Does anyone have any experiences and/or recommendations for one of these? Or advice against it? I live in an old adobe and brick house that gets really cold in the winter, and very, very dry. Last winter I got several nosebleeds from the dryness, and I’d like to prevent that kind of thing this time. My gas bill also went up by $200 a month from the furnace running almost constantly to keep it warm in here. So I’m thinking about solving both problems with a combination of a space heater and humidifier in one. I’m a little worried about the humidifier part, though- wouldn’t there be a danger of mold growing in it, and wouldn’t you have to be very vigilant about cleaning it all the time? Any alternatives if this isn’t a good idea?
Anyone?
The majority of space heaters I’ve seen are in Japan, but I’m pretty sure that in the states there are ones that are kind of like radiators, in that they don’t direct heated air flow, just get hot all over. As long as you can find one that gets hot on top, you can put pans of water on them which slowly release water vapor into the air.
Worked for me last year. I don’t know anything about the ones that are designed to be a combo heater/humidifier.
If worse comes to worse, I’ll just get a heater and put a bowl of water on it. Nosebleeds started last night, it’s so freaking dry in here…
Bump!
Here’s one. A quick google search revealed a couple more. They do all seem pretty pricey, though.
I know that they have them- I’m just curious about humidifiers and mold- am I being paranoid? I’ve asked a couple of the doctors I work for and they both agreed that it might cause mold and/or I’d be having to sanitize it all the time. What’s the story on that?
You can possibly get a humidifier put into your furnace. It will work much better for you. It depends on your current system though. If your on a tight budget you can get a cold air vaporizer and they work good. You fill the container once a day and rise it out at the sink when you fill it.
Here’s an example. I’m not saying this model or company is any better than another.
http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp?CATID=100288&navAction=jump&navCount=0&nug=VPD&skuid=sku3353828&id=prod3354988
Have you considered getting a gas fireplace? My parents have one and the heat is very moist and it heats the whole house very well, even though it is tucked in the corner of a large room at one end of the house. Their gas bill went DOWN when they got it because they didn’t need to use the forced-air furnace as much.