Deciding to install a whole-house humidifier can be a great option for your home. It will often be easier than several smaller devices for each room. While it might be a more economical option, some people are concerned about the amount of work required to install it. Thankfully, it won’t take too long, as long as you follow a few simple steps. Let’s look at everything you need to know to install a whole-house humidifier.
Make The Hole
The first thing that you’ll need to do is go to the ventilation system. This is where you will need to install the humidifier. Once there, you’ll need to cut a hole in the vent. Most models will come with templates to help you get the right hole size. Simply lay the template against the vent and use a felt-tipped marker to draw the outline. If you don’t have a template, you’ll often find a series of detailed instructions. Use these to measure up the size of the hole that you’ll require.
Before you start cutting, make sure that the furnace has been shut off. This ensures that you don’t accidentally burn yourself and will reduce the chances of having any electrical issues. It’s also a good idea to make sure that you’re turning off the water. This will ensure that you don’t accidentally nick a line and need to deal with flooding.
Once you’ve done this, you’ll be able to start cutting. Often, you’ll need to drill a small hole. Then, use aviator snips to cut through the metal venting. It can often help to wear gloves while you doing this, as the metal can be sharp and you don’t want to risk cutting yourself.
Attach The Mounting Plate
Next, you’ll need to attach the mounting plate. This will go over the hole that you’ve just finished cutting out. To install the mounting plate, you’ll need to use metal screws. In most cases, they will be included with the humidifier. If not, you’ll be able to find them at a hardware store. Once the mounting plate is in, some models require you to install a pad.
Install The Humidistat
The next step is to install the humidistat. Like the mounting plate, you’ll need to cut a hole in the vent. Often, they’ll be a template for you to follow. Carefully, mark it out and cut off the metal. There will be a humidistat box for you to screw to the vent. Next, you’ll need to connect the humidistat to the electricity. This is one of the most dangerous parts of the job. Unless you have the right training, it’s best to leave this to the professionals.
Connect The Water
Next, you’ll need to connect the water supply to the humidifier. This is another highly specialized job. It’s best to contact a plumber. They’ll be able to handle this part of the job for you. By doing this, you’ll be able to get the peace of mind that everything has been done properly. It will also ensure that you won’t need to deal with any flooding issues in the future.
Set-Up The Humidistat
Next, you’ll need to make sure that you’re setting up the humidistat. Check that you have the right humidity. In most cases, a comfortable level will be between 30 to 50 percent humidity. Too high and you risk allowing mold to grow. Too low and you’ll start to develop dry skin. If you don’t like the way that they have been set, you’ll be able to change these settings later.
Turn The Power And Water On
Finally, it’s the most exciting step in the process. It’s time to turn the power and water on. This will test the system. You should notice the humidifier kicking in seamlessly. At this stage, you’ll be able to relax and enjoy the benefits provided by the whole house humidifier.
However, there’s also a chance that something might go wrong. For example, you might notice a leaking pipe. If something like this happens, turn off the power and water. Then contact a professional. They’ll be able to come out and fix the issue for you. This video contains a great outline for the process. Feel free to adjust each step to suit your model.
Caring Your Whole House Humidifier
Once you’ve installed one of these devices, you’ll want to take care of it. If you can do this, it will be able to last for a long time, helping you control the humidity in your home for many years to come. The type of maintenance that you’ll need to do will often depend on the type of machine that you have.
For example, in some cases, you might need to clean mineral deposits off the pad. In this case, you’ll need to turn off the power and the water. Then, open in the humidifier cover and remove the pad (pictured). To get rid of the mineral deposits soak it in a mixture made of water and vinegar. Once you’ve got rid of the minerals, wash the pad with clean water. Then, you’ll be able to put the pad back into the humidifier and turn the water and power back on. You might need to do this once every few months.
This site contains some other maintenance tasks that you might want need to do, based on the type of model you are planning to install. In most cases, the instruction manual will come with the device. This will tell you some of the steps that you’ll need to go through to keep everything in good condition. For more technical tasks, like replacing pipes or checking the electrical wiring it’s best to call in a professional.
Conclusion
A whole-house humidifier can be a valuable asset, particularly if you live in a dry environment. Despite this, some people won’t consider buying one because of how difficult the installation will be. Thankfully, this doesn’t need to be the case. Many models will come with detailed instructions. By doing a bit of the work yourself, you’ll be able to save a lot of money. So, use these steps to install your whole house humidifier system today.
