Humidifier Opinions

[tb7025]

Has anyone installed or used the following humidifier?

http://highqproducts.com/

I am trying to get a feel as to whether it is a good product or not.

[t527ed]

saw one with honeywell name on it...........junk

[coolwhip]

BIG time junk!

[tb7025]

Great!!! I am installing one in my house tonight in the attic. I am rigging it with an old automated watering timer I to have it automatically drain the pan for 2 minutes every afternoon to help with sediment build up.

[coolwhip]

I hope you live in a warm climate. If that freezes, you could have a real mess.

[tb7025]

The outdoor design temp where I live is 9 degrees, CT...

[Edited by tb7025 on 02-02-2006 at 03:09 PM]

[coolwhip]

Originally posted by tb7025
Great!!! I am installing one in my house tonight in the attic. I am rigging it with an old automated watering timer I to have it automatically drain the pan for 2 minutes every afternoon to help with sediment build up.


If I were you, I would not install a humidifier in a unconditioned space where the temps could easily be freezing. You will come home one day to a giant aquarium.

[coolwhip]

TB7025,Im sorry if I ruined your plans.

[t527ed]

STOP DO NOT INSTALL THAT P O S IN YOUR ATTIC. i would not put that in someones basement. attic install would be asking for problems.

[coolwhip]

I guess we scared him.Hes probably on the phone trying to return the thing.:D

[tb7025]

My attic is toasty warm so I am not worried about it freezing. I already have a hydro coil up there for heating.

TB

[tb7025]

Well,

The humidifier is in and is working like a charm so far. Was simple to install... Wish me luck!!!

[tb7025]

So what are the problems typically associated with this type of humdifier?

http://www.highqproducts.com

[ckr74]

Biggest problem I see is standing water. That=slime and mold.

[Advanced Response]

Drum humidifier!!!! WOW!! They can call it a disk but it is still a drum humidifier!!

I have not seen one that did not have mold growing in the water pan or on the drum/disk... Those units are total junk and will have slime and mold growing in them in no time at all..

It is an old technology and wish they would not make them anymore..

This type of humidifier is the worst humidifier except maybe the thermomist or any mister units..

I have removed many,, and yet to see one that did not have slime or mold in it..

I hope that the unit has an drain overflow line piped because I have seen many that the float stuck or the valve stuck open.. Total garbage..

Aprilaire is the only humidifier I use.. But any that have a water panel and no standing water is the best to use.. Steam units are ok but require more monitoring..

Good luck
J

[t527ed]

i'm sure being in the attic it will be seviced on a regular basis so slime and mold should be no problem.














yea right!

[freefall]

I hope that POS came with a free mop

[Advanced Response]

I just checked out the pricing on the units on the website.. WOW... WOW... An outdated design slightly modified to claim it is better but still the same POS drum humidifier at a stagering price..

The price is unbelievable.. I don't charge much more for a humidifier add-on to a replacement furnace and that includes installation.. I can't tell you how much I charge for a humidifier installed but I can tell you that they are charging highway robbery for that unit..

I think it is funny how they are a humidifier manufacturer but use a honeywell humidastat,, guess they don't know how to make a humidastat..

Aprilaire all the way... Honeywell is ok too...

Good luck with that POS.. DIYer gets what he paid for, a POS humidifier..
J

[tb7025]

Will the slime and mold still form if the pan is flushed out every 24 hours? I have an automated valve that opens at noon every day and closes after two minutes time passes. So far, the water is still crystal clear. And yes, a overflow line is installed to prevent flooding.

[Edited by tb7025 on 02-09-2006 at 11:35 AM]

[coolwhip]

I prefer the Generals myself. The plasic has gotten cheaper in the past few years though.

[tb7025]

Originally posted by Advanced Response
Drum humidifier!!!! WOW!! They can call it a disk but it is still a drum humidifier!!

I have not seen one that did not have mold growing in the water pan or on the drum/disk... Those units are total junk and will have slime and mold growing in them in no time at all..

