Types of Whole-House Furnace Humidifiers
For those who live in areas where the air is dry, the solution may be a whole-house humidifier. Many people are familiar with portable, single-room humidifiers but may not know that some whole-house humidifiers connect to their home's existing furnace. There are two main advantages to this type of humidifier--first, there is less maintenance because the system is hooked into the main water system and doesn't need to be manually filled; second, the humidifier is out of sight and will not take up as much floor space. Does this Spark an idea?
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Bypass Humidifier
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The bypass humidifier uses a rectangular water pad made of foam to transfer water to the air. The water drips onto the pad, and when the air from the heating ventilation and air conditioning system passes through the wet pad it picks up water particles and carries them throughout the house through the HVAC's system's ductwork.
Spray Humidifier
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The spray humidifier does not use pads or belts like most other types of humidifiers. Instead, it sprays a fine mist of water directly into the air ducts via an electronic mister. There are no pads or filters to change or clean and no belts to replace. Another advantage is since there is no standing water anywhere, mold growth isn't a concern. One drawback is that if the water in the home is hard, the small openings of the mister can be easily clogged with mineral deposits.
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Drum Humidifier
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This is the least expensive whole-house humidifier, but it is also the most maintenance-intensive. This type of humidifier has a rotating drum, which has a foam or fabric belt that runs around the drum. As the drum rotates, the belt runs through a reservoir of water, which keeps the belt moist. As the air from the HVAC system passes over the belt it picks up water, which is then carried throughout the home via the ductwork. The reservoir must be cleaned out periodically to keep mold from growing, especially if the water is hard. Another maintenance chore is the belt. The belt must be cleaned also to reduce the chance of mold growth. If the home has hard water, the minerals can clog the belt, requiring regular cleaning.
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References
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