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Installing a Humidifier
As a home improvement project
installing a humidifier is easy and will save you on heating
cost. In winter months your house may become very dry from the heated
air being circulated through your home. If the humidity in
your home is too low during cold weather you will have to
turn up the heat to be comfortable. In addition, if the air
is too dry there are other things you may observe:
- More
colds and flu than normal
- Dry and
cracked skin or lips
- Static
electricity
- A general
feeling of discomfort and dryness
- Hardwood
floors dry out, evident by the separation between the
boards
- You feel
cold although the temperature is at 72 degrees
These problems can be
corrected by installing a humidifier to add moisture to the
house. It is not uncommon for the relative humidity inside
the house to drop below 30% during the heating season.
Ideally it should be maintained between 30 and 50%. If you
heat with baseboard electric or baseboard hot water you will
have to rely upon a portable humidifier to add moisture to
the house because there are no provisions to install a
central humidifier system in houses with these heating
systems.
If your home is heated with a central heating
system (HVAC) a humidifier can be hooked up to the central
system. These types of humidifiers are easy to install and
are not expensive. However, many homeowners stay away from
central system humidifiers because the added moisture to the
air ducts tends to cause
other problems. The added moisture can cause the
production of
dust mites
or the growth of harmful
mold in the air ducts making it necessary to clean the air ducts
periodically which can be expensive. These homeowners elect
to use a portable humidifier. They are very efficient and do
a great job of maintaining the humidity in your home above
30%.
There
are several manufactures of humidifiers, most are good units
but my favorite is the Kenmore 15408- unit. It out performs
most other units and its humidistat allows the unit to
maintain a preset target humidity level for a 1,700 square
foot area. It has a double-fill system that reduces the
number of times that it needs to be refilled over the course
of a day. A display alerts you when it's time to refill the
eight gallon tank or replace the wick filter. The average
lifespan for the filters is 60 to 90 days.
All humidifiers require
periodic cleaning to avoid problems from mold and mildew.
Although there are cleaning agents that can be added to the
water tank to help keep the filter and fan clean they do not
do a complete job and are expensive. I have found that
adding a table spoon of Clorox to each eight gallons of
water does a better job at keeping filter and fan clean.
If you follow the manufacturer’s instruction for
cleaning, the unit will provide long and satisfactory
service.
For
excessive humidity during the summer season see my
Installing a Dehumidifier
suggestions.
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A Great DIY Guide
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