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Key Takeaways
Home HVAC can be complicated for most people. Ducts, vents, water, and wiring all combine to improve air quality levels.
If you want your entire home humidified, then whole-house humidifiers are the way to go.
However, they can be expensive and require regular maintenance.
Understanding what they are and how they differ from their ultrasonic or portable counterparts can help you choose the one most suitable for you.
In this guide, I will do my best to explain how whole-house humidifiers function and work with existing HVAC systems to add humidity and bring relief to dry air sufferers.
How Does A Whole-House Humidifier Work?
Whole-home humidifiers are stationary devices that connect to your home’s HVAC system and ducts to add moisture to dry indoor air.
My unit has really boosted the humidity levels in my home and improved my indoor air quality.
I now have much fewer breathing issues, thanks to the device.
Each type of humidifier must be connected to a water supply line, as they need water to produce moisture.
How they turn water into vapor or mist and move it into your home depends on the device.
Related Article: Top Rated Whole House Humidifiers Reviewed
Here are my explanations of the four main types of whole-house humidifiers:
Steam Humidifiers – Boil Water To Create Moisture
Steam humidifiers are among the most precisely controlled methods to increase moisture levels in your home.
They boil water to create steam, which boosts humidity in your home.
The steam humidifier draws water into an internal reservoir, which is attached to or surrounded by an electrical heating system.
The humidifier heats the water to the boiling point, producing steam. It then releases the steam to your heating ducts to spread it throughout the house.
Steam humidifiers are very efficient at boosting humidity levels and I can heartily recommend them for large homes.
However, boiling the water consumes power and it may raise your energy bills noticeably.
TL;DR: Steam humidifiers are precise and have the best humidification but can raise your energy bills significantly.
Bypass/Flow-Through Humidifiers – Furnace Humidifiers
Bypass humidifiers, also called flow-through humidifiers, are very simple furnace humidifiers.
A bypass humidifier consists of a water connection and a water-absorbent material called a moisture or humidifier pad.
The device is installed into an air duct connected to your HVAC system. As it’s turned on, the water line soaks the moisture pad with water.
The airflow from the furnace passes by the pad (that’s where the name comes from!) and evaporates the water, pushing the water vapor into your home.
Unlike a steam humidifier, a bypass humidifier doesn’t use any electricity, which I really appreciate.
It can be a very affordable and low-maintenance humidifier option, particularly for small homes like mine.
However, you do need to install a collection tray and a drain line to prevent water damage from potential leaks.
TL;DR: While not too efficient, they do not consume electricity and require least maintenance.
Drum Humidifiers – Affordable And Efficient Furnace Humidifiers
Drum humidifiers are a variant of flow-through humidifiers. They also feature a water connection and an absorbent moisture pad. However, the moisture pad is housed in a rotating drum.
The drum sits above a shallow water pan with an automatic fan to maintain an appropriate moisture level.
As the drum rotates, it dips the pad into the water, absorbing moisture.
Warm air flows from your furnace into the middle of the drum and through the soaked pad, drawing moisture into the indoor air.
Drum humidifiers can be very affordable and efficient, and won’t consume as much electricity as steam units.
However, they need regular maintenance to prevent mold growth in the drum and moisture pad.
As such, I wouldn’t recommend them if you suffer from allergies or asthma like I do.
Important Note:
It is worth mentioning here that humidifiers DO NOT clean the air. While they do improve air quality but maintaining optimal humidity levels, to clean the air thoroughly you will need to procure an air purifier.
TL;DR: In terms of performance, electricity consumption and maintenance requirement, they are between steam and bypass humidifiers.
Power Humidifiers – Feature A Blower Fan
Power, or fan humidifiers, function similarly to bypass and flow-through humidifiers.
But in addition to the basic bypass unit’s components, they feature an independent blower fan that pushes air through the moisture pad.
The greatest advantage of power humidifiers is that they can work even when you’re not running the furnace.
They consume some electricity, but in exchange, they can humidify your home year-round, even when you’ve turned the heating system off.
Power humidifiers can be really awesome if you live in a dry and hot area, like a desert.
TL;DR: Similar to bypass humidifiers but they have a fan that improves humidification efficiency albeit at the cost of higher electricity consumption.
