Humidifier

I am thinking about getting a humidifier installed in my VanMetre Aspen, anybody have recommendations on an installer, anyone know what it will cost?

 

rich351854 and others--

When we built our home several years, we used Bowman's Heating and Air in Sterling, VA. We decided to use them again since they did great work for us in our previous home. They also have a plumbing business and do great work. For info on plumbing (plumbing business separate listing) and HVAC contact is below:

www.bowmanheating.com (Bowman's Heating and Air web site.)

As far as the humidifier question, we installed a permanent humidifier and have had good results. Our system (complete HVAC, humidifier, etc. was around $6-8000. Humidifier is probably around $400-600). Husband just told me the humidifier we had installed was APRILAIR and reminded of me the price of humidifier.

Bowman's does great work, service, and is a clean and thorough contractor. Also, we use them for our service calls if needed. There are also coupons on web site and humidifier coupon for Aprilair is $75.00 off with INSTALLATION. Average service call is $75-100.

Not sure of current prices for just adding on a humidifier of existing HVAC system. Or you can add one yourself from Lowes or Home Depot. Check out sources for information.

Good luck--

Foodie

 

I was surprised at how easy one of these is to put in. if you don't mind cutting up duct work and punching a hole in a water pipe---it's easily done in an afternoon. I think the humidifier and install kit together were about 125 bucks. that and a few miller lites, no problem.

the install kit even comes with an instructional video!

 

Did you all think the humidifier really did anything? We used to have one in our old house and I wasn't sure it really did much. I still put the little cool mist things in each of our bedrooms during the winter.

 

Oh yeah.. go to a house without ANY humidification in the middle of January, and you will shrivel up like a prune. Also, you will feel comfortable at lower temps with higher humidity.

 

Because it's not the heat, it's the humidity?

 

As someone who used to live in Arizona.... YES!!!!!

 

The first year we were here it was just incredible how dry everything was. It was truly uncomfortable. After that year we decided it was something we had to invest in. Plus our heating bills were thru the roof. So we decided to purchase the humidifiers

We started with an aprilaire as well:

http://www.aprilaire.com/index.php?znfAction=ProductDetails&category=5&item=700

Extremely pleased with it. They say it's a set it and forget it thing and it truly is. Once a season right before it gets cold I replace the filter and then don't worry about it till the next year.

The unfortunate thing is that with these dual zone homes you can't put one on both of the furnaces. We have the aprilaire on the bottom floor furnace for the main floor and basement and then we found that we had to use one of these on the top floor since you can't run a water line to the attic:

http://www.essickair-store.com/products.aspx?terms=7V4D7%20800&type=item

With this setup we've been able to maintain between 32-40% humidity thru the entire house this winter with the bedrooms keeping a little higher humidity in the 38-43% range. I've never seen it below 30% even on the coldest days. We also now are able to keep the temperature between 65-67 degrees instead of the 72-75 we felt we had to keep it at before we got the humidifier which means much cheaper heating bills. Still expensive though We've found this setup to be the most comfortable for us.

I don't remember who we got our aprilaire thru but I believe it was in the $500-$600 range.