Which furnace humidifier is best

The powered type HVAC humidifier has it's own power supply and it's own fan. This home humidifier doesn't need the HVAC to be on for it to be running.

It is more efficient than the bypass because less moisture is lost since it doesn't have to pass through the coil and heat exchanger like the bypass type. A powered fan type of humidifier can send about 1 gallon more moisture into the air in a day than the bypass type.

The downsides are that the fan-powered type is more expensive and will be costlier to repair. You may want to check out my complete guide on how whole house humidifiers work here. Purchasing the right whole house humidifier that is sized correctly for your home is crucial, but it isn't the only buying consideration. Here are a few of the most important buying factors:.

The size of your home is going to be a crucial factor in your central humidifier decision. Both console and HVAC humidifiers will give you the manufacturer recommendation for the maximum home size. Most console whole house humidifiers will be rated for homes in the 2, to 3, square foot range. Built-in whole home humidifiers are usually in the 2, to 6, square foot arena.

Also, instead of pushing the limit for a console whole home humidifier, it may be a better choice to get a smaller unit but multiple humidifiers such as one for each home level.

The budget is another key buying consideration with central home humidifiers. There is a significant price difference between HVAC humidifiers and console humidifiers. When you factor in the cost of the HVAC humidifier such as all of the installation materials, and the professional labor cost — it can be several times more expensive than the console. Another important consideration after choosing the type of humidifier is the water capacity. Console whole house humidifiers have the lowest capacity, and usually put out only gallons of water per day.

As you can imagine, delivering the desired humidity throughout a large home with a console humidifier can be a difficult task. In contrast, furnace whole house humidifiers can deliver anywhere from 12 to 30 gallons of water per day. Of course, the down side is that HVAC whole house humidifiers are more difficult to install, and the overall cost can be much more mainly due to the labor. The thermal envelope is basically how well your home is insulated and air-sealed. If you have old single-paned windows, poor attic insulation, leaky air ducts, and lack of external wall insulation — it is going to be harder to humidify your home as well as heat it.

If you have an older and leakier home, you may need to get a whole home humidifier that has a higher capacity, or you may need more than one humidifier. Runtime is the amount of time a console humidifier will run prior to having to fill it again with water.

HVAC humidifiers don't have this issue because it is directly connected to the home's water supply. With some portable whole home humidifiers, you will need to fill it up times a day if you use it continuously or on a high speed setting. With other humidifiers, you may only need to fill it up every few days. Some console humidifiers are also easier to fill up with water than others. There are humidifiers with removable water tanks where you can remove it and take it to the sink to fill it up.

But even if it doesn't have the removable 'bottle style', you can always buy a pitcher to make it easier to fill it up. The weight of the unit can also be a factor if you just want to lift it up to a sink and fill it up. Some humidifiers can be more than lbs which can make it more challenging to lift it and fill it for some users. Also, some humidifiers have tiny water spouts which can make it frustrating to fill it.

Even though whole home humidifiers provide a lot of health benefits, they can also turn against you if it isn't properly maintained. Probably the biggest hazard of humidifiers is the mold risk, and the second is the possibility of water damage. Here are a few safety considerations when you buy a whole house humidifier:.

The biggest hazard with console humidifiers is mold growth. You may be running a console humidifier for quite a while without realizing there is mold growth inside the machine.

A bacteriostatic liquid is an anti-microbial agent that will kill and prevent mold growth in the water tank and on the wick. Since it inhibits mold and mildew growth, it should also make the unit run better and extend the life of the wick. If you want to learn more about preventing mold, you can read my complete guide on whole house humidifiers and mold right here. Besides a bacteriostatic solution, you should also clean the humidifier regularly as specified by the manufacturer.

For most humidifiers, you can clean it with a white vinegar solution. You don't want to use bleach because it can damage the humidifier and may release it into the air. You will also need to change the wick at least every heating season , but possibly as often as every months. One of the biggest risks with ducted humidifiers also has to do with mold, but it is usually external to the humidifier not inside it. With central HVAC humidifiers, it is pretty easy to over-humidify your home, especially if you have a high capacity humidifier.

And if you don't control the humidity level properly based on the outdoor temperature, you may release far too much moisture into the home.

If you notice condensation on your windows , that is probably the biggest indicator that there is too much moisture. This excess moisture can lead to mold growth around the home such as on the walls, on the roof sheathing and joists in the attic, and around the window trim, baseboards, and door trim.

Whenever you have a home appliance that uses water, there is a risk of flooding or water damage. With console humidifiers, you are risking a limited amount of water such as a gallons the size of the water tank. But with central humidifiers, it can cause significant water damage if there is a leak since it is connected to the plumbing. This is even more true if the whole house humidifier is installed in an attic where the leak can trickle down to the lower levels.

So if you plan on installing an HVAC humidifier in an attic, finished basement, or on a main level — I highly recommend installing a water alarm. Water alarms will make an audible sound if it detects water on the ground or in the HVAC pan and some can even be WiFi connected so you get an alert on your phone. There are some significant health and environmental benefits to having an adequately humidified home during the cold season.

