When the weather gets colder, the air in your home begins to lack moisture. Dry air can cause sore throat, eye irritation, dehydration and dry skin. People often try to avoid the cost of humidifier installation by buying portable humidifiers. However, these humidifiers do little to nothing in regulating the humidity in their homes.
Rather than spend money on portable humidifiers, install a whole-house humidifier in your home. They not only regulate humidity conditions in your house, but they also save you money. The cost of humidifier installation isn’t as expensive as many people think. However, it helps to know that humidifier installation prices vary from one installation company to the other.
Although many people consider installing their humidifiers themselves to save cost, it’s not a good idea. Installing humidifiers is a serious business and only certified professionals can handle the installation.
Considering installing a humidifier in your home but unsure of the cost? This article discusses all there is to know about how much installing humidifiers costs. Also, here, we break down the humidifiers by types and how they affect the installation cost.
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Types of Humidifiers
Just like furnaces, there are different types of humidifiers. While some humidifiers use the furnace in your home to circulate moisture, others are electrically powered. One typical example of an electrically powered humidifier is the steam humidifier.
Bypass humidifier
A bypass humidifier uses your homes’ furnace to add moisture to the air. It does this by collecting the warm air flowing in the heating ducts of your home. It then passes the air through a water tray allowing the air to absorb water in and in the process. The result of this process is humid air circulating throughout your home.
Additionally, bypass humidifiers need to have a proper water drainage system for their water supply. This can add to the overall cost you have to pay for humidifier installation.
However, if your home doesn’t have a drainage system for this humidifier, there is another option. You can decide to install drainless bypass humidifiers instead. This type of bypass humidifier consumes less water by reusing its water supply.
Steam humidifier
A steam humidifier is often regarded as the most effective way to circulate moisture in your home. This type of whole house humidifier uses electricity to boil water. The boiling process creates humidity by forming steam. The humidifier then picks up the steam and pushes it out through your home ventilation ducts.
Steam humidifiers are fast and they not only increase your home’s moisture level but maintain it. Also, the best way to circulate natural humidity in your home is by using steam humidifiers. They come with the added advantage of not having to rely on your home’s cooling or heating system.
Fan powered humidifiers
Although similar to a bypass humidifier, fan-powered humidifiers differ by using fans to circulate the humid air. The fan from the humidifier pushes air through the heating system’s water tray thereby Increasing water evaporation.
Unlike bypass humidifiers, fan-powered humidifiers are capable of producing about 3.785 litres more humidity daily. Also, fan-powered humidifiers help to cost down on your electricity bill.
In addition to this, the same energy a bulb of 25 watts consumes is what a fan-powered humidifier consumes. The reason is the fan-powered humidifier uses a flow-through system.
You can install it in small areas because it doesn’t necessarily need to use bypass ducts. Also, fan-powered humidifiers are ideal for homes with HVAC systems.
Portable humidifiers
Generally, portable humidifiers are categorized into five types. They are,
Cool mist humidifier
This type of humidifier blows cool air while adding moisture to it. It is very easy to clean and is great for warmer cities. Also, its water filter traps impurities from the water.
Warm mist humidifier
This is the opposite of the cool mist humidifier. It helps to treat cold and flu during the winter. The humidifier heats the water and creates a vapour that is released into the air. One advantage of a warm mist humidifier is that you can infuse inhalants to combat infections.
Ultrasonic humidifier
Ultrasonic humidifiers use a vibrating diaphragm that’s made of metal which releases moisture into the air. They are quiet and also consume very little energy.
One good thing about ultrasonic humidifiers is they give you the cool or warm mist option. They are great for children’s rooms as they are noiseless.
Vaporizer humidifiers
Just like ultrasonic humidifiers, vaporizers have the option of both cool and warm mist. When set to cool, they emit mist and cool the air. Likewise, when you set them to warm, they release visible steam.
