Furnace Humidifier Settings

[Nage Waza]

So previously places I had included high end digital humidifier attached to the furnace. Condos forced me to supply my own. My current home has the basic humidifier, a summer/winter option on the furnace itself and a control switch with the thermostat upstairs.

The problem I am having is that the Winter option seems to open the valve 100%, summer closes it 100%. Calgary has very low humidity, so in the winter I need it open (the summer setting) yet I should use the control switch to lower the relative humidity, since moisture against glass will fog up and create ice. In the summer, I want it to humidify at full blast, yet the summer setting appears to close the system down 100%. What is going on here?

I want more humidity, so what do I do?

[EVERLAST]

what type of humidifier? FLow through....drum or steam?

[ryangb]

Originally Posted by Nage Waza

So previously places I had included high end digital humidifier attached to the furnace. Condos forced me to supply my own. My current home has the basic humidifier, a summer/winter option on the furnace itself and a control switch with the thermostat upstairs.

The problem I am having is that the Winter option seems to open the valve 100%, summer closes it 100%. Calgary has very low humidity, so in the winter I need it open (the summer setting) yet I should use the control switch to lower the relative humidity, since moisture against glass will fog up and create ice. In the summer, I want it to humidify at full blast, yet the summer setting appears to close the system down 100%. What is going on here?

I want more humidity, so what do I do?

Most climates, there is enough humidity in the summer, so the summer setting cuts off the water supply to the humidifier. If you want more humidity, turn the setting to winter.

[Madman]

Originally Posted by EVERLAST

what type of humidifier? FLow through....drum or steam?

Originally Posted by ryangb

Most climates, there is enough humidity in the summer, so the summer setting cuts off the water supply to the humidifier. If you want more humidity, turn the setting to winter.

From the sounds of his post, I would guess its a flow through type like this:


I have the same type and changing the flow dial from Winter to Summer only closes the circular vent and does nothing in regards to electrical or water flow. From my limited furnace knowledge, this stops flow of air from the hot side of the furnace to the ducting - bypassing the furnace filter....is this correct EVERLAST?

Would the summer setting close things off to the hot side of the furnace so when you use your circulation fan it doesn't back flow?

[Nage Waza]

The problem in Calgary's climate is that there just is not enough humidity, even in the summer (typically). The furnace should say 'high' and 'low' not winter and summer. Pisses me off, since I understood that differently. The colder months have lower humidity, thus I thought I should leave the setting on 'summer' to increase the humidity. That humidifier is really stupid.

[EVERLAST]

FLOW THROUGH humidifiers require proper installation. They need to be vented to the hot side.

Your humidistat control simply needs to be turned up and you need to check and see if the vent IS OPEN physically on the humidifier.

at full blast your humi will disperse roughly 15 litres of water per day

[Nage Waza]

So open is the Winter setting. I will leave it on that, and control the flow with the control switch upstairs.

[Schraderbrau]

Hey everyone, I'm digging this old thread back up with a quick question. Do I need to run my humidifier in the summer in calgary? It reads low 30s right now which I think is low but in my old house (just moved into a new one) I would always turn it off in the summer. What's the cp consensus on this? Thanks.

[Harju]

I run two humidifiers in my condo all winter from Nov to April. Generally come April the humidity is enough that I turn them off (~~40%). This spring is different as it has been very dry and my humidity in the condo is < 25% so I have been keeping one going.

[Schraderbrau]

Originally Posted by Harju

I run two humidifiers in my condo all winter from Nov to April. Generally come April the humidity is enough that I turn them off (~~40%). This spring is different as it has been very dry and my humidity in the condo is < 25% so I have been keeping one going.

Thanks, I have two as well. I think I'm going to keep the main floor with the hardwood going and kill the upstairs.

[Madman]

Do you have A/C? If so, you need to turn your humidifier off or it'll freeze up.

If you don't have A/C, are you running your furnace fan during the summer? If you don't, then how would your humidifier run if your furnace isn't doing anything?

[BigNumbers]

leaving the basement set to winter will do nothing during the summer.

The humidifer only turns on when the furnace heat is on (NOT the fan) - so you will get zero added humidity in the summer.

I had the same desire as you a few years ago.

