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We have never used a room humidifier and wonder if any of you use one. I

heard that the cool air type is better than the hot but that's as much as I

know. I don't want to create any problems in the house, but both my son,

husband are suffering with dry throats and a few bloody noses. Since I haven't

used one in the past I have no idea and would appreciate any suggestions

and advice.How often & how long do you run them.

We had a drum type roller humidifier attached to the furnace but have

not used it for 6 yrs. after reading about the bacteria & possible mold

growth.

Thanks, Sue R.

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Jeff, thank you so very much for you reply! The drum humidifier was

removed years ago so all is well there. I talked to our furnace man a week ago

who said he could install an Aprilaire but didn't recommend it because it

shortens the life of the furnace. I never know what to do!! He talked a long

time said he just didn't like them. I'll call him next week & ask about

the one you suggested. What is your opinion about the life span? We have oil

heat, the furnace is checked/cleaned every fall and is always very clean.

The portable humidifiers seem to be a hassle to clean and I worry about

filling them with water & it leaking!!! I constantly worry when it comes to

water. Never had a problem at home. I was exposed at my school and STILL

have nightmares (about mold & water damage) after 6 yrs!!!

Thanks again! Sue

Sue,

It's difficult to humidify room air with a portable humidifier if you have

forced hot air heat since every time the heat turns on, air in the room is

exchanged with dry air from the furnace.

As you noted, drum humidifiers are unsafe. You should have this removed

(very carefully) as it most likely is full of microbial contaminants.

The only safe central humidifier is the trickle-type (such as the

Aprilaire) with continuous flow that is drained out during operation. (Some

trickle

types recirculate water and this should not be used.) Change the filter

pad annually.

If you want to use a portable humidifier, do not use a cool mist. The only

safe type is the warm-mist. These boil water and stearilize the nearby

interior workings. The Honeywell Quicksteam has a humidistat, which is a very

important feature.

If you are serious about keeping the RH up in the bedroom, reduce the heat

flow (by closing down the heat vent a bit) if you use a portable

humidifier. Measure the RH with a thermo-hygrometer and depending on the

outdoor

temperature, don't let it get over 40%.

May

May Indoor Air Investigations LLC

www.mayindoorair.com

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Sue,

It's difficult to humidify room air with a portable humidifier if you have

forced hot air heat since every time the heat turns on, air in the room is

exchanged with dry air from the furnace.

As you noted, drum humidifiers are unsafe. You should have this removed (very

carefully) as it most likely is full of microbial contaminants.

The only safe central humidifier is the trickle-type (such as the Aprilaire)

with continuous flow that is drained out during operation. (Some trickle types

recirculate water and this should not be used.) Change the filter pad annually.

If you want to use a portable humidifier, do not use a cool mist. The only safe

type is the warm-mist. These boil water and stearilize the nearby interior

workings. The Honeywell Quicksteam has a humidistat, which is a very important

feature.

If you are serious about keeping the RH up in the bedroom, reduce the heat flow

(by closing down the heat vent a bit) if you use a portable humidifier. Measure

the RH with a thermo-hygrometer and depending on the outdoor temperature, don't

let it get over 40%.

May

May Indoor Air Investigations LLC

www.mayindoorair.com

>

> We have never used a room humidifier and wonder if any of you use one. I

> heard that the cool air type is better than the hot but that's as much as I

> know. I don't want to create any problems in the house, but both my son,

> husband are suffering with dry throats and a few bloody noses. Since I haven't

> used one in the past I have no idea and would appreciate any suggestions

> and advice.How often & how long do you run them.

> We had a drum type roller humidifier attached to the furnace but have

> not used it for 6 yrs. after reading about the bacteria & possible mold

> growth.

> Thanks, Sue R.

>

>

>

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Barb, Thanks again for your reply. After I read your message is when I

talked to my AC people who were ready to install one right away but I called

our furnace guy to get his opinion. He's the one that said he did recommend

one and that's why I stay so confused and frustrated. After what you had

said I felt comfortable and ready to order one right away. If your furnace

was 40 yrs. old then the Aprilaire should be fine. I just don't like to make a

hasty decision until I feel really comfortable about it. I am well in my

house and want to stay that way since it is the only place I feel safe. I

Truly appreciate your advice and taking the time to write. Thanks again and

I'll probably give them a call next week. Our humidity in the basement is

running about 37 right now. Thanks again for your help.

