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Humidifiers

Humidifiers

Illustrated whole-house humidifier mounted on the ductwork beside a furnace, adding moisture to the air

In winter, your furnace dries out the air in your home. As it runs, indoor humidity drops, often well below a comfortable level. A whole house humidifier (also called a furnace humidifier or duct-mounted humidifier) is a unit that installs into your ductwork and adds moisture to the air throughout your entire home. It keeps you more comfortable, protects your furnishings, and can even lower your heating bills.

Ready to Feel Comfortable In Your Home Again?

Airtek Of York County can identify humidity problems and recommend a correctly-sized whole house humidifier for your home and heating system.

Call (803) 327-7100 for a Free Estimate

Types of Whole House Humidifiers to Consider

There are three main types, and they differ in how they add moisture to the air. Which type is the best fit depends on how much moisture your home needs, how much room your ductwork allows, and what you want to spend to install and run it. Most modern gas furnace setups work well with any of them.

Bypass Evaporator

Sends a portion of warm furnace air through a wet pad and back into the ductwork. It runs quietly, uses very little electricity, and is the most budget-friendly option.

Fan-Powered Evaporator

Has its own built-in fan that pulls air across the wet pad, so it adds more moisture per day and needs no bypass duct. It is a great match for a heat pump or other lower-temperature heating system.

Steam

Heats water to create clean steam and injects it straight into the airflow. It works no matter what your furnace is doing, and delivers the highest moisture output for large homes.

Comparing Humidifier Capacity

Humidifier capacity is measured in gallons per day (GPD), the amount of moisture a unit can add to your air in 24 hours. The right capacity depends on your home's size, how tightly it is sealed, and how harsh your winters are. Use this comparison to match a tier to your home.

System TierHome SizeCapacity (GPD)Who It Is ForWhat You Get
Standard BypassUp to 2,500 sq ft12 to 17Homes with a gas forced-air furnace.Reliable, quiet moisture with very low electricity use.
Advanced Fan-Powered2,500 to 4,000 sq ft18 to 20Homes with a heat pump or dual-fuel system.Higher daily output, with no bypass duct required.
Premium Steam4,000+ sq ft30 to 34+Homes with a lot of hardwood, or areas with harsh winters.The highest, most precise output, no matter what the furnace is doing.

But Can't I Just Use a Portable Humidifier?

Most portable humidifier units only cover up to 100 to 160 square feet, making them a temporary solution for a small office or bedroom. But portable humidifiers often lack sufficient power to fix dry air problems in larger rooms or whole homes.

Portable Room UnitWhole House System
CoverageOne room at a time.Every room, through your existing vents.
FillingYou refill a heavy water tank by hand, often daily.Connects to your plumbing and refills itself automatically.
PlacementSits out on the floor or a table, taking up living space.Installed at the furnace, completely out of sight.
NoiseRuns in the room with you, which can be distracting in a bedroom.Runs quietly with your HVAC system, away from living areas.
ControlA dial or basic setting on the unit itself.A humidistat that holds your whole home at a set humidity level.
UpkeepRegular tank cleaning to keep it sanitary.A water pad replaced about once per heating season.
Portable Room Unit
Coverage
One room at a time.
Filling
You refill a heavy water tank by hand, often daily.
Placement
Sits out on the floor or a table, taking up living space.
Noise
Runs in the room with you, which can be distracting in a bedroom.
Control
A dial or basic setting on the unit itself.
Upkeep
Regular tank cleaning to keep it sanitary.
Whole House System
Coverage
Every room, through your existing vents.
Filling
Connects to your plumbing and refills itself automatically.
Placement
Installed at the furnace, completely out of sight.
Noise
Runs quietly with your HVAC system, away from living areas.
Control
A humidistat that holds your whole home at a set humidity level.
Upkeep
A water pad replaced about once per heating season.

Professional Sizing, Installation, and Maintenance

The right installation and a little seasonal upkeep keep your humidifier comfortable and trouble-free. Some homeowners also add a smart thermostat to manage temperature and humidity from one place.

01

Sizing

We measure your home's square footage, how tightly it is sealed, and your heating system to choose the right capacity and model.

02

Mounting

We cut an opening and mount the unit on the supply or return plenum of your furnace or air handler.

03

Water Line

We tap into a cold water line to feed the unit. Steam and fan-powered models also get a drain connection.

04

Controls

We install the humidistat and wire the unit so it runs with your furnace blower.

05

Startup

We set your target humidity, test everything, and show you how to adjust it. On digital humidistats, we turn on outdoor temperature compensation so the unit eases off during a hard freeze and your windows stay clear.

Once it is running, upkeep is simple. Evaporator models use a water pad that traps minerals over time. Replacing it once each heating season keeps the unit at full output, and homes with hard water may need a mid-season change.

To keep your humidifier and whole HVAC system functioning properly and efficiently without interruptions, contact Airtek Of York County in Catawba, SC to schedule regular maintenance today.

Schedule Maintenance Service Today

Is a Whole House Humidifier Right for Your Home?

