humidification product guide
TRANSCRIPT
Product and Application Guide
Humidification
Welcome to Aprilaire
Aprilaire, the leaders in humidification technology for over 50 years offer a complete line of whole-home humidifiers designed to meet the needs of today’s consumer. This guide is designed to educate and assist you in selecting the correct humidifier based on the humidification needs of the residence and the existing HVAC equipment. Following these guidelines will help ensure your customers have a humidifier that operates reliable and efficiently for years to come.
If you have any other questions or issues, the dedicated Aprilaire customer service department is ready to assist.
In providing the best service available to our customers, we aspire to:
• Answerallcallsinthirtysecondsorless• Respondtoe-mailswithintwenty-fourhours• Practicefirstcallresolution• Followupimmediatelywithadefinitiveanswerifacallcannotberesolvedimmediately
Wewelcomefeedbackaswecontinuetostriveforimprovement.
CustomerserviceagentsareavailableMondaythroughFridayfrom7:00amthrough5:00pm(CST)andcanbereachedbyphoneat
(800)[email protected].
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100% 2 4 5 6 7 9 12 17 19 23 29 36 43 52
95% 2 3 4 6 7 9 12 16 17 22 28 34 41 50
90% 2 3 4 5 6 8 11 15 16 21 26 31 39 48
85% 2 3 4 5 6 8 11 14 15 20 24 29 37 45
80% 2 3 4 5 6 7 10 13 15 19 23 27 35 42
75% 2 3 4 4 5 7 10 12 14 18 22 26 33 39
70% 1 2 3 4 5 6 9 11 13 17 20 24 31 36
65% 1 2 3 4 4 5 8 10 12 15 19 23 29 34
60% 1 2 3 3 4 5 7 9 11 14 17 21 26 31
55% 1 1 3 3 4 4 7 8 10 13 16 19 24 29
50% 1 1 2 3 3 4 6 8 9 12 14 18 22 26
45% 1 1 2 3 3 4 6 7 8 11 13 16 20 24
40% 1 1 2 2 3 4 5 7 7 10 12 14 18 21
35% 1 1 2 2 2 4 5 6 6 9 10 12 15 18
30% 0 1 2 2 2 3 4 5 6 7 9 11 13 15
25% 0 1 1 1 2 3 3 4 5 5 7 9 11 13
20% 0 1 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 5 5 7 9 10
15% 0 0 1 1 1 1 2 3 3 4 4 5 6 8
10% 0 0 0 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 3 3 4 6
5% 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 3
0% 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
-20 -10 -5 0 +5 +10 +15 +20 +25 +30 +35 +40 +45 +50
OU
TDO
OR
RE
LATI
VE
HU
MID
ITY
The Importance of Humidity Control
One reason for this is that humidity is an intangible. It can’t be
seen,touched,orsmelled.Ithasnocolor,nosound.However,its
presence,whenproperlycontrolled,offersmanyprovenbenefits.
Humidificationduringtheheatingseasonnotonlyprovidescomfort,
it helps protect the home and its furnishings from the harmful
effectsofairthat’stoodry.Inaddition,physiciansoftenrecommend
controllinghumiditytoguardagainstdryskin,hair,andscratchy
throats.Italsoreducesundesirablewinter-timestaticelectricity.
Relative humidity (RH) indicates the amount ofwater vapor, in
percent,actuallyintheaircomparedtothemaximumamountthat
theaircouldholdunderthesameconditions.Thewarmertheair,
themoremoistureitcanhold.Airinahomeheatedto70°Fcanhold
abouteightgrainsofmoisturepercubicfoot.Thatis100%RH.If
thereareonlytwograinspercubicfootinthehome,thisis¼ofthe
air’scapacitytoholdmoisture.Therefore,theRHisalso¼or25%.
Theaircouldholdfourtimesasmuchwater.
But,theimportantthingiswhathappenstoairwhenit’sheated.
Theoutdoor-indoorRHconversionchartbelowillustratesthis.
LocateoutdoorRHontheleftofthechartandoutdoortemperature
at the bottom. Indoor RH is where the vertical and horizontal
columnsmeet.Thecalculationassumesthatoutdoorairisbrought
intothehomeandheatedto70°F.
ThissubstantialreductionofRHfromoutdoortoindoorairistaking
placeineveryunhumidifiedorunder-humidifiedhomewherethe
airinthehomeisheated.
Tosolve it,weaddmoistureartificially, so there’smorewater
availableforthatthirstyairtoexercise itsabilitytoholdmore
water. We humidify because there are benefits that are as
importantasheatingtooverallindoorcomfortandhealthduring
theheatingseason.
Humidification – the process of adding moisture to the air – is one of the most important aspects of total indoor comfort, yet it’s one of the least understood.
Example:
(See shaded figures)
Outdoor RH is 70%;
outdoor temperature
is +10°F; when this air
is brought into the
home and heated to
70°F, the indoor RH
drops to 6%.
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OUTDOOR TEMPERATURE (˚F)
OUTDOOR-INDOOR RELATIVE HUMIDITY CONVERSION CHART
Comfort
Didyoueverstepoutofyourshower in themorningandnotice
howwarmitisinthebathroom?Itisactuallymuggy.Itisprobably
about 75°F, and the RH may be 60-70% because of the water
vaporbeingaddedtotheairwhileshowering. Ifthephonerings
andyouhavetostepoutintothehalltoanswerit,whathappens?
Youfeelchilly!Yetthetemperaturethereisprobablyabout70°F.
