humidification product guide

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

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LATI

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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.


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

12

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




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


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

humidification product guide

Documents