Comparing Steam and Evaporative Humidifiers

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Humidifiers add water to the air in your home, which is essential to making your home comfortable in areas that have constant dry heat. There are two main types of humidifiers that you can purchase for your home: steam humidifiers and evaporative humidifiers. Both variants operate in different ways, and as such provide different benefits to your home. Understanding the differences between these two types of humidifiers can help you choose the one that best fits your home's needs.

Steam Humidifiers

Steam humidifiers work by boiling water, and then pumping the resulting steam (water vapor) throughout your house's duct system. The main draw of this type of dehumidifier is that it heats the water itself, and as such doesn't need a forced air heating system to be installed in the home, which most homes in warm climates don't have installed anyway. However, it is also important to note that steam humidifiers are much more powerful and effective when compared to their evaporative counterparts, and can provide humidity within your home at a much shorter notice.

However, steam humidifiers also have a number of drawbacks that should be taken into account. First of all, they have a fairly expensive price tag, which means that they are not ideal for homeowners who don't have a large budget to work with. Secondly, steam humidifiers use a lot of electricity, which will increase your energy bills over time and increase your overall long run costs. Finally, they are also fairly expensive to maintain, as the parts for steam humidifiers cost much more than evaporative dehumidifier parts.

Evaporative Humidifiers

Evaporative humidifiers work by using the hot air from a forced air heating system to evaporate water into the ducts, which is then transported throughout your home. They cost much less than steam humidifiers do, both initially and over the long term, as they use less electricity and also are virtually maintenance free. The evaporative pad simply has to be changed once a year to ensure that the dehumidifier is working as it should be.

However, evaporative humidifiers use a great deal more water than steam humidifiers do, which can be a serious problem in areas with water shortages and droughts. Furthermore, they require a forced air heating system to operate, which most homes in year-round hot climates do not have. Installing a forced air heating system represents an additional, significant cost that severely mitigates the cheaper price tag and reduced electricity usage that evaporative humidifiers provide. For more information, talk to a professional like Drew Green Heating & Cooling.

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9 June 2015