How to Find the Best Humidification System for Your Home

October 20, 2021
Humidifier in North Kansas City, MO

A humidifier is essential in maintaining indoor conditions for your Kansas City home. It plays a crucial role in regulating temperatures and keeping the interior comfortable. You can find a wide range of technologies to manage humidity levels. Here’s how humidifiers work and how to choose the best one for your application.

How Humidity Impacts Your Indoor Comfort

The ideal humidity for indoor comfort and health is 45%. It is the level closest to the humidity of the outdoor atmosphere. During the winter, the air cannot hold as much vapor. That’s why the humidity levels drop in the cold season.

Low levels of humidity can irritate the skin. You may notice charred lips, scaly skin, or a sore throat. Dry air can also dehydrate your indoor plants, and wooden furniture may crack. Additionally, it can make you feel like the interior is colder than it is since any moisture released from your body escapes quickly.

High levels of humidity have the opposite effect. They can make winters feel warmer, but on the flip side, they make the summer heat unbearable. When the air is saturated with moisture, wooden furnishings can rot, and mold and mildew can thrive in the interior. You may also experience frequent allergy attacks as the indoor air quality deteriorates.

The best way to address low levels of humidity is to use a humidifier. [company-name] has a comprehensive selection of humidifiers in Kansas City.

Types of Humidifiers

A humidifier works by increasing the amount of water vapor in the room. The most common method involves vaporizing water to raise humidity levels, but there are also ultrasonic, impeller, and wick systems, among others. Each method has its merits and demerits for different applications.

Steam Humidifiers

The steam humidifier is also commonly known as a vaporizer. It heats water and has a fan that blows steam into the room. They are simple in design and are the most cost-effective technology for increasing moisture indoors.

Because they generate vapor by heating water, they consume a lot more energy to regulate humidity. The steam can also pose a scalding hazard, especially if you have children at home.

Impeller Humidifiers

Impeller humidifiers create a cool mist by flinging water into a rotating disc. A comb-like diffuser breaks the water into fine droplets.

One of the benefits of an impeller is that it releases a cool mist, so there is no risk of scalding. It has a simple mechanism and is just as cost-effective as a steam humidifier.

The drawback is that they have stagnant water that can encourage microorganisms to thrive. Modern models have features that discourage the growth of bacteria, such as ultraviolet lights.

Ultrasonic Humidifiers

Ultrasonic systems produce cool steam like an impeller humidifier, but they employ a diaphragm that vibrates like a speaker to create droplets of water. Despite the internal vibrations, they are usually silent. Ultrasonic units produce a cool mist, so there is no risk of scalding hazards.

If there are minerals in the water, the humidifier will spray them into the indoor atmosphere. Minerals can have adverse effects on people with allergies. For that reason, some units have a demineralization cartridge. You can also avoid the problem by using purified water.

Wick Humidification Systems

Wick systems create moisture by blowing air through a moistened fiber. A fan pushes air through the wick, which sprays a mist into the interior.

Wick systems can self-regulate. When the humidity levels are high, it is harder for vapor to escape and vice versa. But modern systems have humidistats for more precise moisture control.

Whole-House Humidifiers

Whole-house humidifiers work with your home’s central heating system to regulate moisture in the atmosphere. Unlike some portable units, whole-house models have a low risk of microbial infestation. They also allow you to maintain consistent humidity levels throughout the house.

Whole-house humidifiers connect to the furnace through either a bypass or fan-powered system. It is advisable to consider the merits and demerits of the two before choosing a humidification system for your home.

Bypass vs. Fan-Powered Systems

Bypass humidifiers have a duct system and use the furnace’s fan to push moisture into the interior. They do not have a fan, and their simple assembly means fewer incidences demanding maintenance and repairs.

The main drawback of bypass systems is they can worsen ductwork issues if the installation is substandard. They require additional ductwork, making them unsuitable where there is limited space. Proper sizing of the bypass duct is critical to ensure optimum efficiency.

The bypass system also consumes more energy by passing air through the furnace. Because of the heat in your equipment, a lot of moisture can escape in the process. They have a damper that must remain open in winter and closed in summer.

Fan-powered units mount on the side of your central heating system’s ductwork. They do not require additional air ducts to work. They can continue running even when the furnace is off. Fan-powered systems are more efficient at regulating temperatures across an expansive space.

One of the drawbacks of fan-powered systems is the noise. The fan produces loud sounds in addition to the running blower. However, you can muffle the sounds with insulation or other sound-proofing techniques. Summit Heating & Cooling‘s indoor comfort team can provide trusted solutions tailored to your Kansas City home’s needs.

Steam Whole-Home Humidification Systems

Steam humidifiers can generate vapor independently of your central heating system. Modern models have electrodes submerged in water. When an electric current passes through the electrodes, it heats water and produces steam.

One advantage of steam systems is that they function even with high levels of impurities. Therefore, they do not require additional filtration as with other humidification systems. Maintenance is less demanding, and it only requires changing the cartridge regularly.

The cost of installation is one of the drawbacks of a steam humidifier. However, steam systems are more efficient than other technologies used in residential homes today. If you need a whole-house unit for large spaces, it is worth it in the long run.

Installation and Maintenance for Optimal Efficiency

Proper sizing of the humidifier is critical for optimal efficiency. You need the appropriate ductwork capacity for your unit. That’s why you should consult a professional for an installation you can rely on for many seasons to come.

It is also critical to insulate the ductwork to prevent condensation. The steam can drop to the dew point if the air ducts are in unconditioned spaces. The moisture that accumulates can damage your ductwork and allow mold and mildew to thrive.

Like all systems, the humidifier needs regular maintenance to uphold its efficiency. You will need to clean it and change cartridges depending on the humidifier you’ve installed in your home. When you encounter problems, you can call our team in Kansas City for repairs, maintenance, and installations.

If you are concerned about the moisture levels inside your Kansas City home, Summit Heating & Cooling should be your go-to service provider. Our NATE-certified team boasts more than 200 years of combined experience providing a full range of heating and cooling and indoor air quality services. As an EPA-certified business, we are committed to improving indoor comfort for our clients. We offer financing on approved credit for humidifier installations. You can call us today to take advantage of our 100% satisfaction guarantee for all our services.

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