You want a whole house humidifier because you got fed up with moving the humidifier from room to room? Or maybe you are tired of replacing humidifiers every year?
Welcome to my Whole House Humidifier blog, I’m Reese. You are right to get the whole house humidifier. It is easier to maintain one humidifier for the house than one for each room. I realized that some years ago after my fifth humidifier broke, and now I’m enjoying the fuss-free control of humidity in my home.
Ok, let’s cut it short and see how we can choose a whole house humidifier. Click here if you want to see my recommendations first.
How to Choose a Whole House Humidifier
There are three types of whole house humidifiers. Personally I choose the flow-through system, but each person to his own. Each type is named according to how the whole house humidifier works, but I am not going to elaborate on that, because it only helps in confusing the buyer.
1) Drum system – The cheapest whole house humidifier. This type has a tank or drum to hold water, just like the small portable humidifiers, but it humidifies the whole house. Because it has a tank, you have to refill it and clean it out regularly to prevent mold growth. In short, spend less and do more work.
2) Flow-through system – This whole house humidifier is installed with your furnace or heating system. It doesn’t have a tank; the water flows and drains through the system, so no refills or clean outs needed. The only work you need to do is change the foam pad in due time.
3) Spray mist system – This is similar to the flow through system but it uses a spray mist instead of a pad. It does not have a tank to refill or a pad to change, but if your water has high mineral content the mist head will clog up. It is also recommended for oil or gas powered heating systems only.
When picking a type of whole house humidifier, consider your existing heating system and how high the mineral content of the water is, then choose the right size for your home.
Tip: If you choose a flow through whole house humidifier like me, you might want one with a bypass gate, so that you can close it off when humidity is high in the summer.
Whole House Humidifier – Installation
When I told my wife I wanted to order a whole house humidifier online (there was a nice deal on Amazon when I bought mine), she was worried that we might not install it right. Well, it is a legitimate concern, so I thought I would address it here. There are a few options regarding installation:
1. Do-It-Yourself – You can get the whole house humidifier cheap and refer to online videos and guides to install it. I did this and it had been fairly easy for me (read guide).
2. Buy one and find someone to install it for you – Service fees range from $50 to several hundreds.
3. Buy your whole house humidifier from a contractor – They include the installation fees in the price but you don’t have to lift a finger.
Whole House Humidifier – Top Recommendations
Best Whole House Humidifier – Aprilaire Humidifier 600
I myself use this model. I love the sleek look of this whole house humidifier, and the outdoor temperature sensor is a plus. This prevents condensation on my windows, because it automatically adjusts itself in the humidity output. It is easy to use and very little maintenance is needed.
Click here to read my full review of this whole house humidifier: Aprilaire Model 600
Budget Whole House Humidifier – Honeywell Humidifier HE220A
This is the most affordable bypass whole house humidifier! I recommended this model to my sister and she loved it. For $100, there is hardly anything to complain. It humidifies up to 3000 sq ft, which is good for most homes.
Read more on this whole house humidifier: Honeywell HE220A
Drum Whole House Humidifier – Essick Air H12-400
Using an evaporative wick to filter the water, this home humidifier does not spit white dust. It comes with 3 speed settings, auto shut off feature, and wheels for easy moving around. This is the best whole house humidifier if you are not considering to install one on your heating system.
Click here for the full review of this whole house humidifier: Essick Air H12-400
Whole House Steam Humidifier – Honeywell TrueSteam HM509H8908
If you prefer making your house warmer with a steam humidifier, try this whole house steam humidifier. It uses very little water to create steam and humidify the house, but the disadvantage is the high initial price you have to pay for it.
Check out whether this is the whole house humidifier for you: Honeywell HM509H8908
To read more about other humidifier reviews and guides, do check out my this humidifier reviews blog.
A whole house humidifier is an investment to make if you want to solve the humidity problem at home with the least effort, costs and upkeep each year. Make your choice now and relax afterward; you will be glad you chose a whole house humidifier!