Which Works Better in a Montana Winter?
A portable humidifier can keep one room comfortable if you clean it and change the water as often as safety agencies recommend. A whole-home humidifier is the more practical choice for a house heated by a forced-air furnace through a long Flathead Valley winter, because it treats every room the furnace heats and has no tank to refill.
Below-zero temperatures and forced-air heat can leave a home as dry as a desert. The result is dry, itchy skin, static shocks and more dust and pet dander in the air. Here is how the two kinds of humidifiers compare, and how to choose between them.
What Is the Difference Between a Whole-Home Humidifier and a Portable Humidifier?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency describes portable humidifiers as smaller units that are easily moved, and central humidifiers as units built into the heating and air conditioning system that humidify the whole house.
A portable humidifier sits in one room and holds its own tank of water. A whole-home humidifier attaches to your furnace or air handler and adds moisture to the air as it moves through your ductwork, so every room the furnace heats gets the same treatment. The humidifier is controlled automatically, often through a smart thermostat.
| Portable Humidifier | Whole-Home Humidifier | |
|---|---|---|
| Area covered | One room at a time | Every room the furnace heats |
| Water | Fill the tank by hand. The EPA recommends emptying, drying and refilling it every day. | No tank to refill |
| Cleaning | The EPA recommends cleaning portable units every third day. | Follow the manufacturer’s directions. Annual service is typically all that is required. |
| Recommended water | Distilled or demineralized water, according to the CPSC | Supplied automatically |
| Control | A setting on the unit, for that room only | Automatic, for the whole house |
| Installation | Plug it in | Professionally installed on your heating system |
| Works with boilers, baseboard heat and ductless systems | Yes | No. It needs a furnace or air handler and ductwork. |
When Is a Portable Humidifier Enough?
A portable humidifier makes sense in a few situations:
- You only need to add moisture to one room, such as a bedroom.
- Your home is heated by a boiler, baseboard heaters or a ductless mini-split. A whole-home humidifier attaches to a furnace or air handler, so a home without ductwork cannot use one.
- You rent and cannot make changes to the heating system.
If you use a portable humidifier, follow the care guidance from the EPA and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission:
- Empty the tank, wipe all surfaces dry and refill it with fresh water every day.
- Clean the unit every third day.
- Use distilled or demineralized water to reduce scale buildup and the release of mineral dust. The EPA notes that some people are bothered by a “white dust” that settles on surfaces when a humidifier runs on water with a high mineral content.
- Drain and clean the tank before you store the unit, and clean it again before you use it next season.
The EPA warns that a humidifier that is not cleaned can grow microorganisms and release them into the air. That is the main drawback of a portable unit: it only works well if someone keeps up with the daily water changes and frequent cleaning.
Why Do Montana Homes Often Do Better With a Whole-Home Humidifier?
A Montana furnace runs for months at a time, and a whole-home humidifier connected to the furnace works through the entire heating season. It treats the whole house evenly and automatically, so you do not carry a unit from room to room, refill a tank every morning or scrub it every third day.
Whole-home humidifiers work in one of two ways:
- Evaporative humidifiers: Air passes through a water-soaked pad and picks up moisture as it moves through your ductwork.
- Steam humidifiers: The unit boils water to make steam and adds the steam to the airflow for fast, precise humidity control.
For more on what dry winter air does to your comfort and your home, read The Importance of Maintaining Proper Humidity During Winter.
How Much Humidity Should a Home Have in Winter?
The CPSC recommends keeping the relative humidity in your home between 30% and 50% if possible. The EPA advises against humidifying above 50%, because higher humidity can encourage the growth of mold and other biological organisms.
Watch your windows. The EPA says that if water condenses on windows, walls or pictures, you should lower the humidistat setting or run the humidifier less. This guidance applies to both portable and whole-home units.
What Maintenance Does a Whole-Home Humidifier Need?
The EPA advises following the manufacturer’s directions for cleaning and maintaining central humidifiers mounted on a furnace. Annual service is typically all that is required. Because the humidifier is connected to your furnace, any water pooling around the furnace should be checked, since a humidifier malfunction is one possible cause. Our post on furnace warning signs covers other causes of water near a furnace.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a whole-home humidifier with a boiler or a ductless system?
No. A whole-home humidifier attaches to a furnace or air handler and uses your ductwork to carry moisture through the house. Homes heated by a boiler, baseboard heaters or ductless mini-splits can use portable humidifiers instead.
How often should I clean a portable humidifier?
The EPA recommends cleaning portable humidifiers every third day, and emptying, drying and refilling the tank every day.
What humidity level should I set in winter?
The CPSC recommends 30% to 50% relative humidity. If you see condensation on your windows, lower the setting.
What kind of water should I use in a portable humidifier?
The CPSC and the EPA both recommend distilled or demineralized water, which reduces scale buildup and the mineral dust a humidifier can release.
Do I have to refill a whole-home humidifier?
No. A whole-home humidifier has no tank to refill, and it adjusts automatically to keep the humidity where you set it.
Get a Whole-Home Humidifier Installed in the Flathead Valley
For 34 years, Central Heating Cooling Plumbing Electrical has helped Flathead Valley homeowners stay warm and comfortable through long Montana winters. Our Industry Certified Technicians install whole-house humidifiers in Kalispell, Whitefish, Columbia Falls, Bigfork, Lakeside, Polson and the surrounding area. Check our current specials, call 406-756-6656 or request service online.
Your Comfort Is Our Central Concern.
