Everything I read says humidifiers are breeding grounds for nasty bacteria. But I need one, preferably a whole house model attached to the gas furnaces. I’ve heard the wagon wheel type are especially fungi-prone. Recently at Home Depot, I saw a brochure for a new product called “Evenmist,” which is mounted inside the duct next to the gas furnace and whose nozzle releases a mist of water which then travels up the duct work and humidifies the house. Seems this approach would REALLY contaminate the ducts–and be almost impossible to clean later.
My house is big. Any ideas? And–please–don’t suggest I boil water.
Why not boil water? I’m not saying it would be a good idea, I was just wondering why it’s a bad idea. I had a humidifier that I tried to clean (it got filled with nasty long black stuff - I guess in the part you’d call the “wagon wheel”) and I ended up destroying it. Anyway, I was considering just boiling water since I’m too cheap to just go out and by another humidifier that I might just destroy anyway.
A nurse at my son’s doctor’s office a few years ago recommended that we buy a “cool mist humidifier.” It’s basically a fan that blows across the surface of the water, atomizing some water as it goes, then gets blown out through a port in the top.
But we’ve gone back to the traditional one that heats the water and sends up a steamy stream. The cool mist had three problems: it was noisy, it made the room cold, and it leaves a white film over all the furniture in the room.
I do have a humidifier that works by boiling water. It’s simply a hot pot with a hole in the lid, plus safety switches and microprocessor controls (it’s Japanese, what do you expect?) Works very well for small rooms, and no place for fungi to grow since all the water is constantly boiling. I guess it’s not big enough for the OP though.
I think the whole house misting one will be the best. I have this type. Just turn in off (unplug it) while the heat is running once in a while and that should dry out and kill any mold that grows in the ducts as a forced hot air system is very dry to begin with.
YMMV
I wouldn’t use anything but a whole house humidifier, I have one…however, my Sears one lasted only two years before the plastic gears fell apart. I’ll follow this thread with interest, since I’m in the market for another.
Most heating/AC companies will install one. I was quoted in the region of $400.00, with separate control panel in the house; however my house is only 1100 sf. YMMV.
Hmm, I’m following with interest too. Actually, I just got off the phone with my dad, the contractor, and he’s going to check on the cost of one for our furnace (whole house type). Of course, our price will be uninstalled because he and I can install it ourselves but I’ll post the price up when he gets back with me.
I had a cool mist wagon-wheel type and I didn’t think it was any big deal - worked great and I just cleaned it out at the end of the season. Really wasn’t that much work at all. You could always put a tablespoon of bleach in the water - that might help keep down the funkies. Don’t know if it would affect the plastic or the quality of the air itself, however.
An AprilAire attached to the plenum, before taxes, is $110, uninstalled. Another kind that attaches to the main duct off the plenum is $119. These are Michigan prices.
I don’t think saddlevalves are that hard to install (a small valve that attaches to a water supply pipe) and if you have a friend with some knowledge of sheet metal work, I would think that it would be relatively easy to install.
If you feel handy, you may check with the place you buy it- they could probably give you installation directions, if the unit doesn’t already come with them.