Do you have a humidifier on your furnace?

[KristineIN]

Just wondering how common these are. Our furnace is fairly new, but the humidifier that is on it is shot (thankfully dh checked because the motor got really hot and we could of had a fire)

Anyway, we'd like to replace it at some point, just wondering how common they are.

Kristine

[Karen in CO]

Ours was put on about 10 years after our 20yo furnace. We need a new one of each. We live in a very dry climate, but this is the first time we have had one. I think in cold-wet places your wouldn't need one as much as you do in cold-arid places.

[Suzanne in ABQ]

We had one in Colorado Springs, and we really needed it. The air there is very dry to begin with. Heating the air dries it out more. It's bad for your nose, furniture, and especially musical instruments.

If you live in a humid place, you might not need it. You want your indoor humidity to be at least 30%. Do you have a way to measure it?

[KristineIN]

We have a little device that tells us the comfort level of the area, dry, comfort zone, etc. Even though it is humid in the summer, it gets dry in the winter. It's our first winter in the house, but we had problems in our old house too.

Thanks,
Kristine

[K&Rs Mom]

We do, but only because we got a new furnace last summer. Our previous furnace didn't have one (it had been converted from a coal-burner). I do notice a slight difference this winter, but not that much - there are still dry skin issues around here.

[Jan P.]

They are very common in PA. I lived in a rented home that was heated with an oil furnace, but the humidifier was shot too. I had to go out and buy little humidifiers for all the bedrooms (only two then). It would have been wonderful if the humidifier on the furnace was working. My central heat here in SC is drying, but not as drying as the furnace in PA. I think if you can get yours fixed or a new one then do it. My skin is dry constantly during the winter, and I think we have more colds due to dry nasal passages which sets us up for viruses/diseases.

Blessings,

[Janna]

We have one. I don't know about how "popular" they are though. I grew up with one and it had a separate controller located next to the air/heat thermostat. After moving out and having homes of my own, I never had one. Never thought about it. Then we moved into our current location and there was one on it. I was so glad about it! It will be a conscious decision from here on out (like a water softener which I've never had until now and can't imagine not having it anymore). However, this one we have, doesn't have a controller in the house, which is bothersome. It's actually on the furnace. So we have to adjust it there. But we've found that we've never needed to adjust it.

[Susan in IL]

We have one and this is the time of year when it is needed. Cold and dry.