Thoughts on furnace humidifier? Water softener?

[Twitchy15]

Looking to get a new furnace curious what you guys think about humidifiers do most people have them? What kinds are good? Do you need to have a water softener so the minerals don’t destroy it?

[combustiblefuel]

Lung and particle specialists don't recommend any type of humidifiers.

[Hemi-Cuda]

When I had the furnace cleaned after taking posession of our house, the guy specifically said not to use the humidifier that was attached. Apparently it causes the fan to work much harder and will lead to an early death of the furnace, and you can have issues with mold in the ductwork. I just stick with small humidifiers in each bedroom, the wick evaporative types that don't leave droplets of moisture anywhere

[Erick Estrada]

The hard water won't destroy the humidifier as they usually come with replaceable filters. In Calgary they require somewhat frequent maintenance as the filter will accumulate a lot of mineral dust and if you don't periodically replace filters and vacuum, the dust will pile up in your humidifier and start migrating into your furnace.

[Red]

First, why a new furnace? If your furnace is an older unit then look for a guy that can fix it for you. These things can easily last 30-40+ years. Don't buy in to the sales pitches about $$$ savings from heating etc. It's like triple pane windows, little cost benefit in bills.

Central humidifiers are good when they work. But they cost a lot of $$$ in water consumption and they leak. Ive had them in all my houses over the last 30 years and they always find a way to leak without warning. No matter how much you maintain them. If it's not the humidifier, it's the pump I use to route the water for drainage. Or the filter. Or the solenoid. Always something LOL. PITA.
But, when they work, they are great. More comfortable air, feels warmer and no electrostatic.

I would get one, but prep the area around it so a minor flood won't damage anything of value. A water sensor on the floor would help too.

[Red]

Should also mention. Water is much harder in the North and a lot softer in the south end of the city. I don't think you need a softener in the south while you should get on in the north. I lived in both.
They are sourced from different places, Glenmore vs Bearspaw (?).

[Twitchy15]

Originally Posted by Red

First, why a new furnace? If your furnace is an older unit then look for a guy that can fix it for you. These things can easily last 30-40+ years. Don't buy in to the sales pitches about $$$ savings from heating etc. It's like triple pane windows, little cost benefit in bills.

Central humidifiers are good when they work. But they cost a lot of $$$ in water consumption and they leak. Ive had them in all my houses over the last 30 years and they always find a way to leak without warning. No matter how much you maintain them. If it's not the humidifier, it's the pump I use to route the water for drainage. Or the filter. Or the solenoid. Always something LOL. PITA.
But, when they work, they are great. More comfortable air, feels warmer and no electrostatic.

I would get one, but prep the area around it so a minor flood won't damage anything of value. A water sensor on the floor would help too.

Our furnace is 31 years old. It’s working but had a few issues lately with blower not activating and furnace is heating up and we smell smoke and a buzzing. Turning off furnace and electricity it was fine after.

Our house is crazy dry yesterday 15-18%. We have a side split with the main floor fairly cool compared to upstairs. We were looking to get a two stage with humidifier but also some other fixes adding cold airs etc. Our furnace is oversized they said 125,000 btu and they recommended a 60,000 for newer high efficiency. Heat comes on crazy hot then off and gets cold then hot ..

Also live in north

[Wastedyouth]

Originally Posted by combustiblefuel

Lung and particle specialists don't recommend any type of humidifiers.

Is a particle specialist a thing?

[Looch City]

Originally Posted by combustiblefuel

Lung and particle specialists don't recommend any type of humidifiers.

My skin specialist says otherwise.

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by Red

Should also mention. Water is much harder in the North and a lot softer in the south end of the city. I don't think you need a softener in the south while you should get on in the north. I lived in both.
They are sourced from different places, Glenmore vs Bearspaw (?).

It's the opposite, north has softer water than south Calgary.

Bearspaw Treatment Plant (North): Average - 173mg/L CaCO 3 - 12.1 grains/gallon
Glenmore Treatment Plant (South): Average - 215mg/L CaCO 3 - 15.0 grains/gallon

https://www.calgary.ca/uep/water/dri...arameters.html

A water softener is a game-changer. Appliances and faucets get an extended lifespan thanks to not getting gummed up with minerals. Skin and hair feel better and nowhere near as dry, laundry feels softer.

The taste difference in drinking water is perceptible, however. Some people won't care, others will. Our water runs through a built-in filter in the refrigerator, and it's hard to describe the difference, but I know it's different. It's not a deal breaker though.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Twitchy15

Our furnace is 31 years old. It’s working but had a few issues lately with blower not activating and furnace is heating up and we smell smoke and a buzzing. Turning off furnace and electricity it was fine after.

Our house is crazy dry yesterday 15-18%. We have a side split with the main floor fairly cool compared to upstairs. We were looking to get a two stage with humidifier but also some other fixes adding cold airs etc. Our furnace is oversized they said 125,000 btu and they recommended a 60,000 for newer high efficiency. Heat comes on crazy hot then off and gets cold then hot ..