Major Components Of Whole-House Humidifiers
In addition to knowing the basic operational principles of whole-house humidifiers, it’s good to be familiar with their main components.
This way you can communicate better with your HVAC technician — or even do DIY maintenance.
Here’s my breakthrough of a basic whole-home humidifier’s parts (just note that they may differ between units):
Water Tap/Supply Line – Connected To Water Utility
The water supply line connects your furnace humidifier to the local water service.
The line allows the machine to draw in water that it transforms into air humidity.
Water Inlet Orifice – Control Water Flower
The inlet orifice controls the water flow into the humidifier.
It prevents too much water from entering the device and potentially flooding it.
Water Inlet Valve
The inlet valve, located after the orifice, allows water to flow into the humidifier based on demand.
Generally, the inlet is an electrical solenoid valve connected to a humidistat.
Humidistat – For Monitoring And Controlling Humidity
The humidistat is located outside the humidifier, where it monitors air humidity and provides humidity control by turning the machine on or off.
I like to think of it as a thermostat, except that it reads the humidity level instead of the temperature.
Water Feed Tube – For Internal Water Circulation
The water feed tube or tubes are responsible for circulating water internally through the humidifier.
They transport water from the inlet valve into the evaporator pad or the tank.
Water Collector
In most whole-home humidifiers, the water collector is an evaporator pad that soaks up water for evaporation. In a steam humidifier, however, a water tank takes the pad’s place.
Drain Pan – For Catching Leaks And Spills
The drain pan sits under the evaporator pad to catch any leaking or spilled water. It has a drain line that empties the pan into your home’s drainage system.
Important Note:
It’s important to keep that drain line clean — an overflowing humidifier is not a pleasant surprise.
Air Damper/Air Duct
Some humidifiers integrate with an air conditioner to humidify both warm and cool air.
These units require air ducts and dampers. The configuration allows the system to feed either hot or cold air to the humidifier without affecting its temperature.
TL;DR: Different types of whole house humidifiers have different parts. Having knowledge of different parts of a whole house humidifiers can help you better maintain and troubleshoot them.
When Do You Need A Whole-Home Humidifier?
Most people purchase a portable humidifier to treat dry air in a certain space, like a bedroom.
However, you should consider purchasing a whole-home humidifier if you notice symptoms caused by dry air throughout your home.
I live with breathing issues and am all too familiar with the most common dry air symptoms.
Keep an eye out for problems such as:
TL;DR: Generally there are two important requisites, either you live in an environment that is dry majority of the year or you suffer from diseases that are caused by dry air.
Related Article: Best Humidifiers for Sinus Problems
Benefits You Can Expect By Humidifying Your Entire Home
Humidifying your whole home isn’t difficult and gives you a range of benefits that you’ll start to feel almost immediately. Here are my top reasons to install a whole-home humidifier:
Improves Your Health
Humidifying your home improves the overall air quality.
This helps reduce the risk of airborne diseases or infections like coughs and colds.
It can also help regulate air pollutants that can cause respiratory irritation and asthma symptoms — which is a big personal plus for me. (1)
Learn More: Does a Humidifier Clean the Air?
Increases Comfort Levels
Dry air can irritate your skin and your respiratory system, making you itchy, giving you a sore throat, and drying out your skin.
It can also increase the levels of airborne allergens.
Air humidity in the 30-50% (2) range throughout your home can help relieve these issues.
Learn More: Humidifier Helps with Dry Eyes
Preserves Your Home From Dry Air Damage
Dry air can damage your home. Your floors can crack, wallpaper peel, and paint can begin to chip.
Your wood furniture may experience dry rot, and excessive static electricity could harm electronic appliances.
A good humidifier will help protect your home from unnecessary damage. I like wooden furniture, so the added humidity has been a welcome addition.
Saves You Energy & Money
You can actually save a great deal of money with a whole-house humidifier.
Maintaining an appropriate humidity level makes you feel warmer and allows you to save money and energy on heating during cold winter months.
Additionally, by protecting your home’s surfaces, you may avoid costly renovations.
TL;DR: Humidifiers can not only provide health benefits, but also preserve your belonging and even save up on HVAC energy bills.
How Much Do Whole-House Humidifiers Cost?
