What is a humidistat?

[livsea2]

I read references to a humidistat and how it saves money on AC bills. What exactly is a humidistat? Surely it has something to do with humidity, does it remove it? Where is it installed? In the air handler? What does one cost installed? Is it hard to install? I have installed humidifiers in my home furnace but I think a humidistat may be just the opposite? Thanks for any answers. ;)

[Russ_Boston]

Try this post for info: https://www.talkofthevillages.com/smf/index.php/topic,6017.0.html

It basically is just another way to control the air unit. Instead of picking a temperature you pick a humidity level. The AC unit will come on if either setting get tripped. At least that is my understanding after reading the thread.

[Barefoot]

Talk to Munns A/C Company. They will give you a complete explanation and explain the costs. Munns serviced our air conditioning unit and installed a dehumidistat . We are seasonal residents and are saving around $120 a month (compared to people running their A/C full time).

[Bryant]

Saving $120 per month? My electric bill due in August for a 1550 sq. ft. home is $98.22 with thermostat set at a constant 77 degrees for air conditioning and 68 degrees for heat (gas heat). Perhaps you are total electric or have a very large home?

[Barefoot]

My electric bill due in August for a 1550 sq. ft. home is $98.22 with thermostat set at a constant 77 degrees for air conditioning and 68 degrees for heat (gas heat).

Um, interesting. I've had a couple of peeps PM me about their electrical bills and they were saying they are running $140 per month for air conditioning in the summer. Perhaps they just like it very cool. Based on your bill, I'd only be saving $70.00 per month.

[Russ_Boston]

Or perhaps Bryant just likes it warm. 77? I guess you get acclimated to the heat. I keep my AC here up north at 72.

[shighsmi]

We are only part timers right now. Bought a new dedigner in Hadley. We had the humidistat installed. Our total electric bill for July was 28.00 leave the thermostat set on 78. What the humidistat does is overide the thermostat and will not turn on until humidity reches 60%. It has been well worth the cost to install.

[JohnM]

Our total electric bill for July was 28.00 leave the thermostat set on 78.


Do you have anything else on, e.g., refrigerator?

[JohnnyM]

We understood from our Munn's representative that only or mostly residents away from their home for long periods of time should install one. If you are living in TV, you assume everyday control. As Barefoot has stated if you are gone for months at a time a humidistat can save you a few dollars on the A/C bill.

[Sidney Lanier]

We are snowbirds, and so far (not very much time) it's been our experience that all our bills are considerably lower than what we had anticipated. We just bought a digital thermostat and a dehumidistat and when we get back to TV will have Munn's technician install them. (I would ordinarily do this myself, but in this case, since we have a service contract with them, I would just as soon pay them to do the installation, and that way if there's any problem, they'll take care of it.) And yes, it is my understanding that it will benefit us more for the months that we are not living in our home in TV.

[lm01]

A friend of mine installed one and it malfunctioned. There home in Florida was covered in black mold when they came back.

I wonder how much they saved?

[Russ_Boston]

You know I bought a new car once and it had a problem. Think I ever bought another new car? Of course - things break.

It doesn't mean the concept isn't good. For every 1 that malfunctions there may be 1000 that work as advertised.

[JohnnyM]

I don't think the failing humidistat would cause mold to occur. The A/C would still function with or without the humidistat. I would think it was a power failure which knocked out the A/C causing the mold problem over a period of time. IMHO

[shighsmi]

Yes we leave our refrigerator on turn ice maker and hotwater heater off. We also leave the clock on the microwve and stove as well as a clock in a bedroom on as well.

[l2ridehd]

One more reason to have your home checked weekly.

[JUREK]

I don't think the failing humidistat would cause mold to occur. The A/C would still function with or without the humidistat. I would think it was a power failure which knocked out the A/C causing the mold problem over a period of time. IMHO


JohnnyM:
You are correct. They possibly had the A/C set way too high if the Humidistat did fail. To everyone else, If you are smarter than a 5th grader, buy one at ACE about $30. Install it in 15 minutes and you're done

[Barefoot]

A friend of mine installed one and it malfunctioned. There home in Florida was covered in black mold when they came back.

We have Village Watchdogs check our home every two weeks for any malfunctions. We also unplugged our fridge. I think our last monthy electric bill wa $17.00.

Jurek, we checked with Ace Hardward at Southern Trace before we called Munns. They said they didn't stock humidistats.

[Ooper]

livsea2... this thread has seemed to get sidetracked a bit. But to plain and simply answer you original question... a humidstat is a controller like a thermostat, but instead of sensing and controlling temperature, it senses or measures and controls relative humidity. A humidistat may be used to control either humidifying or dehumidifying equipment. It does not add mumidity nor does it reduce humidity. It simply controls other devices that do that. Hope this helps you! :bigthumbsup:

[JUREK]

We have Village Watchdogs check our home every two weeks for any malfunctions. We also unplugged our fridge. I think our last monthy electric bill wa $17.00.

Jurek, we checked with Ace Hardward at Southern Trace before we called Munns. They said they didn't stock humidistats.


Barefoot: I tried 3 Ace stores before I found one. I believe the one on 466 had them in stock, the other stores didn't carry them..Being a snow bird my neighbors also check house periodicly.

OOOper: yes you hit the nail on the head. :bigthumbsup: :bigthumbsup:

[barb1191]

Just a little feedback....FYI

As snowbirds, I received my SECO bill today while we're up North for the Summer, and much to my surprise, it's exactly 50% less than I paid last year at this time, before installing the humidistat.

Upon doing a bit of research on our usage before we had our humidistat installed last March (in preparation for the hot summer a/c charges), I find that our electric bills have been cut in half.

Wish I had known about this little doo-dad upon moving here seven years ago. It will pay for itself over and over again, for sure. Highly recomnended for Snowbirds/flakes/balls, or whatever the terminology is now. :dontknow:

barb