A furnace-mounted humidifier is an important accessory that can make your home more comfortable during dry winter months. Installing and properly maintaining a furnace humidifier allows you to reap the benefits of balanced humidity in your living space. Understanding how these units work helps ensure you get the most out of your furnace humidifier.
What is a Furnace-Mounted Humidifier?
A furnace-mounted humidifier is a system that increases moisture levels in your home by using the existing ductwork of your home’s furnace. It consists of a water panel mounted on the plenum of the furnace through which air passes and absorbs water vapor before circulating through your home.
Furnace humidifiers are integrated with your home’s HVAC system and provide whole-home humidity control. They utilize the hot air from your furnace to evaporate water, humidifying air as it moves through your ductwork. Models are available that mount on the supply plenum, return duct, or both.
Benefits of Installing a Furnace Humidifier
Maintaining proper humidity levels between 30-50% can provide many benefits:
- Prevents Dry Air: Heated air from your furnace lacks moisture. A furnace humidifier prevents overly dry air.
- Reduces Static Electricity: Dry air causes static electricity build up. A humidifier adds moisture to the air to minimize this.
- Soothes Respiratory Issues: Humidified air keeps nasal passages, throat, lips, and skin from drying out, helping prevent issues like bloody noses, coughs, and itchy skin.
- Lessens Snoring: Humidity prevents nasal congestion and dry throat tissues that contribute to snoring.
- Protects Wood Furnishings: Drier air causes wooden furniture, floors, musical instruments, etc. to crack and split. Proper moisture levels prevent this damage.
- Conserves Energy: Humidified air feels warmer, allowing you to lower the thermostat and save on heating costs.
How Does a Furnace Humidifier Work?
Furnace humidifiers utilize simple technology to increase humidity levels in the home. Here is an overview of how they work:
Air Flow Path
Room air returns to the furnace through the cold air return ducts. It passes over the furnace humidifier water panel where it absorbs moisture. The now humidified air continues through the furnace, is heated, and gets blown through supply ducts into the rooms of your home.
Water Panel
The key working component of a furnace humidifier is the water panel. This panel is mounted onto the plenum of the furnace, directly in the path of the air flow. The panel is made of an absorbent material, like cardboard. One side sits submerged in the humidifier’s water reservoir.
Evaporation Process
As air passes over the water panel, the dry, hot air causes water from the saturated panel to evaporate into the air flow. This vapor is carried through the ductwork, humidifying the air throughout the home. The greater the surface area of the panel, the more moisture it can absorb and evaporate.
Humidistat
A humidistat is wired to the furnace humidifier and mounted on the return duct. This acts as the control system, monitoring relative humidity in the home. When it drops below set level, the humidistat signals the furnace humidifier to activate and add more moisture to the indoor air.
Water Supply
Furnace humidifiers have a reservoir that holds the water supply. This reservoir will have a refill valve that allows new water to enter when the level drops. Some models utilize a saddle valve that connects to your home’s water supply. Others have a fill tube for manually refilling.
Types of Furnace Humidifiers
There are two main types of furnace-mounted humidification systems: flow-through and evaporative.
Flow-Through Humidifiers
Flow-through, also called wet pad or trickle humidifiers, are the most common type of furnace-mounted system. They use a water-soaked absorbent pad or panel, like cardboard or an encased cellulose membrane, to add moisture to air passing over it.
Benefits of flow-through models include:
- Inexpensive purchase and installation cost
- Provide an immediate moisture boost
- Require little maintenance
Limitations involve:
- Potential for mold growth on pads
- Minerals can deposit on pads causing reduced efficiency over time
Evaporative Humidifiers
Evaporative humidifiers, also called steam humidifiers, use a process similar to a boiling pot of water to vaporize water. Air is blown through the unit, absorbing the humidity released by the boiling water.
Benefits of evaporative furnace humidifiers:
- Provide humidification without absorbing minerals
- Produce a fine water vapor mist avoiding condensation in ducts
- Have replaceable filters requiring little maintenance
The drawbacks are:
- Higher initial purchase cost
- Require more frequent filter changes
- Can be prone to microorganism growth
Key Components of a Furnace Humidifier
While furnace humidifier systems are relatively simple, they contain several key components that work together:
Water Panel
The water panel, also called the evaporator pad, media pad, or wet pad is the core of the system. Air flows over this moistened panel to absorb evaporated water. Typical materials are treated cardboard, paper mâché composite, or an encased cellulose membrane.
The larger the surface area of the panel, the more evaporation it can support. Larger homes may require a model with multiple panels.
Water Reservoir
This holds the supply of water for the humidifier. As the panel’s water evaporates, the reservoir ensures a continuous supply. An attached float or probe detects water level and triggers refilling when low.
Solenoid Valve
The electrically-controlled solenoid valve allows water flow into the reservoir when needed. It connects to the home’s water supply line and is activated by the humidistat when the reservoir level is low.
Overflow Drain Tube
This drain allows excess water to exit the reservoir to prevent flooding. It’s usually a small diameter plastic tube that runs to a floor drain or condensate pump.