Just5°Fcoolerthaninthebathroom,yetyouareshivering.Why?
Becauseyoujustbecameanevaporativecooler.Theairinthehall
isdry;andtheRHcanbeaslowas10-15%.Youarewet,andthis
thirstyairgoestoworkonyourskin.Itevaporatesthewater,and
asitdoes,yourskiniscooled.Thissametypeofthinggoesonday
after day, everywinter, inmillions of homes. People are turning
their thermostats up to 75°F and more in order to feel warm,
andeven then, it feelsdraftyandchillybecause theevaporative
coolingprocessisoccurring.ProperRHlevelsmakeyoufeelmore
comfortableatlowerthermostatsettings.
Thiscoldeffect isnottheonlydiscomfortcausedbytoo-dryair.
Staticelectricityisanotherindicationoflowhumiditylevelsanda
conditionthat’sconsistentlyannoying.ProperRHwillreducethis
discomfort.AndoptimumRHlevelscannowbeachievedwithout
constant manual adjustment of the humidifier control device,
using the newest generation ofAprilaire automatic humidifiers.
Health
ProperRHishelpfulforrelievingproblemsaggravatedbyairthat
istoodry.
Lowhumiditycanmakeyoumoresusceptibletocatchingacoldor
fluviruses.How?Airthatistoodrydriesoutyournasalmembranes
andmakestheliningofyournosemoresusceptibletobleedingand
infections.Also,lowlevelsofhumidityhavebeenlinkedtothespeedier
progressionandtransmissionofviruses in theair*. Whole-home
humidifiersequippedwithautomaticcontrolcanmaintainaproper
levelofhumidityforahealthierandmorecomfortableenvironment.
Whatdodoctorssayabouthumidity?Ear,noseandthroatspecialist,
Dr.ArthurW.Proetz,isquotedintheAnnalsofOtology,Rhinology
andLaryngology:
“Inthestrugglebetweenthenoseandthemachineryinthebasement,
sometimestheheaterwinsandsometimesthecooler,butseldomthe
nose.Thenasalmucuscontainssome96%water.Tobeginwith,itis
moreviscousthanmucuselsewhereinthebodyandevenslightdrying
increasestheviscosityenoughtointerferewiththeworkofthecilia.
Demandsonthenasalglandsaregreatevenunderusualconditions,
andtheycannotcopewithextremedrynessindoorsinwinter.”
“Experiencehasshownthatwithapproachingwinter,thefirstwave
ofdry-nosepatientsappearsintheofficewhentherelativehumidity
indoors falls to25%. Itwouldseem, therefore, that35%wouldbe
regardedasapassinggradebut40%assomethingtoshootat.”
Preservation
The addition or reduction ofmoisture drastically affects the
qualities,dimensions,andweightsofmanymaterials.Forexample,
wood,leatherpaper,andclothallcontainwater.Notafixedamount
ofwater,butanamountthatwillvarygreatlywiththeRHlevelof
thesurroundingair.Take,forexample,acubicfootofwood.At60%
RH,thewoodwillholdover3pintsofwater.Now, iftheRHis
loweredto10%,thewaterheldbythewoodwillnotfillevenone
pintbottle.Sowehave,ineffect,withdrawn2-½pintsofwater
fromthewoodbyloweringtheRHfrom60%to10%.
* 1. Department of Microbiology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine article, Influenza Virus Transmission Is Dependent on Relative Humidity and Temperature; 2007; New York, New York, United States of America plospathogens.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.ppat.0030151
2. Oregon State University College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.0806852106 3
OUTDOOR TEMPERATURE (˚F)
Increasingthehumidityofyourhome
helpseliminatethedryairthatcan
irritateandinflametherespiratory
passagesinthenoseandthroatand
canrelievethediscomfortsofcolds
andtheflu.
– A.D.A.M. Health Encyclopedia
Thereisasyetnocureforthecommon
cold.Themostimportantpreventative
measurewouldappeartobethe
properregulationofthehumidity.
– Joseph Lubart, MD
New York State Journal of Medicine
Preservation Cont.
Thistypeofactiongoeson,notonlywithwood,butwithevery
singlematerialinthehomethathasthecapacitytoabsorband
releasemoisture.Paper,plaster,cloth,fibers,leather,glue,skin
andpracticallyeverythingelse inthehomeshrinkasthey lose
water,andswellastheytakeonwater.Ifthewaterlossisrapid,
warping and cracking can take place. As the RH changes, the
conditionanddimensionsofthematerialschange,asconstantly
astheweather.Thisiswhyhumiditymustbeadded.Thisiswhy
RHmustbecontrolled.ThatiswhyoptimumRHisimportant.
Whataretheeffectsofthisconstantlychangingorconstantlylow
moisturecontentintheair?Furnitureconstructionisaffectedasglue
driesout,jointsseparate,rungsfalloutandcracksappear.Plaster
anddrywalldriesout,resultinginunsightlycracksandpoppingnail
heads.Joistsandstudsshrink.Woodpanelingseparatesandcracks.
Floorsseparate.
Pianos,organsandothermusicalinstrumentslosetheirtone.Pieces
ofart,booksanddocumentsdryoutandcanbreakorcrack.
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The Importance of Humidity Control
Energy Conservation
Dryairrobsthemoisturefromyourskin,makingyoufeelcolder,whichmeansyouturnuptheheat.Dryairalsoshrinkstheframingaround
doorsandwindows,resultingingapsthatletincoldairfromtheoutside,makingyourhomelessenergyefficient.
