Gas and Oil Home Heating Furnaces - gas Furnace Humidifire don't work?

OK i have an old air ease gas furnace and i was told when we moved in(15 years ago) that the humidifire part does not work turns out its true and its the strangest system. its supposed to have a small copper tube thats connects to the water heater (i think the cold water pipe) it would than connect to the what looks like a little faucet. than the water would flow into a collecter that looks like a spoon and than the water would go inside the unit after that who knows i would take pictures but they would be to big i only have a 250KB limit per picture. does any one know what this system is im not making this up.

On MOST humidifiers, cold water comes in through a 1/4 or 3/8" tube into a reservoir. The "spoon" you are referring to is probably the shut-off float that operates when the reservoir is full. Then there are different ways the water is picked up and air flows across and into the furnace more as humidity than actual liquid. This moist water then goes through your ductwork and adds humidity to the rooms.

here are some pictures of the unit have you ever seen one like this is this thing repairable.

http://www.coolimagehosting.com/uploads/77977b37de.jpg

http://www.coolimagehosting.com/uploads/b4f3477f4e.jpg

http://www.coolimagehosting.com/uploads/f644fae163.jpg

the third pic is the picture of the furnace it self

I would suggest buying a new humidifier. The old one probably quit and thats why it is disconnected from the water supply.

just one problem theres no way to get to it its inside this duct

http://www.coolimagehosting.com/uploads/42501d3b40.jpg

http://www.coolimagehosting.com/uploads/be73a8a44a.jpg

Hello Lex.

I have never seen that type of humidifer in my life. I would not use it if it even works.. I am guessing there is a pan inside that the water sits in and the warmth eveperate the water into the air.


Where is the return?? I didn't see it in the pictures. (guessing on the right side?)

If you really need one, i'd put in a powered flow though up on top of the supply duct work. But system seems somewhat old, may be best to wait till you replace your furnace.

if you mean by return the vent that sucks air into the blower past the filter it is on the right on the floor the vent goes from the hallway into the furnace if thats what you mean the hallway is right after that wall

But system seems somewhat old, may be best to wait till you replace your furnace.

Its not THAT old cause you can add centrol air to the furnace when i get a chance i will remove the spoon shaped collecter and see whats inside if it goes to a pan or is a long hafe tube and has no leaks i will just pore water into it untill full and see what it does.

Ok, I take you just got a single return?

This home on a basement or no basement?


Just looking at the picture, I am guessing the furnace is about 25 to 30 years old. It's getting up there.. With that large of flue vent, it may be around 60% effecent.

Also, do you guys have a CO detector?

we have the main return than we have a few cold are returns monted over the doors this is a single leval home no basment yes we have a C.O dector the funace runs great it heats up 5 degreis hoter than what you set it at.

OK i tried to remove the spoon collecter but it would not budge so i give up i tempted to pour water into the collecter but im afraid off what it might do it might leak and cause the pliot light to go out HELP WHAT DO I DO WITH THIS THIS......THING

The water will not knock the pilot out... IF it did, then you have a MAJOR problem. Cracked heat exchanger.

The water will just spill on top of the heat exchanger. and may cause rusting.. That's why I asked if you guys had CO in the home.

You won't know what's there, only thing you could do is cut out a hole, and look in.. You will have to put a patch back on.