Sue R.

>>

As I said in previous post about this to you, furnace that was here was

over 40 years old and never died. It had an Aprilaire humidifier on it that I

neglected to even look at for the first ten years because I was busy

taking care of a sick relative but when I did had no mold and wasn't dirty. The

house had humidity when it needed it. The Aprilaire filter had just some

water powder from lime deposited on it for over 10 years but not that much

actually. I replaced the

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Barb, I forgot to ask do you know what type you have or model #. They

recommended model 600 but that's all I know. The brochure shows a bypass

humidifier and a Power Humidifier & have no idea which they would suggest.

Sue R.

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As I said in previous post about this to you, furnace that was here was over 40

years old and never died. It had an Aprilaire humidifier on it that I neglected

to even look at for the first ten years because I was busy taking care of a sick

relative but when I did had no mold and wasn't dirty. The house had humidity

when it needed it. The Aprilaire filter had just some water powder from lime

deposited on it for over 10 years but not that much actually. I replaced the 40

plus year old furnace but not because it died but because the basement floor

shifted and threw the furnace off to a slight angle. This was not noticeable to

me but resulted in the air conditioner that was above it not be able to drain

out of pan unless it was full, holding water which developed mold in it that

spilled out and spilled into the furnace so despite the Aprilaire and the forty

years of running, the furnace never ever died or was rusty or anything. The

basement floor shifted and that caused the trouble. If you are humidifying to

30-40% in winter as would be normal, that amt of humidity should be normal to go

through furnace and not damage it, if it even does does go through furnace. I

don't know if it does. I'm not sure where air goes after it goes through the

Aprilaire. May be depends on where they install it. I'd read the installation

instructions myself BEFORE they put it in so YOU know where it should go. I

used a couple room humidifier before and they kept dying within a few months due

to heavy lime in water in this area caking on them. If you clean them well

after each use which is daily or more than daily and then they just do one room.

House is not dry since I put the Aprilaire in. No room needs extra

humidification.

>

>

> Jeff, thank you so very much for you reply!

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I have a 600A but I think as long as they have those stiff metal filters, they

will all do okay. Because the filter is made of stiff metal, it does not ABSORB

water so it does not stay wet and therefore cannot grow mold. It instead breaks

up the water passing through it into a small trickling waterfall that the air

blows by and picks up bits of water out of the waterfall. The 'filter' always

is dry even when water is passing through it so as long as they have that type

of set up, any of them should do I think. Jeff may know about different models.

I don't know. I think the different features maybe just affect how well they

humidify, but none of them should grow mold.

>

> Barb, I forgot to ask do you know what type you have or model #. They

> recommended model 600 but that's all I know. The brochure shows a bypass

> humidifier and a Power Humidifier & have no idea which they would suggest.

> Sue R.

>

>

>

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Barb, thanks again for taking the time to help me out. Wish our decision

making didn't have to be so complicated!! But as we all know everything out

there isn't necessarily the best for us. I just don't want to introduce

something into our home that could be a potentiality harmful. Your's sounds

like it could be the same model (600)that the AC people recommended.

Thank you,

Sue R.

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Sue,

The 600 is the Aprilaire model.

As long as it is installed properly it will not reduce the life of the furnace.

What the installer is probably referring to are the humidifiers that are either

not maintained or installed improperly. They leak and rust out the furnace.

If you install a central humidifier, check it every week to make sure it is not

leaking.

I did forget to mention one other risk. You must be very careful to avoid having

house air leak into the attic or condensation will take place.

Make sure the bath fans exhaust directly to the exterior (NOT into the soffit)

and that the attic access is airtight. (You should have an airtight, insulated

box over the access if it is a pull-down stairs.)

If you have any older recessed fixtures, these too can allow moisture into the

attic.

