“We see these as lasting shifts in homeowner and industry expectations, impacting not only humidifiers but across indoor air quality as a whole,” said Nicole Graeve, a senior product manager at AprilAire. “Homeowners expect efficiency, smart control, healthier air, and simple, effective humidification.”

“These aren’t short-term innovations — they’re long-term shifts in how consumers expect their homes to perform,” said Chrystal Jolliffe, an IAQ product manager at Carrier Global Corp. “Carrier is investing in these areas to ensure our products meet evolving needs.”

Humidifiers help maintain the ideal level of moisture in the indoor air, which ASHRAE recommends be kept at between 30% and 60% rh. When indoor humidity is too low, building occupants may experience dried-out skin and nasal passages and static shocks, and wood furniture may be subject to cracking and paint to peeling. When the humidity is too high it can trigger other health problems, such as asthma attacks, and contribute to conditions that can foster the growth of mold.

“The market is filled with creative, smart solutions. This is where a company can differentiate themselves, by coming up with innovative ways products can efficiently do this (properly humidify) while still delivering that delightful experience with attractive features that really matter to the end user,” said Divya Piskala, a product manager at Bosch Home Comfort. “So it goes without saying that it is important to keep up with the competition, market, and technology.”

The desire to improve energy efficiency is a major catalyst for evolving humidification technology.

“Energy efficiency is one of the central focuses in the HVAC industry,” said Piskala. “While humidifiers — especially the smaller stand-alone units — do not use a lot of electricity, larger humidifiers — especially the ones integrated into the core HVAC systems — can have a substantial energy footprint. Embracing energy efficiency is critical and essential.”

Humidifier controls that can be integrated with smart home systems play a role in equipment efficiency, as well as in increasing user convenience, said Sean Goddard, a coils and IAQ product manager at Trane Technologies.

“Without having to manually adjust, the system can adjust itself to better maximize efficiency, align with preferred heating and cooling schedules, and help a homeowner create a more comfortable environment right at their fingertips,” Goddard said.

Water conservation is also pushing humidifier development.

“We are also seeing trends toward sustainability and water conservation and have integrated innovative water recirculation technology into our newest evaporative humidifiers for water savings,” said Graeve.

AprilAire’s 720 Fan-Powered Humidifier, which was introduced last year, includes water-recirculation technology that increases output while reducing the amount of water going down the drain by 60% compared to its predecessor, Graeve said.

WATER-SAVING TECHNOLOGY: AprilAire’s 720 Fan-Powered Humidifier has a water recirculation valve that reduces the amount of wastewater by up to 60%. (Courtesy of AprilAire)

The 720 has a humidification capacity of 21 gallons per day.

“It also introduces install-friendly features like a reversible fan, adjustable speed-switch, and three-degrees-out-of-level tolerance,” Graeve said.

The AprilAire 620 Large Bypass Evaporative Humidifier, which was just introduced in August, has a capacity of 18 gallons a day and the same recirculation valve as the 720, meaning about 55% less wastewater, Graeve said. The valve distributes more water across the evaporator pad for optimum humidification.

“It also introduces new adjustable damper settings that allow you to optimize performance for higher-static-pressure systems,” Graeve said.

Trane’s bypass humidifiers have capacities of up to 17 gallons a day.

“This humidifier, in various sizes, delivers strong performance for a range of home sizes at a range of price points,” Goddard said.

Trane also features a fan-powered humidifier, with a capacity of up to 18 gallons a day.

“Fan-powered humidifiers adjust from summer to winter to provide the right amount of moisture for your home,” Goddard said. “There’s an interior fan to facilitate the evaporation of water that is released to drip down the inside panel when the thermostat sends a call for humidity. Your furnace or air handler then blows the air throughout your home.” The fan-powered humidifier assists in cleaning the air when matched to a Trane CleanEffects Whole Home Air Cleaner, Goddard said.

The humidifier works independently of heating equipment to maintain desired humidity levels even when the heat is not on, Goddard added.

CARRIER PERFORMANCE: Carrier’s Performance Large Fan-Powered Humidifier has a capacity of up to 18 gallons a day. (Courtesy of Carrier Global Corp.)

Carrier offers the Performance Large Fan-Powered Humidifier, which also can produce up to 18 gallons of water vapor a day.

“For HVAC technicians, the compact design, quiet motor, and precision-tuned fan make it a favorite for ease of installation and long-term reliability,” Jolliffe said.

Steam humidification is gaining popularity, Jolliffe said, for its “flexibility, precision, and high output” and can be a good solution for larger homes.

Carrier’s Performance Steam Humidifier, Jolliffe said, delivers up to 34 gallons of moisture a day and installs directly into ductwork.

“Trending features include steam-based precision control using the system fan, but independent operation from the call for heating or air conditioning, making it ideal for large homes,” she said. “For technicians, it offers a heavy-gauge sheet metal cabinet, a quiet dispersion tube, and easy access for maintenance — streamlining installation and service.”