Humidifiers
Whole-Home Humidifier
Starting price
$1,600
What can drive up price
Steam versus evaporative equipment, electrical requirements, duct placement, water source, drain routing, and controls.
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Whole-Home Humidifiers
Colorado winter air is hard on comfort, wood floors, trim, instruments, and sinuses. We install AprilAire whole-home humidifiers that add controlled moisture through your duct system, with a strong preference for steam when the home needs reliable humidity output.
What it is
A whole-home humidifier connects to the duct system and adds moisture automatically when indoor air drops below the set point. Instead of filling portable room units, you get one controlled system sized around the house, ductwork, water source, drain, controls, and electrical capacity.
Who it is for
- Homes with dry skin, static shock, cracked trim, or shrinking wood floors in winter
- Owners tired of refilling portable humidifiers across multiple rooms
- Projects replacing furnaces or air handlers where duct access is already open
AprilAire options
AprilAire 600 bypass humidifier
The 600 is an evaporative bypass humidifier. It is simpler and often fits well when there is good duct placement and enough furnace runtime, but it depends on warm air moving across the water panel.
AprilAire 700 powered humidifier
The 700 is an evaporative unit with its own fan, which can help output compared with a bypass model. It still relies on evaporation, so very dry Colorado homes may outpace what it can add.
AprilAire 800 steam humidifier
The 800 creates steam in an internal canister and sends it into the duct system through a dispersion tube. AprilAire lists output up to 34.6 gallons per day in a tightly constructed home, which is why we prefer steam when the house, ductwork, electrical, and budget allow it. The steam canister is typically replaced once per year.
What it costs
Rough installed whole-home humidifier starting prices in Boulder County. Evaporative units usually start lower, while steam humidifiers need more electrical and duct coordination.
These are rough installed starting prices for planning. Final pricing depends on capacity, equipment selection, access, electrical or duct changes, permit requirements, and any rebates available for the project.
Why steam often wins in Colorado
Evaporative humidifiers can work well, but Colorado's dry outdoor air, leaky older homes, and shorter high-efficiency furnace cycles can make them struggle. Steam is less dependent on furnace heat because it makes its own moisture, so it can recover humidity faster and handle larger demand.
What we check before recommending steam
- Electrical capacity and whether 120V or 240V wiring makes sense
- Duct placement, absorption distance, and access for the dispersion tube
- Water source, drain routing, service access, and annual canister replacement
- Window condensation risk so comfort does not become a building-science problem
Whole-Home Humidifier FAQ
Which AprilAire humidifier do you usually recommend?
When the home and budget allow it, we usually recommend the AprilAire 800 steam humidifier because Colorado homes often need more humidity than an evaporative unit can deliver during cold, dry weather.
When do the AprilAire 600 or 700 make sense?
The 600 and 700 are evaporative humidifiers and can be a good fit for tighter homes, smaller humidity loads, and systems with enough warm-air runtime. They are simpler than steam, but they depend more on airflow and heat cycles.
Can I keep the house at any humidity level I want?
No. Indoor humidity has to be balanced against outdoor temperature and window condensation risk. In Colorado winter, the right setting is often lower during very cold weather to protect windows, trim, and walls.
What maintenance is required?
Evaporative humidifiers need water panel service. AprilAire steam humidifier canisters are typically replaced once per year, along with periodic inspection. We can include humidifier service with seasonal maintenance visits.