Is your home feeling a little parched? Dry air can leave your skin, throat, and nasal passages irritated. Cranking up the heat in winter only exacerbates the issue, making your indoor environment even more arid and uncomfortable.
The solution? Bring back balance with whole-home humidification from Aprilaire. Maintaining humidity between 30-50% provides ideal comfort while protecting your furnishings and reducing energy costs. Aprilaire’s evaporative and steam humidifiers automatically hydrate your indoor air.
With a variety of models to suit homes small and large, finding the right Aprilaire unit for your needs is key to realizing the benefits of humidity control. In this guide, we’ll explore top Aprilaire humidifiers, key buying considerations, and frequently asked questions to take the guesswork out of your purchase.
Top Aprilaire Whole Home Humidifier Options
Aprilaire makes both evaporative and steam humidifiers to automatically regulate moisture levels year-round. Here are some of their most popular models:
Aprilaire Model 600 Humidifier
The Aprilaire 600 uses an evaporative wicking system to add moisture to your home. Key features include:
- Automated humidity control with built-in humidistat
- Effective for medium-sized homes up to 6,200 sq ft
- Water panel absorbs and evaporates moisture
- Fan circulates air across damp wicking pad
- Mineral absorption pad reduces scale buildup
- Automatic bypass prevents over-humidification
With its integrated humidity monitoring and adjustment, the 600 provides reliable, hands-free comfort. It strikes an appealing balance between performance and price for most households.
Aprilaire Model 800 Steam Humidifier
Need robust humidification for a large luxury residence? The Aprilaire 800 generates steam through electrodes in a boiling water reservoir to deliver fine mist. Advantages include:
- Ultrasonic steam vaporization for even dispersion
- Can handle very large homes up to 8,000 sq ft
- Advanced manifold distributes steam throughout home
- Automatic draining and cleaning cycles
- WiFi-enabled digital touchscreen controls
- Higher cost but max humidity capacity
With minimal air resistance and self-cleaning operation, the 800 is built to perform in spacious upscale homes that need ample moisture output.
Aprilaire Model 400 Humidifier
Don’t overspend on capacity you don’t require. The Aprilaire 400 provides cost-effective evaporation humidification for smaller spaces up to 3,000 square feet. Details include:
- Streamlined manual dial controls
- Built-in air bypass route
- Replaceable water panel
- Fan for airflow through cabinet
- Easy do-it-yourself installation
- Very affordable compared to other models
For apartments, condos, and efficiency homes, the 400 delivers reliable humidity without extra bells and whistles.
Aprilaire Model 500 Humidifier
Offering flexible installation options, the Aprilaire 500 is a mid-range evaporation humidifier built to handle homes of 1,500 – 3,600 square feet. Benefits include:
- Remote-mounted water supply for install flexibility
- Digital touchpad with manual and auto modes
- Detached plumbing section reduces duct clutter
- Good solution for zoned HVAC systems
- Higher cost than 400 but lower than 600 models
With its adaptable design, the 500 easily integrates into a variety of home layouts and ducting scenarios.
There are other Aprilaire models, but these four represent the wide range of system types, capacities, features, and budgets available. Compare them to choose the ideal fit.
Key Buying Considerations for Aprilaire Humidifiers
To select the perfect Aprilaire humidifier for your needs, keep these factors in mind:
Type of Humidifier
Evaporative models like the 400, 500, and 600 use wicking filter pads. They tend to be quieter, more energy-efficient, and have lower operating costs. However, evaporative systems require more frequent maintenance like panel replacement.
Steam humidifiers like the Aprilaire 800 boil water to create steam. They provide higher capacity moisture output with less maintenance but use more electricity.
Evaluate trade-offs to choose the best system type for your home.
Coverage Capacity
Calculate the recommended moisture output needed for your square footage and conditions. Aprilaire systems range from small 600 sq ft rooms to homes over 6,000 sq ft.
Factor in climate, construction, and occupancy to right-size your system. Overhumidifying wastes energy while undersizing leaves air dry.
