CenterPoint Energy Home Service Plus®​ brings balanced humidity to Minneapolis-St. Paul homes

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Dry air caused by cold weather can have a negative effect on your health. A whole-house humidifier can reintroduce the natural moisturizer of humidity to your home. 

CenterPoint Energy’s Home Service Plus® (HSP) sells and installs humidifiers by AprilAire, a leading name in home comfort solutions since 1938 and the makers of the first first evaporative, flow-through-design, whole-house humidifiers.

The health and home benefits of humidifiers

Health benefits

Winter weather can create the perfect storm of conditions for illness: 

1. The cold drives people indoors where crowding makes the spread of germs and viruses more likely. 
2. When it’s cold, our first line of defense against viruses in the air–epithelial cells in the nasal cavity–don’t function as well at attacking viruses before they infect the body. 
3. Medical experts believe that dry winter air can have the same effect, interfering with epithelial cell function but also causing immune cells in the respiratory tract to secrete fewer chemicals, called interferons, that help stop viruses from replicating.

Humidifiers can make a big difference. The process of bringing in cold air from the outside and heating it leads to air with very little water vapor in your home. But by reintroducing moisture, humidifiers may help defend against…

• dry skin, lips, and hair
• throat irritation
• the spread of germs

​Home benefits

In several ways, your home may also see benefits:

• Humidifiers can reduce static electricity, which is not only a nuisance but can be damaging  to sensitive electronics around the home. 
• When household air is too dry it can make you feel colder, so you turn up the thermostat. Balanced humidity can help you avoid running up your heating bill.
• Wood furniture and floors benefit from humidified air, which keeps them from drying out and shrinking or cracking. 
• The same can be true for musical instruments, particularly pianos, which feature many wooden parts, and a  piano can get out of tune more quickly if the metal strings are subjected to fluctuating humidity levels. 
• Paper items such as documents, artwork and books can become brittle and warped in low humidity. 
• No matter what type of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system you have, HSP can match it with the appropriate type of humidifier. 
  

Why choose a whole-house humidifier over portable units?​

Although portable units can be helpful, a whole-house humidifier provides consistent and reliable humidity throughout the entire home with less demanding maintenance requirements. A whole-house model should be serviced about once per winter, while portable units must be cleaned daily to prevent the growth of mold and bacteria. 

A whole-house humidifier also uses less energy and generates less noise than a portable room humidifier. It can even help reduce heating costs by making the home feel warmer at a lower temperature. 

Whole-house humidifiers come in several different configurations to work with different types of HVAC systems. 

Whole-house humidifier FAQs

How does a whole-house humidifier work?

After being connected to the HVAC system, it adds moisture to air circulating throughout the home.

Will a whole-house humidifier increase my energy bill?

It is unlikely to increase your energy bill, and it may lower heating costs by improving comfort at lower temperatures.

How often does a whole-house humidifier require maintenance?

Typically the filter will need to be replaced once or twice per year.

Can a whole-house humidifier help with allergies?

Yes, it may reduce allergens and ease nasal irritation caused by dry air.

What size whole-house humidifier do I need?

HSP technicians will recommend the appropriate size based on your home and HVAC system.