Humidistat
The humidistat acts as the control system for the furnace humidifier. It senses the relative humidity level in the home and activates the water supply to the reservoir when moisture drops below the set point. Humidistats are typically mounted on the return air duct.
Air Flow Switch
This safety switch automatically shuts off the water supply if the furnace blower stops running. This prevents the humidifier from overflowing if air isn’t flowing across the water panel.
Installation Tips for Furnace Humidifiers
Proper installation is key to ensuring efficient operation and avoiding potential problems with your furnace humidifier. Here are some best practices to follow:
Choose an Experienced HVAC Contractor
Select a qualified HVAC professional with specific experience installing and maintaining furnace humidifiers in your area. They understand your climate challenges, water quality issues, and equipment options.
Install on Supply Plenum
Mounting the humidifier water panel on the furnace’s supply plenum allows the moisture to be absorbed by the full volume of air heated by the furnace before circulating through the home.
Include a Water Panel Drain
Adding a drain tube under the water panel routes away excess condensation to prevent it from damaging furnace components. This keeps your system running properly.
Install a Water Filter
Use a water filter or softener if you have hard water. Mineral deposits from hard water can coat the water panel reducing performance. Filtration ensures peak efficiency.
Seal Ductwork
Inspect ductwork and seal any leaks before installing the humidifier. Leaks allow humidity to escape, reducing the system’s effectiveness.
Include a Humidistat
A humidistat gives automated control over moisture levels. Set it to your desired humidity percentage and it maintains it automatically by regulating the humidifier.
Maintenance Tips for Furnace Humidifiers
Regular maintenance keeps your furnace humidifier working properly to provide consistent humidity levels indoors. Follow these tips:
Inspect Water Panel
Check the water panel at least annually for mineral deposits or signs of mold growth, which can reduce efficiency. Replace if needed per manufacturer recommendations.
Change Filters and Pads
Replace any pre-filters and evaporative pads per the manufacturer’s suggested schedule to maintain proper air flow and water absorption.
Clean Reservoir
Drain, clean, and disinfect the reservoir annually to prevent algae and bacteria growth that can spread into air ducts. Rinse thoroughly before refilling.
Flush Water Lines
Mineral deposits from hard water can restrict fill valves and lines. Disconnect lines annually and flush them with an acidic cleaner to keep them clear.
Test Humidistat
Use a hygrometer to confirm the accuracy of the humidistat twice a year. Adjust or replace it if humidity levels are off by more than 3%.
Verify Airflow
Low airflow reduces humidification performance. Have an HVAC technician confirm the fan motor and blower are providing proper air movement through the system.
Troubleshooting Common Furnace Humidifier Problems
Furnace humidifiers are generally reliable, but issues can arise. Try these troubleshooting tips if your unit underperforms:
Problem: White dust accumulating in ducts or rooms
Solution: Indicates minerals depositing. Install a water softening system. Replace water panel and drain reservoir.
Problem: Condensation accumulating in ductwork
Solution: Reduce humidity setting on humidistat. Ensure a water panel drain is installed. Increase airflow through system.
Problem: Mold or algae in reservoir
Solution: Routinely clean and disinfect reservoir. Ensure fill valves shut off properly. Drain reservoir between seasons.
Problem: Low humidity in home
Solution: Replace old water panel annually. Clean fill valve and lines. Check for leaks in air ducts. Ensure blower provides proper airflow.
Problem: High humidity in home
Solution: Lower humidistat setting. Check accuracy of humidistat. Reduce water panel surface area if oversized. Verify drainage from reservoir.
Furnace Humidifier FAQs
Consider these commonly asked questions about furnace humidifiers:
How often should I change the filter or pad in my furnace humidifier?
Most manufacturers recommend replacing any pre-filters every 1-2 months during the humidifying season. Water panels generally need replacement annually.
What humidity levels are recommended during winter?
The ideal wintertime humidity range for comfort and health is 30-50%. Levels below 30% contribute to dry skin, scratchy throats, and increased illness transmission.
Where is the best place to install the water panel?
Mounting on the supply plenum means air is humidified after being heated. This allows the hot air to absorb more moisture for circulation through the home.
How do I prevent white dust from developing in my home?
White dust results from mineral deposits that accumulate from untreated hard water flowing over the water panel. Installing a water softening system is the best solution.
Can I install a humidifier if I have a high-efficiency furnace?
Yes, most manufacturers make humidifier models specifically designed for high-efficiency furnaces. Consult an HVAC professional.
How often should the humidifier water panel be replaced?
Most manufacturers recommend replacing the water panel annually. Hard water causes mineral deposits that reduce effectiveness over time. Replacing annually ensures peak performance.
Conclusion
Installing and properly maintaining a furnace humidifier provides balanced humidity that makes your home feel warmer and improves comfort during dry winter months. Understanding how the key components work together helps ensure your system operates efficiently.
With simple annual maintenance like replacing water filters and inspecting the panel, a furnace-mounted humidifier can consistently provide whole-home humidification for many years. Monitoring humidity levels with an accurate humidistat gives you automated control over moisture levels for ideal comfort and wellness.