If you have ever woken up with a scratchy throat, itchy eyes, itchy skin — you know how bad dry air can be. Here are a few of the benefits of buying a whole house humidifier:.

There are numerous scientific studies that show how dry air facilitates the transmission of viruses and other pathogens. For example, the amount of moisture in the air affects the airborne survival and transmission of the influenza virus. The basic idea is when someone is sick they release tiny droplets that can travel much farther in dry air. In properly humidified air, these tiny droplets are more likely to just fall to the ground than to get dispersed around a large area.

Also, in dry air, it is more difficult to clear airborne viruses from your nasal passages. Dry skin is the plague of homes in cold climates.

Dry air can even result in winter itch or winter xerosis which can produce an itchy sensation all over the body. It can get so bad that the occupant may think they have poison ivy or some other malady. When your air is drier, it actually feels cooler. So when you add humidity to your home, the air holds more heat, and you feel warmer. This means that you can turn down the HVAC temperature and still feel comfortable. Static electricity shocks can be a frustrating problem in a home with dry air.

Drier air is more likely to result in a buildup of static electricity, and since air moisture is a natural conductor static shocks are the result. Adding humidity to the indoor air will help prevent static electricity shocks. Dry air can shrink, warp, and crack your home's interior wood. Whether it is your wood flooring, furniture, cabinets — it can damage these precious objects. Dry air can also cause damage to costly musical instruments.

And even your books, paintings, and pictures aren't immune from the hazards of dry air. Installing a console type of whole house humidifier really isn't difficult at all. You simply fill the water tank, turn on the unit, and set the desired indoor humidity. There are usually different fan speeds you can select as well. Here are a few installation and maintenance considerations:.

The best place to put a console whole home humidifier is in a central location. If you have a three level home, you would want to put it on the second level, and preferably towards the middle.

Our Top Picks. Best Overall:. With the ability to connect to your HVAC system and cover up to 4, square feet, this humidifier is a must-have and uses 30 percent less water. Best Budget:. This humidifier will keep your entire home moist without breaking the bank and you can easily move it from room to room.

Best for Small Homes:. This petite humidifier is ideal for smaller homes as it covers about square feet and it also dispenses fragrance. Best for Large Homes:. This model can keep homes up to 6, square feet humidified but does require installation and air ducts to work.

Best Pedestal:. Designed to resemble a pedestal, this unit will be less of an eyesore in your home and will still keep your air fresh. Best Console-Style:. This humidifier has a triple-layer filtration system that is also treated with baking soda to prevent odor. Best Furnace-Mounted:. This humidifier conveniently mounts right to your furnace and also uses 80 percent less water. Best Smart:. This humidifier will evenly distribute moisture via smart home devices or remote control making it convenient and effective.

In This Article Expand. Our Picks. What to Look for. Why Trust The Spruce. View On Amazon. The 10 Best Humidifiers of The 6 Best Air Quality Monitors of What We Don't Like Professional installation required Reaching adequate humidity levels may be a challenge. The 9 Best Thermostats of What We Don't Like Installation kit not included. How do whole-home humidifiers work? Do whole-home humidifiers cause mold? Are whole-home humidifiers safe? Article Sources. The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles.

Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Continue to 5 of 8 below. Your Privacy Rights. The Aprilaire Best Furnace Humidifier works by sending into the distribution tray through pipes. There are various scientific outlets that then distribute this water equally across area of the tray. Gravity helps the water to flow over the panel evaporator.

The Heating, Ventilation and air condition allows dry-hot air to move through the moist water panel evaporator after which natural evaporation comes into action and the natural vapors, the humidified air is dispersed through the house. The HE Honeywell Furnace Humidifier is especially constructed to eradicate your house of its dry, desert- like air.

It has a PerfectFlo distribution tray that makes most efficient usage of water thus reducing heating and cooling energy and bills.

It can be installed and serviced quickly and handy design. It is very compact in size and is the only duct- mountable solution in the industry. Designed as per the current narrower plenums, the Emerson HFT is a versatile device that can easily humidify small, tightly packed spaces nicely. This Best Furnace Humidifier is a compact and light machine that reversible side panels, high capacity by- pass flow and low profile unit.

The Honeywell Furnace Humidifier HEA is a fan- powered humidifier that can be easily and quickly installed by snap bypass adjustment. Fan powered models use internal fan to move air through pad and back into the duct for dispersal throughout the house.

A fan- powered humidifier, the GeneralAire A pulls warm air through the system and moistened, humidified air is sent out after evaporation from the evaporation pad to the inside of the house, giving you healthy and fresh air indoors. Best Furnace Humidifier Reviews from several of its users have vouched for its outstanding performance and called it the Best Whole House Furnace Modifier.

It is very easy to install and already is fully equipped and ready to run immediately after successful installation. The evaporative humidifiers work by sending into the distribution tray through pipes. The Heating, Ventilation and air condition allows dry- hot air to move through the moist water panel evaporator.