However, you should be careful when using this type of portable humidifier. They consume lots of power and come with the risk of burns.
Evaporative humidifiers
An evaporative humidifier is similar to a cool-mist humidifier. The reason is they don’t need to create vapour by heating water. Also, they are self-regulating.
This means they automatically detect the room’s humidity level and adjust it accordingly. However, there is the risk of bacterial contamination because the water from the humidifier isn’t heated.
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Cost of Humidifier Installation
The cost of humidifier installation is an average of about $500. However, the cost of installing a humidifier is not fixed. The price varies from state to state and from company to company. Your humidifier installation costs can even be impacted by the humidifier brand.
Most homeowners spend more on electricity bills during winter because of their heating system. Meanwhile, having a whole-house humidifier installed in your home can provide you with warmth. Therefore, it is not an exaggeration to refer to humidifiers as indispensable and necessary.
Furthermore, heaters can make the air in your home relatively dry. However, a humidifier prevents you from experiencing the dryness that comes with the weather. Also, humidifiers can help you get rid of allergy symptoms.
The cost of humidifier installation is justified because of the benefits of installing a humidifier. You can use your humidifier to keep asthma and other respiratory illnesses at bay. Also, you will eventually find out that humidifiers prevent snoring. Dry air can cause the airways to be blocked which results in snoring.
Humidifier Installation Costs: DIY vs Hiring a Professional
The cost of humidifier installation motivates many into deciding to install their humidifiers themselves. They believe that installing a humidifier is expensive.
On the contrary, to install a humidifier, you do not have to break the bank. You only have to get a good technician that will be worth the humidifier installation prices. Because some humidifiers require a specific installation method, doing it yourself may ruin the humidifier.
Also, for electrically powered humidifiers, you’re putting yourself at risk by doing it yourself. Considering how much humidifiers cost, you may also be risking long-term damage that’s expensive to fix.
Factors that Influence the Cost of Humidifier Installation
Humidifier installation prices aren’t set in stone. The cost of humidifier installation is based on certain factors. However, it is important to realize that these factors vary from city to city.
One major factor influencing the pricing for humidifier installation is the expertise of the installer. Having an experienced installer to install your humidifier is more expensive than hiring a novice. Other factors to consider include:
Standard of living
One of the factors that affect the cost of humidifier installation is the standard of living in the city. The cost of installing humidifiers in high-brow areas is not the same as in rural areas. For instance, humidifier installation prices in Vaughan may be more expensive compared to Quebec.
The company
The company involved in the installation process greatly affects the cost of humidifier installation. The best installation companies employ technicians that are very efficient and effective.
However, due to their track record of delivering quality services, they may charge more. On the other hand, if it’s a company that isn’t well known, the cost of humidifier installation won’t be very expensive
Experience of the technician
The price of installation will vary if the technician that is about to carry out the task is quite experienced. Typically, technicians with no years of experience charge less. This is because they are just starting their careers as technicians. Hence the difference in humidifier installation pricing.
Size
Another factor that affects the cost of installing a humidifier is the size of the humidifier itself. Typically, the size of the whole house humidifier doesn’t necessarily mean it will do a better job. If you buy a humidifier that’s too large, you’ll only end up racking up exorbitant energy bills.
Humidifier installation technicians consider the size of the humidifier that they’re about to install before fixing a price. Typically, the size tells on the installation method the technicians will use. Consequently, this will affect the number of labour hours a technician will charge you for.
Additional installations
Another factor that affects the cost of humidifiers is the additional installations. Although a humidifier can function well and effectively by itself, some users generally prefer additional installations.
People opt for additional installations to their humidifier according to their preferences.
Also, additional installations help humidifiers work at their full potential. The additional installations can come in the form of ultraviolet air, vents and purifiers. These installations add to the comfort you get from the humidifiers.
Replacement
Replacing a faulty part is cheaper than buying a new one. When a part is faulty, the technician only charges for replacement. This is in stark contrast to a new installation where the total bill will include the cost of the humidifier.
