Whole house humidifiers

[arcas]

I'm looking for whole house humidifier options.

I currently have a 10 gallon/day Holmes humidifier and on cold days it really struggles to keep the relative humidity above 40%, especially after the filter wick has been used for a couple weeks. For example, today the humidity level in the house has actually decreased even though the humidifier has run all day.

Since I have 2400 sqft and a very open floorplan with 2 story ceilings, I figure I probably need something in the 14-15 gallon/day range. The only console humidifiers I've found in that range are butt-ugly beasts that also cost a lot (not to mention the cost of filters). They also hold only a few gallons of water so I'd have to refill 3-4 times/day unless I rigged up some sort of water line with float. I've even considered arcas-rigging a toilet-float-type mechanism to my current humidifier so that I don't have to keep refilling it.

I know furnace-style bypass or pass-thru humidifiers are 15+ gallons/day but since my furnace is under the house in a crawlspace, maintenance would probably be a headache. My other furnace is in the attic so I'd be asking for a frozen water line if I dared install one up there.

What other options are there? Miniature swamp cooler, maybe?

 

[nakedfrog]

Buy another 10 gallon?

 

[DaWhim]

imho, i think you only need the humidifier when you sleep. this works for me

 

[bunker]

If you don't want to put a whole house humidifier on either of your furnaces then your basically stuck with the monster consoles. I have a whole house pass-through on my furnace and I wouldn't give it up for anything!

 

[arcas]

Buy another 10 gallon?

A valid option. Only problem is cost of filters. We have pretty hard water around here so a filter only lasts about 4 weeks. Running 2 humidifiers would cost $80-$100/season. So you figure the cost after 3 years to be $270 in filters + maybe $130 for the humidifiers themselves = $400.

 

[arcas]

Bunker - How often do you have to maintain/clean it? I'd like to install one but I was under the impression that they have to be checked about once every week or two? I'd be a lot more tempted to install one if I could find one that only needs to be checked once a season or so (like normal furnace air filters).

 

[OffTopic1]

Another solution is to drink more water.

 

[bunker]

Originally posted by: arcas
Bunker - How often do you have to maintain/clean it? I'd like to install one but I was under the impression that they have to be checked about once every week or two? I'd be a lot more tempted to install one if I could find one that only needs to be checked once a season or so (like normal furnace air filters).

Once a year.

I've got the 1042

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

interesting thread. i plan on upgrading my furnace in a couple of years and will need a new humidifier.

 

[Cal166]

Recently Got a SUNPENTOWN brand humidifer. Works great.

 

[Freejack2]

We have a console humifier we got from Sears in I think 2000. It seems to do the job for us. We have to replace the wicks only once a year but when it gets to be zero degrees out we have to fill both tanks once a day. In warmer weather it can last upwards of a few days.

If you own a home though, get one that goes on the heating system. You can probably insulate the one in the attic so the water lines to it don't freeze. Probably best to have it professionally installed.