Why it matters
The Aprilaire 500 Whole-House Humidifier is a bypass humidifier that mounts on the furnace or its ductwork, rated for homes up to 3000 square feet, with a stated output of 12 gallons per day.
A bypass humidifier uses the furnace blower to push warm air through a wet panel and back into the return duct, so it adds moisture only while the furnace fan runs.
Whole-house humidifiers need a water supply line, a drain for bypass and fan-powered models, and a humidistat; the replacement water panel or canister is a yearly cost.
Price-wise it sat in the middle third of the 15 bypass models we cover when we checked; the button shows today's price.
It qualifies for our list Best Whole-House Humidifiers, where it is ranked against every model that meets the same rule.
Compared with the Aprilaire 600 Whole-House Humidifier: rated room size 3000 square feet here vs 4000 square feet; run time 1 hour here vs 0 minute.
Who it's for, and who should skip it
Good fit if
- Homes with forced-air heating
- Dry winters across the whole house
Look elsewhere if
- Homes without ductwork
Pros and cons
Pros
- Rated for 3000 square feet
- Output 12 gallons per day
- Humidifies every room the ducts reach
Cons
- Professional install for most homes
- Yearly water panel or canister
Limitations to weigh
- The Aprilaire 500 Whole-House Humidifier listing states every figure we compare on; they are the seller's numbers, measured on the setting it chooses.
Specifications
The bracket shows where each figure comes from.
| Model number | 500 | Retailer |
|---|---|---|
| Room coverage | 3000 square feet | Retailer |
| Wattage | 15 watts | Retailer |
| Filter type | Evaporative | Retailer |
| Capacity | 12 gallons per day | Retailer |
| Run time per fill | 1 hour | Retailer |
Alternatives worth comparing
More whole-house humidifiers we cover
- Aprilaire Model 400 Whole House Bypass Humidifiers (400M) $301.99
- Honeywell HE250A1005/U TrueEASE Advanced Large Evaporative Bypass Humidifier 17 GPD $357.99
- Honeywell HE300A1005/U TrueEASE Advanced Evaporative Fan-Powered Humidifier 18 GPD $439.99
- Aprilaire 700 Whole-House Humidifier
- Honeywell HE100A1000/U TrueEASE Bypass Humidifier 12 GPD $227.99
All whole-house humidifiers, compared in one table · Every Aprilaire product we cover
Final verdict
A practical choice for homes with forced-air heating. Confirm the model it fits before ordering.
Where to buy
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