IQ Drive 23 Seer Humidifier?

[rboone1]

Hi All,
We are building our retirement home on the lake. ~10K SF and will have 4 units. Question for all who know about the new IQ Drive 23 SEER systems by Nordyne.. We will have approximately 3,500 sq ft of hardwood. Our builder is saying he highly recommends humidifiers for our new installation as hardwood can shrink/expand with extreme humidity changes. I know the units have incredible humidity control for summertime use but in the winter we need a humidifier.

1: Do humidifiers play well with the Nordyne units (or is there no difference when in heating mode)
2: If Yes - Have 2 options. Steam (lower maintenance and independent of the furnace unit running) or AprilAire Humidifier (a little higher maintenance and according to HVAC guy not quite as good as steam.)

Any and all help and replies are welcome.

Thanks

[rdpstl1]

there is a H terminal for the humidifier and I am an aprilaire fan

[BaldLoonie]

Build the house well and you won't need to add humidity. Build a leaky house and you will need a humidifier. And your utility bills will be higher.

[rboone1]

Been in some very well built homes and nights are still very dry with natural gas furnaces running when it's 15 to 25 degrees and dry outside. At least here in north Ga that is.

[beenthere]

If the house is constructed tight, shouldn't need a humidifier. Cooking, people clothes washing provide enough humidity.
A house that has high insulation values is not always constructed as tight as people think they are.

As a safety for you floors in either case. AAcouple 22 gallion a day steam humidifiers should be able to handle a new construction home.

They are expensive upfront, but they will add moisture weather or not your furnace is running for heat.

[rboone1]

Thanks beenthere,

That is what the HVAC guy recommended. 2 UltraZones from EWCcontrols.com Said they run independent from the furnace and will only cycle when needed and require very little maintenance. Just from his experience with a huge expanse of hardwood floors, even in very well built homes, can show signs of expansion in a really dry winters like we have here.

Appreciate the comments.

[beenthere]

The EWC Autoflo S2020 is a good steamer. I've used them.