Steam Humidifier - Aprilaire 800 vs. Honeywell TruSteam

[Nickshu]

Any thoughts or experiences? I have 220v power available for the Aprilaire. Honeywell will integrate into existing touchscreen thermostat,Aprilaire has its own controller. HVAC guy recommends Aprilaire.

Thanks!

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[rwest]

I have no experience with either of those, but have dealt with a couple different types in a commercial setting.

A quick search seems to show that the Aprilaire uses a replacement canister and the Honeywell has a tank and coil.

From my experience take the canister version as boiling water leaves behind a lot of junk and is a pain to clean off of a coil version and the impurities in the water when heated also tend to eat the stainless heating elements.

[Neilk]

Originally Posted by rwest

I have no experience with either of those, but have dealt with a couple different types in a commercial setting.

A quick search seems to show that the Aprilaire uses a replacement canister and the Honeywell has a tank and coil.

From my experience take the canister version as boiling water leaves behind a lot of junk and is a pain to clean off of a coil version and the impurities in the water when heated also tend to eat the stainless heating elements.

Makes sense then that the HVAC guy would recommend the one that requires more maintenance.

[Nickshu]

Originally Posted by Neilk

Makes sense then that the HVAC guy would recommend the one that requires more maintenance.

I think he's saying the canister version is less maintenance, just replace the cansiter rather than have the coils rot from deposits. Maybe I am misunderstanding. Thanks for the replies.

[jrj3rd]

Honeywell now is available with a multistage filter system. have not had near the amount of cleaning since installing the updated version.

[rwest]

Originally Posted by Nickshu

I think he's saying the canister version is less maintenance, just replace the cansiter rather than have the coils rot from deposits. Maybe I am misunderstanding. Thanks for the replies.

Correct, once it gets covered in build up and scale, you pitch the canister and essentially have a new system because the heating coils are in the canister.

The version with the cleanable coil and tank would eat the coil, blow the fuses and short the electronics out. Service tech at the company told me I needed to put a reverse osmosis system in to keep the impurities from reacting with the stainless steel.

Instead, I had a new system that uses canisters installed and all my hassles are gone; change the canister at the beginning of the season rather than the old system where I had to tear it apart every 2 to 3 months and clean at minimum, usually involved buying and replacing coils and electronic boards as well.

[Nickshu]

So it appears apples to apples comparison should be the Honeywell Electron to the Aprilaire 800.

The electron has cartridges. The TruSteam is the one that gets scaled up and there are class action lawsuits about.

[dad911]

I never liked the humidifiers that store water in a tank(yucky water, legionnaires) or injects water into the duct (rusty ducts, mold grow is wet dark). We prefer the aprilaire (700 series i think) that has air blowing throw a screen as water drips through. It may not generate as much humidity, but stays dry when humidistat is not calling for air.

[billybek]

I like the older GeneralAire drip through humidifiers.
No standing water in the unit.
No heating coils or energy draw other than 24vac to open a solenoid.
Other than the water solenoid, no moving parts.
Replace the pad that the water runs through once a year.
Simplicity at its best....
link Model 1042LH - Legacy Series Humidifiers - General Filters, Inc.

[Nickshu]

Originally Posted by dad911

I never liked the humidifiers that store water in a tank(yucky water, legionnaires) or injects water into the duct (rusty ducts, mold grow is wet dark). We prefer the aprilaire (700 series i think) that has air blowing throw a screen as water drips through. It may not generate as much humidity, but stays dry when humidistat is not calling for air.

Exactly, why I am getting the steam humidifer and getting rid of the bypass humidifier. For me to get humidity where I want it in the winter (30-35%) I have to run the bypass independent of the furnace, which can cause mold since the bypass air is cold (running low on a two speed furnace fan) unless the furnace is heating.

A powered steam unit seems to be the only solution. They are expensive ($2000-2500)and require dedicated power. I have already wired up 240v/20a to run it, just need to choose the unit.