Adding a Humidifier to a Hydronic Home
SethFrankel
| Posted in General Discussion on
I’m adding central AC to a home that has existing hydronic heat (gas-fired boiler to baseboards/radiant). It’s in dry Colorado. Would it be advisable to add a humidifier to the a/c to run in the winter to increase humidity? Any failures/successes with this approach? Is running the humidifier in a system that doesn’t also contain heat advisable?
Thanks!
Seth
Replies
Similar situation here in bone dry Calgary.
I use a Nortec ResDelux steam humidifier to serve two air handlers – runs 24/7/365.
Pro’s: Bullet Proof
Con’s: Canister change outs (Takes about 5 minutes). We keep two spares on hand.
Advice: Follow installation instructions.
Here's the installed photo.
View Image
Edited 5/9/2007 10:14 am ET by RBean
Edited 5/9/2007 10:14 am ET by RBean
I really don't know the current situation with winter humidification. I thought that, generally, homes that have been sealed against air leaks don't have winter humidity problems, unless it's too much of it. That's been my concern in recent years. At the coldest part of last winter in Wisconsin, my hygrometer measured 40% humidity, enough for my wife's piano. I know that my grandmother had things with water that went atop her radiators, but her house also leaked air like a sieve. Same initially in my parents' 1890's farm house until they sealed it up. I would think that having a humidifier in your home was compensating for a bigger problem -- air leaks.
You mean my 1890s Victorian has air leaks!;)Here in Colorado at 6000' the ambient humidity hovers probably around 5%. It just doesn't matter what the quality of construction is, it's just low humidity. In fact, my folks very new condo with five sides of party walls/floors is at the same humidity as our house.Thanks.Seth