Adding a whole-house humidifier can help decrease cold-weather ailments in Woodbridge like flaky skin, a dry nose and cracked lips. Since it operates with your heating system, you don’t have to carry a portable humidifier from room to room, sloshing water as you go.
Since this system connects to your HVAC system, ductwork and plumbing, you’ll want to request professional whole-house humidifier installation from an HVAC company like Fire & Ice HVAC. Whole-house humidifier cost depends based on the kind of humidifier you want and how long it takes us to install it.
To help you choose the best whole-house humidifier for your needs, let’s review the different models and their estimated fee.
Drum Whole-House Humidifier
Drum humidifiers are the most often installed model as they’re the most affordable. They typically run between $150–$250 plus installation, according to national averages compiled by HomeAdvisor. They add humidity to your home by using a padded spinning wheel, which moves up and dissolves water.
They’re available as bypass, which runs when your heating system is heating, or fan-powered, which runs by itself. However, the decreased price tag also is accompanied by a greater need for maintenance to stop mold.
A drum humidifier uses an evaporative pad to send moisture across your home. Depending on how regularly you use the humidifier, you’ll want to change this pad at least annually.
Flow-Through Whole-House Humidifier
As the name says, flow-through humidifiers move water through an evaporator pad to produce humidity. They run between $200–$300, plus installation, according to national averages put together by HomeAdvisor.
They use more water when compared to a drum style, but the likelihood of mold is lower since the liquid drains once the humidification cycle is done. You can choose between bypass and fan models, but you’ll still be required to install a new pad at least every year.
Steam Whole-House Humidifier
A steam humidifier is considered the greatest efficiency and needs the least amount of extra work, as it doesn’t have to have a pool of water or an evaporative pad. Depending on the extras you need, they can be priced at from $300 to more than $1,000, plus installation, according to national averages put together by HomeAdvisor.
Since they can run without your furnace being on, they may consume a bit more utilities than drum and flow-through types. However, the compromise is that they usually don’t have mold troubles.
Make Wintertime Better with a Whole-House Humidifier from Fire & Ice HVAC
Although a whole-house humidifier is more expensive than a portable model, it offers many benefits a single-room model can’t. Some of those advantages involve:
- Keeping wood flooring, cabinets and furniture from wearing out
- Creating a better space for family members who suffer from respiratory conditions, like asthma
- Alleviating common winter complaints, like scratchy skin or cracked lips
- Decreasing static electricity
Ready to enjoy a more comfy heating season while at your home? Our Fire & Ice HVAC specialists can help you find the ideal whole-house humidifier for your home. Give us a call at 703-595-4157 right away to start the process.