Humidifiers and Dehumidifiers - Humidifier recommendation for my specific situation...

Hello. I need to install a humidifier in my new townhome. I live in Colorado and it is DRY here all year, so I need to get something that I can use year-round with just the fan from the furnace running (which I leave on 24x7).

I like the idea of the Desert Spring due to the year-round capabilities and the lower water consumption, but I'm not opposed to something like a traditional flow-through design either if there's a good reason not to get the Desert Spring.

Now, my return ductwork is round and the supply side is square. If I need to mount it on the return side (Desert Spring requires this), I'll need to modify the ductwork somehow. How do I do this?

So what would YOU do? Should I modify the ductwork somehow and get the Desert Spring or find a model that can be mounted on the square supply side like the Aprilaire 700? If I need to modify the ductwork, how do I do it? Or should I hire someone for the ductwork?

Thanks!!

Id get a table top humidifier! Less cost. Less water. More RH%. Yes you will have to fill it!

First of all, where is the furnace at?

You do not need it in the summer. What is your humdity leve in the home in the winter and summer time?

I do not want a tabletop humidifier. I have one now in my apartment and I have to fill it CONSTANTLY and it barely raises the RH at all in the winter. As a result, I've stopped using it. I really want a whole house humidifier.

Jay,

I haven't moved into my new townhome yet (I close next week), but in my apartment the RH without a humidifier running is 22% right now (in April) and last summer it was around 30%. I doubt it will be any different in my new townhome. It is DRY here. Even if I don't use it in the summer, I would use it virtually all year, leaving the thermostat fan set to "On" instead of "Auto".

The furnace is located on the ground floor (out of 3) in the furnace room next to the hot water tank.

Thanks!!

A Table top should be able to supply more RH than a unit on your HVAC system! The only draw back is you have to fill it and RH% will be high in that room. I have mine in the hall about 4 feet from return grill so that problem is solved! I can add 3 gallons of water in 24 hrs. I also agree with Jay you should not need this in spring and summer and fall!

I'd wait if I were you.. Get settled into your town home and see what it's at. Apt and large buildings are known to be dry.

Thanks, but I'm sure I'm going to need a humidifier and I'd like to install one as soon as I move into my new place. There aren't many places drier than Colorado and I live at 7000 feet. There are VERY FEW people who don't have humidifiers in their homes here. I've asked a few coworkers who have lived here awhile and they all use their whole-house humidifiers at least 3 seasons out of the year here. I understand that in MANY (most) places a humidifier isn't needed except in the winter, but that is simply not the case here in Colorado with our high altitude & dry air. It is extremely dry here even in summer.

So, can someone recommend a unit for me that I can use most of the year with ambient air from the furnace fan? Desert Spring? Aprilaire 600/700? Others? What about my round return duct? Easily adaptable? Or should I get a unit that can be mounted on the square supply side?

Thanks.

You are not kidding about how dry it is. I did some checking on line and you are DRY!

Right now your area it's about 20% where we are about 50%.

I'd go with the one you put on the supply side with out doing any major work to the return drop.

If you have a newer furnace most will have termials on the board for HUM and/or EAC. tap onto the EAC if you don't have an EAC.

Only down fall if you run your A/C, it may take out what you put in.

Thanks Jay. I think I'll get the Aprilaire 700 and mount it on the supply side. Can you please explain how HUM & EAC would operate differently? I want the humidifier to operate whenever the blower is on and I plan on leaving it set to "On" year-round instead of "Auto".

Also, it's a brand new home with a brand new Lennox furnace. I will not have A/C to start with and I'm still not sure if I'll even need it. Many homes here don't have it due to the fact that it's so dry - even in summer. So we'll see.

Thanks!!

On most new equipement it has those thermial on the board that provides 120 volts.

DOUBLE CHECK the install manual with the furnace to make sure.


The EAC (Electronic Air Cleaner) will provide power all times when blower itself is running.

The HUM (Humidifer) will only provide power when there is a call of heat.


When you do mount the unit on the supply side, make it a habbit to check it on it weekly to make sure the drain is working. Otherwise, if you have a leak, it may damage the furnace.

Thanks. One last thing...

In the event that I wish to install A/C down the road, are there any considerations I should take into account now when installing a humidifier on the supply side? I don't want to have to redo the humidifier installation if I end up getting A/C.

Thanks!!

Where is the furnace sitting?

You have space on the supply on all 3 sides?

If you put it in front, it may have to move it up for the coil to go in.

I stopped up at my townhome today to look at the furnace again, and it turns out that I only have room (in theory) for the humidifier on 1 side of the supply duct. However, the round return duct runs right next to the furnace on that same side, blocking me from installing a humidifier on the supply duct. So now I'm back to square one.

I guess I need to start calling some HVAC installers for estimates since something is obviously going to have to be done with the ductwork :(