If you’re looking at Howden screw compressors, stop thinking about the brand first. Think about the total cost of ownership—and the vendor’s willingness to be transparent about it.
I manage purchasing for a mid-sized facility services company. We maintain a lot of commercial refrigeration and HVAC equipment. Over the years, I’ve placed dozens of orders for compressors, dehumidifiers, ice machines, and even had to coordinate hot water heater maintenance across multiple sites. The one thing I’ve learned? The upfront quote is rarely the full story.
So if you’re researching Howden screw compressors—or anything from Howden, really—here’s my unfiltered take from the procurement side. Fair warning: I’ve been burned. A lot.
Howden Screw Compressors: The Brand Reputation vs. The Reality
Everything I’d read about Howden said they were the premium choice for industrial screw compressors. And they are, in many ways. But here’s the thing nobody tells you: the premium price tag doesn’t always mean premium support after the sale.
In my experience, the Howden screw compressor units themselves are solid. The engineering is good, they run efficiently, and they last longer than most budget alternatives. But the real cost shows up when you need parts or service. I had a Howden screw compressor go down at one of our sites. The repair was covered under warranty (so that was fine). But the lead time for a replacement part? Three weeks. We had to rent a temporary unit for $2,400. (Ugh.)
Here’s the bottom line: If you can afford the upfront cost and you’ve got a solid service contract in place, Howden screw compressors are a great choice. If you’re buying on price alone, you might be better off with a mid-tier brand where the parts are more readily available and the support is less of a headache.
What the Quote Doesn’t Tell You: Hidden Costs in Industrial Compressors
The most frustrating part of buying Howden screw compressors? The “add-ons.”
I got a quote from a distributor that looked competitive—around $18,000 for the unit, which was within my budget. Great. I sent the PO. Then the extra charges started rolling in:
- Shipping: $850 (not included in the original quote)
- Crating: $200 (ugh, again)
- Installation inspection fee: $450 (what?)
- Freight liftgate: $125 (the site didn’t have a loading dock)
Total extra: $1,625. That’s almost 10% of the unit price.
The kicker? The distributor’s competitor had a slightly higher base price—$19,200—but included everything. I went back to the original distributor and asked for a revised quote with all fees itemized. They gave me a “good faith discount” of $400. (To be fair, they did try to fix it. But I still felt like I was nickel-and-dimed.)
Lesson learned: Always ask “what’s NOT included” before you ask “what’s the price.”
Pebble Ice Makers: A Procurement Surprise
We needed pebble ice makers for our cafeterias. I assumed the cheapest model would do the trick. Wrong.
The budget pebble ice maker ($1,200) looked fine on paper. But it kept jamming. Maintenance calls averaged $300 each. After the fourth service call in six months, I replaced it with a mid-tier brand ($2,400). That one ran for two years without a single issue.
In my opinion, pebble ice makers are one of those items where the mid-range option is the sweet spot. The cheap ones break too often. The ultra-premium ones are overkill unless you’re a high-volume bar or restaurant.
Dehumidifiers: The Hidden ROI Game
Dehumidifiers are a pain to buy. Not because they’re expensive (they’re not, usually). But because nobody thinks about the ongoing maintenance costs.
We bought a commercial dehumidifier for a storage warehouse. The unit itself was $1,800. (That’s the “premium online printer” tier, for reference.) But the filter needed replacement every three months at $45 each. That’s an extra $180 a year. Plus the drain line clogged twice, costing us $250 in service calls.
If I had to do it over, I’d buy a dehumidifier with a washable filter and a self-draining option. The upfront cost would have been higher—maybe $2,400—but the annual savings would have paid for the difference in two years. Simple.
How to Flush a Hot Water Heater (Yes, I Had to Learn This Too)
I never thought I’d write about how to flush a hot water heater. But here we are. Our facility manager quit, and I had to figure it out myself.
Everything I’d read said “flush your tank annually.” In practice, I found that ignoring it for three years (oops) meant sediment build-up that cut our efficiency by 20%. The gas bill that winter was brutal.
Here’s the quick version of how to flush a hot water heater (from someone who learned the hard way):
- Turn off the power (gas or electric) and let the water cool.
- Attach a garden hose to the drain valve (at the bottom).
- Run the hose to a floor drain or outside (believe me, you don’t want hot water in your basement).
- Open a hot water faucet somewhere in the house (this lets air in and helps draining).
- Open the drain valve. Let the water flow until it runs clear. If it’s brown or sandy, you’ve got sediment.
- Close the drain valve, remove the hose, close the faucet, turn the power back on, and refill the tank.
One of my biggest regrets: not doing the how to flush a hot water heater procedure myself the first year. The sediment buildup cost us $300 in lost efficiency. (I still kick myself for that.)
Final Thoughts: Transparency Builds Trust
I’ve learned to prefer vendors who list all fees upfront—even if the total looks higher at first. The ones who hide fees almost always end up costing more. Period.
That’s true for Howden screw compressors, pebble ice makers, dehumidifiers, and yes, even figuring out how to flush a hot water heater. The best price on paper is rarely the best price in practice.
(To be fair, there are honest distributors out there. You just have to look for the ones who answer the question “what’s not included” without a pause.)
Price data referenced as of January 2025. Verify current rates with suppliers, as they change.