Finally, be certain that you have adequate return air capacity and that the duct

work and filter access are airtight. If there is an imbalance between the return

and supply, the habitable areas could be pressurized, forcing house air into the

attic.

Suppose for example that you have an open slot (rather than a covered one) for

the filter. This means that much of you air for heating and cooling leaks in

around the filter insead of coming from the habitable areas of the house. Much

of this air is probably replaced with air from the outside that leaks into the

basement. Now there is more air being supplied to the habitable areas than is

being removed by the return ducts, so the air pressure is greater upstairs than

it should be. Some of this air can be forced into wall cavities and the attic.

If there are supply ducts in the attic, these should also be airtight.

Sorry to give you one more thing to worry about but better to be safe than sorry

later.

Jeff May

May Indoor Air Investigations LLC

www.mayindoorair.com

>

> Barb, I forgot to ask do you know what type you have or model #. They

> recommended model 600 but that's all I know. The brochure shows a bypass

> humidifier and a Power Humidifier & have no idea which they would suggest.

> Sue R.

>

>

>

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Thanks Jeff! After reading this I guess we will forget about the whole

house humidifier!We have a insulated foil type tent over the attic stairs & we

have an open space framed around the chimney in the attic that is stuffed

with insulation but I don't know if that is considered air tight. I don't

think I want to take the risk of any potential problems since we don't have

any! So far I stay well in my home & certainly want to stay that way!! So

I may just get the small Holmes room humidifier to use. Thanks again for

taking the time to help with my concerns!! Sue

The 600 is the Aprilaire model.

As long as it is installed properly it will not reduce the life of the

furnace. What the installer is probably referring to are the humidifiers that

are either not maintained or installed improperly. They leak and rust out

the furnace.

If you install a central humidifier, check it every week to make sure it

is not leaking.

I did forget to mention one other risk. You must be very careful to avoid

having house air leak into the attic or condensation will take place.

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This is good to know. I had no trouble with the old Aprilaire but perhaps it

was better made and put in properly. I haven't noticed any moisture on floor

around furnace but will need to check this now. Thanks for being persistent

about this Sue. Actually the old Aprilaire I had did look better made, it was

made of heavy metal and very solid and this one is plastic and the cover doesn't

fit very tight. Ah well, a never ending battle!!

>

>

> Thanks Jeff! After reading this I guess we will forget about the whole

> house humidifier!>

> >>>

> The 600 is the Aprilaire model.

>

> As long as it is installed properly it will not reduce the life of the

> furnace. What the installer is probably referring to are the humidifiers that

> are either not maintained or installed improperly. They leak and rust out

> the furnace.

>

> If you install a central humidifier, check it every week to make sure it

> is not leaking.

>

> I did forget to mention one other risk. You must be very careful to avoid

> having house air leak into the attic or condensation will take place.

>

>

>

>

>

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Barb, nothing is ever easy any more!! It is so hard to make a decision

but when it comes to the house I certainly don't want to cause a problem I

don't have. We did get the new roof BUT told them we did NOT want them to put

in the ridge vent!! They tried to talk us into it telling us the

shingles would probably only last 25 yr. instead of 30 but I don't care. I

didn't

want anyone cutting a hole the length of our roof that wasn't there. As for

the humidifier I don't want to create a problem there either. I

constantly worry about things & don't need to worry about another but I would

like

my son to be comfortable. He'll be leaving for basic training in a few

months so may be I just boil water on the stove everyday!!! Thanks, again, for

all your help. I am so grateful to have this group to help with all the

questions ...it is a tremendous help!!! Without it I'd probably have a

leaking ridge vent and a mold attic from a whole house humidifier!!! Sue

>>>

This is good to know. I had no trouble with the old Aprilaire but perhaps

it was better made and put in properly. I haven't noticed any moisture on

floor around furnace but will need to check this now. Thanks for being

persistent about this Sue. Actually the old Aprilaire I had did look better

made, it was made of heavy metal and very solid and this one is plastic and the

cover doesn't fit very tight. Ah well, a never ending battle!!

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