Adding inline filter between water heater and humidifier?

[Wade Lippman]

The last two years my Honeywell humidifier hasn't worked because the tiny filter and even tinier orifice were clogged. I thought I would add an inline polypropylene filter between the water heater and the humidifier, hoping I could avoid the constant clogging.

I got a Hydronix ISF2512, but noticed that it says maximum is 100*. The water from the water heater will be hotter than that. Can I use this filter? If not is there one that is good for hot water?

 

[Smooky]

https://www.freshwatersystems.com/c-110-10-20-high-temp-filter-housings.aspx
https://www.freshwatersystems.com/search2.aspx?keywords=High+Temp+Filter

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Reach4]

I suspect that if you had softened water the clogging problem would go away.

Is your humidifier one that drains some water regularly, or one that only receives but does not drain water.

 

[Wade Lippman]

I suspect that if you had softened water the clogging problem would go away.

Is your humidifier one that drains some water regularly, or one that only receives but does not drain water.

There is a steady flow through the drain when it is working.
My old house never clogged in 25 years, but it was an Aprilaire.

 

[Reach4]

There is a steady flow through the drain when it is working.
My old house never clogged in 25 years, but it was an Aprilaire.

Did your old house have softer water?

 

[Jadnashua]

While the need for a humidifier tends to be an indicator of other functional problems in the house, I have one in my condo. It's an AprilAire that uses a flow-through design, with any excess going down the drain. At the end of the season, the entire evaporative panel is coated with mineral deposits, but it's never clogged.

Some installation instructions specify hot water, but I've never had issues just running it from the cold supply with no water softener.

 

[Wade Lippman]

Did your old house have softer water?

I don't think so. Both houses had water supplies from NY finger lakes, but different lakes. They ought to be similar.

 

[Reach4]

Check your aerators. If they have junk, I would consider adding a whole house cartridge filter.

I would flush my water heater anyway.

 

[Jadnashua]

It's not clear if you're dealing with sediment in the water (unlikely on a public water supply) or a mineral buildup from minerals dissolved in the water that precipitated out during evaporation (much more likely). Both can clog up a nozzle, but only sediment can be filtered out, the other requires a water softener to remove those minerals. Any minerals in the water will be left behind when the water evaporates. Those can clog all sorts of things.

 

[Jadnashua]

It's not clear if you're dealing with sediment in the water (unlikely on a public water supply) or a mineral buildup from minerals dissolved in the water that precipitated out during evaporation (much more likely). Both can clog up a nozzle, but only sediment can be filtered out, the other requires a water softener to remove those minerals. Any minerals in the water will be left behind when the water evaporates. Those can clog all sorts of things.

Some designs of humidifier work better than others, minimizing issues with their deposits. The only way around that is to use distilled water (softened water has fewer minerals than unsoftened water - true distilled water has none). Using hot water means it will evaporate quicker, and if it has minerals in it, leave them behind, possibly at an inappropriate place.