Also live in north

Your furnace sounds twitchy.

[8 Ball]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

It's the opposite, north has softer water than south Calgary.

Bearspaw Treatment Plant (North): Average - 173mg/L CaCO 3 - 12.1 grains/gallon
Glenmore Treatment Plant (South): Average - 215mg/L CaCO 3 - 15.0 grains/gallon

https://www.calgary.ca/uep/water/dri...arameters.html

A water softener is a game-changer. Appliances and faucets get an extended lifespan thanks to not getting gummed up with minerals. Skin and hair feel better and nowhere near as dry, laundry feels softer.

The taste difference in drinking water is perceptible, however. Some people won't care, others will. Our water runs through a built-in filter in the refrigerator, and it's hard to describe the difference, but I know it's different. It's not a deal breaker though.

The water that runs to your refrigerator, kitchen sink or lawn service shouldn’t be softened.

[8 Ball]

Originally Posted by Twitchy15

Our furnace is 31 years old. It’s working but had a few issues lately with blower not activating and furnace is heating up and we smell smoke and a buzzing. Turning off furnace and electricity it was fine after.

Our house is crazy dry yesterday 15-18%. We have a side split with the main floor fairly cool compared to upstairs. We were looking to get a two stage with humidifier but also some other fixes adding cold airs etc. Our furnace is oversized they said 125,000 btu and they recommended a 60,000 for newer high efficiency. Heat comes on crazy hot then off and gets cold then hot ..

Also live in north

I trust you have a carbon monoxide detector.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Speaking of water softeners, can anyone recommend a service company for them? The house we bought had one already in place and it is working, but not as well as I would like, so I'd like to get someone who knows what they're doing to take a look at it

[Twitchy15]

Originally Posted by 8 Ball

I trust you have a carbon monoxide detector.

We have four haha smoke and co2 on every level and one in bedroom.

I do read a lot about people keeping these old furnaces for as long as possible. Which was my thinking last three years but twice this week it messing up at midnight when it was -35 was scary.

We have a few issues that need to be fixed. Dampers added to upstairs vents to decrease insane airflow up there and heat. Cold air and heat vents added under crawl space currently only one heat vent and no cold air.

In the furnace room you can see they built a cold air into the wall for basement t room but didn’t actually put a grate and hole on the other side...

[redforever]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

It's the opposite, north has softer water than south Calgary.

Bearspaw Treatment Plant (North): Average - 173mg/L CaCO 3 - 12.1 grains/gallon
Glenmore Treatment Plant (South): Average - 215mg/L CaCO 3 - 15.0 grains/gallon

https://www.calgary.ca/uep/water/dri...arameters.html

A water softener is a game-changer. Appliances and faucets get an extended lifespan thanks to not getting gummed up with minerals. Skin and hair feel better and nowhere near as dry, laundry feels softer.

The taste difference in drinking water is perceptible, however. Some people won't care, others will. Our water runs through a built-in filter in the refrigerator, and it's hard to describe the difference, but I know it's different. It's not a deal breaker though.

Usually when water softeners are installed, the cold water tap in the kitchen is not softened water. So taste should not be a problem.

Otherwise I am with you 100%. To add one further thing, you will use a lot less detergent and soaps as well.

[combustiblefuel]

Originally Posted by Looch City

My skin specialist says otherwise.

Lungs and skin are 2 different things.

[Stillman16]

Originally Posted by Twitchy15

Our furnace is 31 years old. It’s working but had a few issues lately with blower not activating and furnace is heating up and we smell smoke and a buzzing. Turning off furnace and electricity it was fine after.

Our house is crazy dry yesterday 15-18%. We have a side split with the main floor fairly cool compared to upstairs. We were looking to get a two stage with humidifier but also some other fixes adding cold airs etc. Our furnace is oversized they said 125,000 btu and they recommended a 60,000 for newer high efficiency. Heat comes on crazy hot then off and gets cold then hot ..

Also live in north

Do you adjust your floor vents seasonally?

In the winter, you should close (or minimize) the upstairs vents, if open fully, the upstairs will get much hotter since the thermostat is usually on the main floor, and heat rises, so the upstairs is getting heated from the lower floor and the open vents.

In the summer, if you have AC, the same thing is happening-heat rises, but this time you need the the vents open more on the upstairs so the cool air can work where needed most. Even without AC this can help, if you run the furnace fan, you can circulate the air from lower floors to the upper, just minimize the lower vents to maximize air flow to the upper floor.

If you play with them, you can adjust the bedrooms to individual comfort as well.

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by 8 Ball

The water that runs to your refrigerator, kitchen sink or lawn service shouldn’t be softened.

Lawn service is not softened, but the pipe for the rest of the home is run through the softener.

[Slava]

On the topic of humidifiers, if you’ve got hardwood floors then you almost surely need a humidifier in Calgary.