What Every HVAC Contractor Misses About Humidification and Home Health with Chris Howells Part 2

In part 2 of this episode of the HVAC Know It All Podcast, host Gary McCreadie continues his conversation with Chris Howells, Senior Training and Development Manager at AprilAire. They discuss briefly about humidification, comparing steam and evaporative humidifiers, and explaining how to properly size and install them. Chris shares tips on using absorption distance to avoid condensation and highlights the role of dew point in home comfort. The episode also covers the health, comfort, and structural benefits of balanced humidity and encourages HVAC professionals to learn more about building science to better serve their customers.

Gary and Chris talk about how the right humidifier setup improves comfort and protects homes. Chris explains how to choose between steam and evaporative systems based on home size, air volume, and building tightness. They go over why absorption distance matters and how to avoid moisture problems in ductwork. Chris shares tips on using dew point to guide humidity levels and highlights the health and energy benefits of proper control. They wrap up with advice for techs to focus on education, not just sales, and to build trust by offering real solutions for better indoor air.

 

Expect to Learn:

• How to choose between steam and evaporative humidifiers based on home size and airflow.

• Why absorption distance is key to avoiding condensation in ductwork.

• The role of dew point in comfort and how it compares to relative humidity.

• How humidity affects health, energy use, and the life of building materials.

• Why building science knowledge helps HVAC pros solve hidden comfort issues.

 

Episode Highlights:

[00:00] - Intro to Chris Howells in Part 02

[01:21] - Water Quality & Humidifier Conductivity

[04:58] - Dispersion Tube Placement Guidelines

[06:55] - Effects of Low Humidity

[09:41] - Dew Point vs. Relative Humidity

[11:33] - Building Science in HVAC

[14:03] - AprilAire Overview

[16:45] - Ethical IAQ Solutions for Contractors

 

This Episode is Kindly Sponsored by:

Master: https://www.master.ca/

Cintas: https://www.cintas.com/

Cool Air Products: https://www.coolairproducts.net/

property.com: https://mccreadie.property.com

SupplyHouse: https://www.supplyhouse.com/tm
Use promo code HKIA5 to get 5% off your first order at Supplyhouse!

Follow the Guest Chris Howells on: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-howells-5aa32b64  

AprilAire : https://www.linkedin.com/company/aprilaire/ 

AprilAire (website): https://www.aprilaire.com/ 

 

Follow the Host:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-mccreadie-38217a77/ 

Website: https://www.hvacknowitall.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/HVAC-Know-It-All-2/61569643061429/  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hvacknowitall1/