FAQs
Will the humidifier work on my furnace?
All Desert Spring humidifiers are designed for application on any forced air gas, electric or oil burning furnace. For Heat Pumps, we recommend the Rotary Disc model as it’s best suited to deal with the lower discharge temperatures of these heating systems.
Is this a D-I-Y project that I can complete myself?
Only models DS3200 (Rotary Disc) and DS2800 (Drum) are designed for DIY projects. Models DS-PFT and DS-PXL are strictly for professional installation by HVAC and/or plumbing contractors. Carefully review the installation manual before deciding to proceed. A typical installation project takes a few hours and requires some light assembly, cutting and drilling of the duct work, a connection to a copper water line with a self-piercing saddle valve and a few low voltage wire connections.
My forced-air furnace is horizontal mount, will that work?
The orientation of the furnace is not important. It will work on up flow, down flow and horizontal configurations. What is important is to check for sufficient access space to mount the unit on the cold air return duct
My home has radiant heating (in-floor, electric baseboard, hydronic, etc.), can I still install the Desert Spring humidifier?
No, these humidifiers are designed only for application on forced air furnaces.
My home has a high-velocity (HV) heating system, can I still install the Desert Spring humidifier?
All Desert Spring humidifiers require a sturdy piece of duct to support its weight. Generally HV systems use flexible ducts, so some means of support for the unit must be created. The airflow through the humidifier must also be reduced to roughly 800 feet per minute. Also see notes on attic installations below.
My home contains a non-metal, fiber board duct system, is that a problem?
Installation on fiber board duct will require additional means of support to carry the full weight of the humidifier. Solutions are site-specific, but could include a floor stand, or alternatively a hanging bracket from the ceiling. The mounting plate screws should also be re-enforced on the front of the duct with a small metal plate, or oversized washers.
Can I mount a Desert Spring humidifier unit in ceiling space/crawl space that is unheated?
Care must be taken to ensure the humidifier is not subjected to freezing as this will damage the unit and may cause leaks. Units located above a ceiling should also include the installation of the overflow line. Also keep in mind that some routine maintenance is required so convenient service access is an important consideration.
Does it matter which side of the furnace I mount the unit on? The hot supply or cold return air side?
Preferred installation for DS3200 Rotary Disc and DS2800 Drum humidifiers is on cold air return side, but can also be mounted on hot air supply side. Preferred mounting for Flow-through models DS-PFT and DS-PXL is hot air supply side, but can also be mounted on cold air return side. In either case, provision must be made to isolate the humidifier from the supply air duct during the cooling season when the unit is not in use. The humidistat control must always be mounted up stream from humidifier on cold air side.
My home has hard water, how will this affect my Desert Spring humidifier?
The DS2800 Drum and DS-PFT/DS-PXL Pulsed Flow-Through units require replacement of the evaporative water panel or drum pad when clogged or dirty. Generally, the Rotary Disc system is the best choice for hard water applications, but it also requires removal of mineral accumulation in the basin in order to keep the disc wheel rotating freely and the disc surface clean of calcium build up which can deteriorate performance.
My home has a water softener installed, how will this affect my Desert Spring humidifier?
A water softener does not remove calcium, but works to keep the calcium suspended in hard water. As a result, there is an increase in the total load of precipitate that results from evaporation. Therefore, homes with soft water generally require more maintenance than homes with hard water. However, the resultant precipitate from water treated with softener is more liquid (slurry-like) than ordinary calcium, so soft water precipitate may be easier to clean. In some severe cases, the fine softener salts can be carried in the vapour and condense inside the ductwork leaving a fine white dust film. NB: In-line water filters do not work with soft water.
I have a germicidal UV light installed in my HVAC system. Will this affect the plastic of the humidifier?
Ultraviolet light can cause colour shift or structural degradation to all plastic HVAC materials. The UV lamps should be a minimum of 3 feet from direct exposure to any plastic fabricated devices. If practical, protect exposed plastic or rubber materials with ultraviolet resistant material such as aluminum foil duct tape.
How is my HRV/ERV affected by the humidifier?
An HRV will exhaust humidity to the outside. An ERV unit transfers some of the humidity back to the incoming air, but ERV’s are generally not used in cold climates as the incoming air can freeze the moisture transfer surface.
Can I use my humidifier during the cooling season with my air conditioner?
No, the two products are not compatible. An air-conditioner lowers the temperature of the air and thereby removes the moisture as well so any humidity entering the system is immediately removed by the air-conditioning coil. At the end of the heating season, the humidifier should be shutdown.
Will the Desert Spring humidifier affect my furnace filter?
No, not if the airflow in the furnace is properly set up for the type of filter used and the filter is properly maintained. In rare cases where the filter has become sufficiently dirty, the air stream will experience a sudden and severe pressure drop and some moisture may condense out on the filter. If this occurs, check your filter.
Will the Desert Spring humidifier rust the furnace and ductwork?
No, all Desert Spring humidifiers are passive evaporative devices. Therefore the air will only carry what it can hold in the by-pass air stream. Only active systems such as steam and spray (misting) units can introduce excess moisture when not properly installed or maintained.
Where should I locate the humidistat control?
The most convenient location is on the return air ductwork, upstream of the humidifier. In this spot, it will sense the average blended air returning from the home and control the humidifier on this basis.
I run my furnace on continuous fan mode, is that ok?
There are many benefits to running your furnace fan continuously. Modern furnaces have a low speed setting for continuous operation (refer to furnace manual). When set to continuous operation, air is constantly circulated and filtered. Compared to other evaporative humidifiers, the DS3200 Rotary Disc is most effective when operating with room temperate airflow.
My old humidifier was wired into my furnace. Can I use this wiring to power my new Desert Spring humidifier?
Yes, as long as the power source is 24Volts AC. The DS3200 Rotary Disc and DS2800 Drum humidifiers come complete with its own power source to allow it to operate independent of the furnace heat cycle.
Is a floor drain required?
The DS-PFT and DS-PXL require floor drains. The DS3200 Rotary Disc requires a floor drain if installed with the optional AutoFlush, or optional overflow kit. The DS2800 Drum unit has an overflow device that requires a drain.