How Much Does a Whole-House Humidifier Cost?

December 23, 2020

Adding a whole-house humidifier can help decrease winter problems in Pella including flaky skin, a dry nose and flaking lips. Because it works with your heating system, so you don’t have to carry a portable humidifier from room to room, sloshing water as you go.

As this system connects to your HVAC system, ductwork and plumbing, you’ll want to book pro whole-house humidifier installation from an HVAC company like Van Haaften Plumbing & Heating. Whole-house humidifier cost varies due to the type of humidifier you want and how long it takes us to install it.

To help you find the best whole-house humidifier for your house, let’s go over the different types and their estimated costs.

Drum Whole-House Humidifier

Drum humidifiers are the most popular type since they’re the most economical. They usually are priced between $150–$250 plus installation, according to national averages compiled by HomeAdvisor. They add moisture to your house through a padded moving wheel, which lifts and evaporates water.

They’re available as bypass, which runs when your heating system does, or fan-powered, which operates by itself. However, the smaller price tag also is accompanied by a higher need for maintenance to prevent mold.

A drum humidifier relies on an evaporative pad to distribute moisture around your house. Depending on how regularly you turn on the humidifier, you’ll have to put in a new pad at least annually.

Flow-Through Whole-House Humidifier

As the name says, flow-through humidifiers move water through an evaporator pad to make humidity. They run between $200–$300, plus installation, according to national averages put together by HomeAdvisor.

They use more water than a drum model, but the potential for mold is reduced because the moisture flows away once the humidification cycle is done. You can have your choice of bypass and fan models, but you’ll still be required to replace the pad at least every year.

Steam Whole-House Humidifier

A steam humidifier is known as the greatest efficiency and requires the smallest amount of service, because it doesn’t require a reservoir of water or an evaporative pad. Depending on the options you want, they can cost from $300 to more than $1,000, plus installation, according to national averages from HomeAdvisor.

Since they can operate without your furnace being on, they might require somewhat more utilities than drum and flow-through models. However, the benefit is that they typically don’t involve mold troubles.

Make Cold Weather Better with a Whole-House Humidifier from Van Haaften Plumbing & Heating

Although a whole-house humidifier costs more than a portable model, it offers many advantages a single-room model can’t. A couple of those advantages include:

  • Keeping wood flooring, cabinets and furniture from cracking
  • Developing a better space for household members who suffer from respiratory conditions, like asthma
  • Alleviating usual winter complaints, like rough skin or chapped lips
  • Lowering static electricity

Want to enjoy a more pleasant heating season while indoors? Our Van Haaften Plumbing & Heating pros can help you find the ideal whole-house humidifier for your budget. Give us a call at 641-628-3621 right away to get started.