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Choosing a Whole House Humidifier

InfoZen11 | Sep 6, 2010 |

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If anyone in your household suffers from things like allergies, asthma, or any other respiratory issues a whole house humidifier would probably be a great investment for you. Of course there are a number of things to consider when trying to choose the best one for your needs including price, brand and effectiveness. Here are a few things that should be able to help you learn more about them and help you choose the best for your situation.

First it is important to learn a little more about the types available. There are three main types of whole house humidifiers including spray mist, flow through and drum. They each work a little differently and have their own set of advantages and disadvantages.

Decide how much time you are willing to invest maintaining the system. Spray mist systems don't need much maintenance, but the sprayer can collect mineral deposits and will need to be cleaned occasionally, how much depends on your water source. Flow through systems will need periodic cleanings to prevent build up of dirt and they will also need to be set up for drainage. Drum systems are the least expensive of the three but they require regular cleaning to prevent the growth of mold.

You'll want to call a qualified contractor to come by and give you an estimate. They will need to look at your HVAC set up so they can let you know which model would work best, where to install it and how large of a unit you will need.

Take the information you received from the contractor and start shopping, unless you are buying it through the contractor. You can shop at home improvement stores or even online.

Compare the different brands and read reveiws of the models you are seriously considering. It can be helpful to hear how these systems have worked for other people. Also compare price at a few different places. Some models will require you to buy replacement humidifier filters every so often. You may want to buy one when you purchase the unit so you have it on hand.

If you ultimately decide you don't want one of these three types of whole house humidifiers you may want to consider a console whole house humidfier. Bemis (or Essick Air) makes some well-reviewed models that are easy to set up and use that humidify a greater square footage than portable models. With these console humidifiers you will need to purchase replacement Bemis humidifier filters, but they are relatively inexpensive and easy to replace.