Many building owners are noticing the water meter spin a little faster as humidifiers energize to compensate for a steady dose of cool, dry ventilation air. Water conservation is becoming more important because of ever-increasing consumption and treatment costs. If not properly controlled or maintained, humidification systems are capable of consuming a great deal more water than would normally be required, resulting in higher water bills and higher heating utility bills. The data in this report can be used to analyze the impact that the weather has on humidifier performance and calculate the associated water consumption and energy costs.
The amount of moisture required to maintain a desired space relative humidity (rh) is directly related to the amount of outside air introduced. In a humidified building or space, moisture is constantly lost in the warm, moist air leaving the building either by natural or mechanical means. The exhaust air is replaced with cool, dry outdoor air, which requires moisture to maintain the rh setpoint. The humidification data in this report is the amount of moisture per cfm of outdoor air required to maintain a minimum 30% space rh at 70 degrees F. It is calculated hourly based on the differential between the outdoor air humidity ratio and the space humidity ratio at setpoint.