Power Humidifier required on a 2 stage furnace?

Jim418 · May 26, 2009

I have a bypass humidifier with a pad (drip style, not drum). I am replacing my current 1-stage furnace with a Lennox G61V two-stage. I just had a quoting contractor said that my humidifier will not operate properly because there will be too little airflow when the G61 is operating at low speed. He said I "need" a power humidifier.

The other 4 quotes didn't mention/recommend this.

So who is giving me good info?

beenthere · May 26, 2009

Its possible to not get enough moisture in first stage.
But, very few homes have any problem.

motoguy128 · May 26, 2009

The need for humidification should genreally be proportional to duty cycle of the furnace. I don't think you'll have any issues. I don't on my 2 stage furnace with bypass humidifier, but... I also leave the fan on all the time and allow the humidifier to run without a call for heat. The humidifier is less effective without heat, but using hot water, it does a descent job.

Jim418 · May 26, 2009

Thanks for the info. We only need the humidifier in the winter and I'll have the furnace fan running continuously (albeit at the low stage).

I guess I'll give it a try with the by-pass version first. If that doesn't work I'll pick up a powered one off ebay and install it.

wahoo · May 26, 2009

"Need new humidifier?"

You might want to think twice if you actually have a "salesman" (and I use that term loosely) tell you that the bypass unit won't work. Due to the longer duty cycles of multi-stage equipment, humidifiers should work better!! Sounds like he's selling, not solving your problems!

Jim418 · May 26, 2009

wahoo said:
You might want to think twice if you actually have a "salesman" (and I use that term loosely) tell you that the bypass unit won't work. Due to the longer duty cycles of multi-stage equipment, humidifiers should work better!! Sounds like he's selling, not solving your problems!

Thanks. There was some logic to his statement, but I do recognize he is in the business of selling and thought I should seek some other opinions here.

Thanks for sharing your knowledge! This board is awesome.

Power Humidifier required on a 2 stage furnace?

Jim418

beenthere

motoguy128

Jim418

wahoo

Jim418

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