Humidifier Recommendation

[rexmaster]

2 choices power fan vs by-pass type?
According to the Honeywell, power fan saves water and is a better choice for hardwater. My builder was charging to much ($650 installed).
Honeywell/Aprilaire power fan unit sells about $220 and $150 for by-pass.
Anyway, it will be installed for 2 story (2400 sq ft) house with upflow furnace in the basement. Which type would be a better choice?

Thank you.

[rexmaster]

TTT

[Rich]

Well - won't say I'm an expert on this but I would probably just use a by-pass type and let the furnace fan push the air.

[rabadger]

I am not a great fan of humidifiers on furnaces.

1. What happens when air is heated and humidity stays the same?
It dries out. Look at the circulation of the humidified air on the bypass
model. Supply air is positve pressure, return air is negitive pressure.
The air goes around and around past the heat exchanger.

2. If you put a humidifer on a furnace it will only run when the blower is
on.

3. People have a tendency not to take care of the yearly maintenance.

4. I have a 2700 square foot home and the portable floor model works
fine. The humidity goes directly into the air. No white dust from the
hard water, no 24 volt controls.

I tell people in new construction application do not get one. The house is tight and you may not need one the first couple of years.

[Cole]

Great info, Richard.