ThepreservationbenefitdescribesthechangeinthedimensionofwoodwithachangeinthesurroundingRH.Heatedairdriesoutand
shrinkswoodframingarounddoorsandwindows.Outsideairinfiltratesthehomeattheseandadditionallocations,asaresultofwindand
chimneyorstackeffect.
Capacity
Theaverage-sizehomerequiresaboutelevengallonsofwaterper
day.Ifthehumidifiercan’tdeliverthismuchwater,itisundersized
for most installations and is not recommended. Aprilaire has
humidifiermodelsthatcanproduceuptoeighteengallonsperday
(evaporativeunits)andoverthirty-fourgallonsofwaterperday
(steamunits).Refertothe“Sizing”sectionfordetailedinformation.
Control
There is a direct relationship with capacity and control. If the
capacityisnotthere,yousimplycannotreachtheRHlevelsrequired
forcomfort.ControlisasessentialinkeepingRHlevelslowenough
asitisinkeepingithighenough.AnAprilairehumidifiergivesyou
theabilitytonotonlyhavethecorrectcapacity,buttoalsocontrol
itbothmanuallyandautomatically.
Operational Efficiency
Aprilairehumidifiersoperatewithminimalmaintenancerequired.
TheyhavetheabilitytomaintainRHatthemanuallysethumidistat
levelbutcanalsodothisautomatically.Aprilairehumidifiersare
engineeredtogiveyourconsumerspeaceofmindwheninstalled
properly;makingexpensive,time-consumingcallbacksathingof
thepast.
Withpreciseoperation,Aprilaireevaporativeandsteamhumidifiers
aredesignedtoperformtoyourcustomer’sexpectations.
Ease of Maintenance
Justasonewouldmaintaintheircar,ahumidifiershouldhavea
scheduledmaintenanceprogram.Typically,humidifiersshouldbe
checkedonceayear.Manycontractorsofferservicecontractsto
helpconsumersperformthistask.
Aprilairehumidifiersaredesignedforsimpleandeasymaintenance.
Thecomponentsareeasytocleanorcansimplybereplacedwith
newparts,savingtimeandmoney.
Ease of Installation
Aprofessionalheatingandairconditioningcontractorcaninstallan
Aprilairehumidifierquickly,withlittleinterruptiontothecustomer’s
home.Whetheritisaplenum-mountedevaporativeunitorasteam
unit,theinstallationprocessforallAprilairehumidifiersisfastand
easy.Theyaredesignedtoensuretrouble-freeoperationandhigh
efficiencyperformance.
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Selecting a Humidifier
Infiltration of outside air usually occurs at a home’s envelope (perimeter walls, windows and doors). Framing around windows and doors – common points of infiltration – will not shrink or crack as much when proper RH levels are maintained inside the home. This will reduce infiltration and in turn improve energy conservation.
Below are several criteria to consider when choosing a whole-home humidifier.
Selecting a Humidifier
HVAC VARIABLES CLIMATE ZONE/RECOMMENDED SOLUTION BY MODEL
EQUIPMENTPLENUM
TEMP. IN °FRUN TIME
AIRFLOW VOLUME
MIDWEST/NORTHEAST
MID ATLANTIC/MID-SOUTHERN
SOUTHDESERT
(SOUTHWEST)MOUNTAIN
GAS/OIL FURNACE-SINGLE SPEED 120-140 Periodic Adequate400/500/600/
700/800500/600/ 700/800
600/700/800 800 600/700/800
GAS/OIL VARIABLE SPEED FURNACE 120-140 Constant Limited 700/800 700/800 700/800 800 700/800*
HEAT PUMP/GEO-SINGLE STAGE 90 Periodic Adequate 600/700/800 600/700/800 800 800 600/700/800
HEAT PUMP/GEO-MULTI-VARIABLE SPEED FURNACE
90 Constant Limited 700/800 700/800 800 800 700/800
BOILER WITH AHU 70 Periodic Adequate 800 800 800 800 800
BOILER WITH AHU/COIL 90 Periodic Adequate 700/800 700/800 800 800 800
BOILER N/A N/A N/A 865 865 865 865 865
ELECTRIC BASEBOARD HEATING N/A N/A N/A 865 865 865 865 865
HUMIDIFYING WITH A/C UNIT <70 Periodic Adequate N/A N/A 800 800 800
Regional Applications
Thistypeofactiongoeson,notonlywithwood,butwitheverysinglematerialinthehomethathasthecapacitytoabsorbandrelease
moisture.Paper,plaster,cloth,fibers,leather,glue,skinandpracticallyeverythingelseinthehomeshrinkastheylosewater,andswellas
theytakeonwater.Ifthewaterlossisrapid,warpingandcrackingcantakeplace.AstheRHchanges,theconditionanddimensionsofthe
materialschange,asconstantlyastheweather.Thisiswhyhumiditymustbeadded.ThisiswhyRHmustbecontrolled.Thatiswhyoptimum
RHisimportant.
Whataretheeffectsofthisconstantlychangingorconstantlylowmoisturecontentintheair?Furnitureconstructionisaffectedasgluedries
out,jointsseparate,rungsfalloutandcracksappear.Plasteranddrywalldriesout,resultinginunsightlycracksandpoppingnailheads.Joists
andstudsshrink.Woodpanelingseparatesandcracks.Floorsseparate.
Pianos,organs,andothermusicalinstrumentslosetheirtone.Piecesofart,booksanddocumentsdryoutandcanbreakorcrack.
