Humidifiers and Dehumidifiers - Central Humidifier Brand and type?

I am shopping for a good (not too expensive) central humidifier. I have gas-operated central furnace in the basement. Excluding the basement, the living space is 3200 sq ft. There seems to be various type of humidifier. Can anyone recommend what brand and type of central humidifier to buy? Thanks in advance.

Pretty much all brand humidifer are pretty much the same.. just a diffrent cover shape... they all work the same.

There's Honeywell and Aprilaire.

I perfer the bypass type since there is less things to go wrong vs the powered unit.. But if your space is limited, then you will have to go with powered unit on the supply duct.

Model that can work is the Honeywell 260 or powred 360. Aprilaire 600 or powered 700.

What is the main difference between model HE360 and HE365?

Thanks.

Just a few minor things.

360 are found at most retails level.

365 are sold mostly though a dealer, and a few can be found on line. Also, 365 has an Antimicrobial pad, where the 360 use a standard pad.

365 has a remote sensor built in for a wall remote to tell you it's time to change the pad.

Now, I have decided to buy either HE360 or HE365. Prior to the purchase, I wanted to check few things.

1. I have "HIGH BOY" furnace installation. There is about 22 inch vertical plenum between the furnace and horizontal plenum The installation manual calls out for 14 inch (H) by 13.5 inch (W) plenum opening. I drilled a 1/4 inch hole 14 inches down from the horizontal plenum. However, I felt a metalic item about 2 inches inside the plenum. Will I be able to install this type of humidifier?

2. The manual says to mount the humidifier at least 3 inches above the furnace jacket. What is "furnace jacket"?

3. This humidifier comes with "saddle valve". All my house plumbing is done with pvc. Can I install the "saddle valve" to PVC pipe?

Thanks for your advise.

For 3200sq ft in the home Id for sure go with the aprilaire 700. Not a bypass one for sure. It is about 18" high.
On that Pvc I cut into it and put a T with a Mpt thread 1/2" and put s shut off valve to compression on that. Use hot water for sure .
Check and see you might have hit the AC coil there ???????? if its there it wont work on the front of the furnace you have to go to the cold air drop for it

Sounds like you are hitting the A/C coil.. Hopefuly you didn't puncher a line!

Do you have space on the side of the ductwork for it??? If not, then sounds like you will needs to do a bypass unit, and put it on the return, and run the 6" duct from the unit over to the supply.

Powered unit does not work well on return since you don't have the "heat".

It appears that the full unit (humidifier) will sit outside the plenum. If so, why does it matter if the AC coil is in front of the humidifier? There is at least 2" of clearance. There is nothing in the installation instruction about the depth.

It may not say that in the book, but common sence.. They need good air flow around the unit to do it's job.. A blocked air flow is not going to let the unit do it's full job, and lot of the air is going to recirc again and again.