Humidifiers play a role in controlling the humidity of your house. You will find different humidifier controllers to set a perfect humidity level to resist the air and make it humid. When you use the furnace, it will increase the temperature by lowering the humidity.
The air conditioner does the same thing, making a living in that environment difficult. Both senior citizens & children get affected, and their skin starts irritating because of the low humidity. Only a humidifier can sort out this problem.
Putting a humidifier on your furnace
You can put a humidifier on your existing furnace by following some tips & steps. But it’s better to buy a pre-installed humidifier furnace. You mostly find the latest furnace that has installed a humidifier. Otherwise, you must install it manually using your DIY skills and process.
Typically, the furnace doesn’t have any previously installed humidifier. People use it separately and control the humidity through it.
However, installing the humidifier in your furnace is an option and automatically controls your house’s humidity level. It will work along with furnace air.
When the furnace air starts to spread, it will get the water, become the preset humid, and then spread throughout the house. However, the installation process is not that easy.
It takes several hours of restless effort and a rigorous process. If you make any humidifier mistake, it will be a significant loss.
You can go three different ways to install your humidifier in the furnace. First, you can hire an HVAC and pay for the installation. The second option is the skills you can use to install the humidifier manually. Finally, you may buy a new furnace with an installed humidifier.
Among those three ways, the third is costly, and the second, using DIY skills is the cheapest option. You can install the humidifier without someone’s help and pay for it. If you buy a new furnace and use a humidifier separately, you should go for a premium & latest furnace model.
Installing the humidifier in your existing furnace will have some drawbacks and benefits. Easy to use and hassle-free performance are the best sides of installing a humidifier on a furnace.
You should consider the drawbacks of using such humidifiers, including electric risks and varying humidity levels.
If you install it on the furnace, it will not give you the best humidity level in your bedroom because the humidifier is installed on the furnace, not in your bedroom.
Sometimes, you will find that this appliance can’t work correctly with the furnace’s hot air and fails to provide the humidity in the air.
That’s why installing the humidifier perfectly on your furnace is crucial. If you make any mistake following the process, you will fail to get the perfect or required humidity from the heated or cooled air.
It will especially become a significant challenge in summer when you use the humidifier with the air-conditioner.
In the following section, I will share the detailed process of installing a humidifier on a furnace. If you have experience with furnaces and humidifiers, you can go through the installation process and follow it accordingly.
If you’re new to doing this, you must hire a professional to install it safely.
Where should a humidifier be installed on a furnace?
You cannot install the humidifier anywhere on the furnace. You can install the furnace and make it work properly in some specific areas.
The return air duct and main heating or cooling system are the best areas to install the humidifier. If you run out of enough space to install that fan, you have these options.
Usually, the ductwork is the perfect area where a humidifier should be installed on a furnace. You will find this area in the middle of your furnace, giving you the best air conditioning experience.
If your furnace has enough space, you may install the humidifier there and allow the air to get humidity within a second.
Some other areas will allow you to install this humidifier safely, but ductware or the heating system is the best place. When you install this appliance there, the heated air will pass through the humidifier and get water. It’s the way the air or the humidifier maintains humidity.
Benefits of having a humidifier on your furnace
You might be familiar with using a separate humidifier in your bedroom, but it’s time to get some benefits from using it on your furnace.
In the previous section, I explained some drawbacks of installing a humidifier on your furnace. In reality, the benefits are more than the drawbacks.
Add Moisture:
The humidifier on your furnace will add moisture to the air and make a perfect environment across your house.
But the separate humidifier will fail to add moisture inside the furnace, giving double effort to moisturize already heated air. Since you are already installing the humidifier on your furnace, it will automatically moisturize the air.
It works from the heating system and will pass the air through the moisturizing process. It’s the first benefit of installing a humidifier on your furnace.
Warmer Environment:
When you use the humidifier in your bedroom, it will try to add moisture and create a warmer environment.
But the added or extra humidifier will fail to warm the environment as expected. But the installed humidifier on your furnace will provide moisture to the air and warm the environment.
It will not reduce the heat of your air and will provide you with the same heated air with added moisturize. From this sense, you can expect a warmer environment if you install the humidifier on your furnace.
Same Fuel:
The last benefit of using a humidifier on your furnace is the same fuel. The humidifier will not take any extra fuel to run with the furnace; instead, you can use the same fuel and get both services simultaneously. It will save you extra cost and will give you double the service.
You will install the humidifier on the furnace and get the added moisture since it will be connected to the heating system.
You don’t need to add any extra items or facts to it. Thus, the same fuel consumption is another benefit of installing a humidifier on your furnace.
How much does it cost to have a humidifier put on your furnace?
The exact cost of installing your humidifier on your furnace will vary depending on its size and type. Using a humidifier for your entire house will cost around $100-$300 to have a humidifier put on your furnace.
But the cost will exceed $1000 if you have a large humidifier that needs a couple of professionals.
It’s a good thing you hire a professional and install the humidifier on your furnace. If your house has a regular humidifier, you should install it accordingly; otherwise, you can install it on your own and save those bucks. What if you have a big humidifier?
In that case, it will cost you $800-$1200. It’s applicable for all organizations and factories to install a big humidifier on their furnace. But the cost will also vary depending on the professional hiring cost. Please get the fixed rate service from any online portal.
How to install a humidifier on a furnace?
You can install a humidifier on a furnace in the following way:
Mark and Cut:
The outline is drilled at the corners, then a hole is cut out with aircraft snips according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
The mounting plate must be in place before drilling the screwed hole and fastened to the mounting plate with sheet metal screws.
Electrical Installation:
Connect the humidifier to the furnace control. Turn off the power if you haven’t completed the wiring for a piece of equipment that uses 120 volts to 24 volts. After that, you can install the transformer and wire the humidifier.
Furnace Connection:
To connect the humidifier to the solenoid valve, use the proper-sized nut, attach the wire ends, and tighten the nuts until they are snug ( but do not twist the ends of the wire).
Add Saddle Valve:
It is necessary to install a saddle valve on a water line if the local codes allow the tapping of a water line directly. After that, a line must be run to the humidifier, and a compression fitting must be used to make the process.
There is a possibility that the saddle valve will not be permitted to shut off the water line and install the at-fitting. After that, you will need to Install a Bypass line to generate water vapor in the HVAC system.
Final Thoughts
Although you can put your humidifier on the furnace, it will take two to four hours to install it properly. You can install it on the heating system or in the duct area to get the optimum service from this humidifier. You can also hire a professional and get the installation service.