Application Map:
This application map
assists in the selection
of the appropriate
Aprilaire product based
upon geography and
heating equipment.
Midwest/ Northeast
Mid-Atlantic/ Mid-Southern
South
Desert (Southwest)
Mountain
6 * Evaporative performance of bypass humidifiers decreases with lower airflow volume and temperature. Bypass models can be used in these applications if the HVAC system pressure differential between supply and return ducts is at least 0.08 in.wg and air temperature in the supply duct is at least 100°F.
Evaporative and steam humidifiers are very different in their
technologies.Evaporativehumidifiersdonotheatthewaterbut
useHVACsystem’sheatdrawthroughawaterpaneltoturnthe
watertovapor.Steamhumidifiersheatwatertotheboilingpoint,
producingsteam.Bothtechnologiesusethesystemblowerto
distributehumiditythroughtheductwork.Steamunitscanbe
mountedwithablowerpack,ifaductingsystemisnotavailable.
Bothtechnologiesareeffectiveatdeliveringtherightlevelsof
humiditythroughoutthehome;however,it’simportantthatthe
rightproductisselectedtoensureconsumersatisfaction.
Evaporative humidification is thebest choice for applications
wheretheunitcanbemountedontheductwork.Evaporative
products are easier to install, extremely reliable, last the life
of the equipment, and offer an attractive consumer price
point.Steamproductsare ideal to fill applicationgapswhere
evaporativeproductscannotbeinstalledordonotofferenough
capacity.Thesegapsincludelackofductspaceontheplenum,
atticorcrawlspacelocations, in-floorheat,electricstripheat,
boilers,hydronicheatandwheresystemsexperienceshortrun
times(typicallyinmilderclimates).
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CHOOSING THE RIGHT PRODUCT FOR YOUR HOUSE
APPLICATIONRECOMMENDATION
EVAPORATIVE STEAM
HOME SIZE
Up to 4,200 ft2 tight home 4
Up to 6,200 ft2 tight home 4
OTHER VARIABLES
Space to mount on duct 4
No freezing concerns 4
Lowest cost to install 4
Easiest to maintain 4 4
Lowest cost to operate 4
Low heating system run-time 4 4
Heat pump installation 4 4
Possibility of freezing 4
Cannot mount on duct 4
Evaporative or Steam Technology
Residential evaporative humidifiers are generally designed in one of two styles, bypass (1) or fan powered (2). The difference is how the air is delivered to the humidifier. In the bypass design, air is passed from the supply to the return. In the powered version, a fan is used to blow air through the unit.
Easy to Maintain
It takesacoupleofminutes to replacethewaterpanel.Forbest
performance, it’s recommended the water panel be replaced
annually.*It’sreallythatsimple.
Long Life – Trouble Free
Troublefreeperformanceandminimummaintenanceareassured
by the design features of the Aprilaire evaporative humidifier.
Allhumidifierhousingparts thatcome incontactwithwaterare
non-metalandwillnever rustorcorrode.Neitherheatnorwater
willaffectthemundernormaloperatingconditions.
Periodic preventative maintenance should be conducted on the
distribution tray directly on top of thewater panel. It should be
inspectedannuallyandcleanedofexcessmineraldeposits.Yearly
inspectionofthefeedtubeandperiodiccleaningoftheorificeis
all that’s needed to extend the life of the humidifier. If properly
maintained an evaporative humidifier will last longer than the
HVACsystemonwhichitisinstalled.
Ease of Installation
Evaporativehumidifiersmountdirectlyon theplenumof theHVAC
system.AprilaireoffersNATE®certifiedclassestoprovidecontractors
withpropertraining.
Convenience
The components that require significant cleaning can simply be
replaced.Replacingawaterpaneleveryyearismucheasierandcost
effectivecomparedtohoursofcleaning.Infactmanycontractorswill
replacethewaterpanelaspartofascheduledmaintenanceprogram
fortheHVACsystem.
Capacity
Evaporative humidifiers efficiently use the HVAC system to
operate. The plenum temperature and blower from the furnace
orairhandlerareusedtoproducehumidity.Theamountoftime
theplenumtemperature israisedfromaheatcall isvariableand
soistheactualtemperature;withheatpumpsaround90degrees
and gas furnaces at 120 degrees. The HVAC blower is required
to humidify, however, a raised plenum temperature from a heat
call is not required if plumbed to hotwater. These variables are
allconsidered in the“CapacityChart”onthespecificationspage
(seebackcover).
*Twice per humidifier season for the Model 400
If properly maintained, an evaporative
humidifier will last longer than the HVAC
system it’s installed on.
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2
1
Evaporative Humidification
Forced Air Heat
Humidified Air (Vapor)
Duct
Drain
Dry Air
WaterPanel
Water Supply
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Sequence of Operation
Thewaterinevaporativehumidifiersflowstothedistributiontraylocatedatthetopofthehumidifier.Thewaterisuniformlydistributed
acrossthewidthofthetrayandthroughascientificallydesignedsystemofoutlets.Itflowsbygravityoverthewaterpanelevaporator.
Dry,hotairfromtheHVACsystemismovedthroughthemoisture-ladenwaterpanelevaporator.Naturalevaporationtakesplace,andthe
now-humidifiedaircarryingmoistureinvaporform(nature’sownway)iscirculatedthroughoutthehome.
