Humidifier

[GGorman04]

Anyone use in their home? I was planning on getting a whole house humidifier, but my GC advised against it due to possible mold issues.

He recommended Air o Swiss Ultrasonic 7144. Can anyone give me some advice? My daughter is having alot of trouble with her nose due to dryness.

Thanks
George

 

[desmonsm]

We picked up a new Crane humidifier from Target a few weeks back. They were running a 24 hour sale on select items and this was included. It has great reviews on Amazon and Target, and it's Consumer Reports #4 rated tabletop humidifier and considered a Best Buy.
Crane Humidifier

 

[JHZR2]

We use a local one, a venta that works electrostatically. I've found them to be the best.

 

[Pop_Rivit]

We've had a humidifier on the cold air intake of our heating system for well over 30 years without a single mold issue. If you are pumping out so much moisture that it causes mold you'd doing something drastically wrong.

In the summer the atmosphere is humid enough that we actually need to pull moisture out of the air. The system keeps the humidity at about 45% in the summer and 55% in the winter throughout the entire home.

 

[btanchors]

GGorman04,

I have nearly a lifetime of experience with this - I have family members with allergies and minor asthma.

Go with the whole house humidifer, but DO NOT get the type that uses or has a reservoir/tank of water. Instead, get the type that distributes a small stream of water over a pad, and unevaporated water goes down the drain. By operating in this fashion, there are no mold issues as there is no standing water for mold to grow.

Ultrasonic humidifiers can be problematic unless you use distilled water in them. The minerals in tap water can be pulverized into dust by the Ultrasonic action, resulting in dust. Also, unless the tank is cleaned on a regular basis, you have the same potential of mold growing.

An example of the type of humidifer I am talking about is here. This is what I have on my furnace, but I believe there are other brands of the same type.

 

[barlowc]

Originally Posted By: btanchors
get the type that distributes a small stream of water over a pad, and unevaporated water goes down the drain.

^ This is what we have on our furnance. It's an Aprilaire system. I believe some of the newer ones have a rotating drum.

 

[MONKEYMAN]

The house I am at has used the type that has a stream of water over pad. I monitor basement with hygrometer year round. It does not cause excessive moisture in the basement in the winter. It is turned off each spring and and a stand alone dehumidifier is used in the basement during the summer. The lady of the house complains of dry skin when the humidifier is not working well or cranked up for high humidity in the winter. I have found that this system is pretty trouble free. Before each season I take a small needle and clean debris from a small plastic orifice. That tends to plug up water will not flow. Otherwise, just change the pad occasionally and it is hands off.

 

[LargeCarManX2]

I use saline drops for a dry nose. I thought (never been there) the East side of the Country is high in humdity? anyway....just a thought!

 

[HerrStig]

Originally Posted By: LargeCarManX2
I use saline drops for a dry nose. I thought (never been there) the East side of the Country is high in humdity? anyway....just a thought!

IN the WINTER???

 

[Kestas]

My dry nose has a perpetual sore in the winter. I use a whole house humidifier plus a bedroom humidifier.

 

[GGorman04]

I had planned on getting a whole house humidifier, but an experienced GC advised against it due to mold.

With the recommended units, is it almost impossible to develop mold?

 

[PandaBear]

I have a cheap wick one from Walmart. It works as expected but I do have to demineralize the wick once in a while (soak in vinegar) and replace it after a few times.

I've also try the heated one but IMO it has too much condensation if not controlled carefully. I only use it in extremely cold day that I have to turn the heater on high and is very dry. Also I replace the water very often (i.e. when it evaporate 1/2 of the water) to minimalism mineral build up.

 

[kb01]

In terms of winter dryness, I've found that ventless gas logs tend to put a fair amount of humidity into the air.