Humidifier Experience Anyone?

[GlockSpock]

I purchased a humidifier last night for my wife who suffers from dry skin in the winter. The model I purchased is the [b][url="http://www.amazon.com/Tribest-Humio-Humidifier-HU1020-Compartment/dp/B007H0R04U/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1355146030&sr=8-1-fkmr1&keywords=humio+tr"]Tribest Humio 2[/url][/b]. Well, we ran it last night, and awoke to a rather soaked area of the floor around it. Granted, it suggests using it at least 3' from the ground and it is currently on a stool approximately 1.5', so this may be the main issue and I hope it is. I will be looking for a taller piece of furniture to place it on today.

However, I was just wondering if anyone here had went through the same process. Is there perhaps a certain model/type of humidifier that just excels above the rest? I read quite a few reviews on these things and eventually just made a purchase. Right now I'm open to suggestions of any kind, help me out!

[UncleJak]

I have used humidifiers off and on for the past 15 years and never had that problem. Not sure what caused that....
I have always bought the cheapest ones I could find, hoping that they all worked about the same. Our new central system is so much better than the old one that I don't think I even need one anymore. I think the last one we used was a honeywell, but I haven't ran one in a while.

[GlockSpock]

[quote][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]I have used humidifiers off and on for the past 15 years and never had that problem. Not sure what caused that....[/font][/color]
[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]I have always bought the cheapest ones I could find, hoping that they all worked about the same. Our new central system is so much better than the old one that I don't think I even need one anymore. I think the last one we used was a honeywell, but I haven't ran one in a while.[/font][/color][/quote]

Well, I suppose it could be many different things that caused it. However, to me, it appears as if the mist is simply being thrown upwards a bit, and then falling right back down. It looks like it could use a lot more airflow. Perhaps after setting it higher the mist will disperse more. If that doesn't work I might try and put it next to a return vent or possibly place a fan near it aimed upwards.

[peejman]

We have several. The large capacity one is a Honeywell Quick Steam. While it does a pretty good job and will put out about 10 gal per day if it runs all the time, its not perfect. I put it in the jacuzzi tub in our bathroom for a couple reasons. It's noisy. Its not the quiet hum of an ultrasonic unit. Filling it with water is a messy process. The design kinda sucks and it's nearly impossible to not drip water everywhere. It's got a built-in humidistat so it keeps the humidity reasonable in the house. It's been trouble free for about 8 years.

I have two smaller ultrasonic units that stay in my kids rooms. They're made by Crane... one's a cow and the other is Pooh. They're much quieter, but much lower output. Also somewhat messy to refill, but not as bad as the big one. Both of these sit a couple feet off the floor, mostly to stay out of little hands' reach. The mist does sink to the floor, but I've never noticed significant surface wetting.

All of these require regular cleaning. The ultrasonic ones get funk growing in them within a week or two. The Honeywell gets crudded up with mineral deposits that have to be chipped/scraped/sanded out a couple times per season.

You can also get a "whole house" humidifier that's built in (or added on) to your HVAC unit. Much more expensive, but nice.

Edited December 10, 2012 by peejman

[maroonandwhite]

I also am not sure what would cause that other than a leak. I have a cheacp Vick's brand from walmart that I use all winter. I will normally set it on a dresser with a large towel underneath it. It sounds like yours may not be putting out a really fine mist and is collecting more in the immediate area and not really getting around the whole room.

[GlockSpock]

[quote][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]I have two smaller ultrasonic units that stay in my kids rooms. They're made by Crane... one's a cow and the other is Pooh. [/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] They're much quieter, but much lower output. Also somewhat messy to refill, but not as bad as the big one. Both of these sit a couple feet off the floor, mostly to stay out of little hands' reach. The mist does sink to the floor, but I've never noticed significant surface wetting.[/font][/color][/quote]

I'm thinking that [u]must[/u] be the problem I'm having. It is probably sitting too close to the ground and the mist is just too thick when it hits the floor. I have a feeling once I set it higher it will be mostly fine.

And yeah, I've read all about the possible detrimental side effects of these things. Cleaning them once a week isn't too bad, but I hope once a week will be enough.

[peejman]

It's the difference between cool mist and hot mist. The hot mist rises and evaporates. The cool mist sinks and condensates on surfaces.

