Humidifiers and Dehumidifiers - Humidifier problem

I live in Dayton, Ohio, had a Honeywell 265 bypass humidifier professionally installed. The installer placed the unit in the return air duct which moistens the air prior to it being heated before distribution.

I have concerns that it may not be working properly. The control has been set on 10 since installation, however the humidity has gone up only a small amount since installation. With no humidifier the interior humidity was 26 - 28 % with the humidifier the maximum humidity reached a maximum humidity of 33% with an outside temp of 28. This was after several weeks of continious operation. I was expecting a humidity of 40+%.

Suggestions please

How old is it?

How long of a cycle does the furnace runs, and how many time avg in an hour?

do you set back your temp at night?

Old or new home/ Drafty?


Water going down the drain?

The humidifer was purchased and installed within the past two months.

I have never noticed or timed the furnace cycle but would say several times per hour during the coldest weather.

We set the thermostat at 67 degrees and never move it, prior to installation of the humidifer it was set at 68 degrees.

It appears to be working properly water flows down drain only when furnace is on, the vent is open and vent pipe is warm to the touch.

The house is four years old, brick and vinal siding. It is tight, 2600 square feet two floors with a full basement and a vented gas fire place.

I question the installation since the air is being moistened prior to being heated, it does not appear to be efficient to put moisture in then re-heat and dry the air before distribution.

I question the installation since the air is being moistened prior to being heated, it does not appear to be efficient to put moisture in then re-heat and dry the air before distribution.
ffoav8or,
I have an AprilAire humidifier mounted just like yours and it works just fine.....(maybe too good sometimes)
It's better not to have the humidifier on the supply side because if something goes wrong and it springs a leak, water will get into the furnace. And that's not a good thing!

It doesn't matter that the humidifier is adding moisture to the air before it passes through the heat exchanger. At this point, humidity stays in the air regardless of the heat being added!

Heat doesn't dry air. The only way to dry air is to lower its temperature below its dew point. That’s why if you have enough humidity in the air and your windows are very cold, the moisture will condense out of the air and form droplets on the cold windows. Warm air can hold more moisture than cool air, so as air is warmed, its "relative" humidity drops.

Also, remember it takes about 24 hours to effect the humidity in your house. The humidity is not just in the air, it's in the house and furnishings too. The humidifer is not a fast acting device like a furnace. Don't forget, if the furnace cycles less, it will take even longer to effect the humidity in your home.
Phil

Phil,

Thanks for the input. Did not consider dew point. But, even after weeks of operation on the very highest setting the highest humidity was only 33% - not good

Ok you said the furnace runs sevrial time a hours on the coldest day..

To me sounds like the furnace don't run much at all on a normal day of winter.. On the coldest day, it should be running non stop.. It will not add humidity to the home when it's not running..

Do you have a standard blower or the quiet variable speed?

I have a standard blower.

Furnace runs probably 50% of the time on an average more when very cold outside.

I just believe that after weeks of continious use if the humidifier were working correctly I would see more than a couple of percents of increase. I had an Aprilaire in my previous house, it would fog the windows, this one has been on the highest setting for weeks to only see a 5% increase. I think I could see that much by setting a pan of water on the register. NOT A GOOD ROI.

have you checked to see if there's water flow going over the pad? (Should have water coming out of the drain hose)

Is the summer/winter damper open?

This is what is so frustrating -- Both contractor and I have looked at this - Yes the damper is open and yes water runs out the drain.

We kept a log of outside temp and inside humiditidy the we turned the humidifier off and did the same thing. The humidity dropped back to ~28% from the 33% with the unit running.

It is working but not to a level that will provide the moisture needed to bring the level up. The unit is rated for a house half the size of mine, it is set on the max setting and can't do the job.

Honeywell has been useless as they have not even answered my email enquiries.

Pop the cover off the unit, and turn on the fan, put your hand in the round duct to see if you feel air blowing out?, now in front of the pad, feel any air sucking into the pad into the return drop?


Your pad, is it the metal type that looks like lime is built up?

If yes, then i'd suggest to go to Home Depot, and get a replacement pad. There is two type, the metal one and "papper" that willl hold water better.

All humidfier are pretty much all the same. nothing diffrent over aprilaire, and honywell, and others.

Are you using hot water or cold water?
Hot water might work better.

I'm having the same problem. Any help would be appreciated!

I've noticied that the water panel inside the humidifier is completely dry. There is water flowing through it. It takes 2 mins. to fill up a 1 qt jar. My house stays at 20% RH. If I make the water panel wet I can get 30% RH close the one of the registers. GO figure! It appears the water panel is not staying wet? Your help is appreciated.