Aprilaire 600m or Trane THUMD300, and will my 802 t-stat control it?

Hello,

I have a 5 year old Trane XV95 100k BTU Furnace, along with Trane 3 Ton A/C Unit, Cleaneffects air cleaner, and 802 Series Trane Touch Screen T-stat. Everything was installed new in late 2007. I am now in the market for whole house humidification. We had our first problem with the furnace this past week (gas valve), and while the tech was diagnosing and repairing, I was asking his opinion of whole house humidification. He recommended the Trane THUMD300 unit, and suggested I keep everything Trane since I was already at that point, but that he would forward my inquiry on to his sales rep, and they would call me. Received a call from a sales rep today, who instead recommended the Aprilaire 600m unit, stating parts and filters were easier to obtain. I am extremely handy, having built my own addition, detached garage, and everything from plumbing to electrical. I would like to install the humidifier myself, but now I'm not sure which one to get, and where. I see I can buy the Aprilaire units online for almost 1/4 of what my installer wants, but the tranes are a little harder to come buy. Any recommendations?

Also, I was curious if my T-Stat will control either of these without a separate controller?

Thanks!!

-Chris

 

The THUMD300 is just a rebadged Apirlaire unit, and you are just paying for the name.

If you do go with the Aprilaire, and we can help you install it.

Your 803 does have a humidity sensor, BUT it does not have hook up to control the humidifier, and the variable speed blower for summer humidity control.

If you want the a t-stat the can control your humidity in the summer and winter, I'd suggest you to upgrade it to the Honeywell IAQ mode w/ the EIM.

 

Thanks for the reply Jay11J,

I kinda figured the Trane unit was made by someone else, didn't know it was Aprilaire. If I did want to go with the Trane, can I even buy one without needing to go through a local Trane installer? Does this also mean the Trane should take a standard size Aprilaire filter, or do they do something to make it proprietary?

Looking at Honeywell's site per your suggestion, I see they offer various models of the IAQ stat. Prestige, VisionPro, True, etc.. Is there a particular one I should be looking at?

Last, someone also recommended the Honeywell True Steam humidifier. Is is worth the extra money?? Any suggestions on where to purchase?

Thanks again!!

-Chris

 

I don't think you may be able to buy just the Trane brand alone? Never had anyone come here asking on how to install one.

The pad size (at least the ones in the past) I've replaced were the same as Aprilaire.

Depends on what you want your t-stat to do? Keep it simple or go to town? Control it from your smartphone?

If you want to do steam, look at the Aprilaire 800. I like Honeywell products, but stay away from their steam.. Just seems to be a product that didn't get tested before it went out the door. (too many issues)

 

Ok, so after further research, I think I'm going to stick with Aprilaire, and a bypass unit instead of steam. Now, which Aprilaire unit.. 600 or 700. Smartphone control would be awesome, but I'd be more interested in the t-stat being able to control the blower, regardless of the call for heat...

So your also saying my 802 t-stat CAN sense humidity, but cannot be used? I have the 802, not the 803, I just checked.

Thanks for all the help!

 

Sorry, I mis read the model # on the t-stat.

Why whould you want to control the blower regardless of the call for heat?

 

I was thinking so that the Humidifier could humidify the air when necessary, regardless of the call for heat. It could activate the blower to allow the air to be humidified?

Also, I read another post on here where someone mentioned placing a jumper from w-2 to F on the thermostat, to light the red led when 2-nd stage is running. Does that work? I thought the displays on these t-stats were strictly green.

 

If you get the automatic humidistat from Aprilair, you could force the fan to run to add humidity into the air, but honestly, you are wasting water by doing that with out hot air to help with the water evaporation.

Yes, adding the jumper wire from W2 to F will turn on a red LED on the top corner of the t-stat case (You don't see it till it lights up). I did that when I had this style till I updated to the Honeywell IAQ stat.

 

Jay,

That makes sense, never thought about the requirement of hot air to aid in evaporation. So I guess my final decision is 600 or 700? Any Pro's or con's to either? I'll just get whatever control comes with it for now...

 

I'd suggest the 600A. That can be mounted on the return side, where the 700 has to be on the supply side.

I'd rather have the unit on the return side so if there's an issue with the unit on the water side, the water won't get into the furnace. Get the model that ends with the A, That is an automatic control.

 

That makes perfect sense to me. Last thing I want is water running down onto the A/C coil and furnace boards after a problem. 600 it is. It also looks like the A includes the outdoor temp sensor, and has the ability to run the blower regardless of heat (if i choose to enable it). That's exactly what i'm looking for, thanks for the recommendation!

I still cant believe my local installer quoted me $535 for the 600M, and I can purchase the 600A for $165 on Amazon and install it myself, that's nuts. Thanks again for all your help and advice. I know where to come if i run into any issues during installation!

 

Yeah, there will be more money if you had it installed.. They need to make money, pay for all the over heads and many other stuff.

 

You do have me thinking though... $165 for the 600A vs $128 for the 600M. I could take the difference and install a IAQ. You mentioned you have one, which model & options do you have? The prestige looks nice, but $$$. Another nice feature is the sensors are wireless (and there are more of them - indoor, outdoor, duct, etc.. so no drilling and fishing wires. Worth it though?

 

I have the VisionPro IAQ YTH9421c1010 with an outdoor sensor.

The VisionPro uses 3 wires from t-stat to EIM. Then you wire everything to the EIM from the furnace, humidifier, outdoor sensor, and air exchanger if you have one.

Only wire you'll have to fish is the wire for outdoor sensor.