Replies

1. 
   Bob_Walker | Nov 18, 2001 07:37pm | #1

   *
   Hot water tends to have a lot of minerals in it, so you have the clean the humidifier more often.

   I recommend evaporative/drip types, the type with a "woven metal screen" that the water drios down; anything that makes it to the bottom gets drained away.

   Having se a couple of hundred tray type (with the drum that rotates thru a tray of water) which have had insufficient maintenance (I recommend monthly) I'd never install one of them.

   BTW, how's you weatherization; often you can skip the humidifier if you weatherize /tighen up, which reduces the number of air chencges and thus the amount of dry air introduced into the house.

   Effectiveness of this approach varies on the type and quality of the original construction. And, don't forget, an overly tight house can cause air quality ptoblems.

1. 
   Tim_Rice | Nov 19, 2001 03:35pm | #2

   *Jim,Don't know about the Desert Spring brand. If the cost is similar to the Aprilaire 768, that would be my choice. Whatever you get, make sure it some sort of automatic controls that includes an outdoor temp sensor and a return air humidistat. Taking water from a hot water line is prefered because the hotter water evaporates more readily and less water goes out the drain. Soft water is prefered over unsoftened water.

2. 
   Jim_Sutton | Nov 19, 2001 03:35pm | #3

   *
   I have decided that this falls project will be to add a power humidifier to my existing HVAC system. I am leaning towards the Desert Spring unit (http://www.desert-spring.com/) but am interested in hearing anyone else's experience or feelings.

   Any thoughts on connecting the humidifier to a hot water supply rather than cold.... I'm thinking that trying to warm up cold water to get it to evaporate seems counter-productive.