Thecorrectwaterflowisdeterminedbyanorifice.Whenthehumidifierisoperatingthewaterthatisnotevaporatedpassesontothedrain
(inthedrain-equippedmodels).Trouble-causingmineralsthataretheinevitableresultofwaterevaporationareeithertrappedbythewater
panel,containedintheScaleControlInsertorflusheddownthedrain.
Upflow (Power) Horizontal (Bypass)
Water Distribution Tray
Duct Location
Fanpoweredhumidifiersaredesignedtobeinstalled
onthewarmairsupplyplenumofforcedairup-flow
furnaces or heat pumps. They cannot be installed
on a horizontal system due to reduced capacity.
Ifthereisnospaceonthewarmairsupplyplenumfor
thehumidifier, theunitmaybe installedon thecold
airreturnduct;however,youwillneedtosupplythe
humidifierwithhotwaterbecausethehotwaterwillbe
theonlyheatsource.
Bypasshumidifiersaredesignedtobeinstalledonthe
warmairsupplyplenumorcoldairreturnofaforcedair
up-flow,ordown-flow,horizontalfurnaceorheatpump.
Thehumidifieristhenductedtotheoppositesidereturn
orsupply.Theoperationisthesameregardlessofwhich
ductisusedfortheinstallation.Theconnectionrequires
aminimumstaticpressureof0.2"w.c.inorderforairto
flowproperlythroughtheconnection.
Water Quality
Evaporativehumidifierswillperformwithhardorsoft
andhotorcoldwater.It’srecommended140˚Fwater
beusedforoptimumperformance;therefore,anytime
thehumidifierwilloperatewithoutacallforheat,you
mustplumbtohotwater.
Evaporative Humidification
Get Green with Greater Comfort from Aprilaire
Whether you’re updating a home to be more healthy, energy-efficient and sustainable or building a new
green-certified home, Aprilaire offers a complete line of innovative products designed to improve the quality
of indoor air.
Our humidifiers help by ensuring that the entire home has just the right amount of moisture for the ultimate in
protection and comfort. Whole-home humidifiers help prevent premature aging of the home’s structure, provide
optimum comfort and can protect respiratory systems against viruses and bacteria. Humidity control helps
qualify the home for the Green-Built Certification Program of the National Association of Home Builders.
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Maintenance
Thelifeofthewaterpanelevaporatorwillvarywiththehardnessofthewater,theamountofuseandtheapplication.Whenopenings
becomecloggedandrestricttheair-flowthroughthepanel,itshouldbereplaced.Forbestperformance,werecommendthatyoureplace
thewaterpanelevaporatoratleastannuallywiththeexceptionoftheModels400and400Mwhichshouldbechangedatleasttwiceper
heatingseason.ReplacewithonlygenuineAprilairewaterpanelsforcontinuedpeakefficiencyandoverallperformance.Thewaterpanel
evaporatormustbeinstalledwiththecoloredspotatthetopandmustbeentirelyenclosedinthescalecontrolinsert.
Ifthehumidifierisequippedwithaautomaticdigitalhumidifiercontrolwithwaterpanelchangeindicator,afterreplacingthewaterpanel,
resetitstimerbyturningthecontrolknobtothe“test/reset”positionuntilthe“humidifieron”lightblinks.
Steam Humidification
Simple to Service and Maintain
Tocreatesteam,waterneedstobeheated.Withelectrodetechnology,
electricalcurrent flowsbetweensubmergedelectrodes, resistance
ofthewatertotheelectriccurrentheatsthewater.Thesubmerged
electrodesarefoundinareplaceablecanister.Attheendofahumidifier
seasonthecanister, that includes theelectrodes,are replaced.No
cleaning,noscrubbing,simplyreplacethecanisterandyou’reready
forthenexthumidifierseason.
Notonlydoes thecanisteroffersimplemaintenance, itoffers
recurring revenue and a reason to interactwith your consumer
annually.Forconsumers,theopportunitytopurchaseareplacement
itemthateliminatestheneedtocleantheunitiswortheverypenny.
Aprilaireoffersreplacementcanistersatreasonablepricestoinsure
thecanistervalueexceedsthecostofcleaning.
Limited Water Quality Concerns
Whenwaterisheateditboilsandproducessteamleavingbehind
depositsandminerals.Electrodetechnologyrequiresimpuritiesin
thewater topromotethetransferofelectricity.For this reason,
waterfiltrationisnotrequiredwithelectrodetechnology,minimizing
thecomplexityof the installationandon-goingoperatingcosts.
Theunitwilloperatewithwaterhardnessbetween3and36grains-
averywiderange.Ifreverseosmosisordeionizedwaterispresent,
plumbunittowaterlinepriortothosedevices.
Simple Unit Selection
The Aprilaire steam humidifier uses electricity to boil the water.
Thecontrolalgorithmintheunitmanagesthewaterleveltoinsure
11.5/16.0ampsofelectricityisusedwhenoperating.The11.5/16.0amps
isthesameifit’sinstalledwith240vor120v,leadingtoanincrease
insteamproducedbasedonthevoltagethatisselected.Thisability
allowsthesameunittobeusedforsmallandlargehomes.
Easy to Install
Included with every Aprilaire
steam humidifier is a remote
mounting kit, automatic digital
humidifier control, dispersion
tube, drain tube, saddle valve,
andmountinghardware.Allparts
required for a remote or duct
installareincludedwiththeunit.
Simplymount theunit, connect
water feedanddrain lines, and
mountthedispersiontubeinthe
ductandyou’redone.
