Humidifiers and Dehumidifiers - Honeywell HE360A or HE260A

I was lookign to install a humidifier in my house and wanted to find out if I should install the HE360A or HE260A. From reading on the honeywell website it seems like the HE260A is a bypass, while the HE360A is a Flow through, but I am not sure what that means. I wanted to know what are the advantage and disadvantage for each unit. Also, what you would recommend for a 1700 sq feet two level townhome.

Thanks in advance for your help.

RJ

I was lookign to install a humidifier in my house and wanted to find out if I should install the HE360A or HE260A. From reading on the honeywell website it seems like the HE260A is a bypass, while the HE360A is a Flow through, but I am not sure what that means. I wanted to know what are the advantage and disadvantage for each unit. Also, what you would recommend for a 1700 sq feet two level townhome.

Thanks in advance for your help.

RJ

Ok, The HE260 is a bypass, that means the unit itself should go on the return (can on supply if no room), then there is a 6" duct that goes from unit itself, to another duct.

Pro. No moving parts, and quiet.
Con. Takes up a bit more space, must close by-pass damper in the summer A/C mode.

HE360 is a powred unit, and should be on a supply duct work. it has a small fan inside, and it draws the air from the supply duct, and puts it over the humidifier pad, and back into the supply duct.


Pro, No by pass duct is needed.
Con, More parts, and fan noise.

Jay11J thanks for you input.

I have a couple of more questions.

Background:
I have no room to install the humidifier on the supply side, but have plenty of room on the return side. However, I do have enough room to install the bypass duct on supply side.

Questions:
1)all the installation instructions i have seen for honeywell 260 bypass, show the humidifier on the supply side and the bypass duct on the return side. Is it ok to reverse this and install the humidifier on the return side and the bypass duct on the supply side?

2)Also, Can I install the honeywell 360 powered flow through humidifier on the return side instead of the supply side. If yes, are there any disadvantages to do doing this way.

3)For water supply should I tap into hotwater or coldwater for honeywell 260 or Honeywell 360, I am able to access either with the same ease.

Thanks

AJ

1- Lot of us like to put the by-pass unit on the return.. That way if there was any problems with the unit, the water won't hurt anything.. as if it was on the supply, water may get down to the controls, burners, heat exchanger and cause damage. But there are time where we can't put it on the return side, and end up on the supply, I pressed the home owner to keep an eye on the system, and when they install a new pad, to make sure it all snaps into place, and drain is clear.

2- You could put the 360 on the return. but you are not going to get the "heat" to help eveperate the water off the pad. The hot water may help, but too much of it may go down the drain.

3- You can use either water. but I find that hot water will do better, and also the water has less miniral in it vs the cold water.. There is a lot of stuff out there saying cold water will work as well.