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Residential HVAC products are evolving quickly to meet consumer demand for system automation and better IAQ, and home humidification products are no exception.

Proper indoor RH — generally between 35% and 60%, with the range leaving wiggle room for personal preferences and outdoor conditions — is vital in maintaining IAQ, the health and well-being of a home’s occupants, and the condition of its furnishings.

High humidity encourages mildew and mold, can trigger allergies and asthma, and makes indoor air feel heavy and — in summertime — hotter. Low humidity can damage wood, dry out sinuses and skin, leave rooms chilly in the winter, and also trigger allergies and asthma.

“One can see and feel the difference in your home when proper humidity levels are not maintained,” said Allan Feys, director of sales and business development at General Filters Inc., which makes humidifiers under the GeneralAire brand.

As the heating season approaches in many parts of the country, more homeowners will be turning their attention to whole-home humidification.

“A properly humidified home can promote higher system efficiency while providing relief from many of winter’s discomforts, including the discomfort of dry nasal passages, itchy skin, and static shocks as well,” said Bridget Volz, associate director of IAQ product management at Carrier.

“Healthy humidity helps protect against airborne viruses, improve sleep quality, maintain skin moisture level, and enhance productivity,” said Tom Maskel, vice president of product management at AprilAire. “Secondarily, maintaining balanced humidity year-round helps preserve the home and its contents.”

Advanced Products

Carrier, General Filters, and AprilAire have all introduced humidification products that mesh with the latest trends in HVAC.

General Filters, for example, offers two evaporative humidifiers, the Series 3200 (12 gallons of moisture per day) and Series 4200 (17 gallons per day) models, that are designed to work better with high-efficiency furnaces and in tight installation spaces. They can be controlled automatically or manually, and feature a low-profile cover that forces bypass air through the vapor pad at its warmest point, instead of allowing air to circulate and cool first, Feys said. The 3200 and 4200 are also designed so that the pad has maximum exposure to the airflow.

“These units are designed to deliver humidity output that is no longer delivered by traditional humidifiers due to the lower plenum temperatures of today’s high-efficiency furnaces and heat pumps,” he said.

General Filters also has a fan-assisted model, the 4400 A, with a capacity of 19 gallons a day. The 4400 A’s cross-flow fan is quieter and lighter than humidifiers with a typical rotary fan, Feys said.

AprileAire has added the Model 300, a self-contained evaporative humidifier, to its lineup. The Model 300 (13 gallons per day) is designed specifically for homes without forced-air heating systems, said Maskel.

“It’s perfect for homes with boilers, mini splits, radiant heat, or other ductless systems,” he said.

Carrier has its Carrier Performance model steam humidifier, which, at up to 34 gallons of vapor, is designed for larger homes. The model generates steam with the use of two electrodes.

Carrier also has a fan-assisted Performance model that can produce up to 18 gallons a day and is a humidification solution for heat-pump HVAC systems, Volz said.

FAN ASSIST: An installed Carrier Performance large fan-powered humidifier, which the company says is preferred for homes with heat pumps and can produce up to 18 gallons of water vapor per day. (Courtesy of Carrier)

Automation

Manufacturers of humidification products are getting in on the HVAC automation trend, too.

HUMIDIFICATON AUTOMATION: AprilAire’s Model S86 Wi-Fi Thermostat can be linked to a humidifier, dehumidifier, or ventilation product, and works with AprilAire’s Healthy Air app. (Courtesy of AprilAire)

AprilAire recently introduced the Model S86 Wi-Fi Thermostat, which can be linked to a humidifier, dehumidifier, or ventilation product and works with AprilAire’s Healthy Air app.

“It has been well-received in the market, as it uses real-language navigation and setup, has a 2.8-inch color display” and can operate in two heating stages and two cooling stages, or four heating stages with a heat pump, said Maskel. The unit comes with a wired outdoor temperature sensor.

General Filters has a digital control, the GFX4, that includes an outdoor sensor and will automatically adjust indoor humidity as outdoor conditions change, Feys said.

Carrier’s Infinity System control, said Volz, allows for “precision comfort” and has an intuitive user interface and Wi-Fi connectivity. The Performance humidifiers are compatible with ecobee for Carrier smart thermostats.

“Devices such as the Carrier air monitor and Carrier room air purifier provide users with educational information about their relative humidity” as well as total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) and particulate matter of 2.5 microns or less, Volz said.

Contractor Education

Manufacturers also said they’re dedicated to providing contractors and homeowners with good information about the use and care of humidification products, as well as training on specific products for installers and contractors.

“There are few aspects of home maintenance more important than the management of indoor air quality equipment,” said Feys. “Few products can better promote a healthy home than those of the IAQ industry.”

The General Filters website, www.generalfilters.com, features videos, brochures and blogs that provide contractors and homeowners alike with information on humidity control and IAQ, Feys said. The company also publishes YouTube videos with simple maintenance instructions.

“Maintenance is a very important aspect of our IAQ contractor training sessions, where we address the importance of preventative maintenance as it relates to the proper performance and longevity of our broad IAQ product offering,” he said.

Carrier also has resources on its website, www.carrier.com, as well as training programs for contractors and installers.

Maskel said contractors look to AprilAire’s website (www.aprilaire.com) for training on its humidification products — training that focuses on proper installation and maintenance and how to decide when older units should be replaced.

“Our partners tell us they appreciate the opportunity to choose from in-person live training sessions at their location or at their distributorship, live interactive webinars, or recorded sessions that can be viewed at their convenience,” Maskel said.