Should you turn off your whole house humidifier in the summer?

A whole-house or central humidifier is a smart investment, especially if you live in a cold climate. Dry winter air can cause respiratory complications due to the lack of moisture. However, once summer comes along, it's very important to see to it that your humidifier is turned off.

Do you run a whole-house humidifier in the summer?

Whole-house humidifiers are designed to add moisture to the air, which is necessary in some homes during the winter, because dry air can detract from comfort and even cause wood furniture and fixtures to crack. During the summer, however, outdoor humidity tends to rise, and extra moisture is no longer needed.

What should whole-house humidifier be set at in summer?

Setting the Indoor Humidity

A comfortable relative humidity for most homes throughout the summer, spring, and fall is between 30% and 50%. If you set your humidifier to this level, it should be comfortable for your home and family most of the year.

Should a whole-house humidifier run all the time?

If you're monitoring the humidity levels in your home, it's relatively safe to run your humidifier around the clock. You should take special care not to leave anything running while you're out of the house. However, just because it's safe doesn't mean that it's necessary.

When should you turn off your home humidifier?

A central humidifier can be a very worthwhile investment, helping to improve the quality of the air in your home during the winter season. Once the weather begins to warm up, though, it is essential to turn off the humidifier in your home until the heating season starts up again in the fall.

How to turn off the Whole House Humidifier

Can I turn off my whole house humidifier?

Locate the plastic or copper water line attached to the unit and follow it back to the water supply. When you reach a water supply valve, turn the valve to shut it off completely. With these simple steps, your humidifier is turned off for the summer.

Should humidifier be on with air conditioning?

A humidifier and air conditioner can be used simultaneously, but you often don't have to. A humidifier can restore moisture to the air if you reside in a dry climate, while your air conditioner eliminates too much of it whenever necessary.

Do whole house humidifiers create mold?

If not used properly, here are some issues a whole house humidifier can cause: Excessive moisture can causes mold growth. Moisture can accumulate within your ducts, causing mold to form and then be distributed throughout the air in your home.

Does a whole-house humidifier use a lot of water?

Depending on the model you choose and the size of your home, a humidifier uses from 1.5 to 12 gallons per day when the furnace is operating. This minimal amount of water is enough to raise the humidity to your desired level, but not enough for you to notice a difference on your water bill.

Do whole house humidifiers waste water?

One of the common sources of water waste is something most homeowners haven't considered: the humidifier. All humidifiers waste water, and unfortunately, the more convenient whole-home humidifiers tend to be big culprits.

What can I do with my whole-house humidifier in the summer?

What Should the Whole-House Humidifier Be Set at in Summer? Like we said: You should set your humidistat at 40% relative humidity. Feel free to experiment with different humidity levels, but know that they may impact your windows. If you notice water on your windows, that's an indication your humidity is too high.

Is 66% humidity too high for a house?

The Health and Safety Executive recommends that relative humidity indoors should be maintained at 40-70%, while other experts recommend that the range should be 30-60%. Most people find 30-60% most comfortable and this is the level that Airthings recommends.

Is it better to use hot or cold water in a whole-house humidifier?

Connect the humidifier's water line to the home's hot water line. The humidifier works better with hot water, so avoid connecting it to the cold water line.

When should I use my whole-house humidifier?

Signs You May Need a Central Humidifying System

If you suffer from dry skin or itchy eyes, get nosebleeds or often have a sore or scratchy throat, it could be an indication that the air in your home is too dry.

How long do whole house humidifiers last?

Depending on the frequency of maintenance and quality of water, a humidifier will have a life expectancy of 10-15 years.

Do furnace humidifiers run all the time?

The “Auto” setting will only run the fan when the furnace is on and heating the house whereas the “Manual” or “ON” setting will keep the fan running constantly.

How long should you run a humidifier in your house?

Your humidifier run time is typically about 10 to 15 minutes, which is the average length of a heating cycle. If you notice condensation on windows or surfaces indoors over the winter, this is an indicator that there is too much humidity and you will want to adjust to prevent excess moisture.

Do humidifiers damage your furnace?

If you have a portable personal humidifier in your home, it could be affecting your heater. “We've had a lot of calls of the same problem,” explained Tim Hatfield, Owner of Tim's Heating & Cooling. “Of getting their bumping limit, which is the furnace getting too hot and shutting itself off.”

Where does water come from for whole house humidifier?

A humidifier in your home is installed in your ductwork near your furnace, either on the supply or return end. The unit is also connected directly to your home's water supply.

Can you get mold poisoning from a humidifier?

A humidifier that's not thoroughly cleaned can breed unhealthy mold spores, which, when spread by the humidifier's mist, can be harmful to people with mold allergies, according to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology.

Should you use a humidifier in the summer with air conditioning?

Fighting the heat can be difficult during the summer, but a humidifier can help cool you down without using a lot of energy. Using a humidifier in tandem with the air conditioning can keep rooms cooler, allowing you to raise the temperature of the A/C – and use less energy.

Does humidifier make AC harder?

Excess moisture in the air causes your cooling system to work harder than it should have to, in order to do its job of conditioning the air. Since the air feels hotter when humidity levels are too high, you may find yourself setting the thermostat lower and lower.

Does a humidifier make a room hotter or colder?

Humidifiers are a useful tool to help you heal dry skin or moisturize your nasal passages when you're overcoming a cold. What you may not realize, though, is that humidifiers can also help increase the temperature of a space.

How do I turn off my whole house humidifier in the summer?

How to Shut Off Your Central Humidifier. Turn the humidistat on your unit to the “off” position. You'll often find it above the humidifier on the return air plenum. Afterwards, turn the bypass duct damper on the humidifier to the “summer” setting or turn it off completely.

Where is the best place to put a whole house humidifier?

With a whole house humidifier, choose the most central room in your home, which is usually the living area. The idea is to get the unit where it can distribute the most humidity into the largest areas of the house. Placing the unit near a cold air return will help distribute the humidified air more thoroughly.