Certification
Some cities require technicians to be certified before they can install humidifiers. For cities like this, the technicians usually charge more for installing a humidifier. This is because of the expenses associated with getting certified as a humidifier installer.
Also, it is risky to hire a technician who isn’t certified. Chances are they may not do a good job with the humidifier installation.
Type
Another contributing factor to the cost of installing a humidifier is the type of humidifier to be installed. Technicians charge based on the type of humidifier. Each type of humidifier has specific methods of installation. Some methods can be more complex than others. The summary of this is that more complex methods will be more expensive.
For instance, a technician won’t install a bypass humidifier at the same price they’ll install a drum humidifier. Although they are both humidifiers, they function differently and are installed differently. Without the use of electrical wires, a bypass humidifier generally costs less to install. Also, it doesn’t require much maintenance.
Brand
In addition to these factors, another factor affecting the cost of humidifier installation is the brand. Some humidifier brands are more popular and expensive than others.
Most times, this popularity is based on how advanced the device is. Technicians often charge more to install expensive humidifier brands.
How to Maintain a Humidifier
How long your whole house humidifier serves you depends on how well you maintain it. If you neglect routine cleaning of your humidifier, it can lead to allergies and lung infections. Because humidifiers release moisture into the air, they can also release moulds and bacteria.
Furthermore, the general cleaning rule for humidifiers is rinsing and allowing it to dry. Also, using distilled water allows the air the humidifier releases to be free of impurities. Here are some tips on maintaining your humidifier.
Regularly replace the water filter
Dirty water filters can allow impurities to escape into the air. Refer to the instruction manual to know how to clean the water filter. Also, you can get additional filters in case your filter goes bad.
Use distilled water
Ordinary water typically has impurities that can be released into the air by the humidifier. However, if you use distilled water, you can be sure of the air remaining fresh and free of contaminants. Also, using distilled water reduces the frequency at which you have to clean the water filter. Ensure you confirm the water is distilled before using it in your humidifier.
Keep the humidifier area dry
To avoid the growth of bacteria and mould, ensure the humidifier area is very dry. Also, the water drainage system for the humidifier should be functioning properly. In case of any leaks, stop using the humidifier and call a technician.
Other ways of maintaining your humidifier are:
- Using the cleaning agents recommended by the manufacturer.
- Studying the instruction manual to know how to replace faulty parts.
- Servicing your humidifier frequently.
Frequently Asked Questions on Humidifier Installation
Often, people are unaware of the type of humidifier their home needs. Many resorts to buying portable humidifiers when they need a whole-house humidifier. Having some of your questions answered before installing a humidifier can help you make the right decision.
Are whole house humidifiers cost-effective?
One benefit of whole house humidifiers is that they help you cut back on your energy consumption. Using heaters continuously will greatly impact your electricity bill whereas you can stay warm with humidifiers.
Can a portable humidifier be used in place of a whole-house humidifier?
As the name implies, portable humidifiers are for small places. They can only provide humidity for specific places but not the entire house. Rather than get a portable humidifier in each room of the house, install a whole-house humidifier.
Do humidifiers affect furniture?
You can preserve your wood finishes or furniture with a whole-house humidifier. Typically, wood cracks when it is exposed to dry air. The air from the humidifier will also prevent your wood flooring from expanding, squeaking and cupping.
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To Wrap It Up
The cost of humidifier installation depends on the type of humidifier and the brand. Getting the best humidifier installation services requires you to hire a professional.
In most cases, a professional will provide a cost estimate based on the type of humidifier, the need for additional installations and their level of experience. On average, you should expect to pay around $500 to install your humidifier.
Here at ALP Heating, we make sure you get maximum value for your money. We are home to skilled technicians that deliver effective humidifier installation services. Contact us today!
To Install a Humidifier Call Or Email Us now:
647-972-8714
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