Features
Consider convenience features like:
- Automatic humidity control vs manual
- WiFi connectivity and app control
- Touchscreens or basic knob controls
- Built-in air bypass tunnels
- Advanced diagnostics and alerts
Evaluate whether premium features are worth higher purchase and operating costs.
Installation Requirements
Assess ductwork access, wiring, plumbing, and placement requirements. Aprilaire humidifiers install on supply ducts near your HVAC system. Ensure your home layout allows needed connections.
Operating Costs
Evaporative systems use less energy than steam for lower electrical bills. But steam options have lower maintenance costs from less part replacement.
Weigh operating and maintenance expenses against your budget. Smart controls can help manage energy efficiency.
Noise Level
Fans and motors produce some operational noise. Larger, more powerful units tend to be louder. Choose an appropriately sized model and use sound dampening materials to reduce noise.
Ease of Maintenance
Evaporative humidifiers require diligent part replacement and mineral cleaning. Steam options have automatic self-cleaning but may require boiler descaling.
Evaluate your ability to take on regular maintenance or hire an HVAC pro as needed.
Appearance
While humidifiers install out of sight, control panels are visible. Evaluate size, finish options, and display aesthetics if that’s important to your home décor.
By carefully weighing these factors, you can zero in on the ideal Aprilaire humidifier for your needs.
Frequently Asked Humidifier Shopping Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about choosing Aprilaire humidifiers:
How Do I Determine the Right Size?
Use Aprilaire’s capacity calculators to recommend the optimal moisture output based on house size, climate, occupants and other factors. Oversizing wastes energy while undersizing leaves air dry.
Build in a 10-15% buffer if you have high occupancy, very dry conditions, or a poorly sealed older home.
What Maintenance is Required?
Plan to replace evaporative pads and drain tubing yearly. Clean pads monthly with Aprilaire solution to remove mineral buildup. Replace nozzles and inspect key parts annually.
Steam models have less frequent component replacement but may need descaling. All types need filter changes.
What is the Average Lifespan of an Aprilaire?
With proper maintenance, expect 10-15 years of reliable operation. The humidification hardware like cabinets and fans will outlast components like pads, valves and controls that require replacement every 1-5 years.
Water quality also impacts lifespan. Well water with less mineral content extends part life.
When Do I Need a Replacement?
Consider replacing units over 10 years old that are struggling to maintain desired humidity levels or requiring frequent repairs despite maintenance.
Also replace very noisy, leaky, or corroded units. Newer models are much more energy efficient.
Where is the Best Placement for Installation?
Aprilaire humidifiers require ductwork access and typically install near your central HVAC system. This allows moisture distribution through existing ducts.
Basements, attics/utility closets, and garage spaces adjacent to ducts offer good placement.
Can Any HVAC Contractor Install Aprilaire?
While HVAC professionals are recommended for optimum performance, handy homeowners can DIY install less complex models like the 400 or 500.
The contractor needs expertise in ductwork, wiring, controls, and meeting codes for proper, safe installation.
How Do I Confirm If a Unit is Under Warranty?
Aprilaire humidifiers come with 5-10 year warranties. Check documentation for model-specific details. You’ll need proof of purchase date or install date to validate warranty status if repairs are needed.
Registering your product also ensures you can access warranty support easily.
Other Key Considerations
Research smart home compatibility, finish options, water supply requirements, mobil apps, and other model-specific features to make the best selection.
By carefully comparing the top Aprilaire options using these questions as a guide, you can make a confident, informed humidifier purchase.
Breathe Easier with the Perfect Aprilaire
Dry air leads to irritation, illness, damage to furnishings, and higher energy costs. Aprilaire whole home humidification restores comfort while saving you money.
Choosing the model suited to your house size, budget, and needs delivers the healthy humidity your home craves, so take time to research the best system for your situation.
Bring soothing moisture back into your living spaces with Aprilaire. Breathe deeply and sleep soundly knowing your home’s air has ideal humidity year-round.
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