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So, you already have a humidifier in your home. It’s great, you feel its benefits, and the whole family loves it. But, until when? It’s okay if everyone is in the living room all day, but what happens when it comes to bedtime? I’m pretty sure that your small, single humidifier will not cover the entire house.
On the other hand, you might have a few humidifiers plugged-in in each bedroom. If so, I bet you’re having a hard time cleaning and maintaining all those units! Well, maybe its time you get a humidifier than can cover the entire house.
Here’s our take on whole house humidifier pros and cons. Be sure to read the whole article before you make your decision!
Whole House Humidifier
Before we talk about the advantages and disadvantages of a whole house humidifier, it’s important to know how they work.
How Does It Work?
Whole house humidifiers work just like your portable humidifiers. The main difference is, of course, the area it covers. As the name suggests, they cover the entire home area.
They may or may not be installed directly into your HVAC system. Most models are installed right next to your furnace and will turn on automatically once your HVAC is turned on. They’re usually controlled with a humidistat.
Some are pedestal style humidifiers that are still portable but have a much larger coverage area.
What Does It Do?
Generally, whole house humidifiers emit water vapor or steam to increase moisture levels in the air.
Why Get One?
So, what are the benefits of installing a whole house humidifier?
Health and Comfort
Flu, colds, and allergies will be prevented. Cracked, itchy skin will also be kept at bay.
Preservation
They are also good for wood floors, artworks, and instruments.
Wider Coverage Area
If you’re tired of taking care of a lot of small humidifiers, well, get a whole house type. Their coverage area goes up to 3,600 square feet! No need to bring your humidifier with you anywhere.
Automatic Humidity Control
Since we can’t see the humidity level physically, it’s a good thing that whole house humidifiers can automatically control it for us. Most models are equipped with humidistats that allow you to easily set your desired humidity level, which should be between 40% and 60%.
Low Maintenance
Whole house humidifiers that are installed with your HVAC are very easy to maintain. A replacement of the water panel once a year is all you need to do.
Less Likely Do-It-Yourself
You can save yourself from the hassle of installation since professionals will do it for you. Plus, no need to refill it every few hours since it’s linked directly to your plumbing.
Easy to Control Remotely
Most models come with a remote-control system so you can adjust the humidity without actually touching the unit.
Silent and Hidden Away
Usually, they are placed somewhere you don’t usually see, and you don’t need to worry about it producing any loud noise.
What Are the Downsides?
As with every product, whole house humidifiers also come with their downsides.
Mold and Mildew
If you fail to clean and maintain your whole house humidifiers regularly, molds will probably form inside it or in your HVAC system. When the furnace air filter is full of dust, plus the moisture is present all the time, molds can take root.
Cost
Whole house humidifiers cost more than portable ones. Plus, you need to pay for the installation.
Hiding HVAC Air Leaks
This appliance may cause a bigger problem of home air leaks to be unseen.
Difficulty Moving
Naturally, since you will install your whole house humidifiers in your HVAC, it’s not an easy task to move it if needed. Maybe you want to upgrade to a higher model or resell it; nevertheless, you need to do quite a lot of work to detach it.
Even pedestal type whole house humidifiers are hard to move and transport due to their weight.
Related Guide: Aprilaire Humidifier Review
Recommended Whole House Humidifier
Have you decided to get a whole house humidifier? If so, check these models out. These are the top products in the market that we can recommend to you.
Honeywell HE360A1075 HE360A Whole House Humidifier
This easy to install whole house humidifier will do wonders for your home, and it can be directly mounted on your HVAC system. The light gray, compact design is pleasing to the eye.
It is very quick to install this unit onto the return air duct or the warm air duct of your furnace. In just one hour, you can enjoy its wonders.
Also, it is very easy to control, and you can set the humidistat to your desired level. The model can be used for houses up to 4,200 square feet! Plus, it does not limit you to one setting since it features various speed options and multi-stage systems.
In terms of cleaning, you don’t have to worry too much. The flow-through technology in this unit will ensure minimal maintenance is needed. What’s more, it features the PerfectFLO distribution tray, which maximizes efficiency and lessens the water usage.
PROS
CONS
LEVOIT Cool Mist Ultrasonic Air Humidifier for Whole House
Most humidifiers in the market offer only very limited controls, but this model from Levoit is different. It comes with all the customization you can think of. Just by the looks of it, you know it carries a lot of modern features.
The product’s feature that’s worth mentioning is that it works both as a warm mist and cool mist humidifier. You can surely use this humidifier whole year long! It also features an auto mode setting that comes with an accurate humidity sensor.
If you are looking for a humidifier, those are already the basic features you need, but this unit goes beyond that. You can also use the aroma diffuser box to level up the comfort and relaxation that the product brings.
What’s more, you can even adjust the lights it produces. This will be your favorite companion for those lazy nights.
The tank can hold up to six liters, and it’s only good for small houses of 750 square feet. Nonetheless, if you live in a studio apartment or condo, you’ll love this product. Plus, you can use it for 36 hours!
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CONS
GeneralAire 1000A Humidifier
GeneralAire is a known brand when it comes to whole house humidifiers. The 1000A model is a fan-powered humidifier that will improve the humidity of homes up to 3,000 square feet. You will love how well it performs compared to much more expensive models.
It will humidify up to 18 gallons a day, which is one of the highest capacities out there. You’ll notice the change in the air in an instant. What’s more, the unit is very easy to install, and it comes with everything you need. Still, it’s recommended to let professionals handle the installation.
The product offers the Gfx3 automatic digital humidistat to ensure the house gets the proper humidity it needs. Also, it features an automatic mode with an outdoor sensor to control the temperature better.
Durable ultra-violet plastics were used to construct this product, so you know it will last you for a long time.
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Aircare MA0800 Digital Whole-House Console-Style Evaporative Humidifier
This product claims to keep your house’s humidity level between 30% and 50%. It’s perfect for homes as large as 2,600 square feet. Also, it runs up to 36 hours, so you don’t have to refill it from time to time, thanks to the 2.5-gallon water tank capacity.
What makes it special? Well, according to Aircare, it creates “invisible moisture” through the help of the saturated wick. This eliminates the possibility of white dust that some models create.
For the perfect air quality, this model also features a humidistat to automatically control the humidity level. You’ll be impressed that it also comes with three fan speeds. One of which is the “nighttime mode” to help each of your family members sleep better.
Another highlight of this product is that it’s very easy to use. It also comes with an auto shut-off feature in case you fail to refill the water tank on time.
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Aircare 831000 Space-Saver, Whole House Evaporative Humidifier
The last one on our list is another product from Aircare. It looks very simple, unlike the other models on this list. Nevertheless, the performance is still superb.
As the name suggests, this is a space-saving unit. Although compact, you will be impressed that it can cover up to 2,700 square feet! Not bad, right?
Another thing that will make you go wow is the product’s runtime. It can continuously humidify your home up to 70 hours, that’s almost 3 days of use! The water tank is also huge, and it can hold up to 6 gallons of water.
What’s more, it comes with a thick, saturated wick filter that helps to purify the air – removing the germs and allergens that make us sick.
Overall, this product is not the most appealing of all, but it holds a lot of great features.
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CONS
Conclusion
At the end of this whole house humidifier pros and cons, we suggest that you install and upgrade to it. Especially if you live in a medium or large house and have been experiencing dry skin and frequent allergies, doing this will protect the whole family from these dilemmas.