Whole House Humidifiers

In winter, your furnace dries out the air in your home. As it runs, indoor humidity drops, often well below a comfortable level. A whole house humidifier (also called a furnace humidifier or duct-mounted humidifier) is a unit that installs into your ductwork and adds moisture to the air throughout your entire home. It keeps you more comfortable, protects your furnishings, and can even lower your heating bills.

Ready to Feel Comfortable In Your Home Again?

Carrier Test Dealer - DS can identify humidity problems and recommend a correctly-sized whole house humidifier for your home and heating system.

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Types of Whole House Humidifiers to Consider

There are three main types, and they differ in how they add moisture to the air. Which type is the best fit depends on how much moisture your home needs, how much room your ductwork allows, and what you want to spend to install and run it. Most modern gas furnace setups work well with any of them.

Bypass Evaporator

Sends a portion of warm furnace air through a wet pad and back into the ductwork. It runs quietly, uses very little electricity, and is the most budget-friendly option.

Fan-Powered Evaporator

Has its own built-in fan that pulls air across the wet pad, so it adds more moisture per day and needs no bypass duct. It is a great match for a heat pump or other lower-temperature heating system.

Steam

Heats water to create clean steam and injects it straight into the airflow. It works no matter what your furnace is doing, and delivers the highest moisture output for large homes.

Comparing Humidifier Capacity

Humidifier capacity is measured in gallons per day (GPD), the amount of moisture a unit can add to your air in 24 hours. The right capacity depends on your home's size, how tightly it is sealed, and how harsh your winters are. Use this comparison to match a tier to your home.

System Tier	Home Size	Capacity (GPD)	Who It Is For	What You Get
Standard Bypass	Up to 2,500 sq ft	12 to 17	Homes with a gas forced-air furnace.	Reliable, quiet moisture with very low electricity use.
Advanced Fan-Powered	2,500 to 4,000 sq ft	18 to 20	Homes with a heat pump or dual-fuel system.	Higher daily output, with no bypass duct required.
Premium Steam	4,000+ sq ft	30 to 34+	Homes with a lot of hardwood, or areas with harsh winters.	The highest, most precise output, no matter what the furnace is doing.

But Can't I Just Use a Portable Humidifier?

Most portable humidifier units only cover up to 100 to 160 square feet, making them a temporary solution for a small office or bedroom. But portable humidifiers often lack sufficient power to fix dry air problems in larger rooms or whole homes.

	Portable Room Unit	Whole House System
Coverage	One room at a time.	Every room, through your existing vents.
Filling	You refill a heavy water tank by hand, often daily.	Connects to your plumbing and refills itself automatically.
Placement	Sits out on the floor or a table, taking up living space.	Installed at the furnace, completely out of sight.
Noise	Runs in the room with you, which can be distracting in a bedroom.	Runs quietly with your HVAC system, away from living areas.
Control	A dial or basic setting on the unit itself.	A humidistat that holds your whole home at a set humidity level.
Upkeep	Regular tank cleaning to keep it sanitary.	A water pad replaced about once per heating season.

Professional Sizing, Installation, and Maintenance

The right installation and a little seasonal upkeep keep your humidifier comfortable and trouble-free. Some homeowners also add a smart thermostat to manage temperature and humidity from one place.

Sizing

We measure your home's square footage, how tightly it is sealed, and your heating system to choose the right capacity and model.

Mounting

We cut an opening and mount the unit on the supply or return plenum of your furnace or air handler.

Water Line

We tap into a cold water line to feed the unit. Steam and fan-powered models also get a drain connection.

Controls

We install the humidistat and wire the unit so it runs with your furnace blower.

Startup

We set your target humidity, test everything, and show you how to adjust it. On digital humidistats, we turn on outdoor temperature compensation so the unit eases off during a hard freeze and your windows stay clear.

Once it is running, upkeep is simple. Evaporator models use a water pad that traps minerals over time. Replacing it once each heating season keeps the unit at full output, and homes with hard water may need a mid-season change.

To keep your humidifier and whole HVAC system functioning properly and efficiently without interruptions, contact Carrier Test Dealer - DS in Libertyville, IL to schedule regular maintenance today.

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Is a Whole House Humidifier Right for Your Home?

Dry winter air affects more than comfort. It shows up in your skin, your energy bills, and your furniture. If any of these sound familiar, a whole house humidifier can help.

Dry Skin, Chapped Lips, and Irritated Sinuses

Properly humidified air helps your skin hold moisture and soothes dry nasal passages, so you feel more comfortable through the heating season.

