Low humidity is a common occurrence and often thought of as not a big problem until it becomes one. Low humidity can have a variety of irritating to troublesome physical symptoms such as dryness of skin, irritation of eyes, and nasal passage, cold, flu, and much more.
Humidifiers are the best way to safeguard against the effects of low humidity on yourself and your home. But while you’re considering buying a humidifier unit for your needs, you might ask yourself, what’s the best humidifier for you, and how much is it going to cost.
There are a lot of different types of humidifiers available in the market right now, which gives you an advantage in terms of securing a unit that is just right for you. However, it can also cause some confusion. You need to consider the factors behind the varying rates of these models, and the typical cost of your ideal humidifier to make the right judgment.
In this article, we’re going to discuss the decisive factors that control the cost of a humidifier, and what your humidifier would typically cost you. All this will help you in making the right decision when you’re in the market.
So, without further ado, let’s get started.
Factors that Decide the Cost of your Humidifier
Coverage
One of the foremost factors in deciding the cost of a particular humidifier is the coverage it provides. If you have a substantial space you need to humidify, a larger unit is going to be your natural choice, and as the covered area increases, usually, the price goes up as well. That is why most of the smaller humidifiers don’t cost as much as the larger humidifiers. But it isn’t necessarily right all the time. Some factors can bring about discrepancies in this equation.
Capacity
Even a smaller room can sometimes require more moisture than a medium, or even a larger room. At least for some places, the small, compact units can cost more than your average medium-sized humidifiers. That may be because of their larger capacity for imparting humility to the atmosphere. Usually, it means that the water holding capacity, as well as the dispersion capacity of the compact unit per day, is more than the humidifier that may be slightly bigger, but lacks the specifications to tackle the same amount of humidity deficit.
It is a rare instance, but usually, as the daily capacity of the humidifier for imparting moisture increases, the cost increases as well.
Efficiency
An efficient unit is quite naturally going to cost you more upfront. However, you do need to consider the fact that although it might cost you more to buy a product that is proven to be energy-smart(usually with Energy star rating), it is going to save you a lot of money and hassle later on. To make an efficient model, manufacturers have to go smart and design a machine that delivers adequate output while consuming the least amount of energy. That is why energy-efficient models may cost you more than any generic humidifier in the market.
Manufacturer
It might be the most obvious factor of all for most readers. Big names in the industry have models that cost more than other lesser-known brands. More often than not, it because of the years of trust between the company and the consumers. To maintain a consumer base in today’s market is a challenge and the companies that manage to bring out innovative solutions while maintaining superior quality, usually have products that cost more. Users, however, do not mind paying a little more for that security and trust.
Category of Humidifier
Different types of humidifiers generally cost different. Usually, ultrasonic models cost more, and vaporizers, evaporative humidifiers, and impeller humidifiers cost less, but, there’s no set equation on this. However, in terms of size classification, commercial humidifiers cost the most, and then there are whole house units, then medium to large, and lastly, smaller and compact units.
Additional Features
All humidifiers humidify your space, but, depending on the model, ease of use can increase or decrease. It is due to the added features such as gravity draining, auto shut- off, auto defrost and restart, night mode, remote control, and so on. These features may not be necessary, but they make operating and maintaining the humidifier much more comfortable. These features not only add comfort but also added costs to the overall price of any model. An ideal humidifier is the one that can fit into your requirements and is a mix of comfort and affordability.
These are a few of the factors that control the cost of any humidifier.
Now let’s take a quick look at what these humidifiers typically cost.
Small to medium-sized Humidifiers
These are portable units, typically used by homeowners if they need to humidify a particular area such as a bedroom, kitchen, living room, etc. These humidifiers can be moved easily and are quite easy to move. Generally speaking, small to medium-sized humidifiers can cost anywhere from $30 to $150 or more depending on the model.
Whole-house humidifiers
Whole-house humidifiers, as the name suggests, aim to humidify larger areas, preferably an entire house. These are typically pad, steam, or spray types. Whole-house units usually work with adjacent the furnace, and can typically cost you anywhere from $300 to $1500 or more.
Commercial Humidifiers
These are the biggest humidifiers and cost more than any other type as well. Used in big commercial spaces, you can secure a commercial humidifier anywhere between $2500 – $5500 or more.
These are rough estimates of these humidifiers. Before deciding on what to buy, you should go through every detail of the model that you like.
Conclusion
There are countless models available for you right now. After deciding what’s the requirement of your space, you can look at various options available to you. Having your priorities in check gives you a better idea of what you should buy. You can consider your budget, and based on that, and your requirements, you can shortlist your favorites, and then choose the one you’ll take home.
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