My older boy cranked his all the way up and left it for quite a while because "he liked the smoke". I walked by his room and couldn't see the far wall for the fog. It took me a second to two to figure out what it was. It dissipated pretty quickly, but I do remember everything having a sheen of condensation on it. It dried pretty quickly.

One thing you can try is to set the fan (air handler) in your main HVAC unit to "on" rather than "auto". This will keep the air moving in the house so your heat shouldn't cycle quite as frequently and won't dry the air out so much.

[GlockSpock]

[quote]It's the difference between cool mist and hot mist.[/quote]

I suspected that the hot mist ones may do a bit better in this regard, but they are also quite a bit noisier.

[quote]One thing you can try is to set the fan (air handler) in your main HVAC unit to "on" rather than "auto".[/quote]

Interesting. I'll look into this. How could it be expected to affect your heating bill?

[peejman]

[quote name='CZ9MM' timestamp='1355158934' post='857850']
I suspected that the hot mist ones may do a bit better in this regard, but they are also quite a bit noisier.
[/quote]

Agreed.


[quote]Interesting. I'll look into this. How could it be expected to affect your heating bill?
[/quote]

Nil. Just like a car, the fan doesn't pull much power once it's running. The big current draw is during start-up.

Combine the 24/7 fan with a programmable thermostat and I'll bet your energy costs go down, if anything.

[RobertY]

We use a Sunbeam model that we got from Home Depot. I think it is rated for 1,800 sq.ft. It sits on the living room floor (it is a floor model) and we have not had a wettnes problem from it. But, it was bought only a few months back. We have been running it a lot. It has a buily in fan situated in the top part of the unit. It is programable.

1 - low always on
2 - medium always on
3 - high always on

low, medium, and high being the fan speeds

The programable part is you can set it to turn off and on with a target humidity level. We keep ours set at 60%. As of yet we have not had a single problem with static electricity which is common to low humidity during cooler weather. Also it has helped a lot with my dry mouth and throat that I suffer from in the same conditions. It can be noisy on the high and medium setting and the TV needs to be turned up.

A1 - Low set to come on when below target humidity
A2 - Medium set to come on when below target humidity
A3 - High set to come on when below target humidity

Oh, and on running the central H/A unit fan. Check your thermostat, if a newer heat pump model it may have a circulate setting. I use that setting occasionally if the inside temp stays to where the unit does not come on for long periods of time. For us that setting kicks the fan on and off running it just 30% of the time. Just enough to keep the house hold air from getting to stale. Edited December 10, 2012 by RobertY

[Pain103]

I use a vicks ultrasonic humidifier and love it. My sinuses dry out causing nose bleeds so this helps decrease that greatly. The higher the moisture level is set the more I notice the nearby area has moisture. I would never go back to an old school humidifier after using an ultrasonic.

[GlockSpock]

@RobertY

I am guessing it is pretty similar to this model?
http://www.homedepot.com/Sunbeam/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ2al/R-203412043/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=1&langId=-1&storeId=10051#.UMYshIPAd8E

I think one of the design flaws on my unit (or perhaps it is just an individual dud) is that the fan doe not push the mist up into the air much more than a few feet. I think if the fan was about twice as strong, we wouldn't be experiencing any problems either. But like I said, I will probably place it higher off the ground and try it. If that doesn't work I will try and return it, and may try something like that Sunbeam.

@Pain103

The one I have is obviously ultrasonic. It works great, and I love it, as long as we can eliminate the collection of water in the area. We have wood floors in the bedroom, and it appeared as if someone had spilled a glass of water when we got up this morning.

[GlockSpock]

I over doubled the height that we had it, ran it all night, and awoke to dry floors! Turns out, if performance stays the same, we are going to love this humidifier! We just need to find some sort of podium/desk/bookcase thing that we can place it on. Preferably it has some sort of plastic/glass/metal surface on top.

[mcurrier]

The problem that I have found with most humidifiers is that they don't have any directional fan.  The mist typically rises straight up and then falls straight back down.  Once I got one that would shoot the mist out away from the unit, I was much happier.  I have it on a night stand and it shoots out about 45º angle over the bed.  Warm mist, rather than cold.  I get a new one every two years or so, they are a pain to clean.