Posted: 2/4/2007 5:39:08 PM EDT
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We've got one of those stand-alone, Sear's Best humidifiers. It was washed, disinfected and equipped with new elements for the start of winter humidification season. We fill it from the bathroom sink and add the recommended amount of biocide. Whenever we run it after a day or so my sinuses are killing me and I feel like death warmed over. Turn it off and the house feels cold, doorknobs are Tesla coils, the pets avoid us but I feel better. What the heck am I doing wrong? |
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There should be no need for a humidifier. Are you using gas heat? A standard house hold with 3 occupants puts 1 gallon of moisture in the air each day through cooking and bathing and respiration. This should give enough humidity. As to the door knobs, just put some static guard on the carpets/furniture and use fabric softener in your laundry. |
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2400 sq. ft. colonial with an open floor plan. Forced air heating. We didn't put humidifiers on the heating plant because there is no drain in the basement for the basement air handler and because the second floor air handler is in an unheated attic space. 2x6 construction and well insulated, but up here in New Hampster when the temps drop below 30F our interior humidity will drop to the 10% level. There's just me and Mrs. aa and we don't generate nearly enough humidity from cooking or showers to even begin to make up what is lost. |
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Static electricity sucks. I bought a few fancy ones with filters and whatnot but they really blow. I now use a real crude model with a fast spinning cone that whips water up and out. Works good. It takes the static out and keeps the back of my throat from growing cobwebs when I'm sleeping. |
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Find out what the humidity actually is in your home then adjust accordingly. My ENT doc says 40% is pretty much ideal. Too much and you'll get mold growth, too little and you'll get dried out sinuses which will leave them open to allergens since there is no mucos to block them. Good luck! |
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I got a cold air humidifier from Meijer and it works great. I also have one on my furnace, but alone it wasn't enough to keep the humidity at 40-50%RH. Not only does it make the air more comfortable, but it's better for my hardwood floors that I installed. If the air gets to dry, it sucks the moisture out of the wood and causes shrinkage. If you don't have one on your humidifier, go get a hygrometer and make sure you aren't putting too much humidity in the air. Some of the models have little idiot gauges on them (more/less) with out telling you what the target RH is. If you're over 50%RH you can have issues... I have hygrometers on both floors to make sure that I'm not missing anything. You can get them for about $10 in the pharmacy department. |
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Put a filter on your faucet, like one of those Brita or PUR ones and fill the tank with that. That's what I do and I haven't had any mold or anything in my humidifier yet. I feel your pain. Up here in the far north country there is virtually NO moisture in the air in winter. It's -16F actual temp here today, -31F with the wind chill. If I don't use the humidifier I can hardly sleep. My tongue and throat are thick and parched by morning unless I have it on. I can see how the guys down south wouldn't think one is needed, but try the dry cold air up here and you'll see why. To give you an idea, I have an oak dining room table that has a crack running the length of it. In summer it's non-existent, but when winter sets in it grow to as big as 2-3mm wide because of the wood losing so much moisture content. And that's even with running a humidifier and we put a pot of water on our gas stove in the basement. |
Deej, you slay me  23% right now according to the humidity meter. Negative on the springtime problems. It's well water filtered through a whole house 5 micron filter. It could be metals in the water. No way I could use distilled water, the thing goes through at least 4 gallons a day. 
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HAHAHA ! Riiiiiiiight....  I see you've never been out of the south. 
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You could still put a humidifier on the furnace/whatever downstairs. You just need a little condensate pump to pump the extra water overflow up and out of the basement. No big deal. As long as you can run a 1/2" vinyl tube SOMEWHERE to get outside of the house, you're fine. The pump won't add a whole lot onto the cost of the humidifier at all. Or... Like mentioned before, just run a portable one on low, with distilled water. You've got to be reacting to SOMETHING in the well water. Maybe it's the additive you're currently putting in it now ? Try running it with JUST water for a week and see, perhaps ? I lived my whole life in CT, PLUS I have allergies. I know what you're going through. It's a pain in the ass. |