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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 915
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OP
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Since moving into a home with this type of system is in my future, I thought I'd try and get feedback from anyone who knows about them. The system does not, as of yet, have a humidifier on it, but I'll be considering options in the coming months.
Some surprisingly negative comments came from the home inspector when I mentioned my desires. He voiced multiple experiences with mold and other airborne pests that can be the result of the humidifiers. To some extent these issues, I would hope, are manageable by simply taking an appropriate amount of care with the filters, but I wonder what experiences folks here may have had?
Any other feedback in the form of achieved RH numbers, and how you "dial" these systems in, would be appreciated. April-aire is the only name I am aware of, but I am open to suggestions this front, too.
Thanks, Chris W
Amateur At Large
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Joined: Mar 2002
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Joined: Mar 2002
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We have forced hot air here. When building the house, almost all the experts we asked recommended against it due to mold issues. Since I suffer from allergies, I stayed away. In our area, it is only an issue during the winter.
I found the house too dry when the heat is on, so we opted for the inexpensive whole house humidifier. For our 2700 square feet with open architecture it is working well. It is a bit of a labor issue as I have to fill the water tanks and change the filters, but that also keeps me on top of how the unit is working and keeping it clean. Our neighbors have a whole house system and until this year when it broke down, they had never maintained it. ( in 15 years!) I shudder to think what was growing in there.
Why not play it safe and wait until you have moved in, try it out for a season. You can always add on a system later and you may find you don't need it.
But don't forget the DampChaser and the microfiber dust rags, forced hot is air dusty! It is the price I pay to have central airconditioning! As you know it can be 94 degrees in April and snowing in late May!
BeeLady
Life is like a roll of toilet paper...the closer you get to the end, the faster it goes!
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 4,864
4000 Post Club Member
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4000 Post Club Member
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 4,864 |
Certainly a poorly maintained furnace humidifier can cause problems, but filter changes and cleaning are normal maint. I've had a furnace humidifier for 5 years and love it. My piano does too. There are expensive furnace filters that filter out mold and spores - use one of those. Most people in Chicago like April Air humidifiers, but I'm sure others do just as well.
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 915
500 Post Club Member
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OP
500 Post Club Member
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 915 |
Thanks for the responses. I will see about where the levels are before doing anything, but expect winter will bring some sub-30%RH. Its strange how general recomendations are not to use whole house humidifiers and how Bob, for instance, is seemingly atypical in correctly maintaining one. I haven't heard any convincing stories discouraging their use. Only ones of gross neglect. We have a portable now, but I hate filling that all the time. I barely keep up with it when I have a cold, let alone for the piano.
Beelady, we looked in Carlisle. That's a very pretty area. Not much comes up for sale. The move is looking like its going to be Waltham to Dover. I should start packing, but we've got another home inspection coming on the one we're selling. For that, I need to get my ducks in a row.
Chris W
Amateur At Large
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,340
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2000 Post Club Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,340 |
Chris, Dover is beautiful. Alas both your town and mine are becoming less and less affordable..... But oh, the hiking trails!
BeeLady
Life is like a roll of toilet paper...the closer you get to the end, the faster it goes!
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