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From: dkatz@zaphod.UUCP (Dave Katz)
Newsgroups: net.consumers
Subject: Re: Furnace Humidifiers
Message-ID: <417@zaphod.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 7-Mar-86 10:08:17 EST
Article-I.D.: zaphod.417
Posted: Fri Mar  7 10:08:17 1986
Date-Received: Sun, 9-Mar-86 08:35:42 EST
References: <4@mit-prep.ARPA> <1131@lsuc.UUCP>
Reply-To: dkatz@zaphod.UUCP (Dave Katz)
Organization: Develcon Electronics, Saskatoon, SK
Lines: 19
Summary: 


If you have leaky walls, then when the temperature is below freezing the
excess humidity will penetrate the walls and form ice inside the
(hopefully) insulated space.  The result is lost R-value ( insulating
strength) in the short term leading to higher fuel bills, and trapped
moisture in the longer term leading to wood rot.

In any house that does not have a very sound vapor barrier, the humidity
should be kept as low a tolerable during the winter.

The manufacturers recommended humidity settings are little more than the
maximum humidity that can be supported in a house with double glazed
windows without getting condensation on the glass.  This may be
indicative of what is going on elsewhere in the structure.  In a well
sealed house with triple glazing, the recommendation would be for and RH
of about 39.2% when the outside temperature is -40 and inside is
"comfortable" (around 72F or 22C)

D.K.