5 Pros And Cons Of Whole House Humidifiers

Many people live in a dry climate (hello, desert) or experience dry seasons (I’m looking at you, winter). To mitigate the effects of this dry air, many people often use humidifiers in their homes. Instead of having one for each room that requires daily refilling, what if you had one for the whole house?

A whole-house humidifier can be a great solution to increase comfort in your home. While they can be costly and require some maintenance, they’re a worthwhile investment to improve your quality of life.

Humidifiers help to solve a range of discomforts in our bodies. For example, they can help prevent dry skin, chapped lips, sore throats, sinus irritation, and allergies caused by dry air. This dryness is often caused by the heating or air conditioning systems in our homes.

An optimal level of humidity helps us sleep better. It keeps the skin of babies soft and their airways clear. Pets can also have skin or respiratory irritations from dry air, just like us. A bit of humidity can even help reduce symptoms of illness, like colds and flu.

Portable humidifiers are standalone units that function the same way as single-room units but are far more powerful. They can hold 2 to 5 gallons of water and provide humidity to homes up to 2500 square feet. Many versions have casters or wheels, so you can relocate them to any part of your house, depending on your needs.

This type of whole-home humidifier is DIY friendly. It’s ideal for homes without an existing HVAC system.

It’s also an excellent choice for a condo or apartment where you don’t have access to the HVAC system. Plus, since it doesn’t involve hooking into a duct system or central air, the setup is simple.

Portable humidifiers have fans that run at various speeds to propel the created humid air through your home. For best results, put the unit in a central location or near an HVAC return. This placement helps circulate humidity throughout the system.

HVAC installed (or inline) units connect to existing ductwork near a furnace or air handler. They circulate moisture directly into the duct system and more effectively distribute humidity throughout the house than portable humidifiers.

A single HVAC installed unit is satisfactory for homes up to 5000 square feet. If your home is larger than that, you can add a second unit to increase capacity. There’s no need to refill a tank because you connect the system to a water line, directly feeding the unit.

These systems require an HVAC professional to install, so they can be considerably more expensive. If you have an existing HVAC system in your home, ask yourself if you can afford to make the upgrade. If the answer is yes, this system can be a worthwhile investment.

A steam humidifier uses two electrodes to boil water in the tank, vaporizing it into the air. A blower fan or air handler then carries the moisture into the ducts for distribution throughout the system.

It’s the most effective way to produce moisture for your home’s air because it works in a closed system. For each gallon of water boiled, it produces about one gallon of water vapor. This consistent distribution makes it much easier to reach your target humidity levels throughout the home.

This type of whole-house humidifier uses the principle of evaporation to release moisture into the air. Water is poured over a pad or filter; then a fan blows across it to evaporate water into the air. This humid air is then blown into the HVAC system and throughout the house.

Some portable units use this method of air vapor generation as well as two kinds of HVAC systems. A bypass system will distribute the humid air by the power of the HVAC system’s air handler. A powered system has an additional fan that helps facilitate the distribution of moist air.

Although 90% of the earth’s atmosphere’s water comes from evaporation, evaporative humidifiers aren’t as effective as steam. Evaporative humidifiers can use as many as 14 gallons of water to produce 1 gallon of water vapor.

For HVAC inline units, you only need to change the filter or evaporator panel once a year. It’s also a good idea to wipe down the unit to remove any mineral debris (scale) that accumulates. Filters are affordable, usually around $10.

For portable units, maintenance is similar to a tabletop humidifier traditionally used for a single room. You’ll want to clean the unit once every two weeks and add an antimicrobial agent to the tank. Filling the tank with water will depend on the tank’s size and how much you use it.

A homeowner can easily do all of this maintenance in a matter of minutes.

As with any damp environment, mold can grow within the system, and harmful spores can spread throughout your home’s air. This can be true for both HVAC installed and portable units. Ensure there’s a free flow of air to prevent too much humidity from accumulating in one place.

Dust is a breeding ground for mold when moisture is present, so HVAC systems create ideal environments for mold growth. However, it’s easy to mitigate these risks by cleaning the units frequently and changing the filter as directed.

Depending on your location and your family’s needs, only you can decide if a whole-house humidifier is right for you. Do you live in a dry climate year-round? Or are there just certain days or months where you need a little boost?

If raising your home’s humidity would significantly improve your quality of life, then a whole-house humidifier is a worthy investment. You can always start with a portable unit, which offers lower cost and easier installation, and see how that goes.

One of the best brands of portable whole-house humidifiers is Aircare. They offer several different models, including a pedestal unit, console version, and credenza model that masquerades as furniture. Other popular brands include Opolar and Holmes.

Experts say that the optimal air humidity level is between 35-45%. When humidity rises over 50%, there’s a much larger chance of mold growth. Decide what level of humidity feels best to you, but keep it under 50% for safety.