itchy skin

[fireburn64]

hmm im not sure if i need a humidifer but sometimes my throat and skin is pretty dry.....my house is pretty old too, not sure if there are any leaks for moisture though......would it be a good idea to get one???.............or how would u know u need one?

[pluto]

how would u know u need one?

I picked up a hygrometer from Rona for $18

It tells me my main level of my house is sitting around 20% humidity (low) and with my Honeywell cool-mist room humidifier running I can get up to 31% max and it's still lower upstairs... my furnace mounted drum style humidifer is turned off due to it leaking and I want to replace it.

[jwinnfield]

OK, It looks like I REALY need your help:
I have a 1 year old house.
I use a portable (cheap) vaporizer in one of the bedrooms.
In my bedroom (without humidifier) there is moisture on the windows, however
I get dry skin and VERY dry nose.
I was planning on getting a "Central Humidifier" but it looks like I need to go to "Humidifying 101" school first. Please share your knowledge/experience.
Thanks.

[eXpedite]

Great thread. This just made me realize how much I need a humidifier too. Just not sure which one to go out and get. I don't want to waste water, nor do I want one that will cause me to spend much time in maintnance, or money in replacement filter costs.

[krazykanuck]

Great Thread indeed....


I'm looking at either getting a Carrier flow-thru design or going to my local Rona or Cdn Tire and picking up a Air-King design. I'm looking at either the Air-King 6000 or 7000. Space is limited around my furnace, so a drum unit may not be the best solution.

Is there much a difference between manufacturers for the flow through designs.?! From what I've seen, they pretty much all have the same main features...

[jwinnfield]

OK, so I bought a hygrometer. It reads 29% - pretty low. I understand the flow-through humidifier doesn't do a great job. Any advice?

[joo]

If you have a forced air heating system then the best route to go is the ones that install into the furnace. Be sure to get a good quality one with a humidistat.
The humidistat gets installed next to your thermostat and you control the humidity just like you control the temperature.

The best ones I know of are the ones that have a honeycomb element where the water drips through it and the warm air passes over it.

The one I have is from Aprilaire. When we moved into our current house 15 years ago we replaced the furnace and inquired about replacing what looked like a very old humidifier. The heating contractor said "buddy, you have the best humidifier on the market. I'm not going to sell you something you don't need."