To keep a product in Top 7 Furnace Humidifiers list there are many factors to consider. We took more than 40 models and examined all the important factors. A furnace humidifier works by taking moisture from water and evaporating it into a warm air- stream that comes from the furnace of the machine.

There are different types of furnace humidifiers but all have the following essential components in them:. What basically happens is, a cold- water supply is given to the humidifier by the use of a saddle valve. Now, the amount of water to be supplied needs to be controlled which is done by an inlet valve that is connected and controlled by a solenoid that is further controlled by a humidistat that control the humidity setting.

When the humidity is increased through the humidistat, the solenoid turns on and water is fed into the humidifier. When humidistat is set on low, the solenoid turns off and water flow is stopped. The water inlet feed tube that runs to the top of the humidifier, delivers water to a water distribution trough that allows the water flow equally to all portions of the evaporator panel or evaporator pad. The evaporator pad distributes water equally after which the water evaporates and the mineral get deposited in the pad itself.

This collection of mineral lead to a white powder coating over the evaporator pad after a season of usage which needs to be cleaned but preferably changed.

Unevaporated water, in flow- through type humidifiers, is run out of the evaporator pad into a drain pan from where it runs out of the household through a drain. Flow- through type humidifiers are different from reservoir types as they do not collect water and hence there is no build- up of bacteria.

To install a Whole House Furnace Humidifier you would require certain materials and tools. You will require Cordless drill and bit, aviation snips, screwdrivers, wire strippers, adjustable wrench, felt- tip marker, humidifier unit, vent pipe, sheet metal screws and wire nuts, essentially. The Furnace Humidifier Installation should take approximately two hours of time. The humidity level you set up is maintained by furnace humidifiers by turning themselves off and on as per your settings.

Furnace humidifiers can be directly installed on to the heating systems of your houses. They are pretty easy to use, as well. Furnace humidifiers are collectively called ducted humidifiers. They usually stay out of sight. Meanwhile, console humidifiers are not directly installed on to the heating systems of your houses.

They exist as a separate unit. These humidifiers can be placed anywhere in the house according to your moisture needs. You can literally shift console humidifiers from one place to another for better humidity coverage.

Although console humidifiers are easy to set up, they would need daily maintenance. The major drawback of console humidifiers is their non-uniform distribution of humidity. You will get the most humidified air when you sit near a console humidifier. And the humidity level of the air drop as you move away from the console humidifier. As furnace humidifiers are directly connected to the HVAC ducts of the heating and cooling systems, humidified air is evenly distributed through the ducts and vents across your house.

Now you know why furnace humidifiers are preferred over console humidifiers. Yes, furnace humidifiers are easy to maintain and provides uniform distribution of humidified air. No matter how outstanding the performance of a furnace humidifier is, you still have to make sure you maintain it properly. Furnace humidifiers generally require less maintenance compared to portable humidifiers. So, that is a plus. However, whenever you have to deal with accumulated or stagnant water, you have to deal with the residue of its daily operations that can transform the unit from a health booster to a source of illness.

You must make sure that you clean the unit free of this residue. If the device does not get taken care of, you may witness a mineral buildup. For humidifiers that rely on evaporation, the whole evaporator panel may have to be changed.

Of course, you also have to keep yourself safe when performing any cleanup and maintenance. The unit should be off before you attempt to do anything:.

You have been given a list of the best furnace humidifiers out there. No matter how well-built each of them is, you have to take care of it.

The best furnace humidifiers can effectively operate in both tightly sealed houses and not so well-sealed homes. They can provide moisture to the air in both cases, but at different degrees. So, no matter what house you live in, you can reap the benefits of the best units out there. Furnace humidifiers, as a whole, are better recommended to cold, dry places. If you experience long winters, then you will benefit from such a healthy addition.

But here is the thing: not all of the above features will be found in one product. So, place a tick on the features that you cannot live without. Perhaps you can make adjustments for the ones that you cannot avail of. We have listed out a few of the best furnace humidifier of in the market.

You can consider these options if you are looking out for a popular and high-quality furnace humidifier. Enjoyed this? Then be sure to check out our other guide of the best filterless humidifier. October 7, Pros Does not keep stagnant water 5-year warranty No excess water Has great capacity Can humidify the whole house. Cons May not be suitable for large, older homes Warranty is only useful if a professional installed it.

Pros Immediate humidifying effects Quiet operation Addition of a humidistat that controls moisture release Can humidify homes up to square feet.

Cons Consumes a lot of energy. Pros Multiple mounting options Variable speed Wide coverage low maintenance. Cons High water consumption Need to buy the Installation kits separately. Pros Recommended for medium-sized homes Comes with year warranty. Cons Noisy operation. Pros Compact Great for small rooms User-friendly Affordable compared to other units. Cons Lower precision because of analog controls The operation can be noisy.

Pros Ease of use Dependable performance Tough and large unit Holmes provides good customer service Fairly quiet operation. Cons Difficult to move around Does not have automatic shutdown. Pros Automatic and manual digital humidifier controls.