Homeowners deal with varying humidity in their home year-round without even realizing it. Runny or stuffy noses and watery or itchy eyes are a common occurrence in homes where the humidity level is extremely low. Normally your HVAC humidifier controls the moisture in your home, but if the water panel becomes clogged, it cannot properly provide moisture to your indoor air. Contact Douglas Cooling & Heating for help with your humidifier this winter and keep dry air away from your family.
What is an HVAC Humidifier?
Your humidifier emits water vapor into your home to increase your humidity levels. During the winter, furnaces and other heating equipment dry your air out, leading to health issues, static electricity, and poor indoor air quality. Your HVAC humidifier alleviates dry skin irritations, chapped lips, nose bleeds, and snoring.
There are different types of humidifiers, such as:
- Warm Mist Humidifiers:
These humidifiers produce a soothing, warm mist that is visible and you can feel it. They are utilized to treat colds or the flu. They are quiet during operation and are great for soothing a dry area in a home. The downside is they require frequent cleaning, which is difficult to do.
- Cool Mist Humidifiers:
By using a filter to trap minerals and other impurities, the cool mist humidifier produces a cool invisible mist that evaporates into the air. They can be used in larger areas and are easier to clean, but they work best in warmer climates. They are noisier and require more maintenance for their filters.
- Ultrasonic Humidifiers:
By using an ultrasonic frequency to vibrate a metal diaphragm in the ultrasonic humidifier, water droplets are created. The water droplets are then filtered into the air by a fan. This humidifier is quieter and easier to maintain compared to warm and cool mist humidifiers.
- Whole Home Humidifiers:
This humidifier is recommended for use with your heating and cooling system. It covers a much more significant area and is easier to maintain compared to warm and cool mist humidifiers. Whole home humidifiers also offer quiet operation when in use.
Where is My Humidifier Water Panel?
Before we track down your water panel, let’s discuss what the water panel is. The humidifier water panel goes by a few different names, such as evaporator pad or humidifier/water filter, but they are all three the same thing. The water panel is considered the heart of your humidifier. It generates the humidity necessary to keep your home comfortable during the heating season. Where is my humidifier, you might be wondering? Well depending on what kind of humidifier you have, it can be a stand-alone unit, or it can be attached to your heating and cooling system.
When do You Change Your Water Panel?
Since you now know where your humidifier water panel is, you can determine if it’s time to change the panel. Manufacturers recommend you replace your water panel at least once a year. The air that is forced through the water panel carries particles, like dust, which can clog the holes in the water panel when they are mixed with water. Restricted airflow is common when your water panel is clogged. If you have hard water, you may need to replace your water panel more often than once a year.
Every humidifier is different so attempting to change the water panel yourself can be tough. Contact the professionals at Douglas Cooling & Heating to replace your whole home humidifier’s water panel quickly. When your water panel isn’t replaced properly, you and your heating and cooling system will suffer:
- Increased allergies for you and your family
- Mold growth inside your heating and cooling unit
- Increased bacteria in your home
- Expensive mechanical failures for your HVAC unit
- Reduced performance of your heating and cooling system
Know when it’s time to change your humidifier water panel to keep your indoor air quality at its healthiest. Douglas Cooling & Heating offers affordable, quality humidifiers that work with your current heating and cooling system for optimum efficiency. Contact us today to find out more!
