Steam Humidifier/Allergy

[GGorman04]

My wife just came back from her allergist discussing her sinus/allergy issues. He recommends getting a steam humidifier, specifically one like the Aprilaire Model 800. I posted awhile back questions regarding a whole house humidifier and got mixed messages.

But since this is steam vs. water like the 600/700 series, it works much better with alot less chance of mold build up. I bought a hygrometer a few months back to test the moisture in the house. For about the past month, it has been showing 20-25%.

A builder friend of mine recommends a humidifier if it shows consistently below 30%.

Anyone on the east coast who has a humidifier and likes/dislikes it?

 

[WishIhadatruck]

My wife has pretty severe allergies, including mold. She has no issues with our humidifier. It is a Honeywell HE350 which appears to be pretty much identical to the Aprilaire 700.

I've never seen any mold build up on the water panel. I think the constant flow of water across it keeps it clean. I'm sure a steam model is safer however, but a lot more expensive, not to mention the cost to run one. I never looked at them when I installed mine. I keep my RH about 40-45% when it is 25-40 outside. If it drops below 20-25 I'll drop it down to 30% or so, otherwise the windows get a fair amount of condensation on them. Some advanced humidistats will adjust this automatically.

I just need to clean it out 1-2 times per winter season with vinegar and replace the pad with a new one at the same time. Works great for us.

 

[4D-56]

2c:

Rather than treating the symptoms, address the underlying cause of the allergies. Deep & serious long term cleansing of the body, tissues & joints to address toxicity, acidity. Its often an area that many 'allergists' know little of.

Good luck.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: stro_cruiser
2c:

Rather than treating the symptoms, address the underlying cause of the allergies. Deep & serious long term cleansing of the body, tissues & joints to address toxicity, acidity. Its often an area that many 'allergists' know little of.

Good luck.


I fundamentally agree, but dry is dry. We run an ultrasonic sometimes in the winter to pull up the humidity a little. Never really considered the mold bit, but we keep it clean. The steam ones get fouled or the heating elements break.

 

[SatinSilver]

Try a cool mist vaporizer for your wife at night. The cool temperature ones are recommended and should help with allergies. I had a warm one that needed salt added to the water. It was a giant pain in the butt. The water got all yucky. I just threw it out.

I used to get allergies real bad. Every since walking 30-60 minutes a day the allergies have dissappeared. Ahhhh, relief!

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: satinsilver
Try a cool mist vaporizer

I have the Crane Drop one, but I can't say that it does much. I've got about 30% humidity normally, and only about 34% when running this humidifier. That's in a small closed off bedroom.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: satinsilver


I used to get allergies real bad. Every since walking 30-60 minutes a day the allergies have dissappeared. Ahhhh, relief!


IMO this is KEY!

Forced air and filtered air all the time has done nothing good for us.

 

[GGorman04]

Maybe it sounds like she needs some natural sources of healing first. JHRZ2, does the Ultrasonic help at all?

 

[zzyzzx]

I never understood why they even sell humidifiers anywhere on the East coast. It's already plenty humid here.

 

[greenjp]

Originally Posted By: zzyzzx
I never understood why they even sell humidifiers anywhere on the East coast. It's already plenty humid here.

It's not humid in the winter.

I installed a Honeywell HE360 (the fan powered evaporative type) in my home for this winter and it has been very effective. The humidity in the winter used to run from the low teens to 30 or so, the humidifier keeps it steady at 35-40% (I adjust it a bit based on outside temp as another poster mentioned) and the house is much more comfortable.

The steam types will use less water, but they'll use a heck of a lot more electricity, I suppose the amount you pay for each would determine which is more cost effective. The evaporative types are considerably less expensive too. As I understand it the steam types are recommended if you have a heat pump, which may not generate enough heat (like a gas or oil furnace) to make an evaporative type effective.

jeff