I can’t tell you exactly how much whole-house humidifiers cost, since they are available in a wide price range.
The cheapest units can cost just a couple hundred dollars, while big high-end devices could cost several thousand dollars.
The price of the humidifier unit depends on its type and size, the size of your home, and your air conditioning system.
You will also have to pay for the energy and water the device consumes, in addition to humidifier maintenance, such as humidifier filter replacements.
You might also want to hire a professional to install the system.
Important Notes:
If you just want a specific room humidifier, you can get portable humidifiers like ultrasonic humidifiers.
It’s possible to save some costs by handling humidifier installation yourself, but I recommend turning to a professional to avoid damaging your HVAC system.
Whatever you end up paying, though, the health benefits will likely outweigh the price!
How To Install A Whole House Humidifier – 6-Step DIY Process
Installing a whole-house humidifier can be simple if you’re good at DIY projects. First, you need the right equipment. You’ll need:
Once you’ve got everything ready, follow these steps:
1. Cut The Humidifier Outlet Hole:
Mark the outlet hole’s position on the air supply duct. The manufacturer will typically provide a template and instructions on how to do this.
Use the drill and aviation snips to cut the section out and attach the mounting plate with screws.
2. Cut The Humidistat Hole
Following a similar process, mark and cut a hole for the humidistat. Refer to the manufacturer’s guidelines for the size and positioning of the hole.
3. Install The Humidistat
Mount the humidistat and screw it in place. Follow the instructions and connect the furnace controls to the humidistat.
4. Wire The Humidifier:
Switch off the electricity in your home and connect the wires from the humidistat to the humidifier. The humidistat should connect to the humidifier’s solenoid valve.
5. Connect The Water Line:
Install a saddle valve into your water line and connect it to your humidifier. Fasten it with a compression fitting.
6. Run The Humidifier:
With all the connections in place, your humidifier should work. Turn the power back on and test the unit.
Note that you will have to deal with potentially dangerous electrical and water lines.
Important Notes:
If you’re not 110% certain about what you’re doing, I recommend hiring an HVAC professional to install your humidifier.
It will be cheaper than fixing electrical or water damage!
People Also Ask (FAQs)
How Do I Know If My Whole-House Humidifier Is Working?
You know your furnace humidifier works if you can see and hear it power on and can see water running through the system.
If you don’t hear or see this and the air in your home stays dry, call an HVAC professional.
How Long Does A Whole-House Humidifier Take To Work?
A whole-home humidifier typically takes around 24 hours to humidify the whole house. The exact time will depend on the type of humidifier and the size of your home.
Do Whole-House Humidifiers Cause Mold?
A whole-house humidifier could cause mold if you allow it to over-humidify your home.
Ensure the system has a functioning humidistat and change the humidifier filter regularly to prevent mold.
Are Whole-House Humidifiers Dangerous?
No, whole-house humidifiers aren’t dangerous when operated correctly. That said, excessive humidity could cause mold growth and health issues.
Make sure you have a way to monitor humidity levels in your home with a hygrometer or humidistat.
How Long Do Whole-House Humidifiers Last?
With proper maintenance, a whole-house humidifier can last 10-15 years, depending on the type and brand. Take care of your system and you can enjoy it for years to come.
Where Should I Put My Whole-House Humidifier?
Furnace humidifiers are always located on your furnace or heat pump, or the HVAC system near it.
Portable “whole-house” humidifiers, meanwhile, should be placed at a central location in the busiest room of the home for maximum benefits.
Are Whole-House Humidifiers Loud?
Whole-house humidifiers should not be loud. They’re relatively quiet and usually located where you can’t hear them.
If your humidifier is noisy, it likely has a problem and requires maintenance.
So, Ready To Humidify Your Entire Home?
If you’re like me and live with breathing issues in a very dry location, a whole-humidifier can be your key to easier breathing.
You just have to find a unit that’s suitable for your home’s size and climate.
Armed with my guide and tips, you can choose a humidifier that’s ideal for your home. With the right machine, you’ll soon enjoy increased comfort and healthier air quality in your home.
References:
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-cold/in-depth/humidifiers/art-20048021
- http://1%29%20https//www.ashrae.org/file%20library/technical%20resources/covid-19/si_s16_ch22humidifiers.pdf
