Humidifiers provide comfort while lowering heating bills
Q. I am in the market for a room humidifier, but I do not know which type is best for my home. Can using one really reduce my heating bills even though evaporating water cools? Is using only one adequate for my house?
A. Properly humidified air is not only comfortable and healthy, but it can reduce your heating bills. The electricity usage by most standard room humidifiers is typically less than a 100-watt light bulb. Ones with built-in humidistats automatically switch on and off, so even less electricity is consumed.
You are correct there is a cooling effect when water evaporates, so running humidifier will cool the room air slightly. This same evaporation process of moisture from your skin also makes you feel cool. This is how perspiration cools your body during summer or when you are active.
The amount of moisture evaporation from your skin is greater when the indoor air is too dry. This makes you feel chilly. By properly humidifying the air, you can feel comfortable at a lower room temperature. This allows you to set the furnace thermostat lower and you should end up saving much more energy than the humidifier uses. You will also be more comfortable.
The proper type of room humidifier depends upon your family's needs. One or two room humidifiers are generally enough for an energy-efficient house. Humidity tends to naturally migrate throughout the house. Cooking, bathing and washing clothes and dishes also adds much moisture to the room air.
For daytime use, an evaporative type of humidifier is effective and the least expensive. These humidifiers use a wick material which naturally draws up water from a tank. There is a fan inside the humidifier which forces room air through the wick.
Evaporative humidifiers are easy to keep clean which is important to minimize mold and microbe growth in the wick. Some of the wicks are treated with an antimicrobial substance. These models usually have a three-speed fan. The high speed can be noisy, so this is not the best type for the bedroom. The low speed should be quiet enough though so as to not interrupt sleep.
If your children tend to get colds, a warm mist humidifier would be good. These boil the water to create the water vapor. The steam is mixed with room air before it comes out so it is not too hot. Germ-free models also include a UV (ultraviolet light) purifier chamber to further sanitize the air. These include a humidistat and use about 260 watts of electricity.
Another design uses ultrasonic waves to create the water vapor mist. These are the most energy efficient using only about 50 watts of electricity. A very quiet fan is used to blow the mist out into the room. I use a Vicks ultrasonic humidifier in my own bedroom at night.
The following companies offer free-standing humidifiers: Essick Air, (800) 547-3888, www.essickair.com; Holmes, (800) 546-5637, www.holmesproducts.com; Hunter, (800) 448-6837, www.hunterfan.com; Lasko Products, (800) 233-0268, www.laskoproducts.com; and Kaz, (800) 477-0457, www.kaz.com.
Q. We have an electric water heater. When we go away on vacation, I turn off the circuit breaker to it to save electricity. Does it make sense to also turn it off during the daytime when we are at work?
A. It will save some energy to turn off the water heater during the daytime if you have an old water heater. The savings are less for a new one because of the higher level of tank insulation.
During the summer when there is huge peak electricity demand for air-conditioning, it will help reduce the peak by switching the water heater off. Your utility company may reduce your electric rate if you allow them to do it remotely when needed.
• Write to James Dulley at 6906 Royalgreen Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45244.