Which is the best whole house humidifier?
What is the difference between the types of whole house humidifiers? In this video we give you all the pros and cons of and differences between bypass humidifiers, power humidifiers, and steam humidifiers. Each type has good things and bad things that you need to know about before you install a whole house humidifier with your HVAC system. We hope this helps you choose the best humidifier for your whole house.
Bypass Humidifier
Bypass humidifiers are kind of the entry-level humidifier in our industry.
Pros of a Bypass Humidifier
1. Less expensive. Bypass humidifiers are the least expensive of all the humidifiers. Bypass is also the most common humidifier we see in the field.
2. Small size. Typically a humidifier needs to be installed in a tight space in a basement. Sometimes due to size, a bypass is the only option a homeowner has for a whole house humidifier.
Cons of a Bypass Humidifier
1. Water waste. Bypass humidifiers use around four parts water for one part humidity. There is quite a bit of waste that gets flushed through a bypass humidifier that is not used as actual humidity.
2. Bypass humidifiers are also dependent on the blower in your heating system. In order to put humidity into the air they need the heating system to be operating at the same time. When the heating system is on, it will blow the air across the humidifier water panel and humidity will be put into the air flow.
The humidifier only works when the furnace is on. Thus, there is a limited capacity. The bypass humidifier will put moisture in the house but will it ever reach certain levels such as forty percent humidity.
Power Humidifier Pros and Cons
Pros of a Power Humidifier
1. The Power Humidifier does not require the blower to be running in order to humidify.
The power humidifier has its own fan. The built-in fan blows and pulls air across the water panel and allows the humidity and the water to evaporate off of that water panel. It then is put straight into the air stream and does not require the blower to be running at the same time.
2. The power humidfier’s output is about a gallon more per day of humidity (compared to the bypass humidifier).
Cons of a Power Humidifier
1. It’s big. The physical size of the humidifier is sometimes a problem. Ideally we want the humidifier to be installed on the supply duct. The supply duct is right above the furnace. Oftentimes in tight spaces there’s not enough room for the power humidifier so it is not an option for that home.
2. Cost. The power humidifier is a little more expensive than a bypass humidifier. A power humidifier has more moving parts and a larger capacity so it ends up being a little bit more expensive of a humidifier.
Steam Humidifier Pros and Cons
Pros of a Steam Humidifier
1. Capacity! A steam humidifier can, according to the humidifier manufacturers, humidify over 6,000 square feet. Steam humidifiers were designed to work in large warehouses before they ever put in a residential home.
Steam humidifiers are really a separate appliance designed to humidify your home, whereas the bypass humidifier and the power humidifier are accessories that attach to your duct system.
Steam humidifiers have a very a high capacity and are extremely efficient. They work independently creating steam, however they need air movement from your furnace blower to distribute the humidity throughout the house. They work great when your blower is set to continuously blow.
Cons of a Steam Humidifier
1. Steam humidifiers are more expensive. They need their own circuit in the breaker panel just like other major appliances.
Other than price, that is really the main “con” of a steam humidifier. We really love them!
They humidify even large homes with ease. They keep your home much more comfortable in the winter so if humidity is important to you, we think you’ll love it.