Whole house humidifier on well water?

[Quattro Pete]

My choices are to feed it either water from the softener or from RO. I suppose RO would be better, but the humidifier can go through a lot of water, so I don't want to shorten the life of my RO filter doing that. Would it be OK to just use water from the softener instead?

I know that ultrasonic portable humidifiers need distilled or RO water, but the whole house humidifiers aren't ultrasonic so maybe they are not as picky for water source?

 

[Danno]

Followed, same questions here.

 

[UncleDave]

My choices are to feed it either water from the softener or from RO. I suppose RO would be better, but the humidifier can go through a lot of water, so I don't want to shorten the life of my RO filter doing that. Would it be OK to just use water from the softener instead?

I know that ultrasonic portable humidifiers need distilled or RO water, but the whole house humidifiers aren't ultrasonic so maybe they are not as picky for water source?

Id run the softener route if it were mine and watch for mineralization of the pads as well as expect more pad maintenance.

Id also be observant of biologicals when aerosolizing well water.
I like a silver impregated sediment filter up front at min, and a .5 micron carbon polish.
Id add UV if you have biologicals present.

Couldn't speak to ultrasonics but have been running humidifiers and evap coolers for decades here in the desert clime.

 

[rijndael]

the whole house humidifiers aren't ultrasonic so maybe they are not as picky for water source?

I have an AprilAir (620 IIRC). It gets fed my hard-ish water from the county. The parts that collect the deposits are replaced with the service kit. That is the pad, tube and nozzle. The rest of it is cleaned up with some lime away on a paper towel.

 

[wings&wheels]

AprilAir 620 also here fed sediment and activated carbon filtered high mineral content well water, not RO. Replace the pad and vinegar scrub and wipedown every year. Supplemented with a portable console one that gets water treatment and pads 2x per Winter.

 

[Rand]

RO is better. most are rated for thousands of gallons a year.

We talking 10Gallons a day or what?

If you feed your RO softened water its already extended its lifespan considerably.

Also with no chlorine in well water the RO Membrane should live its best life.
and even if your carbon filter(s) get depleted cause no damage to the membrane.

A dow filmtec (name brand) 75GPD membrane with high rejection ( higher than 100gpd rated one)
was $28 and lasts 1-3 years.

 

[loneryder]

My choices are to feed it either water from the softener or from RO. I suppose RO would be better, but the humidifier can go through a lot of water, so I don't want to shorten the life of my RO filter doing that. Would it be OK to just use water from the softener instead?

I know that ultrasonic portable humidifiers need distilled or RO water, but the whole house humidifiers aren't ultrasonic so maybe they are not as picky for water source?

Use softener water but it will clog up the pad or whatever is used quickly.

 

[RhondaHonda]

How much water do you think one would use? I’ve got 4 and don’t notice any difference in the water used vs months when they aren’t on?

I’d use the RO water to feed it myself if I were on a well.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

My choices are to feed it either water from the softener or from RO. I suppose RO would be better, but the humidifier can go through a lot of water, so I don't want to shorten the life of my RO filter doing that. Would it be OK to just use water from the softener instead?

I know that ultrasonic portable humidifiers need distilled or RO water, but the whole house humidifiers aren't ultrasonic so maybe they are not as picky for water source?

My parents used well water. Just more maintenance

 

[Quattro Pete]

We talking 10Gallons a day or what?

Yeah, about that, maybe somewhat more on really cold days.

A follow-up question, for a larger home, does it make sense to get a fan-powered whole house humidifier as opposed to a bypass one? I was thinking of getting the AprilAire 720A.

A dow filmtec (name brand) 75GPD membrane with high rejection ( higher than 100gpd rated one)
was $28 and lasts 1-3 years.

Is membrane the same as a diaphragm? Is it possible mine's integrated with a booster pump?

 

[Rand]

ro membrane is what makes it an ro filter.. its in the big white container

 

[JHZR2]

What is the method of adding humidity? That may be part of the decision process. If it’s ultrasonic versus a heating element versus a wicking device…

I’d probably run RO if your TDS is reasonably low from it, and then limit its use, and augment with steam or ultrasonic humidifiers in the locations needed.