Demystify the value of whole-house humidifiers
Home Value Rating: 3/5
Whole-house humidifiers yield moderate returns that you can maximize with the help of a pro.
The average return on investment (ROI) for a whole-house humidifier is around 40%.
Location, house size, and humidifier type affect the total added value.
A whole-house humidifier can be the answer to a number of problems, mainly moisture control and air quality. Also, whole-house humidifiers have the added bonus of making your other HVAC systems run more efficiently, thereby lowering energy costs.
The return on investment (ROI) of adding a whole-house humidifier is around 40% for most homes, based on an installation cost of $400 to $800. However, there are plenty of benefits to adding one of these units that go beyond simple ROI.
Location, house size, and the type of whole-house humidifier you choose will impact what you pay.
The location of your home nationwide shouldn't have too much of an effect on the cost of this project—what matters much more is where in your home you would install the humidifier. Large basements with tall ceilings and easily accessible HVAC units will cost the lowest, while tighter crawl spaces will command a labor premium due to the difficulty of working in the space. Something else to consider—if you don’t have crawl space encapsulation, your humidifier will have to work a whole lot harder to stay within the correct ranges.
The type of humidifier you purchase will likely be based on your home size first and foremost. while most homes will have the more common types of humidifiers, very large homes, or those with humidity problems may even consider purchasing a commercial unit. On the other hand, small houses can use less expensive units that may not even require being hooked up to the HVAC system.
| Home Size in Square Feet | Average Whole-House Humidifier Cost |
|---|---|
| 700 | $300–$700 |
| 1,300 | $400–$800 |
| 2,000 | $700–$1,900 |
| 4,500+ | $1,500+ |
The humidifier type you choose will depend on your HVAC system and the size of your home. Over 90% of homes with a whole-house humidifier will have a bypass or fan-powered unit installed. Only truly large homes or those with very specific humidity requirements will use a steam humidifier. Evaporative units are less commonly seen as they don’t provide any marketed benefit over bypass or fan-powered units.
Homeowners can expect to pay within the average price range for a bypass or fan-powered unit. Steam units are much more expensive and scale with the size of the structure, but can easily be double the price of the other options or even more. Here are the features to know about the four types of whole-house humidifiers.
| Evaporative | Bypass Unit | Fan-Powered | Steam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noisy | Passively adds moisture to furnace | Blows air over water to create humidity | Most expensive and powerful |
| Easy to clean | Average price | More efficient than bypass units | Don’t rely on HVAC to circulate moisture |
| Uncommon | Most common type | Doesn’t require bypassing the furnace | Common in industrial or commercial settings |
Whole-house humidifier installation isn’t a recommended DIY project, even for the most handy of homeowners. Professional installation not only ensures the unit is installed properly but that your air quality is the highest and safest it can be. Talk to an HVAC professional near you to discuss the cost of the project. Use that opportunity to get a general assessment of your home’s humidity levels and how you can improve air quality and efficiency.
Whole-house humidifiers cost energy to run. However, they also allow you to more easily lower your thermostat temperature in the winter and raise it in the summer. That’s because properly humid air retains temperature much better than dry air, making your house more efficient. So while a whole-house humidifier requires an up-front investment, it can potentially save you money on energy bills in the long run.
Here are a few steps you can take to help estimate the added value of a whole-house humidifier to your home:
Look at comparable properties: You can research similar homes in your area and see if they sold with a whole-house humidifier. Make sure to ask around as word of mouth is powerful and you can likely find somebody in your neighborhood who has had one installed.
Consider if it’s required: While a whole-house humidifier certainly has benefits, it won't be that beneficial for every home. It could be seen as a luxury edition if you don't have frequent humidity problems, so keep that in mind before going ahead.
Take long-term savings into account: If you regularly have low humidity problems, adding a whole-house humidifier will lower your monthly energy bills as long as it's functioning. Make sure to consider these savings when calculating your ROI.
Get appraised: Getting a home appraisal before and after adding a humidifier will give you an exact reflection of its dollar value.
On average, whole-house humidifiers cost between $400 and $800 for professional installation, with an average of around $580. Homeowners can expect to recoup around $40 for every $100 they spend on the project. For the average installation, expect an immediate ROI of around $240, with slight decreases in energy bills each month the humidifier is running.
Because of the increase in air quality and the reasonable ROI, installing a whole-house humidifier is a good choice for most homeowners who live in dry climates or deal with frequently low humidity levels. The up-front costs are not terribly high, and with proper humidity levels, everyone in the home will experience more comfort.
This comes with the caveat that if you're only looking to increase the value of your home for sale, we wouldn't recommend it. You just simply wouldn't recover your costs well enough to warrant this installation. However, if you plan on living in the home, we recommend it.
| Whole-House Humdiifier Pros | Whole-House Humdiifier Cons |
|---|---|
| Bring humidity to normal levels | Can cause mold growth |
| Can boost home value | Expensive to install |
| Easier to control air quality | Not always necessary |
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners maximize the value of their investments, we gather ROI data from reputable sources, including industry reports, real estate studies, and interviews with market experts. We calculate the average resale value for projects by multiplying the ROI against the project’s average cost according to our cost data, which is sourced from thousands of real Angi customers.
Want to help us improve our data? Send us a recent project quote or home appraisal value to costquotes@angi.com. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.
Whole-house humidifiers work, but the home itself determines their efficacy. If you have a drafty house or an old home with wooden floors that leak air and moisture, the humidifier must work much harder to keep moisture levels constant. Because of this, we recommend doing an air test of your home to determine the best type of humidifier and any work that needs to be done to install it.
The negatives of a humidifier are the potential for mold growth due to high humidity levels, the up-front cost, and the energy requirements to run it. Depending on the state of humidity in your home, you may not actually see lower utility bills due to the humidifier running on a near-constant basis.
If you have prior experience, you can install a whole-house humidifier on your own, but it’s not recommended. That’s because you want to ensure your air quality is the highest it can be, you don't want to damage your existing systems from an improper installation, and having a professional install the unit will ensure that you don't void the warranty.
There are some physical signs you need to have a humidifier that manifest as signs in your home and body. For the home, Watch for cracked and peeling paint, dry wooden flooring and furniture, excessively loud creaking wooden floors or doors, and an increase in the electricity needed to cool or heat the home. Physical symptoms include frequent dry air passages, Scratchy throat, increased allergy symptoms, and dry eyes.
