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Old 11-04-2014, 05:28 AM
 
6,600 posts, read 8,932,735 times
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I was searching for room humidifiers and found out that whole house humidifiers are comparable in price. I live in a 1910's house in Pittsburgh and I've read that in cold climates with leaky homes you can end up with the humid air escaping through the leaks and eventually causing rotting or mold.

I can tell that my house used to have one since there's an old label on the duct for the humidistat controls and an unused saddle valve on the water pipe near the furnace. The furnace was replaced in 2011, so I don't know if they had problems with having a humidifier or if they just wanted to save a few bucks or what. This was less than a year before I bought it (previous owner was in hospice), so they might have just gone with the cheapest option to get a functional furnace in there for selling the house. Though maybe not since it is a high efficiency furnace.

If you have one, are you constantly having to fiddle with the humidity setting to avoid condensation build up? I see there are some automatic humidistat models, does anyone use those?

Overall it sounds like a good idea since my house was so dry last year and we were always having bloody noses, dry hands, static, and dry eyes, but I'm concerned about installing it in the Pittsburgh climate in such an old house.
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Old 11-04-2014, 08:33 AM
 
1,344 posts, read 3,390,981 times
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My best friend is a certified mold remediation specialist.

He doesn't like the plenum based humidifiers. When your furnace fan is off, there's still that moisture in the ducts and then "stuff" (that's my technical term) grows in there causing other respiratory problems.

I've stuck with a couple of the large stand-alone systems since. Yea, it's a PITA to fill daily but that's what kids are for.
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Old 11-04-2014, 08:46 AM
 
Location: New Market, MD
2,573 posts, read 3,488,099 times
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^This poster is exactly right. Don't mess with those just buy a big one or two from Lowes. Everything is much easier with these humidifier.
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Old 11-04-2014, 09:24 AM
 
Location: Johns Creek, GA
17,436 posts, read 65,697,376 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RyanR View Post
When your furnace fan is off, there's still that moisture in the ducts...
Technically, what's the difference?
Regardless of "where" the moisture comes from its in the ductwork by virtue of the fact that the air/moisture is being "recirculated". And the only way "stuff" will grow is if its in the ductwork to begin with- that's why there are filters.

Central humidifiers generally fail because of non-maintenance. You can improve its lifespan with a good humidistat AND a good water filter changed religiously.
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Old 11-04-2014, 09:34 AM
 
6,600 posts, read 8,932,735 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by K'ledgeBldr View Post
Technically, what's the difference?
Regardless of "where" the moisture comes from its in the ductwork by virtue of the fact that the air/moisture is being "recirculated". And the only way "stuff" will grow is if its in the ductwork to begin with- that's why there are filters.

Central humidifiers generally fail because of non-maintenance. You can improve its lifespan with a good humidistat AND a good water filter changed religiously.

I guess maybe there's more moisture in the ducts when the humidifier is in the ductwork rather than just in the house?

What do you mean by water filter? Do you mean the evaporator? I have no whole house filtration system if that's what you meant.

Last edited by ferraris; 11-04-2014 at 09:42 AM..
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Old 11-04-2014, 09:41 AM
 
Location: Johns Creek, GA
17,436 posts, read 65,697,376 times
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The supply line for the humidifier needs its own filter
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Old 11-04-2014, 09:59 AM
 
1,344 posts, read 3,390,981 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by K'ledgeBldr View Post
Technically, what's the difference?
Regardless of "where" the moisture comes from its in the ductwork by virtue of the fact that the air/moisture is being "recirculated". And the only way "stuff" will grow is if its in the ductwork to begin with- that's why there are filters.
Technically, I'm not the expert. Just passing along the info I received from someone who knows something on the subject.

If the humidifier is in the plenum, isn't the moisture level higher by nature? I'd think that if I put a hygrometer in the plenum, even after the furnace fan stopped running, the reading would be higher than the rest of the house. After all it is supposed to be supplying the moisture.
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Old 11-04-2014, 11:04 AM
 
6,600 posts, read 8,932,735 times
Reputation: 4683
Quote:
Originally Posted by K'ledgeBldr View Post
The supply line for the humidifier needs its own filter
Okay, I hadn't seen that mentioned anywhere but it sounds like a good idea. In-line filters aren't too expensive and I'm already anal about replacing my furnace filter so it's not like I'd let a water filter sit and fester for years.
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