11
Residential steam humidifiers are generally designed using two fundamental technologies: electrode and resistive. While the end result of both technologies is the production steam, Aprilaire utilizes electrode technology because of its benefits to the contractor and consumer. Aprilaire steam humidifiers are simple to install, operate and maintain.
Aprilaire steam units are offered with two operational technologies: on/off and modulation. With on/off control, the humidifier will operate at full capacity until the set point is reached. With modulating operation the humidifier’s output will vary depending on how close or far away indoor RH levels are from the desired set point.
Steam Humidification
Capacity
TheAprilaireModel800steamhumidifierwill
produce up to 34.6 gallons per day (gpd) of
steam. The unitwill increase capacity as the
voltageincreases.
Theunitrequiresanelectricaldrawof11.5/16.0
amps±10%.Use12.7ampswhensizingcircuit.
It’s recommended the unit be installed at
240 volts to achievemaximum capacity. The
humidifier control will monitor the humidity
levels and not allow excess humidity into
theresidence.
Sequence of Operation
Steamisgeneratedbyenergizingtwoelectrodes
that extend into a canister of water. Current
flowingbetweentheelectrodescausesthewater
toboil,creatingsteam.Waterisintroducedinto
thehumidifierthroughafillvalve,toafillcup
locatedinthetopofthecabinet.Thefillcupserves
asanoverflowreservoirandprovidesanairgap
(backflowprevention)betweenthehumidifierandwatersource.Thesteamcanisterisfilledfromthebottom.Thecanisterisseatedinadraincup
assemblywhichincludesadrainvalve.Thewaterlevelinthecanisterisdeterminedbytheunit’scontrolboard.Theunitwillraiseorlowerthewater
levelbaseduponitsconductivity,strivingtoreachandmaintain11.5/16.0amps.Withmodulationtheampdrawwillvarydependingoncloseor
farawayfromsetpointyouare.
Whentheunitdrains,itwillautomaticallytemperthewaterbymixingwithincomingwater.Thiseliminatestheneedforhightemperature
draintubingandpumps.Thedrainandfillvalvesworktogethertomaintainwaterlevelinthecanistertodelivertheratedsteamcapacity.
SteamOutlet
Drain
SupplyWater
Drain Cup
Drain Valve
Canister
Electrodes
High WaterLevel Sensor
Flow ControlOrifice
InletFill Valve
Overflow
Fill
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Dispersion TubeletsAirflow
Dispersion Technology
After the water is boiled and steam is produced, the
processtodispersethesteamintotheairstreamiscritical
toavoidproblemsassociatedwith rustingducts.Aprilaire
in partnershipwith Dri-Steem, both part of the Research
Product Corporation family of companies, has developed
superiordispersiontechnology.
Steamisdeliveredintotheairstreamthroughadispersion
tubemountedintheHVACsystemductwork.Openingsin
the dispersion tube are fittedwith “dispersion tubelets”
which extend into the center of the tube to capture the
hottest,drieststeamto introduce intotheairstreamina
controlledmanner.Thedesignofthedispersiontubeand
tubeletsdistributesteamoverawideareaintheductand
directanycondensedmoistureback intothesteamhose.
Thispreventsexcesswaterfromformingorrestingwithin
theductwork.
Manyresistiveresidentialsteamhumidifierssimplyplacethe
tankthatcontainstheboilingwaterdirectlyintheairstream
insidetheduct.WhentheHVACblowerturnsoff,thetankof
waterisstillhot,potentiallyleadingtocondensationonthe
ducts.Theoptimalwaytodispersesteamintotheairstream
istouseaproperlydesigneddispersiontube.
The preferred location for the dispersion tube is in the
supplyductbecausehighertemperatureswillmorereadily
absorbthemoisture.Whetherinstalledinasupplyorreturn,
thedispersiontubemustbeinastraightsectionofductto
avoidturbulentairflowandbefarenoughupstreamofany
obstructionsorbendsintheducttoallowthesteamtobe
fullyabsorbed.
Thedistancethesteamabsorbsintotheairdependsonthe
air temperature, RH set point and air flow velocity in the
duct.Ingeneral,ifthedistancefromthedispersiontubeto
anobstructionislessthan36,"thesteamwillhaveenough
distancetoabsorbintotheair.Ifthedistanceisless,referto
thecharttotheright.
Humidifier Output
(gal/day)
Airflow Velocity*
75°F & 30% RH Setpoint
70°F & 45% RH Setpoint
65°F & 45% RH Setpoint
45°F & 45% RH Setpoint
Up to 16.0
300 fpm 13" 19" 23" 30"
600 fpm 6" 10" 12" 18"
1200 fpm 3" 5" 6" 13"
1800 fpm 2" 3" 4" 10"
20.5-25.0
300 fpm 15" 23" 28" 45"
600 fpm 6" 12" 13" 26"
1200 fpm 5" 6" 7" 19"
1800 fpm 3" 4" 5" 16"
25.0-35.0
300 fpm 24" 31" 36" 60"
600 fpm 17" 22" 26" 48"
1200 fpm 12" 15" 18" 25"
1800 fpm 10" 13" 15" 20"
* Velocity in feet per minute = Duct airflow volume in cubic feet per minute/duct area in square feet. Example: 1,200 cfm through 16" X 12" duct = 1,200/(12 X 16/144 sq. in/sq ft.) = 1,200/1.333 = 900 fpm
ABSORPTION DISTANCE (Minimumdistancefromdispersiontubedownstream
toanyobstructionorbendinduct)
13
Aprilaire Fan Pack
Steam Humidification
Aprilaire Fan Pack
Forhomeswithoutductworkortheductwork isnotaccessible
weofferaFanPack.TheFanPackmarrieswiththeAprilairesteam
humidifiertoprovidehumidity.
