Humidifier?

[ylomnstr]

So now that I've got the pellet stove, I'm noticing dryer air obviously, which is making my kids and wife get stuffy overnight as they sleep. Doesn't seem to bother me much, but I'm wondering what options are? Do I need a humidifier for all 3 bedrooms? Also, how humid should the air be? Most of the humidifiers don't come with a display, so if you run them all night, how do you know they aren't putting too much humidity into the air? Suggestions?

 

[buckscrape]

I just purchased a Honeywell 6012i which you can set manually for the % of humidity you need, it is an 11 gallon unit capable of putting out lots of moisture and seems to be working in my two story cape very well at this point, it also comes with an ionizer that takes some of the impurities out of the air. Hope this helped, it helped me, I purchase through Amazon.com saved some bucks that way.

 

[imacman]

I have one of those large whole house console-type humidifiers, but small individual room types would work too. As far as figuring out the humidity level, get yourself a hygrometer (relative humidty) meter and mount it centrally in the house.

 

[ylomnstr]

Thanks macman. I'm going to pick up one of those Honeywell hygrometer's right now from Amazon. Then I just have to figure out what humidifier to get. I've thought about the whole house humidifiers also, but since my furnace isn't kicking on much at all with the pellet stove, not sure how effective that would be.

 

[SteveT]

You should also check out this site:

(broken link removed)

Pretty expensive but they do a great job. I have had two of them for several years; each will put several gallons of water a day into the air.

They need a "water additive" which costs about $20.00 for the season but there are no filter elements to replace (this can save a bundle if you are in a hard water area). They have refurbished units in stock at half price.

Check out the reviews at AMAZON....

 

[Jester]

Ill second the venta. Not only does this unit put moisture back into the air, but you cant believe how much dust it talkes out of the air, simply by blowing it across the internal rotating cylendars. No filters to replace, quiet. Ive yet to have anyone I recommend one to hjave anything but praise for them.

 

[ylomnstr]

How big ar the Ventas? I've got a split level ranch with the pellet stove on the main floor, so I'm trying to figure out if a humidifier on the main floor will push enough moist air up a half a flight of steps to the bedrooms?

 

[MainePellethead]

This is what we use..... a Holmes(says its a whole house) It does our downstairs well(780 sq. ft.)...not sure on upstairs because we dont sleep upstairs. About 50 dollars at Wal Mart......and a humidity guage $1.99(works very well). As you can see I need to ramp up the humidifier. lol.

 

[MainePellethead]

How big ar the Ventas? I've got a split level ranch with the pellet stove on the main floor, so I'm trying to figure out if a humidifier on the main floor will push enough moist air up a half a flight of steps to the bedrooms?

What i find is if I keep the humidifier in the room as the pellet stove it brings the other rooms in check with where you need for comfort level.

 

[CygnusX1]

Simplify folks. A cast iron pot on top of the stove works just fine.

You'd be amazed how much water evaporates after a day.

 

[Panhandler]

Simplify folks. A cast iron pot on top of the stove works just fine.

You'd be amazed how much water evaporates after a day.

They sell decorative cast iron ones at Lowes, etc for about fifteen bucks. I use a tea kettle, just don't fill it all the way or it takes too long for the water to get hot if the stove isn't cranked.

 

[MainePellethead]

Tea kettles do not work on my stove. Top of stove doesnt get hot much at all. Just warm. Very rarely run it on high snd even on high wasnt enough to evaporate enough for the dry air.

 

[mkmh]

Tea kettles do not work on my stove. Top of stove doesnt get hot much at all. Just warm. Very rarely run it on high snd even on high wasnt enough to evaporate enough for the dry air.

MPH I have the exact same set-up. Same humidifier positioned right by the stove. Mine seems to take care of about 1000 square feet. The filters are kind of a PITA as I find I go through about one per month, which can a little expensive (filters are around 10 each).

The tea kettle definitely won't work for the OP. He has a Hastings like me and it doesn't get hot enough for this to work.
I shoot for 50% humidity, which is pretty easy to achieve as long as I keep the filter fresh

 

[MainePellethead]

Tea kettles do not work on my stove. Top of stove doesnt get hot much at all. Just warm. Very rarely run it on high snd even on high wasnt enough to evaporate enough for the dry air.

MPH I have the exact same set-up. Same humidifier positioned right by the stove. Mine seems to take care of about 1000 square feet. The filters are kind of a PITA as I find I go through about one per month, which can a little expensive (filters are around 10 each).

The tea kettle definitely won't work for the OP. He has a Hastings like me and it doesn't get hot enough for this to work.
I shoot for 50% humidity, which is pretty easy to achieve as long as I keep the filter fresh

Thats what we shoot for too is the 50% mark usually.....

 

[ylomnstr]

I'd like one of the units that has a lifetime filter. I'm not a big fan of having to buy filters every month or so. Just another thing I can't afford.