Bypass humidifier with damper control

A method for humidifying air in an air stream with a bypass humidifier having a housing that defines at least part of a bypass air path, the housing defining an inlet port and an outlet port, wherein the inlet port is configured to be connected to a first duct and the outlet port is configured to be connected to a second duct, wherein the bypass air path extends from the first duct to the second duct through the housing, the humidifier also having a humidifier pad disposed within the housing fluidly between the inlet port and the outlet port such that at least some of the bypass air flowing in the bypass air path flows through the humidifier pad, the housing having a front, a back, a top, a bottom and two lateral sides defined at least in part by two lateral side panels, wherein the inlet port is in the back of the housing and the outlet port is in one of the two lateral sides of the housing, and wherein the housing has one or more removable covers disposed within openings in one or more of the two lateral side panels of the housing to reveal access apertures such that the humidifier pad is replaceable through the access apertures in one or more of the two lateral side panels of the housing while the front side of the housing remains stationary, the humidifier further having a damper in the housing that is configured to selectively block or allow the flow of bypass air through the bypass air path, the method comprising the steps of:

• having the damper open to allow the flow of bypass air in the bypass air path when an air handler is active and when a call for humidity is present;
• having the damper closed to block the flow of bypass air in the bypass air path when the call for humidity is not present;
• removing one or more of the removable covers in one or more of the two lateral side panels of the housing to reveal one or more access apertures while at least part of the front side of the housing remains stationary;
• replacing the humidifier pad through the one or more revealed access apertures in one or more of the two lateral side panels of the housing while at least part of the front side of the housing remains stationary;
• and
• replacing the one or more of the removable covers in one or more of the two lateral side panels of the housing.

A humidifier system for adding humidity to an air stream of an HVAC system, the humidifier system comprising:

• an air path configured to transport air from a first HVAC duct and return air to a second HVAC duct;
• a humidifier having a housing including a front, a back, a top, a bottom and two lateral sides defined at least in part by two lateral side panels, the housing having one or more removable covers disposed within openings in one or more of the two lateral side panels of the housing to reveal one or more access apertures such that a humidifier pad is replaceable through the one or more access apertures in the one or more of the two lateral side panels of the housing, wherein at least part of the air in the air path flows through the humidifier from an inlet port in the back of the housing to an outlet port in one of the two lateral sides of the housing;
• a damper disposed in the air path and configured to selectively close to substantially block the flow of air in the air path, and to open to substantially not block the flow of air in the air path;
• a controller configured to open the damper during a call for humidity, wherein the call for humidity activates the humidifier;
• and
• a sensor to detect a position of the damper.