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I’d appreciate recommendations for a humidifier. I’m adding a lot of background information – I hope I’m not being too detailed.
I’m converting from natural gas forced-air to staple-up radiant floor heating on the first floor and radiant baseboard on the second floor. The house is a 1700 sq ft colonial built in 1967 and located in southeast Michigan. There is a lot of air infiltration, and only 1-1/2” fiberglass wall insulation. I’ve replaced 3 aluminum windows with Certainteed vinyl low-e argon filled slider and a forth with an Anderson wood low-e argon filled slider. And I replaced the aluminum doorwall with a Pella hinged doorwall with triple pane windows. I still have 5 more leaky aluminum window to replace, so the house is still leaky and gets very dry in the winter.
This brings up a secondary question – can anyone recommend a southeast Michigan company that uses a blower door to find air infiltration “holes” and seals them?
Back the the main question. I’m almost finished installing a Voyager direct-vent water heater for domestic hot water and will also use for radiant hydronic heating via a heat exchanger.
So, I don’t want to use the ducts for humidification, since I understand they usually cause the infiltration to increase. I’m still using the furnace, but hope to have the radiant system finished before next winter.
Can anyone recommend a whole house humidifier that comes close to having the following features?
– energy efficient
– low maintenance
– quiet
– replacement pads & parts that will probably be available 10 years from now
– reasonably priced replacement pads
My neighbor with a flow-through duct-mounted humidifer is very happy with the minimal maintenance required by the flow through design he has. I think it is an Aprilaire, but it’s furnace mounted. Our water is 133 mg/l, which I believe is regarded as moderately hard and left much lime on my old furnace-mounted humidifier, which I removed several years ago.
Thanks in advance for any recommendations, they will be much appreciated. Where to buy it would also be helpful.
Replies
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I’d appreciate recommendations for a humidifier. I’m adding a lot of background information - I hope I’m not being too detailed.
I’m converting from natural gas forced-air to staple-up radiant floor heating on the first floor and radiant baseboard on the second floor. The house is a 1700 sq ft colonial built in 1967 and located in southeast Michigan. There is a lot of air infiltration, and only 1-1/2” fiberglass wall insulation. I’ve replaced 3 aluminum windows with Certainteed vinyl low-e argon filled slider and a forth with an Anderson wood low-e argon filled slider. And I replaced the aluminum doorwall with a Pella hinged doorwall with triple pane windows. I still have 5 more leaky aluminum window to replace, so the house is still leaky and gets very dry in the winter.
This brings up a secondary question - can anyone recommend a southeast Michigan company that uses a blower door to find air infiltration “holes” and seals them?
Back the the main question. I’m almost finished installing a Voyager direct-vent water heater for domestic hot water and will also use for radiant hydronic heating via a heat exchanger.
So, I don’t want to use the ducts for humidification, since I understand they usually cause the infiltration to increase. I’m still using the furnace, but hope to have the radiant system finished before next winter.
Can anyone recommend a whole house humidifier that comes close to having the following features?
- energy efficient
- low maintenance
- quiet
- replacement pads & parts that will probably be available 10 years from now
- reasonably priced replacement pads
My neighbor with a flow-through duct-mounted humidifer is very happy with the minimal maintenance required by the flow through design he has. I think it is an Aprilaire, but it’s furnace mounted. Our water is 133 mg/l, which I believe is regarded as moderately hard and left much lime on my old furnace-mounted humidifier, which I removed several years ago.
Thanks in advance for any recommendations, they will be much appreciated. Where to buy it would also be helpful.