How many of you pellet burners use a Humidifier?

My biggest problem is having to replace the wicks. I usually go through one every two - three weeks. I have pretty hard water (even after a filter and water softner)...

ironman70 said:

My biggest problem is having to replace the wicks. I usually go through one every two - three weeks. I have pretty hard water (even after a filter and water softner)...

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Yeah, I'm a little concerned about the cost of wick replacement too. Guess I'll have to wait and see how long I get from a set of 3 wicks with my unit. We're on a well, but it's pretty soft water.

O Answer 5 - Don't need one. With no OAK I get a constant exchange of healthy air in the house and therefore do not get dry stagnant air

I have one upstairs. It works wel as I have found the the stove dries the air out.

i don't have an oak either.
but it still gets dry as hell in here.
and no matter how many people claim this or that about stoves not affecting the dryness, my nose and throat tell me different.
much better w/ the humidifier.

as for the wicks, i just rinse them out and put them back in.
used some blech solution and that is keeping them from getting nasty.
but i plan on getting some iodine and adding a few drops every 4th or 5th tankful.
no freaking way i'm going to shell out a constant flow of cash for these things.

No, I do not use one. two pellet stoves run 24x7

richkorn said:

O Answer 5 - Don't need one. With no OAK I get a constant exchange of healthy air in the house and therefore do not get dry stagnant air

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Just an FYI - OAKS have nothing to do with inside air. They are supplying air for combustion only. This exterior air does not enter your living area. Your inside air is circulated through the heat exchanger and resubmitted to the living area with no introduction of new air (unless you don't have an OAK or live in a drafty house).

We use a Honneywell series 6000 humidifier. It contains 2, 1.75 gallon removable water tanks which I find to be easy to refill. It has five fan settings, and a reostat to control humidity levels. Thus far I find with a low setting on the reostat and a low setting on the fan speed we're maintaing 35-45% levels throughout the house. I have the humidifier located along side the 10-CPM which consentrates the fan noise and assists in dispersing the vapor.

ghandy131 said:

richkorn said:

O Answer 5 - Don't need one. With no OAK I get a constant exchange of healthy air in the house and therefore do not get dry stagnant air

Click to expand...

Just an FYI - OAKS have nothing to do with inside air. They are supplying air for combustion only. This exterior air does not enter your living area. Your inside air is circulated through the heat exchanger and resubmitted to the living area with no introduction of new air (unless you don't have an OAK or live in a drafty house).

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no. he's saying he has no oak.


but cold air is dryer at the same relative humidity number than is warm air.

i'm just assuming that certain folks have a greater tolerance for dry air than others.
i just know for a fact that without the humidifier, it's dry as hell in my house. (and i also have no oak)

my mucus membranes will attest to the same.

My Humidifier arrived and I am very pleased, so far. Looks very clean "as new" including the wicks, and appears to be functioning properly. I've already seen a drop in the water level since I plugged it in a few hours ago. So, ipso facto it must be workin'! 'Cause I don't see a puddle on the floor yet... %-P

ok so I have a nice air-o-swiss humidifer and I like using it, however when I use it , it turns my ng range flame orange, it's not even in the same room. Anyone out there know why this happens?

noelp68 said:

ok so I have a nice air-o-swiss humidifer and I like using it, however when I use it , it turns my ng range flame orange, it's not even in the same room. Anyone out there know why this happens?

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The AirOSwiss is a very nice unit, congrats! That is weird about the orange flame. This guy believes that it is the ionic silver cartridge causing it.

Look here;

Orange Flame on Gas Stove

Clay H said:

Here is one I was looking at that has decent reviews. Hold alot of water so it wouldnt be to much hassle to use I dont think.
Also need to get a Relative Humidity gauge so I know what it actually is.
http://www.amazon.com/Lasko-1128-Ev...-Humidifier/dp/B000VP7FWA/ref=pd_sim_sbs_hg_2

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I run the Lasko. Good unit and keeps over 2,000 sq ft comfortable. Remember, the higher the moisture level (humidity) the warmer it feels. So 72^ at 29% is gonna feel cooler than 72* at 48%.

Lasko has a nice removalbe container to re-fill the unit. Just bought 5 Wicks for it last month. Less than $30 and should make the unit last for years and years. Just remember to clean the unit. It needs to be maintained just like the Pellet stove.

I have the Lasko and only use 2 wicks per heating season. So far I like it.

There are a few evaporative humidifiers that have "permawicks" that you don't have to replace. Don't know how they work or if they are any good.

I know I need a humidifier.

We have one now, I just haven't pulled it out of the attic yet. But it doesn't do nearly enough. Once my insert is running 24/7 here, I know humidity is going to be a problem. It's a problem every year with just the heat pumps.

My concern is that we have a well. The water isn't as hard as some that I have seen, though.

I am trying to figure out what to get. My wife cares about form over function and complains about the looks of every one I have checked out.

But I am going to just ignore her and get the best unit(s) I can find.

Any suggestions? As my signature indicates, I got a fair amount of space here - 2800 square feet.

ghandy131 said:

richkorn said:

O Answer 5 - Don't need one. With no OAK I get a constant exchange of healthy air in the house and therefore do not get dry stagnant air

Click to expand...

Just an FYI - OAKS have nothing to do with inside air. They are supplying air for combustion only. This exterior air does not enter your living area. Your inside air is circulated through the heat exchanger and resubmitted to the living area with no introduction of new air (unless you don't have an OAK or live in a drafty house).

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I understand that. What i am saying is that since I have no oak, my stove is pulling fresh air into the house from all those unseen cracks, therefore constantly replenishing my inside home air. Which of course, without an oak, goes up the pellet vent back to the outside because the house air is the combustion source. A continuous cycle of replenished fresh air in the house. With an oak this would not happen since outside fresh air is not being sucked in through any cracks. Not sure how this affects or does not affect dryness in the house, but I have not had a problem that I can tell.

richkorn said:

ghandy131 said:

richkorn said:

O Answer 5 - Don't need one. With no OAK I get a constant exchange of healthy air in the house and therefore do not get dry stagnant air

Click to expand...

Just an FYI - OAKS have nothing to do with inside air. They are supplying air for combustion only. This exterior air does not enter your living area. Your inside air is circulated through the heat exchanger and resubmitted to the living area with no introduction of new air (unless you don't have an OAK or live in a drafty house).

Click to expand...

I understand that of course. What i am saying is that since I have no oak, my stove is pulling fresh air into the house from all those cracks, therefore constantly replenishing my inside home air. Which of course, without an oak, goes up the pellet vent back to the outside because the house air is the combustion source. A continuous cycle of replenished fresh air in the house. With an oak this would not happen since outside fresh air is not being sucked in through any cracks. That's where the air can get dry and stagnant.

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When it gets cold, outside air can have a lower humidity level than whats inside your home. Thereby dropping the levels in your home. Just natural things you do everyday create moisture for your living space (cooking, showering, dishwasher, etc) By replacing that air with outside air, you may be lower the levels??? On some days worse than others. IMO.

I could be wrong, but Winters cold air has little moisture in it.

Picked up a humidifier.

I went with this model from Lowes:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_158480-12934-HD1407_4294801320+4294827590_4294937087_?productId=1147385

It was $149. Sears sells the same unit branded as a Kenmore for $179. It works great, am really happy with it so far.

i've had two of these essick humidifiers now in 10 years.

HOW do you get the left hand tank to work. BOTH mine have only worked on the right tank. The left tank NEVER drains.

Yes i've read many things online of people who said it's not level. Mines level. I've tried all kinds of stuff. You fill the left tank and it stays full forever. UGH