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Best Furnace Humidifier of 2024

David Gibson
  Nov 21, 2022 6:46 AM

If you live in a dry climate, you are probably familiar with the irritating effects of breathing dry air on a regular basis - it can make your nose and throat feel scratchy all the time and even contribute to respiratory infections. While you can add moisture to the air by installing small humidifiers throughout your home, a furnace humidifier is a better option. The best furnace humidifier is directly installed in your home's HVAC heating system to add moisture to the heated and circulated air 

AprilAire 600M Whole Home Humidifier, Manual High Output Furnace Humidifier, Large Capacity Whole House Humidifier for Homes up to 5,000 Sq. Ft., White


Overview

We analyzed a few key features of these units to help you find the best furnace humidifier. We began by considering the type - bypass or fan-powered - which has a significant impact on the effectiveness and price of the humidifier. We also considered the size of the home for which each humidifier is designed, as well as the maximum moisture output per day, which you must account for depending on the size of your home. Finally, we considered the size of each unit, as it must fit in the often-constrained space of your furnace room. You may also need the best home humidifiers, best humidifiers for bedroom or best large humidifiers.

AprilAire 600M Whole Home Humidifier, Manual High Output Furnace Humidifier, Large Capacity Whole House Humidifier for Homes up to 5,000 Sq. Ft., White


In-Depth Reviews

1. Honeywell HE300A1005

Important Specifications 

  • Brand: Honeywell

  • Item Weight: 16.2 Pounds

  • Included Components: Humidifier

  • Power Source: Corded Electric

  • Control Method: Touch

Product's highlights

Because of Honeywell's HumidiPRO digital humidity control, this humidifier is an excellent choice for homeowners who want to maintain a consistent humidity level in their home's air. The controller requires no manual intervention, so you don't have to think about the humidifier all day, but it modulates the unit's water intake to maintain a consistent humidity as your furnace cycles on and off. The humidifier is also suitable for larger homes, with a coverage area of 4,000 square feet and a water consumption of up to 18 gallons per day when the heater is turned on full blast.

Pros

  • HumidiPRO digital temperature control

  • Installation is simple.

  • A broad coverage area

Cons

  • Large so difficult to accommodate in furnace ducts

2. Aprilaire 700

Important Specifications 

  • Brand: Aprilaire

  • Color: Beige

  • Capacity: 2 Gallons

  • Floor Area: 4200 Square Feet

  • Item Weight: 15 Pounds

Product's highlights

Aprilaire's fan-powered furnace humidifier has a coverage area of 4,200 square feet and can produce up to 18 gallons of water per day. The humidifier has both manual and fully automatic controls, making it suitable for both people who want to save energy and water by operating the unit manually and those who want to set it and forget it. The automatic digital controller works exceptionally well, while the manual mode provides service, temperature, and relative humidity indicators, allowing you to adjust the humidifier's output accordingly. We noticed a difference in the air in their homes within a few days of turning on this humidifier.

Pros

  • Both manual and automatic controls are available.

  • It is suitable for large 4,200 square foot homes.

  • Dependable manufacturer

Cons

  • It is difficult to install on your own.

3. GeneralAire 1000A

Important Specifications 

  • Brand: GeneralAire

  • Item Weight: 10 Pounds

  • Control Method: Touch

Product's highlights

Because of its light weight and powerful performance, the 1000A from GeneralAire is our favorite. It is fan-powered, which means it evaporates water more efficiently, resulting in more moisture.

You'd never guess that this little machine, weighing only four pounds, could produce a whopping 18 gallons per day. However, it can cover approximately 3,000 square feet, making it ideal for medium-sized houses.

It has an automatic mode with an outdoor sensor to control the temperature. This means you won't have to worry about turning it on or off because it will automatically determine the amount of moisture required in the home.

Pros

  • Excellent Maximum Output

  • Small Size and Weight

  • UV Stable Plastic Construction

Cons

  • Loud Noise

4. Aprilaire 600

Important Specifications 

  • Brand: Aprilaire

  • Color: White

  • Capacity: 3.96 Gallons

  • Item Weight: 8.5 Pounds

  • Model Name: 600

Product's highlights

Despite being inexpensive, it still provides a 4,000 square foot coverage area.

Despite being the budget option, it still offers a maximum production of 16.8 gallons per day, so you're not really sacrificing much. It can effectively distribute moisture, covering a big house.

The fact that you can set this humidifier and forget it is one of our favorite features. Your preferred humidity levels can be programmed by the week or by the day.

If you want to reduce your energy use when you're away from home, this programming option is ideal. When you are home and away, you can adjust the humidity level to your preference.

Pros

  • Configure the Device to Your Schedule

  • Water Panel Change Indicator

  • Built-In Bypass Damper

Cons

  • Not Great in Poorly Sealed Homes

5. Honeywell HE360A

Important Specifications 

  • Size: ‎For homes up to 4,500 square feet

  • Color: ‎Light gray

  • Power Source: ‎Corded-electric

Product's highlights

This Honeywell fan-powered furnace humidifier has a huge 4,200 square foot covering area rating. The humidifier is perfect for people who want to set it up once, then forget about it until it's time to change the filter a year later because it is relatively easy and lacks many of the digital settings and programming that other humidifiers offer. Even on the coldest, driest winter days, the humidifier effectively maintains a humidity level of 10-15% throughout the entire house.

Although you must purchase an additional installation kit from Honeywell, installation of the humidifier is reasonably simple.

Pros

  • Simple to install in any ductwork location.

  • Easy to use and requires no programming

  • Inexpensive price

Cons

  • Problems with the solenoid and circuit board


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Last update on Nov 21, 2022 6:46 AM / Affiliate links / Images, Product Titles, and Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API


Frequently Asked Questions

1. How should a furnace humidifier be maintained?

Since furnace humidifiers essentially don't grow mold and aren't negatively impacted by mineral accumulation, they require very little maintenance. You should prepare to replace the filter on the majority of these humidifiers once a year. Check to see if the fan is functioning properly on fan-powered humidifiers, which are more prone to mechanical problems than bypass humidifiers.

AprilAire 500 Whole Home Humidifier, Automatic Compact Furnace Humidifier, Large Capacity Whole House Humidifier for Homes up to 3,600 Sq. Ft., White

2. To install a furnace humidifier, what do I need?

Many furnace humidifiers are sold with everything needed for installation into your ductwork, however doing this yourself needs some ductwork cutting knowledge. If you don't feel comfortable doing this, most HVAC service technicians have the equipment and knowledge needed to install your humidifier in a secure manner.

3. When is the installation of a furnace humidifier required?

If you only need to humidify the air in one or two rooms in your house, a small portable furnace humidifier is ideal. However, a furnace humidifier will be considerably more effective and less expensive than buying many portable ones if you're going to add moisture to the air throughout your home, which is typical for homes with multiple bedrooms and a regularly used kitchen and living room.


Conclusion

A furnace humidifier might be exactly what you need to maintain excellent indoor air quality if you frequently experience dry skin, excessive coughing, dry eyes, and other unpleasant feelings in your home. These systems, which are an improvement over portable humidifiers, deliver adjustable humidity throughout your entire home by forcing moist air through your ductwork, either using steam that is produced on-site or by using the fan in your air handler or furnace.


4.7
3 ratings
David Gibson
David Gibson
David has been a computer engineer for almost a decade. He loves reading about technology, computers, and smartphones in general. He is also an avid writer so he can be seen sharing his opinions about tech products in his spare time. He is currently residing in New York.