Showing posts with label humidification system. Show all posts
Showing posts with label humidification system. Show all posts
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Your Guide to Humidifiers and Dehumidifiers
A humidifier and dehumidifier are essential components of any home HVAC system. Proper humidification is necessary to maintain ideal moisture levels in both summer and winter months to achieve healthy indoor air quality. Humidifiers and dehumidifiers also help your furnaces and air conditioners work more efficiently.Below is a quick list of some of the major types of humidifiers and dehumidifiers in use today.
- Ultrasonic Humidifier: These units employ a high-frequency energy source that breaks water up into miniscule droplets that are circulated through the air in your home by a small fan. Ultrasonic humidifiers are desirable because they’re quiet and use very little energy. However, using hard water in the machine can leave a sticky white film all over your house so it’s best to use filtered or distilled water for best results.
- Evaporative Humidifier: Using a honeycomb wick made of cellulose paper partially submerged in water and a high-volume fan these humidifiers distribute moisture into the air. They can be noisy and the wicks must be replaced regularly to maintain functionality, but evaporative humidifiers are very easy to clean and use little energy.
- Impeller Humidifier: This type of unit sprays tiny droplets of water directly into the air. Perfect for small spaces or single-room humidification, impeller devices are inexpensive and portable. Because the water enters the room directly, though, be sure to use distilled water or demineralizing tablets to ensure that hard water deposits won’t damage furniture and flooring.
- Floor Vent Humidifier: The floor vent humidifier is a device that fits in the space where a standard floor vent register would normally go. The units have a water chamber that holds liquid, which then passes through a filter and into the air when the home’s heating system cycles on. They use no energy and are much more portable than traditional plug-in units, making floor vent humidifiers a great option for single-room humidification.
- Furnace-Mounted Humidifier: Furnace-mounted humidifiers connect directly to your home’s water supply, so the foam element that mounts on the furnace is automatically refilled as needed. As dry air from the heating system is forced through the foam, it collects moisture and distributes it throughout the house. Some furnace-mounted humidifiers even come equipped with an automatic reset humidistat that adjusts moisture according to changes in the weather.
- Warm Mist Device: A warm mist humidifier contains a heating element that warms water to near boiling before it passes through a cooling fan that distributes the moisture into the air. The returned moisture is slightly warmer that the air in the room, making warm mist devices desirable for nurseries or children’s rooms. Tap water can be used in these units, though they do consume more energy than other models and some are quite noisy.
- Evaporative Cooler: These machines use ice and cold water to put moisture back in the air. Ice and water are mounted on top of the device and as the ice melts the water flows over a wick. A fan then blows cool mist into the air. Evaporative coolers use very little energy and pose almost no risk from harsh chemicals or pollutants.
- Dehumidifier: Humid air passes over and through coils inside the unit which cool the air and condense moisture. The water is then collected in a basin inside the dehumidifier; most devices will shut off automatically when the basin is full. Because of the automatic shut-off feature, these machines have to be checked regularly and the basins must be emptied as needed so the dehumidifier keeps working properly.
To find out what kind of humidification/dehumidification system is best for your home, speak to a Horizon Services Comfort Consultant or HVAC Service Technician!
Related Information...
Monday, February 8, 2010
Choosing the Right Humidifier for Your Home
Most home heating systems can cause the air in your home to become too dry, and that can lead to a host of problems for your home. With winter weather here , now is a good time to think about the right humidifier or humidification system for your home.Finding the right level of humidity in your home is tricky business. Too much and you run the risk of accumulated indoor condensation, which can lead to mold and mildew build-up; drywall, insulation and wood rot; or blistering, peeling paint and wallpaper. Too little humidity and you may find yourself contending with cracking hardwood floors, moldings and trim; aggravated allergies and asthma symptoms; dry sinuses; and itchy skin.
A home humidification system can provide the perfect amount of moisture to the air inside your home, improving your family’s overall health and comfort. There are three main options to choose from: portable units, console units and whole house systems.
Portable Humidification Units:
Portable humidifiers, commonly referred to as tabletop units, are an inexpensive, effective option to control moisture in a single room or a small space. These devices generally retail for $20 to $70, and can be moved freely around your house. If you live in a small apartment or only want to humidify a single room in your home, a tabletop unit is a sensible solution.
Tabletop humidifiers can be relatively high maintenance, though. They must be filled manually, usually every 24 hours, and only control air quality in a small area—maybe a couple hundred square feet or so. Output settings are limited, if they can be adjusted at all. Perhaps the biggest drawback with portable humidifiers is that they pull water from a holding tank, which means that standing water is always part of the deal when you use one. Mold and bacteria can collect in the tank and are then forced into the air as the humidifier releases water vapor. These appliances require vigilant cleaning and sanitization to prevent harmful build-up.
Console Humidifiers:
For larger areas, console humidifiers are a good choice. Console units cost about $75 to $150 and, like tabletop humidifiers, are fully portable and easy to use. Small consoles can cover about 2000 square feet, while larger units can easily handle an entire 3300 square foot home.
You’ll still have to fill a console unit manually, about every two days. As with tabletop units, standing water is a concern and console parts should be cleaned and disinfected regularly to prevent air contamination.
Whole Home Humidifiers:
If you have central heat installed in your house, you may want to consider adding a whole home humidifier to your heating system. Equipment generally runs about $150 to $200, and installation charges will probably cost around $100.
The system is directly linked to the heat in your house, so there’s no need to fill water tanks, clean parts or move units from room to room as you need them. The water vapor is pumped into every room, creating a consistent moisture level that is both optimal and efficient. Because the humidifier is connected to the heating system, the moist air circulates only when the heat is turned on. This also increases efficiency, as the heating process is the main cause of overly dry air.
If your budget can afford it, the whole home humidification system is usually your best bet. The advantages of a whole home humidfier include:
- Effective humidity control and enhanced indoor air quality in every room of your home.
- Automatic Controls to keep humidity precisely where you need it.
- Maintains optimal comfort during heating seasons.
- A generally healthier home w/ lower likelihood of skin irritations, sore throats and respiratory problems.
- Protection of home, furnishings and furniture by reducing the risk of wood warping and cracking.
- Easier-to-operate and less intrusive than portable units —- no need to constantly fill and clean units.
- Built-in fan provides better circulation of humidified air through rooms and home.
More About Humidifiers...
- Interested in augmenting your heating system with a home humidifier? Contact the HVAC Installation team at Horizon Services TODAY!
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