It is an old technology and wish they would not make them anymore..

This type of humidifier is the worst humidifier except maybe the thermomist or any mister units..

I have removed many,, and yet to see one that did not have slime or mold in it..

I hope that the unit has an drain overflow line piped because I have seen many that the float stuck or the valve stuck open.. Total garbage..

Aprilaire is the only humidifier I use.. But any that have a water panel and no standing water is the best to use.. Steam units are ok but require more monitoring..

Good luck
J

So are you saying that a nortec system is garabage also? I am going to be adding a second floor to my home in a year or two and plan on using a nortec system for humidity since I can get it at cost and installed for free. But according to you "mister/steam" humidifiers are POS.

[tb7025]

Originally posted by t527ed
i'm sure being in the attic it will be seviced on a regular basis so slime and mold should be no problem.














yea right!

If your definition of serviced regularly is once a season then yes it will be serviced regularly. At the end of each season, the pan is drained and cleaned and left empty until the next heating season. Further, the pan is automatically flushed with fresh water every 24 hours, so I don't see a problem. Also, there is a pan installed underneath the unit with a float switch. If the float switch closes the unit shuts done and the water valve to the unit closes. System safety is a priority with water in an attic for me....

[coolwhip]

Its your home, do what you will.

[t527ed]

so you spent a lot of time and money over egineering what was a p o s to start with. could of just installed an april air.

[tb7025]

Time yes, money no, I got it free from a friend in the HVAC business from an old unit on a job site and the HO didn't want it. It is about a year old, but is like new!

Yeah, but I like the idea of never buying pads and using less water and energy!!! I consider the over engineering to be a hobby after all I am an accountant with no HVAC background other then what I read and learn from by brother-in-law.

[Edited by tb7025 on 02-09-2006 at 03:13 PM]

[tb7025]

OK, bottom line. Here is what I need to know. If the pan is being flushed every 24 hours will mold and slime still accumulate in the pan. It has been a week and so far there is no sign but I want to know if anyone can tell me how long it takes for those types of problems to show up. I figure I would just keep checking it every week but I was hoping for some in site. It is a walkup attic so it is no big deal to check on it. But anyway let me know so I can get a better understanding of whether mold and slime only form due to water sitting for too long or if having the pan drain every 24 hours is a waste of time and money.

Thanks!!!

[t527ed]

to many variables to say how fast water will turn nasty. air and water quality will determine that along with run time of humdifier and furnace. keep an eye on it and you can play with amount of flush time. i don't think a minute or two a day will waste that much water compared to the risk of growing nasty stuff and putting it into your house air.

[tb7025]

Thanks for all your help. According to the data I have a 2 minute open time will flush about a gallon and a half of water. But like you said, I will keep an eye on it.

[tb7025]

Well it has been a few months with this humidifier and thus far everything is working great. Water in the basin is very clear with no slime/mold growing on the pan. I have switched the flush timing from daily to weekly to try and save on water consumption. The RH in the house has been at a consistent 40% with minimal condensation on the windows. So all and all I am so far very pleased with the product and will keep you all posted to how the unit looks at the end of the heating season.

[Batman]

Originally posted by Advanced Response

Aprilaire all the way... Honeywell is ok too...

J [/B]

What model Aprilaire?

[tb7025]

No aprilaire,

Using the following.

http://highqproducts.com/

[hetrola]

Originally posted by tb7025
Time yes, money no, I got it free from a friend in the HVAC business from an old unit on a job site and the HO didn't want it. It is about a year old, but is like new!

Yeah, but I like the idea of never buying pads and using less water and energy!!! I consider the over engineering to be a hobby after all I am an accountant with no HVAC background other then what I read and learn from by brother-in-law.

[Edited by tb7025 on 02-09-2006 at 03:13 PM]

Using less water and energy... youve defeated the purpose of the drum style by replacing the water every 24 hours.

Not much of a friend to give you that POS

[tb7025]

Water is currently drained weekly which is equivalent to a gallon per week. Far lesser then other types of humidifiers.