We will be discussing the installation of an Aprilaire 600 Bypass Evaporative Pad Humidifier on a natural gas furnace which operates on 120 volts. Heat Pump Air Handlers and Electric Furnaces operate at 240-240 Volts and are probably best left to the professionals. If you don't have a floor drain you may need to consider the Aprilaire 400 which re circulates it's own water. Even though it is more expensive upfront, it won't require a condensate pump to drain the water! If you don't want to, or have not got room for adding any duct work, you may need the Aprilaire 700 which uses no duct work. All this said however, we feel the Aprilaire 600 is the BEST unit in general, IF WE CAN USE IT! The Aprilaire 600 type, by passes air from your supply air trunk or plenum, which then flows through the humidifier and back into your cold air return trunk or return drop. A vertical water panel will have water flowing down it, when there is a call for humidity, the hot air from your supply air will evaporate this water and put it into your home. A humidistat will be installed in your return duct to sense when humidity is actually needed. There will be a drain line attached to the bottom of the humidifier which will carry off excess water and any built up minerals from the last cycle. This draining feature makes these types much healthier and also require very little maintenance. The other types of humidifiers will require more cleaning.
WHAT TOOLS WILL I NEED?
A Volt/Ohm meter is helpful and should be used if you have one, but we have included a simple way to be sure the power is off further on. The 1/4" nut driver, a small pocket flat head screwdriver, adjustable wrench, pliers, 1/4" tubing cutters and sheet metal cutters are a MUST. A hammer will come in handy for starting a hole in the sheet metal with the edge of a screwdriver.
THE A 50 RELAY
If you have an old furnace you will probably need to install a relay which will only let the humidifier run if the furnace blower is running so that you don't rust out the bottom of your furnace from over humidification. This relay is an Aprilaire A50 Relay. So first lets see if you need the relay. Go to your furnace and shut the main power off either at the switch near the furnace or by shutting off the main circuit breaker or removing the fuse at the main electrical panel. Remove the blower door and see if you have a Printed Circuit Board. If you have a Printed Circuit Board look to see if there are terminals marked HUM ( stands for humidifier ). If you have this terminal we will now need to find out if this terminal is supplying 24 volts or 120 volts.
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