The most common types of humidifiers are the single room portable humidifiers that allow you to fine-tune the humidity levels on a smaller scale. However, those types of humidifiers aren't quite effective and you may need a better solution than single-room humidifiers; whole-house humidifiers.
Whole-house humidifiers function just like any other types of humidifiers but are usually larger and more powerful. They may have to be installed and connected directly to your HVAC unit if you want conveniently avoid operating them independently.
However, there are some types of whole-house humidifiers such as a pedestal and console humidifiers that are installed separately and independent of the HVAC system.
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Here are some units that are ideal for average homes which we found very effective and highly efficient that we would recommend to any home owner.
This pedestal style whole house humidifier is not only effective and efficient; it is also attractive and easily complements the house décor.
Its set of cool features allow for digital control of the humidity giving precise and comfortable conditions that make the whole house livable.
Moreover, this unit is energy efficient and features an auto-shutdown when the humidity reaches the desired levels helping conserve energy. Its 2400 square foot coverage is also big enough to cover most average households.
This humidifier offers a wide range of benefits for your household from offering relief from dry air conditions to protecting your furniture, keeping your indoor plants healthy and preventing static electricity.
This unit also has some excellent features that support its functionality such as an adjustable thermostat and automatic turn ON/OFF to maintain the correct humidity levels.
With this humidifier, you can confidently be assured of reduction in the incidences or respiratory infections in your household.
This humidifier provides coverage for up to 4200 square feet of the room which covers excellently most average homes and apartments. Moreover, it has some exciting features such as a built-in fan and sensor all designed to ensure that this unit is functioning as efficiently as possible.
Affordable, excellent design and easy to use, maintain and clean, this humidifier is an excellent choice if you need to keep your apartment properly humidified and reduce respiratory ailments.
Although it offers coverage of only up to 1000 square feet, it does work efficiently and can offer non-stop humidification for up to 24 hours. Its compact and simple design makes it easily fit anywhere especially if you have limited space and is also easy to clean.
From the in-built blue night light, 3 adjustable mist modes and 18 hours of uninterrupted runtime, there is nothing not to love about this whole house humidifier.
Moreover, it also features a remote control which adds to the convenience of operating this humidifier. A great choice, this whole house humidifier is only limited to the small area coverage it can support.
This humidifier is among our most attractive choices because it is designed with the user interests in mind.
It has the perfect size for average apartments and comes with some cool features such as power outage restart, ultra-silent operation, energy star rating and a re-usable filter all designed to minimize the cost of using and maintaining this humidifier.
The choice of a whole house humidifier boils down to the square footage of your home, operating and maintenance costs as well as installation costs. Therefore one unit which is ideal for a particular home owner may not be effective for another.
There are basically 3 common types of whole house humidifiers. They are;
Bypass humidifiers
These types of humidifiers are exclusively used in homes that have forced air HVAC systems. They function by drawing water from the main supply and moisturizing the circulating forced air through a patch of ductwork.
These humidifiers are highly energy efficient and require minimal maintenance. Moreover, they are environment-friendly as they conserve water and recycle it through the system.
Fan-powered humidifiers
These humidifiers work similarly like the bypass humidifiers by adding moisture to the airflow. The major difference is in the manner that in which the moisture is added to the circulating air.
These humidifiers do not inject moisture into the air; instead, they blow the air across water panel which encourages evaporation into the air creating enough humidity for the whole house.
Steam humidifiers
These are quite different from the other types of humidifiers we have looked at. They don't add moisture to the circulating air or blow air to a panel of water. Instead, these humidifiers use electricity to boil water.
The steam that results from the boiling water is then blown through the HVAC system and circulated throughout the home. Due to the use of hot steam, these humidifiers have some additional benefits such as killing bacteria and other pathogens in the water before circulating the humidity which makes them among the best models.
A whole house humidifier has a number of benefits that can help improve the quality of life for your whole household. For a lot of people, humidifiers provide relief from a wide range of medical conditions that are often caused by dry air.
Most of these conditions are related to the respiratory system. Moreover, humidifiers are necessary for people with compromised immune systems as the appropriate humidity reduces viruses, pathogens, and bacteria in the air. Some other conditions that can be relieved by using humidifiers include;
The benefits of a whole house humidifier do not end with just good health and well-being. They go beyond that by also protecting the structural integrity of your home.
Homes with consistent dry air are more likely to wear and tear faster and the dry air can result in damage of flooring, wood furnishings and even plaster and wallpaper to peel.
This combination of health benefits and the durability of your home make whole house humidifiers a priority consideration for most home owners.
Whole house humidifiers are some of the most complex equipment you can have in your home. It is therefore important to know what you should look so that you are able to choose the best option for your home. Some of the most important considerations you need to look at before making a purchasing decision include;
Capability
Almost all brands of humidifiers have a label indicating the square footage they can serve effectively. You, therefore, need to know the total footprint of your home before exploring different options as that will help you narrow down on the options that are most appropriate for your home.
Effectiveness
While every manufacturer will boast of the effectiveness of their humidifier and its great features, those claims are not always true. You need to take your time to analyze professional and consumer reviews before settling on any unit.
You may also need to talk to industry pros such as HVAC specialist to give you their own recommendations depending on your particular circumstances.
Maintenance
Although most whole house humidifiers require little to no maintenance, you may need to change filters once in a while. You need to go for a system that is low maintenance and whose air filters are that costly and are easy to replace.
This will give you peace of mind because a humidifier that is easy to maintain is a cost-effective option and moreover you won't be spending a fortune replacing parts such as filters.
Cost
There are other costs associated with whole house humidifiers apart from the initial cost of buying the unit. In addition to this, you will need to factor in labor and professional installation costs.
The good news about whole house humidifiers is that they are pretty much affordable even for high-end models. Furthermore, the cost of operating these units is very minimal as you only have to worry about the electric bill.
You will go for an energy efficiency rated unit if you need to cut down the operating costs so that you are just left with the filter replacement and regular cleaning to worry about.