Dry winter air affects more than comfort. It shows up in your skin, your energy bills, and your furniture. If any of these sound familiar, a whole house humidifier can help.

  • Dry Skin, Chapped Lips, and Irritated Sinuses: Properly humidified air helps your skin hold moisture and soothes dry nasal passages, so you feel more comfortable through the heating season.
  • High Winter Heating Bills: Moist air feels warmer than dry air at the same temperature. With the right humidity, you can turn the thermostat down a few degrees and stay just as comfortable, which lowers your heating costs.
  • Hardwood Floors and Wood Furnishings: Wood absorbs and releases moisture with the air around it, so it shrinks, gaps, and cracks when the air is dry. If your home has hardwood floors, trim, cabinets, or even a piano, steady humidity helps protect them.
  • Frequent Static Shocks: Keeping humidity in the ideal 30 to 50 percent range lets moisture in the air carry off static charges before they build up on carpet, furniture, and clothing.

If that describes your home, a whole house humidifier is worth a closer look. Airtek Of York County can measure your home's humidity and recommend the right unit for your heating system.

Sound Like Your Home?

Let us check your indoor humidity and recommend the right unit for your heating system.

Call (803) 327-7100 for a Consultation

Frequently Asked Questions About Humidifiers

Industry guidance is to keep indoor humidity between 30 and 50 percent during the heating season. Staying in that range keeps your skin and nasal passages from drying out, while avoiding the excess moisture that can fog or frost your windows during a hard freeze.
Not when they are sized and set correctly. Mold needs excess moisture, so the key is keeping indoor humidity in the healthy 30 to 50 percent range and no higher. A properly sized unit with a good humidistat, along with outdoor temperature compensation that eases off during a freeze, keeps moisture at a safe level. Mold problems usually trace back to an oversized or poorly controlled unit running the humidity too high, which is why correct sizing matters.
It can help. Humid air feels warmer than dry air, so with the right humidity you can often set the thermostat a few degrees lower and stay just as comfortable. Turning the heat down is where the savings come from. How much you save depends on your home, your climate, and how you run your system.
A bypass humidifier uses your furnace's own blower to push air through a bypass duct and across a water pad. A fan-powered humidifier has its own built-in fan that pulls air across the pad, so it produces roughly 15 to 20 percent more moisture per day and does not need the extra bypass ductwork.
Replace the evaporator water pad once per heating season, usually in late fall. If you have very hard water, minerals can build up faster, so a mid-season replacement helps keep the unit at full output.

Humidification Product Offering

800

Aprilaire 800 Whole House Steam Humidifier

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Model Family: 800
Capacity: Up to 34.6 gallons per day based on supply voltage and current draw
Sound Level: Quiet operation
Warranty: 5-year limited warranty on parts from the date of installation, when installed by a licensed HVAC installer
Manufacturer's Stated Benefits:
  • Preserve your home and any contents susceptible to damage from changing humidity or dry conditions.
  • Measures the relative humidity inside the house. Fans turn on automatically when the humidity drops below the set point.
  • Balance your humidity to preserve your home and protect its occupants from dry air issues like static shock and chapped skin.
  • Replace the canister every year, and have a licensed contractor replace the electrode wires every 3 years for best performance.
700

AprilAire 700 Whole-House Fan Powered Evaporative Humidifier

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Model Family: 700
Capacity: Up to 18 gallons per day
Sound Level: Quiet operation
Warranty: 5-year limited warranty on parts from the date of installation, when installed by a licensed HVAC installer
Manufacturer's Stated Benefits:
  • Balance your humidity to preserve your home and protect its occupants from dry air issues like static shock and chapped skin.
  • Preserve your home and any contents susceptible to damage from changing humidity or dry conditions.
  • For tightly constructed homes up to 5,300 square feet
  • Automatically turns on the HVAC fan to measure the relative humidity inside the ductwork and from all parts of the home.
400

AprilAire 400 Whole-House Water Saver Evaporative Humidifier

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Model Family: 400
Capacity: Up to 17 gallons per day
Sound Level: Quiet operation
Warranty: 5-year limited warranty on parts from the date of installation, when installed by a licensed HVAC installer
Manufacturer's Stated Benefits:
  • For tightly constructed homes up to 5,000 square feet
  • Automatically turns on the HVAC fan to measure the relative humidity inside the ductwork and from all parts of the home.
  • Balance your humidity to preserve your home and protect its occupants from dry air issues like static shock and chapped skin.
500

AprilAire 500 Whole-House Small Bypass Evaporative Humidifier

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Model Family: 500
Capacity: Up to 12 gallons per day
Sound Level: Quiet operation
Warranty: 5-year limited warranty on parts from the date of installation, when installed by a licensed HVAC installer
Manufacturer's Stated Benefits:
  • Automatic Humidifier with dual sensors to monitor and respond to both outdoor temperature and indoor relative humidity
  • Automatically turns on the HVAC fan to measure the relative humidity inside the ductwork and from all parts of the home.
  • For tightly constructed homes up to 3,500 square feet