High Winter Heating Bills

Moist air feels warmer than dry air at the same temperature. With the right humidity, you can turn the thermostat down a few degrees and stay just as comfortable, which lowers your heating costs.

Hardwood Floors and Wood Furnishings

Wood absorbs and releases moisture with the air around it, so it shrinks, gaps, and cracks when the air is dry. If your home has hardwood floors, trim, cabinets, or even a piano, steady humidity helps protect them.

Frequent Static Shocks

Keeping humidity in the ideal 30 to 50 percent range lets moisture in the air carry off static charges before they build up on carpet, furniture, and clothing.

If that describes your home, a whole house humidifier is worth a closer look. Carrier Test Dealer - DS can measure your home's humidity and recommend the right unit for your heating system.

Sound Like Your Home?

Let us check your indoor humidity and recommend the right unit for your heating system.

Frequently Asked Questions

What humidity level should I set in my home in winter?

Industry guidance is to keep indoor humidity between 30 and 50 percent during the heating season. Staying in that range keeps your skin and nasal passages from drying out, while avoiding the excess moisture that can fog or frost your windows during a hard freeze.

Do whole house humidifiers cause mold?

Not when they are sized and set correctly. Mold needs excess moisture, so the key is keeping indoor humidity in the healthy 30 to 50 percent range and no higher. A properly sized unit with a good humidistat, along with outdoor temperature compensation that eases off during a freeze, keeps moisture at a safe level. Mold problems usually trace back to an oversized or poorly controlled unit running the humidity too high, which is why correct sizing matters.

Will a whole house humidifier lower my heating bills?

It can help. Humid air feels warmer than dry air, so with the right humidity you can often set the thermostat a few degrees lower and stay just as comfortable. Turning the heat down is where the savings come from. How much you save depends on your home, your climate, and how you run your system.

What is the difference between a bypass and a fan-powered humidifier?

A bypass humidifier uses your furnace's own blower to push air through a bypass duct and across a water pad. A fan-powered humidifier has its own built-in fan that pulls air across the pad, so it produces roughly 15 to 20 percent more moisture per day and does not need the extra bypass ductwork.

How often do I need to replace the humidifier pad?

Replace the evaporator water pad once per heating season, usually in late fall. If you have very hard water, minerals can build up faster, so a mid-season replacement helps keep the unit at full output.

Humidification Product Offering

Performance™ Series Steam Humidifier View Brochure
Model Family: HUMCRSTM
Capacity: Up to 34 gallons per day, depending upon voltage and amperage
Sound Level: Nearly silent
Warranty: Select either a 10-year parts only limited warranty or a 5-year parts, plus a 3-year labor limited warranty
Manufacturer's Stated Benefits: Steam created by electrodes allows application with a wide range of water hardness without added filtration. Effective, tube dispersion technology prevents condensation in the duct. Designed to tolerate a wide range of water conditions. Can be mounted on indoor unit, duct or wall. Easy to replace steam canister. Attractive, long-lasting cabinet.

Performance™ Fan-Powered Humidifier View Brochure
Model Family: HUMCRLFP
Capacity: Can produce up to 17-18 gallons of water vapor per day.
Sound Level: Very quiet operation
Warranty: Select either a 10-year parts only limited warranty or a 5-year parts, plus a 3-year labor limited warranty.
Manufacturer's Stated Benefits: Electric-powered fan Easy access to change water panel Attractive, long-lasting outer casing Preferred dispersal type for homes with heat pumps Treated aluminum water panel ensures top performance

Performance^™ Series Bypass Humidifier, High Capacity View Brochure
Model Family: HUMCRLBP
Capacity: Can produce up to 17-18 gallons of water vapor per day.
Sound Level: Nearly silent
Warranty: select either a 10-year parts only limited warranty or a 5-year parts, plus a 3-year labor limited warranty
Manufacturer's Stated Benefits: Easy access to change water panel Attractive, long-lasting outer casing Effective moisture distribution Treated aluminum water panel ensures top performance

PERFORMANCE™ WATER-SAVER BYPASS HUMIDIFIER View Brochure
Model Family: HUMCRWBP
Capacity: Can produce up to 17-18 gallons of water vapor per day
Sound Level: Nearly silent
Warranty: Select either a 10-year parts only limited warranty or a 5-year parts, plus a 3-year labor limited warrant
Manufacturer's Stated Benefits: Easy access to change water panel Attractive, long-lasting outer casing Effective moisture distribution Treated, paper water panel ensures 100% use

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