Applicationsthatdonothaveforcedairthroughaductsystem
todistribute air into thehomeare typically installedwith the
AprilaireModel865ductlesshumidifierwithFanPack.TheFan
Pack ismounted in the conditioned space anddistributes the
humidityintotheair.
Canister Replacement (Model80)
Canister replacement is recommended every humidifier season.
Whenthecanistercannotreachthecorrectconductivity,theunit
willstopoperating.
Ifthecanistercannotreach11.5/16.0ampstheunitwillshutdown,
the service lightwill turn on and itwillwait for the canister to
bereplaced.
Remove the canister with this simple procedure:1. Turnpoweroffattheunit;itwillautomaticallydrain.
2. Whendrainingiscomplete,turnoffelectricaltotheunit.
3.Removethefrontpanel.
4.Disconnectelectrodes,watersensorandhoseclamp
attopofcanister.
5.Replacecanisterandprovidedo-ring.
14
Sizing
* AHRI Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute GPD = Gallons Per Day Guideline F• A family of 4 will add 2 gallons of humidity per day through everyday activities like breathing, cooking, bathing and washing.• Evaporative capacities assume blower is active 100% of the time, plenum temperature is at 120˚F and water is cold.
HUMIDIFIER SIZING CHART (8' CEIL INGS)
STRUCTURE TIGHTNESS 1000 FT2 1500 FT2 2000 FT2 2500 FT2 3000 FT2 4000 FT2 5000 FT2
HUMIDITY NEEDED*
TIGHT 4.3 6.4 8.5 10.6 12.7 17 21.2
AVERAGE 8.6 12.8 17 21.3 25.4 34 42.6
LOOSE 12.7 19.1 25.5 31.8 38.1 51 63.6
Volume of Humidified Area
Thevolumecanbedeterminedfromafloorplanorfrommeasurements
takenwithinthehome.It’simportanttodeterminethevolume,notjust
thesquarefeet.Careshouldbetakentodetermineceilingheightor
anyopenspacesuchasvaultedceilings.Ifthebasementisheatedand
ventilated,itsvolumeshouldalsobeincluded.
Air Change Rate (InfiltrationorVentilation)
Theamountofinfiltrationwasprobablycalculatedwhencomputing
theheatingandcoolingload.
AHRI defines structure types as follows:• Tight construction–½airchangesperhourofairinfiltration,well
insulatedwithvaporretarders,tightstormdoors,windowswith
weatherstripping.
• Average construction– 1airchangeperhourofair infiltration,
insulatedwithvaporretarders,loosestormdoorsandwindows,
damperedfireplace.
• Loose construction–1-½airchangesperhourofairinfiltration,
usually built before 1930with little or no insulation, no storm
doors, no insulated windows, no weather stripping, no vapor
retarders,undamperedfireplace.
AHRIhas also establisheda standardguideline fordetermining
capacity ratings,whichprovidesameansofcomparingproduct
specifications.Capacityisdeterminedbytheoutputofthedevice
asifitoperated24hoursperday.(AHRIGuidelineF2008)
Humidification Load Determination
Thetypicalfamilyoffourwillgenerate2.0gallonsperdayofmoisture
frominternalsourcessuchascooking,showeringandbreathing.This
amountcanbesubtractedwhensizingahumidifier.
15
Sizing a humidifier is similar to sizing a heating and cooling system. The humidifier capacity required will be determined by various factors, including: the volume of area being humidified, the air change rate (infiltration or ventilation) and humidification load.
Determining the correct level of indoor relative humidity requires consideration of more than one variable. Humidity conditions that are ideal for comfort may be less ideal for other reasons. For instance, an indoor RH of 60% may be comfortable for a home’s residents, but could also damage walls and furnishings. Condensation or fogging on windows is usually a sign that indoor RH levels are too high. This same condensation could also be taking place inside walls and other areas vulnerable to damage from excessive moisture.
The best humidity control plan will set safe limits for indoor RH that achieve maximum benefits without damage or condensation. The table below shows the recommended indoor RH based on outdoor temperature.
Outdoor Temperature (˚F) Recommended Humidity (%)
+40 45%
+30 40%
+20 35%
+10 30%
0 25%
-10 20%
-20 15%
16
Humidity Control
Continuous Automatic Control – 24/7
AprilairehumidifiersfeatureAutomaticHumidifierControl.Thissystemmonitorstheoutdoortemperatureandautomaticallyadjuststhe
humidifiersothatitprovidestheoptimumRHleveltothehome.Thisset-it-and-forget-itcontrolallowsthehumidifiertoalwaysprovidethe
optimumhumiditylevelandcanprovideupto50%moremoisturethanotherhumidifiers.
Theoptimumlevelsofrelativehumidityinthehomefluctuatewiththechangeinoutdoortemperature.AnAprilaireautomatichumidifier,
evaporativeorsteam,continuallymonitorsandrespondstobothoutdoortemperaturesandindoorrelativehumidity,deliveringoptimum
levelsofhumiditythroughoutthehome.Thereisnoneedtomonitorthesettings.
RECOMMENDED INDOOR HUMIDITY LEVELS
Digital Control:
Digitalcontrolprovidesmoreaccuracyandinformation.
Know your relative humidity. (1)
Backlitdisplayprovidesthecurrenthumiditylevelinthehome.
