Warm Mist Humidifier

Steve Levine

Places get dry primarily because of the entrty of outside air. Years ago, I used to install some central humidifiers. Ocassionally we would get a call from a home owner that said the house was still too dry. I said I would be glad to come over and check it out, but if I drove up and noticed a window open, I would drive away and send them a bill for my time. They always said they would call back if needed. I never heard from any of them again about this.
Now, your window may not be open, but check for significant air leakage. Is the door to the other rooms open? If it is, the humidifier can't do the entire space. Humidity equalizes quickly.
I hope this helps.

msmiz

Warm Mist Humidifer Advice needed

I am renting an apt. I find the air in my house very dry. I have electric heat and wake up all stuffed up every morning if I leave it on in my bedroom. I did some research on the best humidifers and bought a Slant Fin 350. Also highly recommended on the AllergyBuyers website. My bedroom is 12 X 17 ft and it does not seem to do the job. Should I place it closer to me when sleeping? Should I leave it on 24 hrs. I have it about 6 ft away from me and only have been putting it on at night. it is a warm mist humidifer. Any suggestions would be appreciated

msmiz

I do notice a draft from the windows and will seal them with sheets of plastic. Last night I completly closed the bedrm door and it was much better. Do you think it isHow long would you say it takes to humiify the room? Is it ok if I just turn it on a few hours before I go to bed and leave it on all night rather than having it run all day when no one is home?

Steve Levine

That's a tough question

I don't know how long. In general, you would be best off if you kept it running continually and set the control for the comfort you need. When you turn it off and open the room the moisture content of the air in the room equalizes with the adjoining spaces very quickly. This will also cause the moisture content of all of the itmes in the room to drop. It will take a lot of time to get these levels back up when you want to raise the humidity levels.

I hope that this helps.

JimGPE_3

Sounds like an

Old house, so probably not a lot of insulation. Just watch you don't crank the humidifier up too high. The moisture will condense in the cold walls and can do some significant damage, especially if you live where cold is spelled with a capital "C".

If you are getting a lot of condensation on the window panes this is a good indication you may have it cranked too high. In addition, it means your humidifier is cranking out the humidity and the windows are sucking it back out again, which is just a waste of water and power. You cannot increase the dewpoint of your home higher than the coldest surface, which is usually the windows.

You can only do so much to increase humidity in the winter in a cold climate.

msmiz

Humidity

This info is all so educational and interesting. It is acutally a highrise apt and I have one wall to wall window. I have only once seen condensation on the windows and it was when I did try the highest setting. I am in the NE USA where we have been having some cold temps lately and so the heat is always on. I am now wondering if I would have been better served to buy a whole house humidifer or not, rather than the smaller unit but on the other hand your info tells me that the situation would prob still be the same. I almost feel like I am in a no win situation. So then best to leave it on a low setting at my comfort level
24-7, rather then on-off. Will the mositure damge the items I have in the room or is that an unreasonable question?

JimGPE_3

You won't get condensation on them if they are room temperature. But some items (pianos, guitars) don't really care if the humidity is a bit high or low, they REALLY hate fluxuations in humidity.

I seriously doubt that you could ever get enough humidity to grow mold....

So your contents are probably safe.