Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
My last home didn't have one but the new place has a humidifier attached to the furnace. Big aquariums are natural humidifiers (through evaporation). Should I shut this thing down to conserve energy?
home humidifiers
- Thread starter Gary Majchrzak
- Start date
Jamie2337
New member
We don't run a humidifier in our house. The tank keeps the air pretty moist IMO.
I would shut it down and see how it goes. If you didn't have one at the last house and didn't need it see how it goes without.
However, with a larger house you may need more moisture. If it feels to dry to you turn the humidifier back on....
Hope this helps!
I would shut it down and see how it goes. If you didn't have one at the last house and didn't need it see how it goes without.
However, with a larger house you may need more moisture. If it feels to dry to you turn the humidifier back on....
Hope this helps!
coralnut99
New member
I'm no expert, but I would.
We've been in our house for almost 16 years now, and heat the basement area exclusively with wood. For years, my wife complained about the dry heat in the winter. It really did suck the moisture out of everything. Having expanded the fishroom to something in the area of 600 gallons, the complaints have stopped. No science here, just simple observation.
We've been in our house for almost 16 years now, and heat the basement area exclusively with wood. For years, my wife complained about the dry heat in the winter. It really did suck the moisture out of everything. Having expanded the fishroom to something in the area of 600 gallons, the complaints have stopped. No science here, just simple observation.
bigjdotcom01
Member
Mine is shut down too.
sailfinreef
New member
i would say see how it goes, if you need it use it if not unplug it. I kinda think you wont be needing it to much this year but maybe next winter. the humidifiers do draw enough power to notice a change in the bill.
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
OK. I'm shutting her down. Thanks.
dderue
New member
A humidifier does not take much energy at all, most of them only require a 12 volt signal to open the water valve. I run mine all winter. The higher the humidity in a house, the warmer it will feel at a lower temp. You can actually feal comfortable with the temp set at 2-3 degrees lower than you normally would have it. It does waste a little water, but no where near the amount an RO unit wastes. What you could do is look for your humidistat. it is probably set into the duct above your furnace. That will have a dial that adjust from off to probably 40%. Set it to say 20% and see if it comes on. If the tank is evaporating enough, it will not turn on. The cost to run it is very small. I actually cost more not to run it because you tend to run the furnace at a higher temp. IMO.
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
Good point. Higher humidity makes a home feel warmer.
Yet another reason to own a reef aquarium.
gary greguire
Premium Member
add to much humidity and watch the mold grow..... Want to see a pic.....
sailfinreef
New member
actually your right, if it built on the furnace it dosent take that much energy, I was, for what ever reason thinking of a portable unit. sorry for the wrong info, I was reading one think and telling you something differant. a humidifier built on the furnace doesnt have a coil or anyting just a small selinoid valve.
gary greguire, I dont think the house should be muggy
gary greguire, I dont think the house should be muggy
gary greguire
Premium Member
try it with 27 aquariums going..... It doesn't have to be all that muggy to get the black mold started.
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
sonofagun!
sonofagun!
No wonder the guy that owned this home always ran a huge dehumidifier in the basement- the saddle valve that feeds the furnace humidifier is shot- so water is always trickling down it's overflow to the edge of the concrete slab. Any tips on how to deal with the problem? Replace the saddle valve gasket with a new one?
sonofagun!
No wonder the guy that owned this home always ran a huge dehumidifier in the basement- the saddle valve that feeds the furnace humidifier is shot- so water is always trickling down it's overflow to the edge of the concrete slab. Any tips on how to deal with the problem? Replace the saddle valve gasket with a new one?
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
Bromeliad heaven. Got 'em planted in the kitchen cupboards!
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
That's worth checking into... but the instructions on my control unit say to turn the unit off during the (warmer) summer months. 
I would do as sailfin suggested. See how it goes. It depends on the construction of the home and how airtight it is.
For my home we use a wood stove most of the time and the tank provides adequate moisture. But if the furnace runs it still is quite dry. We have alot of wood in the house and it is well insulated.
Some homes have plastic as a vapor barrier in which case you may need a dehumidifier. So I would recommend you take it as it comes and adjust accordingly.
For my home we use a wood stove most of the time and the tank provides adequate moisture. But if the furnace runs it still is quite dry. We have alot of wood in the house and it is well insulated.
Some homes have plastic as a vapor barrier in which case you may need a dehumidifier. So I would recommend you take it as it comes and adjust accordingly.