Know when the system is running. (2)
Thegreenlightclearlyshowsthatthehumidifierisup,runningand
protectingthehome,comfortandhealth.
Know when to replace the water panel. (3)
The“smart”featuremeasuresusageofthewaterpanel,and
indicateswhenit’stimeforreplacement.
Know immediately when service is needed. (4)
Theredlightindicatesthatserviceisneeded,whilethedigital
displayprovidestheservicecodethatthecontractorcanuseto
isolatethecause,savingtimeandmoney.
TomodulatethesteamoutputoftheModel801,amodulatingcontrolmustbeused.
WhenthemodulatingcontroldetectsRHbelowthesetpoint,thehumidifierenergizestheelectrodesinthecanistertoprovidesteam.
Humidificationmayberequiredwhenthereisnoneedforheatingorcooling.Forthistooccur,theHVACsystem’sblowermustbeactivated
beforesteamisintroducedtotheduct.IfthemodulatingcontroldoesnotactivatetheHVACsystemonacallforhumiditywerecommend
usingabloweractivationrelay.Themodulatingcontrolwillvarythemodulatingsteamhumidifier’soutputbasedonthedifferencebetween
thesetpointandactualRH.Themodulatingcontrolsendsaproportionalsignaltothemodulatingsteamhumidifierprovidingprecisecontrol
ofthelivingspacehumidity.HumiditycanalsobedistributeddirectlyintothelivingspaceviatheFanPack.RefertotheModel866operation
andspecificationsformoredetail.
Modulating Humidifier Control Operation
Blower activation on/off. (5)Bloweractivation“on”willturntheHVACbloweron
forhumidification,“off”willrunonlyduringaheatcall.
1
3
2
5
4
17
P.O.Box1467Madison,WI53701-1467
800.334.6011 F:608.257.4357
AprilairePartners.com FormNo.252•2666413.16©2016Aprilaire – Division of Research Products Corporation
APRILAIRE HUMIDIFIERS
MODEL NO. TYPE OF HUMIDIFICATIONUNIT SIZE
widthxheightxdepthPLENUMOPENING
CAPACITY gpd=gallons
perday
ELECTRICAL DATA
400* 400M**
Bypass Unit Uses100%ofwaterandevaporativetechnologythateliminatestheneedforadrain.Conserves Water.
15.375" x 15.75" x 10.25"*
6" dia. round opening
See note on heat pumps†
W: 10"H: 12.75"
17 gpd24V-60Hz0.5 AMP
500* 500M**
Bypass UnitDesignedforsmallerhomes.
15.625" x 13" x 10.25"
6" dia. round opening
W: 9.5" H: 9.5"
12 gpd24V-60Hz0.5 AMP
600* 600M**
Bypass Unit–UsesthefurnaceblowertomoveairthroughaWaterPanel®.
15.375" x 15.75" x 10.25"
6" dia. round openingW: 10"
H: 12.75"17 gpd
24V-60Hz0.5 AMP
700* 700M**
Powered Unit –Built-infanthatpullsheatedairdirectlyfromthefurnace.
15.90625" x 18" x 10.34375"W: 14.75"
H: 14.3125"18 gpd
120V-60Hz0.8 AMP
800 801***
Steam HumidifierForapplicationswhenevaporativeunitsarelesspractical(attics,crawlspaces,closets,milderwinterclimates,non-forcedairheatingsource).
10.125" x 20.875" x 7.125" N/A
120V-60Hz 11.5 AMP
120V-60Hz 16 AMP
208V-60H 11.5 AMP
208V-60H 16 AMP
240V-60Hz 11.5 AMP
240V-60Hz 16 AMP
865 866***
Ductless Humidification SystemIncludestheModel800,FanPack,Model65ControlandModel4028DrainTrap.
Fan Pack: 14" x 6.875" x 5"
Finished Grille 17.0625" x 7.8125"
N/A
700
Seri
es50
0 Se
ries
600
Seri
es40
0 Se
ries
*Automatic Digital Control (shown)
** Manual Control - For those rare occurrences where an automatic control is not practical, Aprilaire digital control can be installed in manual mode while still delivering the accuracy and information you need for optimum performance.
*** 801 & 866 Modulating Steam Humidifier - For precise RH control. Controls are sold separately.
† Heat Pumps – Model 400 can be installed in heat pump applications. However, due to the fact that heat pumps deliver lower temperature air to the home than gas furnaces, evaporation will be approximately 60% of rated capacity. (With other Aprilaire models, hot water can be used instead of cold to maximize evaporation. However, due to the nature of the wicking water panel in the Model 400 hot water provides less benefit.) As such, your dealer will need to take the size and age of your home into consideration to ensure the Model 400 will provide satisfactory comfort and protection through adequate humidification.
Warranty – All Aprilaire models are warranted for five (5) years from date of installation for parts.
Heat Pumps – Plumbing the humidifier to hot water is recommended on all heat pump installations or if it is installed to operate independently of a call for heat. (See ^NOTE for Model 400)
Bypass Humidifiers – Can be installed on the supply or return plenum.
Water Usage Rate – Models 350, 360 and 700 are 6 gph (gph=gallons per hour); Models 500 and 600 are 3 gph; Model 400 is 0.7 gph; Model 800 is 0.6 to 1.8 gph depending on voltage, amp draw and water quality.
800
Seri
es
5-YEARBUMPER to BUMPER
WARRANTY
11.5 gpd
34.6 gpd
16.0 gpd
20.5 gpd
30.0 gpd
23.3 gpd