Aprilaire 800 in basement zone: will it humidify upstairs zone?

[adam88]

Greetings,

Anyone have a sense whether installing an Aprilaire 800 in a basement would be able to humidify the second floor to, say, 40% relative humidity? (In central jersey, where the existing home humidity levels are around 25%.)

The house in question is a 5500 square-foot two-story house with 9 foot ceilings. It has two forced air gas furnaces; one services the basement and first floor zone, and the other services the second floor zone.

I'm writing because I'm concerned that the humidity won't reach the second floor, especially when the second floor heat runs a lot on cold nights.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Sincerely,
Adam

[kdean1]

I'm inclined to think it will work. Be sure to have the humidifier wired for 240 volts for full capacity.
Do not expect it to deliver 40% RH in a matter of days. All the porous material in the house will be absorbing moisture - carpet, wood floors and furniture, drywall, etc.

[adam88]

Thanks, kdean1.

[BaldLoonie]

And prepare for a hike in your electric bill but I think it will work too.

[beenthere]

If it gets the second floor to 40% when its cold out. The first floor will probably be too high, and have condensation on the windows.

[DOGBOY]

you can not keep the humid air from downstairs away from the less humid air upstairs. I was told that dry air will rob humid air of its humidity.

[beenthere]

you can not keep the humid air from downstairs away from the less humid air upstairs. I was told that dry air will rob humid air of its humidity.

To an extent it will. But to get his second floor to 40%, his first floor may need to be at 45 or 50%.

The moisture doesn't transfer as fast as we might like it to sometimes.

[DOGBOY]

had a guy in atlanta that did not believe that the u/s would benefit from the humidifier on the d/s. He put a hygrometer in the furthest room u/s from the stairs and his reading was only 5% lower than d/s.

[beenthere]

had a guy in atlanta that did not believe that the u/s would benefit from the humidifier on the d/s. He put a hygrometer in the furthest room u/s from the stairs and his reading was only 5% lower than d/s.

Which means that the down stairs for the OP would 45%, for the upstairs to be 40%. So the OP could have condensation on his windows downstairs to get the upstairs where he wants it.

70°F 45%RH is a dew point of 47.7°F

[DOGBOY]

Which means that the down stairs for the OP would 45%, for the upstairs to be 40%. So the OP could have condensation on his windows downstairs to get the upstairs where he wants it.

70°F 45%RH is a dew point of 47.7°F

true, but what is 5% less than your desired when the alternative could be less than 15% in the entire house with out a humidifier?

[beenthere]

true, but what is 5% less than your desired when the alternative could be less than 15% in the entire house with out a humidifier?

All my post have been about him possibly having too high of a lower level humidity to get the upstairs to 40%. Pointing at he may want to go to a lower %RH.

Someone else implied no problem.

[DOGBOY]

All my post have been about him possibly having too high of a lower level humidity to get the upstairs to 40%. Pointing at he may want to go to a lower %RH.

Someone else implied no problem.

I know you are correct, but I was trying to address his statement of (I'm writing because I'm concerned that the humidity won't reach the second floor, especially when the second floor heat runs a lot on cold nights.) I am just trying to say that it will reach the second floor. He makes it sound like the bottom floor will be rain forest wet and the second floor will be desert dry.

[beenthere]

I know you are correct, but I was trying to address his statement of (I'm writing because I'm concerned that the humidity won't reach the second floor, especially when the second floor heat runs a lot on cold nights.) I am just trying to say that it will reach the second floor. He makes it sound like the bottom floor will be rain forest wet and the second floor will be desert dry.

True.