Home Humidifier Recommendations?

I'm building a new house. 2500 sqft or so, and it has two furnaces.

I have hardwood throughout the main floor and in some rooms upstairs.

Any experience with a good humidfier?

I've used the drum types before and they seem to get gunked up very quickly (hard water).

I've heard some people talk about the flow-through ones that they're a lot lower in maintenance, but waste a lot of water.

I've also seen this one on the Internet and at Rona.

http://www.highqproducts.com/

Seems like a cool idea, anyone have any experience with this one?

We had one of the 'rotisserie' old skool ones and damn it was filthy! I replaced it with a med-KING one... cost around $150 I think... so far so good! Mind you our house is only like 1400 sq/ft... so you may have to go with something like the $200-$250 model. I like it... it's relatively quite and easy to install instructions.

Originally Posted by sleepyguy

We had one of the 'rotisserie' old skool ones and damn it was filthy!

I hate those damn things. I went through a few motors on mine then said screw it and got the flow through type. No problems in the last couple years.

I've got a flow through "general humidifier" that's hooked up to my furnace. I paid 400$ for it installed (+ taxes I think) and I wouldn't do it again. It only runs water through when the furnace is on and heating which isn't much if you've got a recent house and good insulation. In my opinion, it doesn't bring the humidity level high enough in the house, I still end up with a dry nose all the time in winter. Plus, at 400$, I felt ripped off. Installation is super easy, I should have done it myself on a 100$ unit from home depot.

A new, properly built home will likely not need a humidifier at all, unless you also have an HRV/ERV. With everything sealed up tight, there should be plenty of moisture in the air just from living in the house.

Best bet might be to get a hygrometer and monitor the homes humidity for awhile before you go and buy anything.

You've got to have one with hardwood, in case you need to add humidity (of course). Never assume you will have enough.

It's quite safe to assume that with a new home, actually.

i am thinking of doing this as well, and also have a newer house. Wouldn't a humidistat counterbalance the issue with the humidifier turning on only when the furnce turns on?

why does the heat exchanger make such a big difference on whether or not to get a humidifier in a new house?

By heat exchanger do you mean an HRV? If so, it makes a difference because it changes the air in your house continuously, therefore expelling moist air in winter and bringing in dry air, which is bad for hardwood. Without an HRV, a new home does get enough air changes to get rid of the moisture that comes from showering, cooking, breathing, etc, and as I mentioned in another thread, this actually leads to an excessive humidity level in the house.

Originally Posted by Shifty

A new, properly built home will likely not need a humidifier at all, unless you also have an HRV/ERV. With everything sealed up tight, there should be plenty of moisture in the air just from living in the house.

Best bet might be to get a hygrometer and monitor the homes humidity for awhile before you go and buy anything.

You obviously don't live in Alberta.

Originally Posted by galanz

You obviously don't live in Alberta.

Lol I was just going to say that.

Calgary in the winter is like having negative humidity.

Originally Posted by mart242

I've got a flow through "general humidifier" that's hooked up to my furnace. I paid 400$ for it installed (+ taxes I think) and I wouldn't do it again. It only runs water through when the furnace is on and heating which isn't much if you've got a recent house and good insulation. In my opinion, it doesn't bring the humidity level high enough in the house, I still end up with a dry nose all the time in winter. Plus, at 400$, I felt ripped off. Installation is super easy, I should have done it myself on a 100$ unit from home depot.

I agree. I got the General flow through humidifier as well and it doesn't appear to bring humidity levels up very high at all.

Originally Posted by temporalillusion

Lol I was just going to say that.

Calgary in the winter is like having negative humidity.

My place is about 9 years old and I have two room humidifiers and a cheapy thermolec on the furnace and it's just comfortable. This is only 1,500 sq ft over three stories.

I'm also looking to buy a humidifier. Is flow-through any good? Does it use lots of water?

Originally Posted by ultra

I'm also looking to buy a humidifier. Is flow-through any good? Does it use lots of water?

If installed properly, it uses water only when the furnace burner is on. If you have a recent house, that's only a few hours per day. I don't think that it uses much water.