****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
I installed one of the Honeywell HE300A1005 TrueEASE Humidifiers with Honeywell DG115EZIAQ TrueIAQ Digital IAQ Control.I like the "passive" operation of this unit - meaning that it humidifies by blowing air through a wetted pad - no heat or nozzles to worry about.I would like to both thank and reiterate eyeontheprize's review of this unit. eyeontheprize's review is the only place that I found the information on the significance of using a hot water supply instead of cold to the unit. The manual says to use either cold or hot water, but it does not say anything about the humidification performance between selecting cold or hot water.I have the HE300A1005 installed with a heat pump system. Like eyeontheprize points out, a heat pump provides a lower supply duct [plenum] temperature. Again, the documentation does not point out the significance of the temperature of the air blowing across the wetted pad - the hotter the better, for humidification performance.Unfortunately, I did not have any place in my ducting where the HE300A1005 would fit in the supply ductwork. So, I had to install it in a return line. The disadvantage of this is that it is only using 70-degree return air [we have our house thermostats set at 70] to blow on the wetted pad.I initially installed the HE300A1005 with a cold water supply, since I had a cold water line near the unit. The humidification using the cold water supply was inadequate. I changed to a hot water supply and the results are much better. My well water system supplies 55-degree cold water, so changing to the hot water made an 80-degree difference (my hot water is set at 135-degrees). This was a lot of work for me - installing a 30 foot insulated pex line from my hot water heater to the HE300A1005 - working around lots of obstacles in my basement. However, the results were a signifcant improvement in the humidifiation performance of the HE300A1005. Note that I have a well water system so the cost of water is very low. I also have a heat pump hot water tank so the cost of hot water is significantly lower than an non-heat pump electric or gas hot water tank.I will be installing a second HE300A1005 unit in parallel with my first unit soon. My house is 27,000 cubic feet. The HE300A1005 is rated to provide humidification to a 24,000 cubic foot home. This I assume is under ideal conditions using both a high temperature duct temperature and a hot water supply. My one HE300A1005 unit is not quite able to maintain humidity on cold dry days in New England. Volume of the house is not the only consideration - My 27,000 cubic foot house is all on one level [story] so the infiltration is more than a house that is multi-story with equivalent volume.Overall, I recommend the HE300A1005. It is an energy efficient way to control humidity in your home. Just make sure you understand that the installation considerations of providing warm air and hot water to the unit will significantly affect the performance of the unit.Enjoy!Update - So, after a while the humidifier Pad gets clogged and the water starts running out of the bottom of the unit. The pad is designed to channel the water from the outside of the pad towards the inside where it should find its way into the drain. This only works while the pad is relatively clean. After buying new pads, I had a light bulb pop on and realized that I could clean the pads in the dishwasher. I load one pad in the dishwasher all by itself and run a normal wash. After "dishwashing" the pad is like new again. Note 1: I have my own well water so my pads clog relatively quickly since there is no chlorine to inhibit growth. I now have my calendar reminder to wash the pads once a month during the humidifying season. Note 2: You need to clean the inside of the humidifier where the pad fits and the channeling unit at the top of the pad too.