What you can do is re-wire the humidifier to come on with the furnace fan and not the furnace heat - But this will also do nothing. I did this (re-wired the humidifier to come on with the furnace fan) My experience below:

The flow through humidifier pad relies on the hot dry air to wick up the moisture - when it's run against a normal fan, it does not add any appreciable moisture to the air - My hygrometer picked up 0% increase in humidity running the pad 24/7 with the recirc fan on. This would waste something like 100gal+ of water a day running 24/7.

[Schraderbrau]

I have 2 furnaces running in my house, each with a humidifier and I also have a humidifier running on my main floor and I cannot get the humidity in my house over 35%. Any tips?

[AMG_G]

Originally Posted by Schraderbrau

I have 2 furnaces running in my house, each with a humidifier and I also have a humidifier running on my main floor and I cannot get the humidity in my house over 35%. Any tips?

Doesn't condensation build up at the bottom of your windows? If I set mine over 30% it really wet and freezes so I need to dial it back.

[Jimmy Stang]

Since we are talking humidifiers, can anyone recommend an installer in Calgary? My furnace has one of those cheap little water pan ones (I don't know what they are called), and the water shutoff valve has failed anyway. So I'd like to get a proper humidifier.

Are there any types, brands, companies that I should consider or avoid? My house isn't huge, and my furnace is a run of the mill Lennox that came with the house 13 years ago...

[Schraderbrau]

Originally Posted by AMG_G

Doesn't condensation build up at the bottom of your windows? If I set mine over 30% it really wet and freezes so I need to dial it back.

I'm seeing a bit upstairs in our bedroom but that is about the only place. My biggest worry is we have hard wood floors and I have always read the you want to keep your humidity above 40% or the wood can dry out. Is there truth to that or am I worrying for no reason?

[rain_e]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

Since we are talking humidifiers, can anyone recommend an installer in Calgary? My furnace has one of those cheap little water pan ones (I don't know what they are called), and the water shutoff valve has failed anyway. So I'd like to get a proper humidifier.

Are there any types, brands, companies that I should consider or avoid? My house isn't huge, and my furnace is a run of the mill Lennox that came with the house 13 years ago...

You can replace this for $50 and 30 minutes. I did it for a rental and very basic.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

Since we are talking humidifiers, can anyone recommend an installer in Calgary? My furnace has one of those cheap little water pan ones (I don't know what they are called), and the water shutoff valve has failed anyway. So I'd like to get a proper humidifier.

Are there any types, brands, companies that I should consider or avoid? My house isn't huge, and my furnace is a run of the mill Lennox that came with the house 13 years ago...

I installed a top of the line Honeywell one myself. It's really not that hard if you read the instructions and have a grasp of how it works.

[stampsx2]

Originally Posted by Schraderbrau

I'm seeing a bit upstairs in our bedroom but that is about the only place. My biggest worry is we have hard wood floors and I have always read the you want to keep your humidity above 40% or the wood can dry out. Is there truth to that or am I worrying for no reason?

I was told by a builder sup that the humidity in your house should be between 30-40% otherwise you'll start seeing sort of waves in your hardwood floors.

Keeping it at that level also helps keep ice buildup on your windows low and prevents wood rot on your window sill and sides. If you have blinds you should lift them a couple inches to help dry out any moisture behind them.

[Flames-FanAttic]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

Since we are talking humidifiers, can anyone recommend an installer in Calgary? My furnace has one of those cheap little water pan ones (I don't know what they are called), and the water shutoff valve has failed anyway. So I'd like to get a proper humidifier.

Are there any types, brands, companies that I should consider or avoid? My house isn't huge, and my furnace is a run of the mill Lennox that came with the house 13 years ago...

The General Aire 570 and 1042 are your best bet if your are looking for a mid level humidifier. These humidifiers are flow thru which means when there is a call for humidity, there is a continuous stream of water flowing through your humidifier pad and down your drain.

You can purchase this type of humidifier at your local hardware store and they do come with instructions on how to install yourself. The hardest part will be wiring properly to work your furnace.

I have installed many pan type, flow thru and steam humidifiers. If you have any questions regarding the types and how they work or even how to install properly, feel free to PM and I would be happy walk you through the steps and provide you with the information needed to install correctly.