Join Our Community
    Home
  1. Plumbing and insulation
  2. How to Install a Whole-House Ductless Humidifier | Ask This Old House
    3. LIGHT
PREV VIDEO NEXT VIDEO MORE VIDEOS

How to Install a Whole-House Ductless Humidifier | Ask This Old House

1.03K Views
0 Likes
Plumbing and insulation
By sanny goldman
0 Comments
Screenshots

Ask This Old House plumbing and HVAC expert Richard Trethewey travels to Park City, Utah to install a whole house ductless humidifier.

#ThisOldHouse #AskTOH
SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse

Time: 2 hours

Cost: $1000

Skill Level: Expert

Tools List for Installing a Whole-House Ductless Humidifier: [YT]
Drill driver [https://amzn.to/2MGAQpT]
Blow torch [https://amzn.to/2PecZzl]
Screwdriver [https://amzn.to/2N3ru6j]

Shopping List: [YT]
Whole house steam humidifier [https://amzn.to/2JdBb0R]
Screws [https://amzn.to/31zSorW]
Copper pipes and fittings [https://amzn.to/31Ax5pV]
Solder [https://amzn.to/2By83gH]
Flux [https://amzn.to/35YqrgE]
PVC pipes and fittings [https://amzn.to/2N1Fj5i]
PVC glue [https://amzn.to/2MEcGw4]
1/4 inch copper tubing [https://amzn.to/31DIi9a]

Steps:
1. This job requires working on the water line and making electrical connections. In most cases, it’s best left to professionals.
2. Identify a good location to mount the unit that will allow for proper airflow throughout the house. It’s helpful to keep the utility side of the box near a water line, a drain, and power supply.
3. Shut off the power at the breaker and the water at the main water shutoff.
4. Mount the unit in the desired location using screws and a drill driver.
5. Cut the hole on the other side of the wall where the fan box will go and secure it into place.
6. Make the water connections, starting with the wand through the fan box and working back towards the mechanical unit using copper pipes and fittings. You’ll need to seal all the connections using the solder and flux.
7. Connect the drain lines from the mechanical unit down towards the drain. Use the PVC pipes and fittings and seal it all with the PVC glue.
8. Connect the unit to the water supply line using the copper tubing.
9. Connect the wires that come with the unit to the electrical box.
10. Mount and connect the humidistat in the desired location and set it to the desired settings.
11. Turn the water and the power back on.

Resources:
Richard installed an Aprilaire 865 Whole House Steam Humidifier [https://amzn.to/35Z5YIu] with a Wall Mount Fan for Homes without HVAC Duct System (https://www.aprilaire.com/). The unit has a higher capacity to account for the vaulted ceilings in the homeowner’s house despite the smaller square footage.

The other tools and materials required for installation, including the copper tubing, drills, and wrenches can all be found at home centers.

After the segment, Richard discussed a different kind of whole house steam humidifier, which is called an AcuSteam Steam Humidifier, which is manufactured by Thermolec (http://www.thermolec.com/en/default.aspx).

Expert assistance with this segment was provided by Lee’s Heating and AC (https://www.leesheatac.com/).

About Ask This Old House TV:
Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we’re ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers—and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O’Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.

Follow This Old House and Ask This Old House:
Facebook: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseFB
Twitter: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTwitter
http://bit.ly/AskTOHTwitter
Pinterest: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHousePinterest
Instagram: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseIG
Tumblr: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTumblr

How to Install a Whole-House Ductless Humidifier
https://www.youtube.com/user/thisoldhouse/

Keywords: Ask This Old House, Richard Trethewey, whole-house, plumbing, ductless, humidifier

Watch the full episode:
https://www.thisoldhouse.com/watch/ductless-humidifier-planters-ask-toh

How to Install a Whole-House Ductless Humidifier | Ask This Old House
https://www.youtube.com/user/thisoldhouse/

(Visited 1,026 times, 1 visits today)
4-6 minutesAsk This Old HouseCopper pipesdirections to installing humidifierdiyDIY IdeasDrill driverductlessductless humidifierhome improvementHouse Ductless HumidifierHow To BuildHow To FixHow To Installhow to install humidifierhumidifierinstall humidifierplumbingplumbing and HVACPVC pipesrenovationRenovation IdeasRichard Tretheweysteam humidifierThis Old HouseWhole HouseWhole-House DuctlessWhole-House Ductless Humidifier

ADVERTISMENT – become one of us and contribute knowledge


You Might Be Interested In

Comment (0)

  1. How much does it cost electricity-wise to run one of these???

    I have a console humidifier in my livingroom that does basically the entire house. It operates by cycling an absorbant mat through water and a fan pushes air through it, evaporating it and putting it into the room. I put 15 gallons of water in it every week or so during the dead of winter. Wouldn't something like this work?

  3. there's much cheaper and easier to install options. I have the Horticat U80 which i easily connected to the water line and it's a beast. keeps the house at a nice 80% humidity

  5. Can you do a special on Geothermal cooling (not heating, I live in a hot area).
    I am interested in learning how big the system should be that could provide cooling equivalent to a 4HP airconditioner system.
    Thanks!

  6. You gotta love how quickly he says "remove the light" without a bit of hesitation. They couldn't have fixed that scene more if they were actually trying harder!

  9. 30-40% RH @ 74degF (assumed temp) is still very dry. In Houston, prior to the Aprilaire 800 (installed in video), I was running the heat up to 70degF @ about 20-25%RH. I've had mine installed for three winter seasons now and run it up to75degF @ 50%RH. I use a handheld humistat to check the areas.

    It's installed on a ~4ton gas central unit with the aprilaire setting at the lower amp setting (11A).

  10. For the Aprilaire it can run on 120, 208 or 240 VAC. You only need 120 for a small house. BUT, the unit comes with the model 80 canister which does not work with 120 VAC. You instead need the low conductivity 80LC canister. So beware you may need to buy a different canister or go with high voltage line.

LEAVE YOUR COMMENT

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

CLOSE