Top-Quality Humidifier Solutions in Connecticut

Understanding Humidifiers: Benefits and Types

A humidifier is a device that increases humidity (aka moisture) levels in the air by releasing water vapor or steam. Experts agree that the optimal humidity level for the air in your home is between 30-50 percent. If the humidity is too high, it can become a breeding ground for dust mites, bacteria, and mold. And if it is too low, it can dry out furniture, flooring, and artwork, and cause dry skin and nosebleeds.

There are portable and whole house humidifiers. Portable, tabletop and console models humidify a single room or area. A whole house humidifier is hardwired into your home’s heating and air conditioning unit and hooked into the house’s plumbing and humidifies the entire house at once.

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Whole House Humidifier Mechanics Explained

Bypass Humidifiers: How They Function

Bypass humidifiers use the airflow generated by your furnace - and more specifically, the blower fan in the air handler or furnace cabinet - to evaporate air. A bypass humidifier sits on either the supply plenum or the return air drop area of your ductwork. When there is a call for humidity from your system, the humidifier draws water and allows it to trickle down the panel inside the humidifier. The warm air from the furnace then blows over the panel, causing the moisture droplets to evaporate. This evaporated air is then moved throughout your ductwork and home by the air supply coming from your system. Bypass are the most commonly used humidifiers.

Power Humidifiers: Enhanced Moisture Control

Power humidifiers act similarly to bypass humidifiers, but they have their own fan inside. They facilitate the evaporation of air without the need for air from the furnace or air handler to pass through. Again, water drips down the inside panel when there is a call for humidity. The difference is that the internal fan in the power humidifier evaporates the water, and air channels on either side of the panel allow for a circular airflow within the unit. Once this evaporation takes place, the air travels through your ductwork system and into your home as usual.

Steam Humidifiers: The Power of Steam

Steam humidifiers boil water to create steam, as opposed to utilizing a fan or warm air from your furnace or air handler. There is a small pool of water in a steam humidifier, that is heated to produce steam that travels through your ductwork and into your home. There’s no panel like you’d find in a bypass or power humidifier, but there’s an additional electrical component in a steam humidifier that allows it to heat the water into steam.

Humidifier Lifespan and Replacement Indicators

Depending on how well it has been maintained and the quality of your water supply, a whole house humidifier will have a life expectancy of 10-15 years.

Signs You May Need a New Humidifier

• Your humidifier needs frequent repairs - more than one per year.
• You notice more static electricity (shocks) when you touch a light switch or another person, after walking across a carpeted area.
• Despite having a humidifier, you and your family are still experiencing sinus problems, dry skin, or nose bleeds. Or you notice cracking in your wood furniture.
• Your humidifier is more than 10-15 years old.

Professional Humidifier Installation Services

Levco’s certified installation experts are unmatched in the industry. We are proud to offer highly skilled technicians, capable of installing your new humidifier - as well as a wide variety of heating and cooling systems for your home or business - to the manufacturer’s specifications. Our training and expertise ensures the work is done right, thereby reducing the likelihood of issues. We work with all the top brands of equipment, including Aprilaire, and Nortec/Condair. From small equipment replacements to brand new facility or home build-outs, there is no job too big or too difficult.

Humidifier FAQs: Your Questions Answered

Optimal Settings for Your Whole House Humidifier

Some humidifiers run only when the furnace is on, while others can work independently. It is safe to leave your unit running all the time, if you are at home and if it is necessary. However, make sure that you are not over-humidifying the house.

Setting the Right Humidity Level for Comfort

A comfortable relative humidity for most homes throughout the summer, spring, and fall is between 40% and 60%. If you set your humidifier to this level, it should be comfortable for your home and family most of the year.

Recognizing the Signs of Low Humidity